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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Brussels or Vienna for a mini break

44 replies

SirWendellsCloche · 26/02/2023 13:29

Looking for other opinions to try and decide where DH and I can go on a mini break November /December time.

We have narrowed it down to Vienna or Brussels as neither of us have ever been to either city and felt it would be a good time of year to visit both.

Any comments welcome to help me pick!

OP posts:
Krapfen · 26/02/2023 21:18

cassiatwenty · 26/02/2023 16:59

How are you liking it @Krapfen?

Have been here so long now it just feels normal. Definitely some cultural issues but overall a great place to live; good climate,
and great and affordable food, healthcare, public transport.

Summer here is really nice and I always get a bit irritated with the grannies and Mozart depiction of life here - the way locals actually live is so different from how it’s always portrayed.

MissAmbrosia · 26/02/2023 22:33

I live in Brussels and didn't really like Vienna. Are these really your 2 options? Bruges is prettier. Ypres more interesting. Antwerp more vibrant. Vienna - meh! But others love it. I'd do Budapest or Munich over Vienna.

GracePooleslaugh · 26/02/2023 22:35

Anoooshka · 26/02/2023 15:14

Vienna. And make sure you eat some Langos while you're there. I know it's not Austrian, but it's really, really tasty.

Oh yes this! Love langos

MissAmbrosia · 26/02/2023 22:36

Though I just reread that you are thinking Nov/Dec time - so if the xmas markets are on both are fine.

cassiatwenty · 27/02/2023 14:55

I'm pleased your pros outweigh your cons @Krapfen, it's lovely Vienna is so pedestrian friendly

Brussels not my cup of tea, Ghent though 💫🙂

JellyBeanFactory · 27/02/2023 15:29

Thanks @Krapfen, would be lovely to have some home-grown tips! Just me and him to cater for, DC all grown up (and can pay for their own hedonistic holidays!).

We like history, architecture, walking, tea/coffee stops and good food. Not fussed about shopping. A visit to the Spanish riding school has always been a dream for me.

sleepwhenidie · 27/02/2023 15:31

Vienna! Took the kids interrailing in 2019 and Vienna was easily favourite for all of us (other cities visited were Budapest, Venice and Paris). If Belgium then Bruges rather than Brussels.

Krapfen · 27/02/2023 17:29

JellyBeanFactory · 27/02/2023 15:29

Thanks @Krapfen, would be lovely to have some home-grown tips! Just me and him to cater for, DC all grown up (and can pay for their own hedonistic holidays!).

We like history, architecture, walking, tea/coffee stops and good food. Not fussed about shopping. A visit to the Spanish riding school has always been a dream for me.

Café Landtmann is a classic coffee house good for coffee, cake, apple strudel, but also for Schnitzel (and I would have a Frittatensuppe first as a starter).

Salon Plafond, which is the restaurant at the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts - good for exhibitions, design, architecture etc), also does a very good Schnitzel, and Gulasch. Their cakes are nothing special though - if you go there for lunch, I would go over the road to the Cafe Pruckel afterwards for tea and cake: another classic coffeehouse that had a refurb in the 50s.

The Museumsquartier is a popular place to eat/hang out on warm evenings: there are a few cafes/restaurants there, unfortunately our favourite one changed hands but in any case it's still nice to have a drink there on a warm evening, as is the Volksgarten Pavilion (60s vibe).

If you fancy Japanese/Sushi, then go to Mochi on Praterstraße - amazing food. They also have a small canteeny type place called OMK in the first district (Hoher Markt) which is great if you want a pit-stop while you're in town, or an early-ish supper (closes at 9.30pm).

Another good place for a snack is Tresniewski on Dorotheergasse in the first district. Open/finger eggy/pickly sandwiches and a Pfiff (tiny beer). Absolutely classically Viennese.

If you go to Schönbrunn Palace and want to stop for coffee, I would avoid the Cafe Gloriette at the top of the gardens (though it's ok) and go to the Cafe Dommayer which is close by and beloved by the locals.

My friend tells me that the Spanish riding school has rehearsals most mornings that are a lot cheaper than going to an actual performance - might be interesting? (I haven't been myself).

The Naschmarkt is an amazing market (food) and on Saturdays there's a flea market at the other end of it too.

If it's hot and you want to jump into an outdoor pool, take a cab to the Krapfenwaldbad which is high up on a hill with views over Vienna. Or the U-bahn to the Schönbrunnerbad which is in the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace - more expensive but less crowded and lovely.

The 19th district / Grinzing (where the Krapfenwaldbad is) is also where the Heuriger are - taverny type places where you drink the 'young' wine. They can be really touristy but non-touristy lovely ones are Zawodsky (bit more of a trek but nice views) and Hengl-Haselbrunner (accessible via tram) - both have pretty gardens. Go for lunch or dinner, order half a litre of white wine, half of soda and mix your spritzer accordingly! Food is usually self-service, roast pork, fried chicken, sauerkraut, schnitzel etc.

Parks are smaller than in London or Paris, for example, but pretty. The Volksgarten has rose gardens: next to it is the Burggarten which is nice to sit in (also the Palmenhaus there has a nice cafe). The Prater is huge (last time I was there there was an escaped pony running down the middle of it) and lovely. If you go, get the tram to the Prater Hauptallee and avoid the funfair at the start of it (unless you want to go on the Third Man's big wheel): head right when you get off the tram (south-east, I guess) and it's all trees and grassy. For art, history, architecture, music etc - there's tons of information online. There are big museums, galleries, the opera house etc., all easy to find out about (though if you have any questions, do ask). Rachel Whitehead's piece is at Judenplatz, that's always worth seeing.

If there's a chance you might be wandering around peckish late at night, you could order a Käsekrainer - cheesy sausage - from a Wurstelstand. I've only done this a handful of times in my 25 years and generally I think one needs to be a bit well-oiled to consider it. But it is a typical Viennese experience. If you fancy it, go to either the one on Hoher Markt or Albertinaplatz.

As I write all of this, I realise I could go on and on! These are all some of our favourite things to do, at least. Let me know if you have any questions about anything else.

cassiatwenty · 27/02/2023 18:02

@Krapfen you're amazing, thank you for your help ♥️👍🙂

JellyBeanFactory · 28/02/2023 00:50

@Krapfen Thankyou sooooo much 🥰 I'll let you know when we've booked!

wohmum · 05/12/2023 00:07

I just wanted to say thank you to @Krapfen for some great tips! I came across this thread a few months ago and decided to book a weekend in Vienna on the back of it.

we had heavy snow on Saturday but Sunday was then just gorgeous - what a beautiful city it is … bright blue skies, white white snow and the most stunning buildings ! Definitely a special place!

Krapfen · 21/04/2025 20:15

@WohmumIt’s approx 18 months later and I’ve just seen your post 😂 So pleased you enjoyed Vienna, did you go anywhere on my list?

DtotheOG · 13/05/2025 11:11

@Krapfen Are you still on Mumsnet? I’ve just booked a few days in Vienna for later in the year and your tips have been invaluable in getting a draft itinerary together. So thank you l.

Krapfen · 14/05/2025 13:10

DtotheOG · 13/05/2025 11:11

@Krapfen Are you still on Mumsnet? I’ve just booked a few days in Vienna for later in the year and your tips have been invaluable in getting a draft itinerary together. So thank you l.

Im still here! You’re welcome, just ask if there’s anything else you want to know ;-)

mumma24 · 14/05/2025 14:37

Vienna

DtotheOG · 10/06/2025 23:23

Hello. I’ve been told that all the shops and museums are closed on Sundays. What would you do to entertain yourself in Bienna on a Sunday?

libertineagain · 11/06/2025 06:53

DtotheOG · 10/06/2025 23:23

Hello. I’ve been told that all the shops and museums are closed on Sundays. What would you do to entertain yourself in Bienna on a Sunday?

I am visiting in the summer and this includes a Sunday. There are plenty of museums, galleries, cafes and restaurants open on Sunday. Nothing I want to do is closed on a Sunday (initially I was concerned hence why I know this).

StarlightLady · 11/06/2025 07:01

On average Brussels rainfall in November is higher.

But if you go via London for Brussels you can take the train, so you go directly to the centre avoiding airports.

TeamGeriatric · 11/06/2025 09:46

JellyBeanFactory · 26/02/2023 17:05

Thinking about a long weekend in may/June to Vienna @Krapfen. I definitely want to go to the Spanish Riding School, any tips for going there? And any other "must do" places to visit/eat/watch the world go by from?

We went to a Spanish Riding School performance last Christmas, I loved it but my kids and husband were indifferent at best. It cost €300 for 4 tickets in the cheap seats, on the upper gallery long side near the corner. Problem is on the top floor you can't see the horses when they are on the same side as you are sat, it's impossible to lean far enough over to see underneath. If you can afford it seats on the short ends are best, and failing that on the long ends on the ground floor, obviously those seats are more expensive at least €50 per person more for the ground floor seats. Practice sessions are cheaper than performances, no idea how they compare.

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