|
 A
little off the well beaten track, but well worth
seeing is the spa town of
Baden
near the eastern edge of the
Wienerwald (Vienna
Woods).
The town really took off in the 19th century,
embraced by Biedermeier types and the Habsburgs. Today it's still the
place to promenade between the Kurpark's bandstand,
benches and elaborate flowerbeds, to admire affluent
19th-century housing and to learn about the past in
the museums devoted to Emperor Franz Josef,
Beethoven and Baden itself. The hot springs
here, enriched with sulphur, chlorine and sulphates,
are also worth seeing. Baden is just a half-hour
train trip away from Vienna's Südbahnhof station.
 If you are visiting as a family or simply enjoy
great views, then you can’t afford to miss at least
one ride on the local
Giant Wheel.
This is one of Vienna’s
most recognisable attractions, and is located in a
large wooded park and playground known as the Prater.
It was built in 1897 by an English engineering firm
and is the only one of its era still standing from
this era. The wheel with its 15 gondolas takes
twenty minutes to manoeuvre around and offers
magnificent panoramic views of the city. Don’t
forget to take your camera!
 No visitor to the city should miss wandering around the spectacular
Hofburg (Imperial Palace). This is an awesome repository of culture and heritage. The Habsburgs set up house here for more than six centuries, periodically adding new sections to create the current jumble of styles and massive dimensions. The complex is rich in museums: the
Sammlung Alter Musikinstrumente (Collection of Ancient Musical Instruments), exhibiting instruments of all shapes and sizes; the
Museum für Völkerkunde (Ethnological Museum), with displays on non-European cultures; and the
Albertina, a famous and extensive collection of graphic arts. The Gothic Burgkapelle (Royal Chapel) is where the Vienna Boys' Choir sing Sunday Mass.
 Another not to be missed spot is,
Krems on the
Danube, which reclines along the river's northern
banks, surrounded by the terraced vineyards that for
centuries have been its mainstay. There's not a heap
to do in Krems other than take a quiet wander by the
cobbled streets, empty courtyards, baroque churches
and atmospheric city walls, but the wine-tasting is
a very popular activity and shouldn’t be missed. You
can get to Krems by train (60 minutes), boat (two
hours) or bicycle. The boat trip from Krems to the
monastery town of
Melk
is a regional highlight.
 If you're an art buff don't miss the
Kunsthistorisches Museum,
one of the finest in Europe. The Habsburgs loved to
collect, and many goodies found their way back to
Vienna from their extensive territories. It's
impossible to see the whole museum in one visit, so
plan ahead or expect to indulge in repeat
excursions.
 For something other than historical buildings and
museums, pop across to where local and international
birdwatchers flock; to
Neusiedler See.
Here you’ll be able to spot some of the 300 bird
species that call the wetland area of reed beds home. The town of
Rust,
on the lake's eastern shore, is inundated with
storks from March to August, and countless roofs are
topped with the nests of the birds. The town is also
famous for its wine, and is dotted with atmospheric
wine taverns. Nearby Mörbisch has a
Hungarian accent, because of its proximity to the
border. The atmosphere is relaxed in this pretty
town of corn-dappled, whitewashed houses and
flower-strewn balconies. Buses head to both towns from the regional centre of Eisenstadt
(30-minute trip); which is around an hour away from
Vienna by train or bus.
 Check out the Schloss
Schönbrunn. This sumptuous baroque palace
(1700) is one of Vienna's most popular attractions.
It has 2000-rooms-worth of imperial splendour (of
which 40 can be visited), complete with a
classically landscaped garden. Additional attractions (with separate
entrance fees) include a maze and the world's
oldest zoo.
 Go Skiing
or toboggoning if visiting
in the winter months. After all that’s what the
majoritry of winter visitors come for. Visit this site for further information about
Ski Resorts in Austria.
 Animal lovers, equine fanatics and children too,
can’t afford missing a visit to the renowned
Spanish Riding School.
Here you will be able to watch prancing Lipizzaner
stallions strut their stuff in the opulent surrounds
of the Hofburg's Winter Riding School. The
stallions perform an equine ballet to a program of
classical music, part of a long-established Viennese
institution that's truly reminiscent of the old
Habsburg era. Note: The stallions go on their summer holidays
(seriously!) to Lainzer Tiergarten, west of the
city, during July and August. They
can be seen training for much of the rest of the
year (except Christmas to mid-February). One can buy
tickets at the entrance but due to popularity are
advised to book ahead.
 The Vienna State
Opera is not to be missed but you need to
book at least a year in advance for good seats.
However late comers can buy standing room tickets
and if this is your only option, it’s still worth
seeing. The State Opera performs a repertoire of
near-one hundred operas, operettas and ballets every
day from September to June. The opera house was
founded in the early 18th century (it was rebuilt in
1955 after being all but destroyed in 1945) and
makes for a romantic and regal setting in which to
enjoy the performances.
Note: The
State Opera collaborates closely with the
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and their famous New
Year concert requires advance bookings of up to one
year. The waiting list for the subscription concerts
is 13 years!
Tip:
For more information on this exciting
destination, read our articles from people who have
visited recently, in our
Tangent e-Zine.
Note: For more
information on things to see and do in the area,
please take a look through our Sightseeing
pages, our Children's Activity
pages, our Sport and Activity (Entertainment)
pages or
contact us. |
