Spending less than 4 days in Vienna isn't enough!
It is a huge city and there are lots of interesting places to see.
But having been there twice already,
I still don't find Viennese people to be friendly or hospitable,
if anything, they're a bit of the opposite.
But that's for my next post.
For now,
Here are 4 things I like about Vienna.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1: TRANSPORT
Yellow Tourist Ring Tram
Vienna's public transport is one of the most reliable and efficient transport system I've seen.
Living in a 3rd world country,
I am always in awe at how systematize things work around a developed country.
How I wish our country will have the reliability, efficiency and safety!!!
You don't need a car or get a taxi.
You don't have to worry if you don't know how to read the map,
Things around here are easy to understand,
take it from someone who hates reading maps and subway lines but has to! ^0^
=========================================================================================================================
By Taxi:
The usual cost from Airport to the City fare is about 30 euros.
OR
catch the CITY AIRPORT TRAIN { CAT } to the centre.
Tickets are roughly around 12 euros.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In our case,
we took the Metro ride from the WESTBAHNHOF train station to the CITY CENTRE - ( Volkstheater station was our stop. )
that's us! ^0^
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEED TO BUY TICKETS ?
There are * always * INFO points or TOURIST office - inside the airport, train stations and other important landmarks.
Look for ticket machines called FAHRKARTEN.
This is where you can buy and check your metro and train tickets.
There are several modes you can choose from :
SINGLE JOURNEY - for a usual day trip.
24 HOUR TICKET - from the time your ticket gets stamped, ride all you can.
72 HOUR TICKET - from the time your ticket gets stamped. ride all you can.
8 DAY JOURNEY TICKET - if you're planning to stay for a week or more.
VIENNA CARD - where you can ride all you can, plus museum discounts etc.
All forms of public transport fall under WienerLinien company.
So you can HOP ON AND HOP OFF from A TO B without having to worry if you need buy another ticket.
The TRAM , TRAIN AND BUS uses one and the SAME ticket.
This very helpful website lets you understand further... see LINK here.
Once you have your ticket,
You need to have it STAMP at this MACHINE.
It only needs to be stamp once.
This is very important,
as it's where your ticket gets validated.
In every country,
the system is always different,
as it is in Vienna or Berlin,
It was a bit confusing for me at first,
I wasn't sure how it really works until I was in Berlin,
and that's how I understood how it works.
It relies in "honesty system,"
most of the time, nobody checks your ticket, so technically,
no one will know if you have your ticket or not,
but there are undercover agents who do random checks from time to time.
Would you rather risk getting caught ?! ^0^
THE METRO:
a local magazine for your reading pleasure
some catchy advert
Did you know that you can actually eat inside the Metro?!
I read that in someone's blog, wasn't sure then, until I saw these.
I guess, people just forgot the word discipline. :(
going to Schönbrunn palace route
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
I actually like the RING TRAM.
If there's a reason for me to go back, then this is it.
I love how you can alight at any stop, just remember the Number of tram .
Meanwhile, you just sit back and enjoy the ride,
You take the Number 17 or 46 that starts from the Inner Stadt going further to the less touristy and where you see the
less flamboyant side of the city.
Sometimes, It is actually more interesting than those streamline architectures.
The tram lines go back from where you have started, so you don't have to worry if it gets back to your destination or not.
Ordinary Ring Tram
Number # 46 called Auerspergstraße was one of the Tram lines that we took.
what it looks inside.
BICYCLES
Like any other countries in Europe,
You can rent a bicycle for a fee.
like the company CityBike offers one.
=========================================================================================================================
2: MUSEUM
If you're an art connoisseur or just an amateur comme moi.
Then a visit to the M.Q * Museum's Quarter* is a must.
outside MQ Metro station
HERE are just a few of the many lists of Museums to choose from:
= KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM
Ranging from world renowned artists and painters.
From Raphael, to Titian, to Michelangelo, Caravaggio, to Rembrandt, Vermeer and more.
You will also find some of the oldest and ancient antiquities and artifacts from Egypt and Greece.
REGULAR TICKETS: ADULTS 14 EUROS
YOU CAN BUY A COMBINATION TICKET WITH A VISIT TO THE NEUE BURG MUSEUM
OR YOU CAN BUY AN ANNUAL TICKET . 7 MUSEUMS = 365 DAYS
PHOTOS: ALLOWED
Here are some photos of its interior.
This is where we spent the whole afternoon and I mean, literally you can spend for more than half a day or maybe a day even.
It is a feast for those museum lovers.
stunning, stunning ceiling
grand entrance, nice flooring
the works of Dürer on display
the riveting work of Vermeer,
it is quite a small painting, but the shadows and its color details are just wonderful to look at.
grateful that it doesn't prohibit us from taking photos.
whilst waiting for my sister to put her things in the locker area.
this woman was just standing there overlooking a splendid view.
we got the tickets here!
each room has a theme and a certain era.
The works you see here in this photo are of Caravaggio
It only took minutes before my neck started to get sore.^0^
The paintings are just everywhere large, small, detailed, expressive.
How i wish my mind can absorb all that much!
and then we went into the Egyptian and Greek artifacts room.
which by now, made my head feel dizzy! ^0^
All my energy was used up by then,
I was not getting bored, but actually so tired already because there are just puh-lenty of things to see!
just look at how intricate this piece is!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
= LEOPOLD MUSEUM
Contemporary collection of works by expressionists Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka and other artists
from the 19th and 20th centuries.
TICKETS: ADULTS 12 EUROS
PHOTOS: ALLOWED
Here are some photos:
I wanted to see the works of Gustav Klimt,
but Pepperoni wasn't feeling it and then, she kept on complaining about the price.
we were a bit stingy at that time, perhaps on our next trip then.
detailed ceiling inside Museum's Quarter
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
= MUMOK MUSEUM
For up and coming artists and new exhibitions.
I prefer to see classic pieces though.
TICKETS: ADULTS 10-12 EUROS
PHOTOS: NOT ALLOWED.
==========================================================================================================================
3: FOOD
If bread is your god, then you've got to taste Vienna's freshly baked goodies.
Funny thing was, before the trip, I jotted down a list of must-see and must-try restaurants and cafes.
I even prepared a few phrases in case a bit of German is needed. ^0^
Well, neither the scrumptious Wiener Schnitzel or the heavenly SacherTorte made it to our palette.
This is the downside when you visit Vienna during winter season, esp. on Christmas (dec. 25) and Boxing day (dec. 26)...
All the establishments are CLOSED.
The good thing about it is that there are Christkindlmarkt * Christmas Markets* festivities in Vienna
and some reputable franchised bakeries like Ströck and Heberer der Traditionsbäcker.
If you want more info about these two local bakeries I've mention.
Do click this link here.
The minute we reached the RATHAUS Christmas market,
I was already thirsty and what a way to spend my first 3 euros on an alcohol free drink.- Jungenpunsch / Kinderpunsch
* obviously a children's drink. *
and had some humongous Langos !
* tasted like Chapati bread dipped in lots, lots, lots of oil goodness! *
I didn't eat all of that, can't take the greasiness.
then, we had this Leberkässemmel, remember my Munich post? ^0^
this one is * Apffelberkässe * flavored.
Please don't judge this photo. ^0^
This is probably one of the messiest Cheese-filled sausage I've tasted!
They are actually wrapped so well, but the klutz-me, spilled mustard all over my camera and sweater.
Luckily, I was able to clean it off before it gets messy. ^0^
They're called Käsekrainer
When we were at Schönbrunn Palace that day, after spending quite a few hours inside the park.
We treated ourselves with a pack of their local Bratkartoffeln .
Yup! deliciously Hot! ^0^
we both had this freshly cooked : Herzhaftes Bauerngröstl
At some random food stalls near the tram station:
Turkish Kebab anyone? not that tasty but can pass for a meal-to-go.
even fried Chinese noodles?!
they looked a bit err... dry. :(
AIDA is one of the local Cafes here in Vienna.
Haven't tried this either, so I just took an exterior photo of it.
Well, I hope this helps you the next time you're planning to visit Vienna. ^0^
