Weekend in Vienna

Arriving Friday afternoon, drop your things at the hotel and check in, then head out on a walk around the neighborhood. There are several parks and interesting buildings in the near vicinity, including the Stephansplatz, a historic square that features the huge Stephansdom cathedral. Grab dinner at Figlmuller, just two blocks from the hotel, to get your taste buds in an Austrian mood with a huge schnitzel and some potato salad. Two nights at the Hotel Konig...read more

Arriving Friday afternoon, drop your things at the hotel and check in, then head out on a walk around the neighborhood. There are several parks and interesting buildings in the near vicinity, including the Stephansplatz, a historic square that features the huge Stephansdom cathedral. Grab dinner at Figlmuller, just two blocks from the hotel, to get your taste buds in an Austrian mood with a huge schnitzel and some potato salad. Two nights at the Hotel Konig Von Ungarn, a 16th-century hotel in the heart of the city, provide a historic stay within walking distance of most of the sights.  hide

Make sure to fill up on Viennese pastries at Cafe Diglas before setting off for a long day of sight-seeing. The Vienna public transportation system is excellent, with one ticket being valid on both buses and trains, and makes getting around the city easy, inexpensive, and hassle-free. Spend your morning wandering the Belvedere palace and its gardens. For lunch, eat in the Meierei portion of the Steirereck restaurant, which is less formal (and less pricey) than...read more

Make sure to fill up on Viennese pastries at Cafe Diglas before setting off for a long day of sight-seeing. The Vienna public transportation system is excellent, with one ticket being valid on both buses and trains, and makes getting around the city easy, inexpensive, and hassle-free. Spend your morning wandering the Belvedere palace and its gardens. For lunch, eat in the Meierei portion of the Steirereck restaurant, which is less formal (and less pricey) than the main part of the restaurant, and offers a delicious local selection. In the afternoon, head to the southern end of the ring and spend some time at the Secession building. Don't miss Klimt's "Beethoven Frieze" on the lower level. Karlskirche, one of the most beautiful churches in Vienna, is also worth a stop. Foreigners can get tickets over a month in advance for an opera or concert at the Staatsoper, but rush standing room tickets also go on sale 90 minutes before each show. Grab a kebab at nearby Kebab Haus to eat while you're standing in line. If you're unable to get a ticket to the Staatsoper, the nearby Theater an der Wien also offers superb operas. If you're up for it after the show, get a glass of wine (or two) at the elegant Rote Bar, where you can expect other opera attendees.  hide

Fit in the Austrian State Library and the Schonborn palace in the morning, then grab a bite to eat at Schnattl, a delightful less-touristy Viennese restaurant, before swinging back to the hotel to check out and heading off to the airport.