Travel to Vienna

Travel to Vienna

Vienna is fascinating because there is so much history and culture to be experienced in this romantic city. There are medieval pathways to stroll, imperial squares, museums and stately Baroque architecture and art to appreciate. Vienna is also rich with the music of Mozart and Johann Strauss Although Vienna is among Europes oldest cities it offers visitors the luxury of a modern city with splendid hotels and an excellent transportation system.

Transportation to Vienna

The main airport is the Vienna International Airport but a few international flights also land at Linz, Salzburg, Graz or Klagenfurt. Several major international airlines including Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Swiss Airways and Singapore Airlines serve Vienna International Airport making it one of the most convenient ways to get to Vienna. The most convenient rail route would be to travel on Eurostar to Paris and from here connect to an overnight sleeper train to Vienna. Viennas railway station is located near the underground transit system; making connection to the city very fast. Buses and cars use one of several excellent motorways leading into Vienna. If travelling from Western Europe connect to the Westautobahn (A1) which also connects to Linz and Salzburg. Possibly the best route to choose from the Italian border would be to take the Sudautobahn (A2) which also leads to Graz and Klagenfrut. The Ostautobahn passes the international airport and continues to Brastislava and Budapest, with the A22 connecting to the north of Prague.

Public transportation within Vienna is excellent with fast trains, tubes, trams, taxi and bus services. Many roads in Vienna are one way and like all major cities it can be prone to traffic jams. There are few parking spaces in the cities and the rates are fairly expensive.

What to see

Vienna is situated on the banks of the River Danube where visitors can sit in one of the many pleasant cafes and listen to the music of Johann Strauss, Mozart or Beethoven. There are also several river boat cruises available. The best views of the river can behad from the 352 metre high Danube Tower. There are several famous buildings to visit including the home of Mozart, the Vienna Opera House which took 8 years to complete from 1861 1869. Hofburg and Schonbrunn Palace are both important cultural landmarks and not far from the Schonbrunn Palace is the Schonbrunn zoo. The imposing Karlskirche Cathedral, the biggest Baroque style building north of the Alps should not be missed. The Museum of Fine Arts is renowned around the worldfor its extensive collection of art . A mixture of new and old Baroque style buildings, cultural institutions and several collections of art can be seen at Museumquartier, one of the ten largest cultural centres in the world.

Day trips

A trip to charming Wachau Valley will always be treasured for its dreamy scenery of sprawling vineyards and quaint old villages. There are also several castles on hilltops that speak of legend and myths and add an air of romanticism to Wachau Valley. During the trip, stop at Durnstein Castle where King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned.In the heart of Wachau is the fascinating old wine merchant town of Krem, a lovely place to explore and relax. Travel further down the meandering road and you will arrive at the ancient abbey at Melk. There are also trips, by boat or bus, to picturesque Lake Neudsiedl near the Hungarian border.

Activities and leisure

The mild climate of Vienna makes golfing a pleasurable experience. The Club Danube at Wien, Sussenbrum opens its 6 hole par 18 course to golfers without a handicap. Many other golf courses require membership; the most famous of which is the Golf Club am Wienerberg which is located in the midst of the Vienna woods. The famous Alps, Austrias mountain range, is perfect for snowboarding, hiking and skiing. There is even a ski school, the Hohe Wand Wiese within the city limits. Vienna has also hosted the FIS World Cup races at Hirschenkogel, the largest night skiing resort in Austria, which is open to the public. There are many other skiing schools and resorts in Vienna offering a wide variety of sports to meet the tastes of visitors.

Shoppers must not miss the atmosphere at Naschmarket known for its mixture of oriental influence and Austrian traditions. The market sells all kinds of things and there are many cafes to rest your tired feet. Flea markets, usually held on Saturdays, sell a variety of items from antiques to jewellery. There are not many malls in Vienna as the city takes great pride in maintaining the architecture of its past. However, there are several beautiful boutiques and smaller shops strewn along the cobbled streets and hidden alleyways of the pedestrian only areas of Krntner Strae and the Graben.

Safety issues

Vienna is very safe with tourist police patrolling on horses and manning the streets of Vienna. Nonetheless, visitors are reminded to be careful with their belongings and be aware of their surroundings. Travelling to a foreign country is always an experience and it would be best to have the protection of travel insurance