So me and my SO are heading to Vienna for an FGC tournament, and we bought our tickets before we knew when the venue was opening. We show up at around noon at the international bus station, we won’t have had lunch, and we’re planning on hoofing it from there to Vienna West (public transit from point A to point B kinda sucks in this case according to google maps), where we’re staying over the weekend. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk to the location. Our route so far.
So here’s the question. Is there anything near or around that route worth looking at? Anything specific in Wien that’s really worth going out of our way (or hopping on public transit) to see? Recommendations on nice, not-too-pricy places to stop for lunch? Just general tips? (We’re both fluent in German, so that’s not going to be a problem.)
have a look round the opera house, a quick whizz round the cathedral, grab youself some fancy cakes.
the Hofburg palace in central Vienna is just HUGE, so only go there if you want to do nothing else. On the edge of central is Prater Park, home of many a spy thriller, I liked it at dusk, but other times of day also available.
sorry, didn’t look too closely at your agenda - hopefully I’m not duplicating everything you’re already doing.
My agenda thus far is “walk from the bus station to the youth hostel” and “walk from the youth hostel to the location”. Basically the entire reason google maps is there is to point out what route we were already walking.
The most fascinating site I encountered in Vienna was the *Haus der Musik. *It’s a 6-floor interactive museum, exploring many aspects of musical experience. It’s a little out of your way, next to St. Stephen’s, but well worth it if you’re into music.
For a novel architectural experience, check out Hundertwasserhaus, on Paracelsusgasse.
And you’ll be passing by the *Museumsquartier, *where you can see many of Klimt’s paintings, among other things.
Also: If you’re both fluent in German, it’s probably the German they speak in Berlin, not Vienna. They’ll understand you, but you may not understand them.
I really enjoyed the Technical Museum in Vienna, and from the looks of your map you’ll be in the neighborhood.
If you go, you might be able to do me a small favor. They had a case (on the lowest level, if I remember correctly) with a perpetual motion machine in it. Not a real one, of course, but the description on the case was in German, so I couldn’t read how it worked. It was in a closed case, and on plexiglass stands, so it didn’t look like there was a power source running to it. There could have been a battery concealed somewhere inside. If you can read what the description says, and let me know, I’d appreciate it.
Ah, while searching for a picture I found this video. The placard on the case now has English, but it still doesn’t say how it works. And the comments for the video are in German.
It’s a long time since I’ve been to Vienna but there’s a very big outdoor food market called the Naschmarkt not too far off your route. I think you could probably alter your route to visit it without having to walk any further.
It’s quite a sight and you’ll probably find something there for lunch…
I would say reconsider taking public transit. I found the trains/trams to be pretty good and I believe you can buy a one-day pass that allows you to hop on/off any train.
With just half a day don’t bother going into anything as you won’t have the time. I suggest you take the tram around the old city just to see it and then get off at the Rathaus. Then take a walking tour of Rathaus-Museumquartier-Hofburg-Stephansplatz.
A lot depends on what you like. The city is bursting with history. If you’re into WW II go to the Hofburg to see where Hitler gave a famous speech then go see one of the hideous Flak towers. If you like architecture (especially the history of architecture) then there are numerous influential Art Noveau buildings. If you like classic cold war era film noir then you can visit some of the scenes from The Third Man. Grab lunch at Cafe Central if you want to eat at a place that once saw some of the great early-1900’s intelligentsia. The Naschmarkt is also a good suggestion.
Absolutely. If you like technology, it’s not be missed.
I went to the museum a few years ago but I don’t recall seeing the machine. The video shows cooling fins on top of the big cylinders, and this leads me to suspect it is a deliberately complicated hot-air engine. The slow speed of operation fits. If so, heat is being put in somehow, probably electrically. Wires could be easily hidden in the struts, or the struts themselves could be the conductors.
More and better Klimt paintings at the Belvedere Palace and Museum, to the east of city center. They also have Segantini’s “The Evil Mothers” and a massive Max Klinger triptych with a frame he sculpted himself.
I only remember one first-class Klimt in the Museumsquartier. Lots of great Schieles there, though.
