Vienna - must sees & don’t bothers

[nancy75]

We are going to Vienna for a week in October, looks amazing & can’t wait!
Never been before & having looked at the usual tourist guides I’m overwhelmed by the list of places to visit.
So what are the must do places & what isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?
Any suggestions for restaurants also gladly received (mid range rather than Michelin star - going with a fussy teenager!)

We booked a hidden Vienna walk on air B and B experiences
It was great

Yes! Get a hot dog on the street. They poke a hole in a baguette, squeeze some ketchup in then out the sausage in so it doesn’t leak out or spill anywhere and you don’t run out of baguette for your sausage.

Last time I went I used a 72hour travel pass from the transport ticket machines. It's much cheaper than a Vienna card and still gives great travel options. The Vienna Card is only worth it if you know you're going to visit certain attractions.

There is a cinema opposite the Staatsoper that shows The Third Man in English. [url] www.burgkino.at/movie/third-man[/url]

There used to be guided tours of the sewers.

If you are interested in the Jewish history of Vienna there's plenty to see. Keep an eye out for the "Stumbling stones", little metal cobbles with the names and dates of birth and death of the previous occupants of the houses. They're quite moving.

If you have a morbid teenager there's a death museum and guided tours of the largest cemetery.

I went to the Mozart house, which was a real thrill for me, as I adore his music. Another real thrill (and I have been as many times as my stomach has room for every time I am in Vienna) is Cafe Central. It is cakegasm central with knobs on.

Besides the most gorgeous array of cake, they do a good breakfast (the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on lemon toast is lush), and main meals are good value as well. The breaded chicken with potato and cucumber salad is something I can eat til it comes out of my ears.

I just love to wander around and look at the buildings when I'm there - I just amble. There is a supermarket that is stuffed full of chocolate from all over the world; a shop that sells wafer biscuits, a shop that does lovely loose teas...I navigate by food and drink!

There are little arcades to explore and antique shops as well as all the normal upmarket designer stores.

On the days I've been things have been shut, so I want to see the Opera House and have a tour, and if I get more than 2 days there, I want to go to the Hofburg and spend lots of time there.

I went to the Mozart house, which was a real thrill for me, as I adore his music.
I do too - I studied music at University.Thought the museum was DIRE. Dull, haphazard, garbled information, empty rooms in the main, apart from framed letters and manuscripts on the walls. Gave no insight to his life at all, but then he only lived there for a brief period.

Now, the museum in Salzburg was worth doing!

Dd would probably love a death museum ( I think she’s in training to be a goth) & I like the idea of a hidden Vienna walk, will check that out on air bnb
Cafe central is on the list, the more cake the better!
Scaryteacher I’m with you on the wandering round & taking it all in, I’m happy with food markets & funny little shops but I feel like we should make the most of it by doing some actual proper sightseeing (if we’re not organised we’ll wander round for a week & miss everything)
The stumbling stones are something I’ll definitely look out for

CallmeAngelina we will only be in Salzburg for a few hours so only time for one museum - I take it we should head for the Mozart one?
I’m planning a museum, more cake & a trip up the funicular!

In Salzburg you could go full on Sound of Music!

If you want views in Salzburg the lift to the art museum and walk around allows you to see the castle, city and beyond.

The castle itself is ok but does not have much inside. Decent cafe there with view though.

Agree Mozart house better in Salzburg. Mirabelle gardens and river worth crossing over from the old town. SOM museum ok if you are interested in the film but very cliched and small. Christmas museum is an eclectic mix of related models, Dom quartier contains a historic collection of religious and ceremonial artefacts.

Christmas museum? Christmas museum! I didn’t know there was a Christmas museum Sod Mozart, Dd & I will LOVE a Christmas museum (DH can pretend he’s cultured & do Mozart in his own)

Thought the museum was DIRE. Dull, haphazard, garbled information, empty rooms in the main, apart from framed letters and manuscripts on the walls. Gave no insight to his life at all, but then he only lived there for a brief period.

When did you go? Lots of pics and information - videos of his operas playing, good commentary on the headphones, insoghts into his rather precarious existence as a court composer, and his relationship with his Father. I really enjoyed it.

I have informed the family about the Christmas museum - DH is groaning

When did you go?
May half term 2018

If the Esterhazykeller is still there, we loved it for evening food and drink. It’s a warren of old vaults. If you want a more fancy meal, Entler is wonderful while still being quite relaxed.

We went again recently. Would second the recommendations for Cafe Central, we went on a weekday for breakfast to avoid queuing and it was lovely. Also the Haus des Meeres (aquarium). Don't be put off by the current reconstruction of the outside, once inside it was fab with amazing panoramic views from the cafe rooftop terrace. And so clever how they built it inside an old defence tower. Schönbrunn palace gardens are wonderful, I could spend ages there.

Go to the "canteen" at the top of the ministry of Justice. Great food & wonderful views.