"Vienna" a Vienna Travel Page by antistar

Vienna is a stunning architectural treat. Pictures don't do the city justice, and from looking at any tourist brochure you'd be forgiven for thinking it might be just another Germanic city. The streets and buildings might look similar to other cities in Germany and Austria, but there's nothing to match the scale and grandeur of Vienna. Walking anywhere in the city center will leave you, like every other tourist, staring up into the heavens, ogling the amazing buildings, even in the most ordinary backstreet. Of course, ordinary in Vienna would be a tourist attraction in many other cities.

Vienna has pulled itself up from the rubble extraordinarily well. You can see a taste of post-war Vienna in the movie The Third Man, a must see before you visit the city. From there you can compare the depression and devastation of only a half a century ago, to the wealth and modernity of modern day Vienna. From the rebuilding of the historic city center, to the progressive architecture in the Messe on the Danube island south of the city, Vienna has a feast for the eyes.

Vienna is music too. A home for some of the greats of classical music, like Mozart and Strauss. You can't avoid the connection, and you will see statues, and events, and posters, and touts all over the city center. If you are lucky you can enjoy a concert for free, like I did in the Cathedral on Christmas eve, otherwise you will have to pay. The cost shouldn't be too high, especially for the quality, as long as you avoid the medievally clad touts outside every major tourist attraction.

If that isn't enough for you, Austria has a collection of fine museums and galleries. Many of these collections are world class, and the level you'd expect for a national capital, and one that was once the center of a major empire. Most of these are conveniently clustered into the impressive Museum Quarter, but there are other fantastic museums, like the Hundertwasserhaus, scattered around.

Vienna isn't perfect. It has an unbelievable number of toursists; throngs of them at all times of the year. It is also very expensive compared to the neighbouring countries. Hotels are a good 50% more than Munich, and prices are generally more in line with Switzerland than Slovenia. That said, it is a city that must be seen on a visit to the region. It has enough sights and activities to keep even the most jaded traveller occupied for at least a week, and if you should somehow get bored, there are plenty of excellent daytrips to be made within Austria and without, including the near twin Slovakian city of Bratislava.

Things I Loved

The amazing architecture, discovering The Third Man, Christmas Mass in the Cathedral, the Wrenkh restaurant and the Hundertwasserhaus.

Disappointments

The expense and the views from the Donauturm.

Photo Album from 2009 visit on Facebook (better quality).