Vienna is the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, which says a lot. The imperial style in architecture is still available in large quantities. In this article I will tell you how to organize your independent travel to Vienna, what to see, what museums to go to, where to eat deliciously and meaningfully. Which day trips can be done from Vienna inexpensively. And how much will all this cost? I will provide all the necessary links.
Vein ancient city, but most of the outstanding buildings were made in the 19th century under the penultimate emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph. Vienna is Sissi, Mozart and Klimt. Vienna is a cake with the indecent name "Sacher", Tafelspitz, Wiener schnitzel, strudel and coffee. Vienna has world-class museums comparable to the Louvre and the famous Vienna Opera. Vienna is German neatness and pedantry in everything.
Currency
Euro, so for most people the prices will be clear, but not happy. Austria is enough dear country. The price level in Austria is higher than in Germany.
Language
German. IN tourist places they speak English, there are signs on English. Some public transport ticket machines even switch to Russian. All major Viennese museums have audio guides in Russian.
Why go to Vienna
If you love painting and art, this is your city. In Vienna you can see paintings by Pieter Bruegel, such as “ Tower of Babel", "Hunters in the Snow" or numerous portraits of Infanta Margarita by Diego Velazquez, engravings by Durrer and many outstanding paintings that are the pride of world art.
If you are an opera lover this is your city. The Vienna Opera is one of the most famous in the world. In addition, throughout the city center there are ticket sellers for all kinds of concerts, mainly classical music.
If you are a coffee fan, this is your city, it has its own sophisticated culture of consuming this aromatic drink. Viennese coffee shops are a different story.
Prices in Austria
Prices in Austria are high. But plane tickets to Vienna are relatively cheap, especially from Moscow. According to the Numbeo portal, the cost of living in Vienna is 58% higher than in Moscow. the cost of food in cafes and restaurants is 30% more.
In the center of Vienna, breakfast in a cafe will cost you 9-10 €; in less central places you can find breakfast for 5-7 €. A cup of coffee in the center of Vienna costs from 5 to 8 €, and the same amount for one modest cake.
Visiting restaurants in Vienna is quite expensive.
Hotels and apartments in Vienna
My favorite method of searching for hotels on booking is:
- Fill in the number of people and other important options
- Sort the resulting list by user ratings
The room rate in the low season starts from 65 €, but most options still cost 80-90 € per night. In Vienna, due to the high cost, apartments with a kitchen are very common; this will allow you to save on food. Hotels in Vienna are quite decent. German accuracy makes itself felt.
If you were unable to find a hotel on booking, you can try to rent a room or apartment from the owners on the airbnb website. If you are not yet registered on this site, then by following my link you can (or 22 €) for your first booking. And if you are registered, you can still receive a gift if you register a new profile linked to a different e-mail address. See what we filmed in Vienna.
It is important to choose accommodation in Vienna in the first transport zone, so as not to overpay for travel on public transport by half.
How to get to Vienna on your own
By plane
Vienna is a hassle-free city in terms of getting there. There are direct flights from St. Petersburg and Moscow. Flying with a transfer is not profitable, the price does not change downwards.
Our low-cost airline Pobeda flies from Moscow, their prices are reasonable, but you need to study very well all their requirements for hand luggage, since a fine for violations can make your flight far from budget-friendly. At Pobeda you will have to pay to choose a seat in the cabin. In fact, Pobeda will land you in Bratislava, and from Bratislava will take you to Vienna by bus to the central station (1.30 hours), this will allow you to save on the transfer.
It’s better to start inquiring about tickets 3-4 months before departure; then tickets will only become more expensive. In the high season, on the eve of departure, tickets will cost significantly more than on average throughout the year. Travel time is 2 hours 40 minutes.
Calendar of price changes by month. If you do not live in Moscow, do not hesitate to change the city, the calendar is interactive.
Transfer in Vienna from the airport
The minimum cost of a transfer in Vienna by train S7 is only 4.40 €. This train travels with stops for only 25 minutes. Tickets for it need to be purchased from a public transport ticket vending machine; in fact, this is ordinary public transport in Vienna. The airport is located in the second zone. You need to buy 2 tickets for 2.20 € and validate them. For children from 6 to 15 years old, tickets are purchased at half price.
The high-speed City Airport Train (CAT) travels only 16 minutes to the same station as the previous one without stops, but this pleasure will cost 11 € for a one-way ticket and 17 € if you take a ticket in both directions. But travel for children under 14 years old is free.
Bus No. 1187 fare 8€ one way.
All three types of transport run from early morning until late at night with an interval of 30 minutes. At night, the only way to get to or from the airport is by taxi. Order . Taxi transfer costs 37€. You make an order and a small prepayment on the website, the driver will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign with your name. There is no need to explain where to go, just enter the address of your hotel on the website. This method also works in the opposite direction.
Taking a taxi directly from the airport costs 40-45 euros.
Trains are traditionally intended for those who are very afraid of flying and are willing to overpay.
By bus
You can travel by bus to Vienna only with a very favorable special offer. offer, since without special offers the cost of tickets is comparable to a plane ticket. From Moscow to Vienna you will have to travel 52 hours with one transfer. There are no buses from St. Petersburg to Vienna at all. But you can actually get from Ukraine or Belarus to Vienna by bus. View bus tickets on the website.
By your car
From St. Petersburg to Vienna is only 1868 km, 23 hours of pure driving. You will have to travel through the Baltic states and Poland. In the Baltics and Poland there are slow roads to Warsaw through all settlements, the coverage is excellent, there are many cameras recording speed. Beyond Warsaw everything is much better; a highway has already been built there.
From Moscow to Vienna 1945 km, 22 hours of pure driving. In any case, the journey to Vienna by car will take at least 2 days, but it will allow you to explore something additional along the way.
In both cases, the road will run through, where you can make a one-day stop, then through Katowice (Poland), Ostrava (Czech Republic), Brno (nearby you can see the Austerlitz Museum). The latter cities, of course, do not belong to the category of must see, but if you wish, you can also find something interesting in them.
In Vienna itself, a car will be a burden. Parking costs 2€ per hour, but in the center you can only park your car for money for 2 hours; you need to use parking passes. In P+R parking lots you can leave your car for only 3.40 per day, but this is far from the center. But if you are planning a trip to Austria, a car will be a beneficial aid.
Ready tours
Ready-made tours to Vienna are most often offered for three days without meals and transfer, 3* hotel not in the center from 20,000 rubles. In general, ready-made tours for Vienna are not the most suitable option, but you can try. Look . It makes sense to take ready-made tours at the last minute if you want to leave within the next week. It is always worth checking reviews of hotels offered in tours on the website.
Public transport in Vienna
There are two public transport zones in Vienna. The fare differs within the zone and when leaving the zone. If you are leaving the first zone, you need to buy two tickets and validate two tickets at once.
A one-time trip in one direction within one zone costs 2.20 €; if you change direction, you need to buy another ticket; you can change from transport to transport in one direction.
Children under 6 years old travel on public transport for free. From 6 years to 15 years at half price, and on Sundays, weekends, and also during school holidays In Vienna, travel for children under 15 years of age is free.
A weekly pass costs €16.20 and is only valid from Monday to Monday.
The Vienna card costs €24.90 and allows you to make an unlimited number of trips within three days (cards are available for 1 and 2 days). The same card provides discounts on tickets to museums and discounts in some restaurants (the discounts are not very significant). With this card you can carry with you one child up to 15 years old inclusive, this is the most significant bonus. More information about the Vienna card can be found on the official website wien.info.
What to see in Vienna on your own
From land walks, I recommend walking from St. Stephen's Cathedral along Graben Street to the Hofburg and Maria Theresa Square, taking a tram along Ringstrasse or walking along it, going to look at the Hundertwasser houses, and exploring the surroundings of Schönbrunn Palace. This program can be completed in 2-3 days. If you plan to visit the main museums in Vienna, you need to spend a week in Vienna.
The opera is recommended only for fans; this event is expensive, for example, a ticket to La Traviata on November 23, 2016 costs from 52 to 285 €, cheap seats are located very far from the stage. After a day on your feet, you'll be ready to listen to the singing foreign language within a few hours? If yes, then welcome to the official box office of the opera house, and if not, then the interior of the theater can be viewed without the performance, it will cost much less, only 7.50 €.
If you like excursions, I recommend reading the article. I mention Prague there, not Vienna, but that doesn't matter. Look for acceptable offers on the four sites mentioned in the article. Due to the high prices in Austria, you will have to dig around on all four sites to find something interesting and not very expensive.
20% discount when ordering three excursions at the same time: “Sightseeing bus tour in Vienna" (or " Sightseeing tour around Vienna in a mini-group"), "Vienna Woods" and "Excursion to Salzburg"! To receive a discount, go to the TEZ Excursions website, add the three specified excursions to your cart and enter the promotional code VIENNA-3 in the field for discount coupons in the cart. The validity period of the offer and excursions is from December 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019.
First day
The most central landmark of Vienna is St. Stephen's Cathedral. The silhouette of the cathedral is drawn on all metro maps. This cathedral is the heart of old Vienna. It can be explored from ancient cellars to observation platforms on the towers and it's worth it. St. Stephen's Cathedral is the apotheosis of art and culture throughout Austria. You need to buy a ticket to the Cathedral; without a ticket you are only allowed to stand at the entrance. Read more about different types tickets and what you are about to see can be read in a separate article.
View of Vienna from the North Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral After visiting the cathedral, it is worth continuing your walk along Graben Street. This is one of the most important streets in Vienna, now completely pedestrian, it remembers the ancient Romans. Read more about what you can see in a separate article with photographs.
Graben street with chandeliers Almost all houses have shops and cafes on the ground floors. On the Kolchmarkt stands the famous Café Demel, one of two historical cafés associated with the famous Sachertorte. You can read more about the two historical cafes in a separate article. In fact, this cake will be served to you in any Viennese cafe; you don’t have to go to try it at all historical places. During the high tourist season, the queue to historical cafes can be long; in December there was no queue at all, I checked it personally.
The price for a piece of cake in different cafes in Vienna is almost the same, the only difference is the length of the queue in high season. You can also buy Sachertorte in shops in Vienna.
Leave the museums for the next day so that you can approach them with fresh energy. However, my recommendations regarding museums are not binding; always think about whether it would be interesting to you personally. Options are possible: you can go to museums, or you can go to parks, depending on weather conditions and your preferences. Weather conditions may vary; in the event of prolonged rains, museums can save the situation.
Second day
The Ringstrasse is a must-see street; it is a circular boulevard 5.3 km long. You can ride along this boulevard on a special tourist tram. The trip takes only 25 minutes. The tram offers audio accompaniment in Russian via headphones. The ticket costs 8€, for children from 6 to 15 years old - 4€. If the weather is favorable, you can walk along the Ringstrasse. You will see the building of the Vienna Opera, the Burgtheater, the parliament, the town hall, everything there is very monumental and majestic.
Parliament building on Ringstrasse Sissi is one of the legends of Austria and Vienna as well, so you should think in advance whether you would like to learn more about the beloved Empress of the Viennese and visit the Sissi Museum, the imperial chambers and the silver pantry. To make it easier for you to make your choice, I wrote. A comprehensive ticket to the three museums listed costs €11.50, but there are options with tickets, read the review. The museums offer a Russian audio guide.
Hofburg, under the arch there is the entrance to the Sisi Museum In the evening, if you are inspired by the fate of Franz Joseph and Empress Sissi, you can visit the pretentious restaurant “Plahuta” and taste the emperor’s favorite dish in the most proper restaurant. Read how we ate. Let me warn you right away that this is not a cheap pleasure and it is better to reserve a table in advance.
Third day
For art lovers, a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is highly recommended. Numerous masterpieces are collected there. Read more in my review “”, sometimes it is called that. A whole day is not enough to explore it completely with feeling, sense and arrangement. During the break, you can have lunch or drink a cup of coffee right under the main dome of the museum.
Main staircase of the Kunsthistorisches Museum The cost of an adult ticket is 14 €, you can immediately take a comprehensive ticket to the Museum of Art History + = 20 euros (save 6 euros).
The museum offers a Russian audio guide (cost 4 €), but according to experts, it is much poorer than the English version.
Fourth day
Vienna, as the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, still holds treasures collected by entire generations of kings and emperors. You can touch this wealth by visiting the “Habsburg Treasury”. There you will see nothing less than the famous Spear of Destiny, the Holy Grail, the crown of Charlemagne and much more.
Royal regalia in the Habsburg Treasury The museum offers a Russian audio guide (cost 4€).
You can spend from 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the treasury.
Next, you can get acquainted with modern, but very interesting architecture. I invite you to explore the Hundertwasser houses. You can read more about who he is and how to get there in a separate article. This walking tour through the neighborhoods of Vienna will cost you absolutely free.
Hundertwasser House Fifth day
I suggest visiting Schönbrunn Palace and everything located next to it. One day is definitely not enough for everything. The Schönbrunn Palace itself is the former summer residence of the imperial family. It is surrounded by a beautiful park and nearby there is a magnificent zoo and greenhouses. In the Residenz cafe, tourists are offered a strudel baking show followed by eating this strudel (more information about this event on the website wien.info). See prices for combined tickets on the official website of Schönbrunn Palace (English), combined tickets will help you save a little, as the prices are steep.
The Vienna Zoo is very good, it is the oldest zoo in Europe. Read.
Sixth day
In addition to the already mentioned Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere in Vienna there are still at least three interesting art museum— Albertina (Dürer), Leopold Museum (modern art), Mumok (modern art). Therefore, art lovers in Vienna have plenty to explore.
If you and your children can visit, it is located on Maria Theresa Square, opposite the Kunsthistorisches Museum, they are also called the twin museums. We really liked it; many tourists visit this museum even without children.
Day trips from Vienna on your own
If you haven’t found excursions at reasonable prices, then below I’ll tell you how to organize a couple of trips yourself. Train tickets can be bought at the station or on the Internet on the Austrian Railways website, where you can plan any route in Austria and immediately see how much the ticket will cost; at the last moment, a ticket may cost more than one purchased in advance on the Internet. For out-of-town trips, you can also use Student Agency buses (English), bus tickets will cost less than train tickets, but Student Agency buses only go to neighboring countries.
In light of the high cost of tickets in Austria, renting a car can be financially justified. The car significantly saves time and effort, you will be able to see more. View prices (prices for car rental per day from 45 €). If you have a car, you can choose hotels not in the center, this will save money.
From Vienna to Bratislava on your own
If you want to take a break from the Austrian high prices, then you should go to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The distance is only 66 km. Departure of the train from central station Vienna (Vienna Central Station), arrival at Bratislava Central Station. Travel time is 1 hour, trains run every hour. The cost of a round trip ticket is 20.20 €.
By bus, round trip tickets will cost only 10€, but the bus ride takes 1.5 hours. In Vienna, buses depart from the Stadion metro station in Bratislava and do not go to the center, but travel on public transport in Bratislava is much cheaper than in Vienna. Bratislava is just very good for a one-day visit.
To the Vienna Woods on your own
You can see the Vienna Woods without going far from Vienna. You just need to get to the final tram stop. See all possible options for walks in the forest (in English), not far from Vienna. In general, of course, the Vienna Woods is a broad concept, it is very large.
Official tours of the Vienna Woods include visiting the town of Baden, Liechtenstein Castle and the town of Mödling, where Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide, an underground lake on the outskirts of Mödling in the town of Hinterbrühl. The cost of an organized excursion starts from 55€ per person, excluding tickets to the cave and castle.
In principle, you can organize this route yourself, but you will have to walk a lot.
From Vienna to Mödling Bahnhof you can get by train in just 20 minutes, the ticket costs only 4.40 €. Walk around the town towards the cave for 3.5 km, visit the cave with the largest underground lake in Europe (the cost of visiting the cave is 10 €, the tour lasts 45 minutes). From the cave to Liechtenstein Castle is only 1.5 km, but uphill (adult ticket price 9 €), tours only in German and English. To get to Baden, if you have any energy left, you will in any case have to take the high-speed tram from the Mödling Bahnhof station and after a walk around Baden back to Vienna.
To Puchberg am Schneeberg on your own
IN small town People go to Puchberg mainly to climb Mount Schneeberg, which is about 2000 meters high, to go hiking or skiing in winter. From the mountain in good weather there is a breathtaking view of the valley. A special Salamander train will take you up the mountain along a cog railway for only 31€, mountain railways or cable cars are traditionally expensive. In winter, the train operates on a truncated schedule and route. You can, of course, walk, but to do this you need to be in very good athletic shape. A train trip from Vienna to Puchberg (80 km) will cost 33 €, round trip and will take 1.5 hours.
To the Wachau Valley on your own
The Wachau Valley was listed World Heritage UNESCO in 2000. There you will find very beautiful landscapes with ancient towns located along the banks of the Danube and a huge Baroque abbey. Best time For visiting, of course, summer and autumn.
The most popular method is to purchase a combined ticket for railway station. IN winter time this route doesn't work. More details in English. language you can view the offer. The idea is that at the train station you buy a ticket that includes:
- travel by train to the town of Melk (1.5 hours)
- visiting a very beautiful Benedictine abbey on the banks of the Danube
- river boat trip to the town of Krems (1.5 hours). Many people stop earlier in the village of Dürnstein to go up to the local castle and admire the Danube from above.
- departure back to Vienna by train from Krems. (1 hour)
The route can also be done in the opposite direction. It doesn't matter. This pleasure will cost about 50 €.
From Vienna to Budapest on your own
The second way to take a break from the high prices of Vienna is a trip to Budapest. From Vienna to Budapest it is only 240 km and a train ride from Vienna Central Station to Keleti Station in Budapest takes 2 hours 30 minutes. The cost of round trip tickets is about 40 €. When traveling by bus, the cost of one-way tickets is only from 9 to 11 €, but by bus you will have to travel with a transfer in Bratislava and it will take 4 hours.
In principle, if you go in one day, then it makes sense to take an organized excursion to Budapest from Vienna, this more expensive than tickets by train it costs only 15€, but a walking tour of Budapest is included in the price and you don’t have to think about anything on your own.
The currency of Hungary is forints, so you will have to change money. In half a day you can get around and take a walk on the opposite bank of the Danube. Although Budapest certainly deserves more, perhaps spending a few days in the Hungarian capital is a good idea.
From Vienna to Salzburg on your own
Many people want to go to Salzburg, this is the birthplace of Mozart, the most musical city in Austria. From Vienna to Salzburg it is almost 300 km and the journey will take 2 hours and 20 minutes one way. The cost of round trip train tickets is 51€. Unfortunately, cheap buses do not operate in Austria. The train will pass by the city of Linz, also worthy of a visit, maybe another day. A ready-made excursion to Salzburg per person starts from 119 €. Salzburg interesting city, it is quite possible to plan an overnight stay there and continue your acquaintance the next day.
Salzburg This is of course not everything that can be seen in Austria and neighboring countries, but the most popular for the first time. At different inspection speeds, it will take 1.5-2 weeks. We spent a week in Vienna and didn’t see everything on this list. Vienna is a city you want to return to.
(4
ratings, average: 5,00
out of 5)
Trip to Vienna
Vienna is a city of magnificent palaces and wide boulevards, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the melting pot of Europe. Mixing dozens national traditions, this city has the best of each of them. Amazingly beautiful buildings of all styles and eras, stunning museums - both art and science. Heuriger taverns serving young wine and home-cooked dishes, cozy coffee shops with delicious desserts and exotic oriental markets, spacious parks and narrow central streets - a trip to Vienna easily combines these seemingly incompatible pleasures!
Among the residents of the city there have always been many outstanding personalities: different times The greatest composers Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Haydn, Strauss worked here. Famous psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler and Viktor Frankl, physicist Erwin Schrödinger, writer Stefan Zweig, modernist artists led by Gustav Klimt and many, many others worked here... This is hardly a mere coincidence. Some believe that the air in Vienna is full of inspiration and creative energy. Come and see for yourself!
How to get to Vienna?
The most optimal and quick way to get to Vienna from Russia or Ukraine - air travel. There are direct flights from Moscow provided by Aeroflot, Transaero and Austrian Airlines; aircraft from Aeroflot and Austrian Airlines fly from St. Petersburg to Vienna. Travel time from Moscow or St. Petersburg is no more than three hours. As for Kyiv: a direct flight of Ukraine International Airlines or Austrian Airlines will take you to Vienna in one and a half to two hours.
There are also connecting options that allow you to save a little on airfare. Pay attention to the flights of airBaltic, Finnair, Belavia, Lufthansa, etc.
To purchase air tickets at competitive prices, the Ever.Travel team regularly uses the Aviasales service. Convenient navigation of this site and a large selection of different flight options allow you to quickly and easily find a suitable flight and immediately book your flight tickets. Read about how easy it is to buy tickets inexpensively in Ever.Travel's tips.
Where to stay in Vienna?
Vienna is essentially a huge museum city, with many attractions included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Almost every street or block, especially in the center, has its own unique history. Even suburbs like Baden or Grinzig are great place for excursions on which you can quietly spend several days.
But still, it is best to settle in Vienna in the central areas: this way you will be at least approximately equidistant from the attractions of the capital and its environs. There are many walks through the city center walking routes, and what is further away is also quite accessible, since Vienna has a very well developed public transport system.
Map of Vienna districts
Inner City (Inner Stadt, no. 1)
The very heart of Vienna, its historical center is district No. 1, also called the Inner City. Room prices in these hotels start from 120 euros per night. The high cost of accommodation is compensated by stunning views and many restaurants, cafes, shops and, of course, attractions. You will live within walking distance of St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg, the famous Vienna Opera and the Museum Quarter.
If you don’t have the time or desire to deal with filling out forms and paying consular fees, use the VisaToHome service. Its specialists will take care of all the hassle, and you won’t even have to leave your home! The courier will take your documents, and after some time will bring you a passport with the coveted visa. Incredibly easy, modern and reliable! Tested for yourself!
How to get from Vienna Airport to the city
Vienna-Schwechat Airport (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) is located 16 km east of the capital. The city center can be easily reached by public transport:
- Train City Airport Train CAT runs between the airport and Wien Mitte/Landstraße station. The duration of the trip is 15 minutes, the movement interval is 30 minutes, the operating time is from 6:00 to 23:30. One way fare is 11 euros, round trip - 17 euros, children under 14 years old travel for free.
- City train railway S7 will take you from the airport to Wien Mitte/Landstrasse station in 26 minutes. The movement interval is 30 minutes, the operating mode is from 5:00 to 0:18. The fare is 4.2 euros. You need to buy two regular tickets for 2.1 euros and both must be validated. If you have a travel pass, you only need to purchase one additional ticket.
Tickets for both types of transport are sold in the center tourist information at the airport and at ticket machines.
Imagine that there comes a time when you are standing at a loss at Vienna-Schwechat airport with friends, suitcases or children and do not know where to go - whether to catch a taxi or rush to the bus. In such a situation, KiwiTaxi is a great help! This service provides pre-ordered transfers from the airport to the city. You simply indicate your arrival time, and they meet you on the spot, put you in a taxi and take you straight to your hotel. Moreover, the cost of this trip will not come as a surprise to you; you will find out it in advance. Thus, a journey filled with comfort and positivity will begin right from the airport!
Car rental in Vienna
However, a car in Vienna is useful not only for getting from the airport. We are sure that you will definitely want to go to the imperial residence of Schönbrunn, to the Belvedere palace complex, and maybe even visit Bratislava, Budapest or Prague, located not so far from the Austrian capital. You can rent a car in Vienna using the RentalCars.com service. This is a reliable and proven resource where, among hundreds of offers from several agencies, you can choose what is ideal for you in terms of price or car model.
Vienna public transport
Vienna has excellent public transport. Subway (U-Bahn) includes 5 lines. All platforms are equipped with electronic boards with information for passengers, which, in addition to the final destination of the route, also indicate the waiting time. The metro operates on weekdays from 5:00 to 0:00, on Friday and Saturday - around the clock. High-speed train network (S-Bahn) does not have many stations in the center, but conveniently connects Vienna with the suburbs.
There are also 28 trams and 90 bus routes, including, “City Busse”, specially designed for narrow central streets. From 0:30 to 5:00 there are night buses marked “N”.
Valid for all types of transport single ticket , which can be purchased at subway stations from multilingual machines, ticket offices and most tobacconists. The cost of a one-time ticket: 2.1 euros from the machine, 2.2 when purchased from the driver. Once composted, it is valid until it reaches its destination and allows for multiple replantings.
There are also passes for 24 hours (price - 7.1 euros), 48 hours (12.4 euros) and 72 hours (15.4 euros). Children under 6 years old use transport free of charge, children under 15 years old are entitled to a 50% discount on tickets and free travel on Sundays, holidays and vacation days.
Tourist card Vienna Card
In addition, we have offers for those who do not like to understand and plan anything. Take advantage of ready-made walking routes around Vienna:
Time flies when you're in Vienna, but you want to see as much as possible! But just looking is not enough, because behind every attraction lies unique story, and not alone either. If you want to know all the secrets of Vienna, you should pick up good guide, and Excursiopedia will help you with this. On this site you will find the most original and interesting excursions, For example:
- When you are in Vienna for the first time...– a great opportunity to stroll through the historical center and visit the most famous residences, museums, cathedrals and streets, and also learn dozens of interesting stories from a professional and extremely friendly guide.
- Schönbrunn– there is an opinion that this palace is even more beautiful than Versailles! Plunge into the atmosphere of luxury, where the famous Habsburg dynasty once lived, listen to interesting stories about life powerful of the world That's it and just relax. It's very nice here!
- Musical triangle– Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert... These great names are known to everyone thanks to the extraordinary beauty of the music they composed while living in Vienna. You have the chance to visit iconic places where brilliant composers worked, as well as learn a lot of new and hitherto unknown things about them.
Mobile communications and Internet in Austria
Austrian telecom operators - T-mobile, A1, Drei (3), Yess- offer almost identical tariffs. For 10-15 euros you can buy a SIM card with prepaid 1-1.5 GB of Internet traffic, 1000 minutes of calls and 1000 SMS. Free Wi-Fi in Vienna is found mainly in cafes and restaurants; often the networks are closed, and to connect you need to ask for a password.
Shopping in Vienna
Shops in Vienna are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:30, on Saturdays until 17:00 or 18:00, some shopping centers are open from Monday to Friday until 20:00 or 21:00. On weekends and holidays, shops are open only at large train stations and airports, as well as at museums.
Main shopping street - Mariahilfer Strasse- runs from the Old Town to the Western Station. There are hundreds of fashion stores, shoes and accessories here. In the adjacent streets of the 6th and 7th districts, as well as around the Naschmarkt, there are lesser-known, but more interesting and original shops. Kohlmarkt ("coal market")- the most expensive area, where jewelry stores and boutiques of premium brands are concentrated.
Unique Feature Vienna - an opportunity to shop in real palaces. Aristocratic families once built luxurious baroque residences for themselves, but were forced to sell them after World War II. Today these mansions house ministries, museums and shopping centers. There are especially many of them in the city center.
You can get a lot of impressions by visiting Viennese food markets - Naschmarkt, Karmelitermarkt, Rochusmarkt, Brunnenmarkt, where you can buy anything - from vegetables and fruits to exotic sweets and rare delicacies from all over the world.
Viennese cuisine
Viennese (namely Viennese, not Austrian) cuisine united the culinary traditions of many peoples of the Habsburg Empire from Bohemia to the Balkans. Sets the tone here simple peasant food - nourishing, tasty and inexpensive.
For starters, they usually eat soup: beef broth with various fillings - semolina dumplings, liver dumplings, fried pieces of dough. One of the most popular types is frittatensuppe or fledlesuppe- dressed with chopped pancakes.
Then a meat dish is served on the table, for example, famous Wiener schnitzel(a huge piece of meat, breaded in breadcrumbs and fried in oil), tafelspitz with apple horseradish(beef rump boiled with seasonings), various roast beefs - Zwiebelrostbraten(with onions) or vanillerostbrother(with garlic). Traditional dishes also include Viennese breaded chicken (bäckhandl), veal lung stew (boeshel) and goulash.
Vienna is famous for its desserts. Definitely a must try chocolate Sacher cake- one of the most popular cakes in the world, as well as the most delicate apple strudel, Kaiserschmarrn egg pie or Marillenknodel apricot dumplings. Don't forget about Viennese coffee- in the most ordinary coffee shop you will be offered several dozen delicious varieties to choose from.
History of Vienna
Thanks to good conditions for agriculture and cattle breeding, people settled along the Danube as early as the 6th millennium BC. The first city on the site of present-day Vienna appeared in the middle of the 1st century AD, when ancient Roman troops built a military fortification here. By the end of the 5th century, the Romans voluntarily left this territory, but they were immediately replaced by Celtic, Avar and Slavic tribes who lived nearby.
In the 9th century, the Frankish Carolingian dynasty built a small castle and the church of St. Ruprecht on the site of the Roman camp, which has survived to this day, but the settlement itself remains a deep province. By the middle of the 12th century, the city became the residence of the Austrian Dukes of Babenberg. The real rise of Vienna began in 1278, when the Habsburg dynasty settled here.
In 1529, Vienna was unsuccessfully besieged by the Turks. Despite their twenty-fold superiority, they were unable to occupy the city and were forced to stop the rapid takeover of Europe.
Since the 16th century, Vienna became the capital of the multinational state of the Austrian Habsburgs. It was here, closer to the imperial residence, that the court bureaucracy and aristocracy gathered. In the 18th century, the manufacturing industry received special development, supplying wealthy nobles with fabrics and luxury goods. TO 19th century the city becomes European center culture, music and fine arts. The University of Vienna and the Academy of Sciences are famous throughout the world.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Vienna, with a population of more than 2 million people, was one of the most significant European capitals, but the defeat of Austria-Hungary in the First World War put an end to its power. Political infighting and huge inflation led the city into decline. During World War II, Vienna also suffered - both from bombing and from the economic crisis.
In 1970-80, the situation stabilized, production was restored, a significant reconstruction of the city center took place, and new construction began. Today Vienna is an economic, industrial and cultural center Austria, which is of great importance on the world stage. The headquarters of OPEC and the OSCE and one of the three UN headquarters are located here.
Important to know:
- State language - German.
- City area- 415 sq. km. Vienna's shape resembles a circle crossed by the chord of the Danube River. Central part The so-called Old Town is surrounded by a chain of boulevards called Ringstrasse (Ring Street) or simply Ring (Ring).
- Population- 1.7 million people.
- Visa- Schengen, cost - 35 euros.
- Currency- euro.
- Time difference with Moscow:-2 hours in summer, -3 hours in winter.
- Climate: In sunny Vienna, all seasons are clearly expressed. Winter can be quite cold, sometimes dropping to -15°C or lower. Spring is characterized by changeable, unstable weather. Summer is hot, in autumn the warm weather lasts until November.
Annual events, holidays and non-working days:
Holidays with variable dates:
March-April - Good Friday, Easter and Easter Monday
Ascension of the Lord (39 days after Easter)
Second day of Trinity (50 days after Easter)
Feast of Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter)
Its history is surprisingly rich. The Romans, barbarians, and knights brought special notes to the sound of Vienna. This European capital has been through a lot. All this was reflected in her image, which is captured in the photo by each of her guests.
Graceful park ensembles, museums, galleries - these are not all that make up the flavor of the ancient place. Vienna managed to preserve its identity. Thanks to its diverse opera houses, solemn churches, monumental avenues, and elegant squares, the city amazes with its richness. However, even such a multifaceted Vienna could not avoid standards and stereotypes. The city is often associated with coffee, schnitzel and apple strudel. On the streets of the city there are many cozy cafes offering these delicacies. This European capital is often associated with the names of Strauss and Mozart. However, this is precisely what brings special charm and sophistication to her image.
When is the best time to go on vacation to Vienna?
The climate of Vienna is called subalpine, that is, temperate. Summer here is quite long and hot. As for the winter months, they are cold. Vienna traditionally receives a lot of snow. However, a kind of calling card European capital is the predominance of winds.
As for the tourist season, according to travelers, it starts in April. Its duration is quite long - until mid-autumn. It is believed that the best time to walk around Vienna, explore its streets and see its sights is in early autumn or late spring.
Prices for tours to Vienna
When going to Vienna, it is worth considering that the cost of the tour may vary. It all depends on the season. Naturally, during the high season, ticket prices will be slightly more expensive. Many tourists look for hot deals, but using them is not always profitable. Early booking- this is the most acceptable option. It allows you to find the most profitable flights, calmly pack your suitcase, complete all the documents and choose a hotel room.
Types of recreation. What to do in Vienna?
Vienna is unique place. Thousands of tourists come here every year not only to see with their own eyes the ancient sights, the history of which goes back several centuries. Shopping in the Austrian capital is especially profitable. Once in this city, even those travelers who are indifferent to new clothes should definitely take a stroll through the boutiques and shopping centers.
Deserves special attention local cuisine. When you come to Vienna on vacation, you shouldn’t deny yourself tasting traditional Austrian delicacies.
Shopping
Vienna has many shops. You can buy luxury items there. Brand boutiques are concentrated within the Graben, Lohlmarkt, Karntner Strasse. Other streets full of boutiques and sales centers include Landstra, Favoritenstra, Mariahilfer and Meidlinger Hauptstra. Design outlets are located on Margaretenstrasse. The Samstag boutique is especially popular among young people.
Antique lovers can find a lot of interesting things in the Dorotheum. It is considered the largest auction house in Europe.
Gastronomic tourism
Vienna's calling card is rich coffee. All bars, restaurants and cafes serve the most unusual varieties of tart drink. To experience the entire culinary flavor of the city, it is worth visiting a local sandwich shop. The ancient spirit of Trzesniewski is indescribable. It's also worth checking out the shanigartens. These open cafes have a special charm. Staying there is incredibly relaxing.
Culinary tourism is incomplete without taking a look at the heurigers. These city restaurants are presented in the format of wine taverns. Many of them are located on the outskirts, as well as in the areas of Stammersdorf and Grinzing.
Vienna is a city full of attractions. Once here, you shouldn't stay in hotel apartments, although local hotels quite up to the level of decorating the city. Numerous sightseeing tours tours of the Austrian capital will be unforgettable. It will seem difficult to get around all these objects during one trip of standard duration.
Beaches and their types
There are many beaches in the capital of Austria. The oldest of them is called “Gänsehäufel”. It is located on the old Danube. Many beaches are located on the Danube Island. They are all different. Among them there are pebble, sandy, and even grassy ones. However, they all differ in convenience and coziness.
Here you can rent a boat, surfing equipment, and a pedalo. Vienna's beaches are also equipped with restaurants and cafes. By the way, there is also a nudist beach in the Austrian capital.
The sandy beach is located not in the capital itself, but in Baden. It is not just a recreational facility, but a whole complex of entertainment.
Sights of Vienna
Since the Austrian capital has a long history, it offers travelers a special perspective. Here you will find it interesting to take a look at the numerous museums, galleries and theaters. Each of the attractions is unique and has a special history. It is not surprising that tourists who have once visited Vienna return here again to explore every corner of the city.
Gazebo
The luxurious and sophisticated palace complex is located in the heart of Vienna. It was built in the 18th century as the summer residence of a famous commander. The complex was created in the spirit of exquisite Baroque. It is decorated with a marble gallery and luxurious frescoes. The palace has luxurious apartments, a classic stable and a huge hall.
Vienna Woods
A visit to the Vienna Woods involves a large-scale excursion route. It involves a visit to the Cistercian monastery, Liechtenstein ( medieval castle), the village of Mayerling, where there is a hunting lodge belonging to the Habsburg dynasty. You can also explore the Helenenthal valley and take a walk along the underground lake.
Hofburg
The key attraction of Vienna is the Hofburg. This is the residence of the Habsburgs, which they visited in winter. Today, this landmark is designated as the official residence of the current president of the country. The complex is striking in its scale. On the territory of the residence there are 2,600 rooms, apartments and halls. What’s remarkable is that modern tourists can admire the iconic landmark in almost its original form, which has survived to this day since the 19th century.
The first thing that catches your eye in Vienna and what you want to talk about is Cleanliness and Silence. Vienna is very clean, and the noise level compared to Moscow is simply zero :) It would seem that August is the tourist season, but no - there are fewer tourists than anywhere else. In addition to everything, the food here is delicious: tafelspitz at Plachutta, ribs at Salm Brau, apple strudel at Cafe Central, cakes at the Demel confectionery, as well as juicy sausages on the street and other goodies at the Naschmarkt market. Unfortunately, the main gastronomic event in Vienna - the legendary Sachertorte - has remained a mystery to us for now, we just haven’t gotten to it, Vienna offers so many confectionery products!
Vienna offers a wide range of entertainment not only for gastronomic tourists, but also for cultural event hunters. In literally every cathedral you will be invited to attend a concert of music by the greatest “Austrians”: Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Strauss. Unfortunately, July-August is vacation time at the Opera, so those who want to visit the opera should choose a different time. But during the holidays, excursions are organized in different languages around the Opera building itself; we were lucky, we arrived just at the beginning of the Russian excursion (there are a lot of Russian tourists in Vienna). We continued our musical education in interactive Museum Music, it is worth visiting and conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra here:). For lovers of painting of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. - works by Gustav Klimt. and of course, a huge collection of souvenirs with motifs from his works in every souvenir shop. For architecture lovers, there will also be more than one interesting architectural object here. For us, perhaps, the main gain of the trip was the impressions of meeting the artist Hundertwasser, or rather his philosophy and works.
If you still have time for something else, you can do the following:
- Visit the Prater Park and ride the carousel.
- In the evening, after a long walk, to relieve fatigue, take a tram to the town of Baden and go to the thermal baths (although in our rating of thermal pools, the Baden ones took the last line, somehow simple, without an idea)
- Take a walk through the Vienna Woods: we simply physically did not have enough time for this, but in fact the Vienna Woods is everything that surrounds Vienna along the perimeter, choose any direction and go, although judging by the reports of other tourists, the most popular route is the bus route No. 38, apparently due to the adjacent area of wine taverns :)
Where to live in Vienna
All historical sites are located either inside or in close proximity to the Ringstrasse, the local Boulevard Ring. We lived in a hotel Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier Wien a five-minute walk from the railway station, where the train arrives from the airport. We have already stayed in one of the hotels of this chain when we were traveling around Italy and staying in Sicily. The hotel in Vienna is excellent, 4* level! Located in the courtyard, the rooms are incredibly quiet and have a classic interior. Breakfast ok. I definitely recommend this place!
Prices in Vienna in August 2011
In general, prices in Vienna are approximately at the level of Moscow, so for residents of the capital they will not seem like anything special. The nice thing is that at the same price level, the quality (of everything: food, transport, museums) is much higher!!
Transport and visa to Austria
- direct flight with Aeroflot - we paid for this ticket with miles (we paid only for fees, 3800 rubles per person)
- At the time of the trip we had a “long” French visa..
- ticket for the CAT train from Vienna airport to the city and back (ticket purchased from a machine or at the ticket office) – 18 euros
- tram to Baden and back – 10.5 euros
- 3-day tourist discount Vienna Card (free travel on public transport within 72 hours from the date of purchase and a 10-20% discount on museums) – 18.5 euros
Accommodation in Vienna
- Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier Wien - 60 euros per double room per night. The hotel was booked through Booking, there was a serious discount, the base price was much higher.
Food prices in Vienna
- dinner at the Plachutta restaurant(tapfelspitz saucepan and two beers) – 40 euros
- double portion of grilled pork ribs restaurant Salm Brau– 27 euros
- beer (0.5) in the Salm Brau restaurant – 3.7 euros
- a portion of sausages and a radler beer cocktail in a street cafe – 8 euros
- cake and coffee at Demel cafe - 8 euros
- apple strudel and tea at Central Cafe - 8 euros
- cake and tea at the bakery at the Naschtmarkt – 4 euros
- three scoops of ice cream – 1.8 euros
Prices for museums in Vienna
- excursion to the Vienna Opera – 9.5 euros
- rides in the Prater park – from 2 to 4 euros
- music museum – 8 euros
- Vienna Historical Museum – 4 euros
- Capuchin crypt – 5 euros
- KarlsKirhe church – 5 euros
- house-museum of the artist Hunderrwasser – 9 euros
- thermal park in Baden – 15 euros per person
Our actual travel expenses: RUB 10,000. per person for three days + hotel + flight
We stayed in Vienna for three days - from late Thursday evening to Sunday evening. I think this time is enough for a first acquaintance with the city. In general, you can do it in two days if you refuse to visit some places (see below).
- Hofburg
- Capuchin crypt
- St. Stephen's Cathedral (national symbol of Austria, the main city cathedral in central square Vienna)
- house-museum of the artist Hundertwasser
- walk through the old town (north of Stephenplatz between the Jesuit Church in the east and the Scottish Monastery in the west, the Heiligenkreuzerhof area is the oldest residential building in Vienna, built in the 12-13th century!).
- the ancient cafe Central, where Leon Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin, Adolf Hitler and Sigmund Freud sat, as well as the Demel cafe, opened in 1786 (by the way, in the same year Michel Paccard and Jacques Balmat made the first ascent of Mont Blanc =).
- Vienna Historical Museum - paintings, a model of the old city, knights and their armor...
- Vienna Opera
- music museum
- St. Peter's Church
- Amusement park Prater – get into the spirit modern city and have fun (I especially recommend the roller coaster, not very hard, you could say the “soft” version!)
2. Places we would have missed if we had not three, but two days in Vienna
- Belvedere Palace (absolutely mediocre, Peterhof a hundred points ahead!)
- Karskirche church (well, yes, the minarets are certainly cool, but inside it’s an ordinary church)
- clock on the Hoher Markt (so-so)
- building of the Post Office and savings banks (a wretched building with the construction of which began the era of dull boring modern buildings)
- house of artists Secession
- urban food market Naschmarkt – buy cheese, sausages, drink tea and cakes
- Gazometram (“Barrels”) is an unusual building on the outskirts of the city; you can go and see how a modern shopping center was built in former gas storage tanks (from a shopping point of view, absolutely uninteresting!)
3. Places that we did not have time to see. If you have a lot of time, you can watch
- Walk through the Vienna Woods
- Schloss Park and Zoo
- Museums in the MuseumsQuartier near the Hofburg
- Natural History Museum
- Opera Museum
- Tram Museum
- Augarten park and excursion to the porcelain factory
4. Definitely buy the Vienna Card! Calmly, without thinking about the price, you can travel by metro, trams + discounts (albeit small) on museums. Pays for itself 100%!
6. For amateurs gastronomic tourism I definitely recommend the restaurants Salm Brau (pork ribs and signature beer) and Plachutta (typical Austrian dish Tapfelspitz).
7. Separately about the trip to Baden to the Roman Baths. There are several options to get there by public transport, but we chose the most “authentic” one - right from the city center, from the stop opposite the Vienna Opera there is an intercity tram (!!!), which will take you to Baden in one hour and 10 euros. As a result, we spent about 5 hours for the entire trip from the center of Vienna and back, with a two-hour swim. If you decide to buy an additional ticket to the baths at the thermal baths, keep in mind that the baths in Austria are public, and people go there naked (completely!!)
Vienna sightseeing map
View on a larger map
Our actual travel itinerary for Vienna
- Thursday: departure from Moscow – 21:20, arrival in Vienna local time – 22:05, train to the city center, check-in at the hotel.
- Friday: St. Stephen's Cathedral -> St. Peter's Church -> Cafe Demel -> Hofburg -> Vienna Opera -> Capuchin Crypt -> Dorotheum auction complex -> Music Museum -> Prater amusement park.
- Saturday: artists' house Secession -> Naschmarkt market -> Karskirche church -> Vienna Historical Museum -> Salm Brau restaurant -> Belvedere Palace -> tram ride to the town of Baden to the thermal park "Roman Baths" -> night walk along the avenues and boulevards Vienna
- Sunday: two houses of the artist Hundertwasser -> metro ride to Gasometers -> lunch at the Plachutta restaurant -> walk through old Vienna: from the Stubentor metro station through the Heiligenkreuzer Hof, St. Ruchert's Church, Maria Am Gestad Church, Juden Platz ), to the Scottish Monastery -> Central Cafe (14:30) -> hotel -> flight to Moscow (17:35) -> arrival in Moscow at 22:05.
