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Long weekend in Vienna coming up, we are staying centrally at the Radisson Blu Style Hotel.
Have a restaurant booked for Friday evening and state opera for Saturday evening.
Basically have all day Saturday and Sunday to fill. Outside of tips from google, any pointers of particular spots or specific things worth visiting?
Thanks!
You’re spoilt for choice really, what do you like doing? What are you seeing at the opera? On both my visits in the last few years there was nothing on that I fancied, although we did attend a gorgeous concert in one of the churches.
If you like museums full of fabulously wonderful stuff, I love the Imperial Treasury, or Kaiserliche Schatzkammer (probably my absolute favourite German name for anything, ever). It’s a trove of bling and weirdness, including the fabled and controversial “Spear of Destiny”.
Enjoy!
On Saturday morning/early afternoon, there’s a great fleamarket on Naschmarkt that we always enjoy going to. Also recommend a coffee and cake at cafe Sperl. If you’re there after the 14th, then you’ll have various Xmas markets, which in Vienna are very lovely. My fave is the one on Spittelberg,
We went to the flea market pre-Covid but sadly didn’t have enough hand baggage space for any purchases.
If the Xmas markets have started, don’t bother with a restaurant on the Saturday, just eat your way around the stalls!Worth looking at Schonbrunn Palace if you have the time. Was only around 15/20 mins on the train from Vienna and then around 10 min walk
From the station. Pretty popular so need to book in advanceYou probably already know, but just a heads up that BA moved Vienna from T5 to T3 recently which I totally missed when flew out on Monday of this week. Luckily I had time to get to T3 but I only found out when scanning my boarding pass in First Wing and it wouldn’t let me through!
Interestingly the cabin crew I spoke with also made the same mistake and reported to T5 for the flight.
It’s always been T3 AFAIK, unless it changed back temporarily. It’s one of those destinations which allows you to enjoy the T3 lounges!
This is all good stuff thank you all.
We’re seeing Falstaff at the state opera. I’m a bit of a cultural ignoramus when it comes to opera, but looking forward to it.
I did spot T3 departure – was going to check out the Centurion Lounge for the first time.
I’m not a huge Verdi fan but it should be an impressive spectacle. My OH would not be happy to sit through 3 hours of it though!
Oh – if you like Bond, or just for the great views, the huge ferris wheel at the Prater amusement park is worth doing if you’re in that area. It featured in The Living Daylights. You can book to have a meal served on board in a private gondola, though be aware that the people in the others will be watching you the whole time!
Wish we were going back there now! We are off to Valencia at the end of the month but it’s still about 25 C there, so not very festive!!
Basically have all day Saturday and Sunday to fill. Outside of tips from google, any pointers of particular spots or specific things worth visiting?
A walk in the cold air…
+1 for Schönbrunn Palace.
It’s a very walkable city and I always appreciated specialist musea there, like Freud’s house etc. if you are into it.
And it’s not just Staatsoper, it’s worth checking out Volksoper too.
Just checking in here after a very successful weekend in Vienna – thanks for all the tips. Totally fell in love with the city.
Super easy trip into the city from the airport using the dedicated train link. Staff at the Radisson Style Hotel were very welcoming and we received a great upgrade using VIP status.
Schonbrunn Palace was a highlight (they are taking some serious coin in that place!) – Christmas market had just started out front which was fun.
Staatsoper Opera House was amazing, and watching Falstaff was spectacular – in awe at the talent on display – and the whole experience was something very special.
Ate great food throughout. As mentioned above, the city is very walkable. We found the whole place very clean and safe with some really mind blowing architecture.
BA flights both ways were uneventful, on time and smooth. The Vienna Lounge at Vienna airport was excellent (which is more than can be said for the disastrous attempts to get in any outbound lounge using Priority Pass at Heathrow T3 – all the ones we tried were at capacity on the Friday).
Already plotting a return trip as there’s clearly so much more to see.
I think the Vienna lounge is one of the best European Priority Pass lounges.
I’m glad you had good time.
We are heading to Vienna midweek, early February. Have the opera booked on the first night but are looking for a restaurant on the second night our hotel is right in the centre of the city. And thanks Seagull, I am sure I would have turned up at T5!
We love Gasthaus Porschl, which is in the centre of town
7Stern Brau if you want something Germanic and down to earth. Great beer and food.
If you’re schnitzeled out, the Patara is a very pleasant Thai restaurant, near Peterskirche.
If you want to go to Cafe Central, try to book in advance; the queues outside can be very, very long.
Thanks for the advice guys, I will let you know how we get on in a few weeks time
I’d recommend the Naschmarkt for random culinary experiences. Nothing fancy, but we experienced good food there all in a casual environment.
https://www.wien.info/en/dine-drink/markets/naschmarkt-353536
Not sure about Cafe Central – our hotel was literally opposite the place and it all looked a bit Instagrammy to me – permanent queue outside all day from what I could see.
You guys were spot on, Vienna is an amazing city, clean, felt safe with good public transport, (12 Euros for a day ticket which included metro and trams). Took your advice and visited Schonnbrun Palace which was excellent. Never been to the Opera before, but saw La Traviata at the Opera House, and was blown away by the whole experience. We booked cafe central and had coffee there, it is worth seeing inside. Also went to the Sacher Hotel, lovely setting and great Strudel, the Sacher Torte was unfortunately a bit underwhelming. Also found a lovely restaurant not far from the Opera House, restaurant Fuhrich, great food. So thanks again for the advice, we are going back in August!
How did you find passport control/EES at Vienna?
I’m thinking of going in a couple of weeks and really don’t do standing in a queue for ages.Currently here, arrived yesterday albeit on the 06:00 out of LHR. Passport control was done in less than 10 minutes with fingerprints scanned and photo taken. Waited longer for bags.
Currently here, arrived yesterday albeit on the 06:00 out of LHR. Passport control was done in less than 10 minutes with fingerprints scanned and photo taken. Waited longer for bags.
Thanks very much, that’s encouraging to hear. I’ve read a lot of horror stories about EES (albeit normally during school holidays) so always a bit apprehensive. My wife and daughter both have German passports and I’ve generally gone through the EU lanes with them previously but I don’t think this will be possible any more.
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