34902GER
Facts and Free Time
TRANSPORT
U and S Bahn
For practical purposes, there is no difference between the U and S lines. There are 5 lines on the U Bahn (U1-4 and U6). There is no U5.
Operates: 05.30 – 24.00
Fares: Single tickets €2.40 (€2.60 if bought on bus/tram)
24 hour pass €8.00 48 hour pass €14.10
72 hour pass €17.10
Note that unlike in Munich or Berlin there is no one day “small group” ticket available for up to 5 people, which are so useful for our groups.
Tickets are valid for U-Bahn, tram and bus and must be validated before commencing the journey in the blue stamping machines. Day passes etc. need only be stamped the first time. All transfers are permitted.
A trust system operates and there are few inspections. However, fare dodging should be firmly discouraged.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Vienna is too big to negotiate without a map. Usually your hotel will give you enough for the group.
Tourist Information Office Kärtnerstrasse 38.
Main Post Office Fleischmarkt 19, open 7-22 Mon-Fri and 9-22 Sat/Sun
Late currency exchange At the stations until 22 hrs and you can try the tourist offices. Many ATMs.
Publications
Monatsprogramm – from your hotel and the Tourist Office
Falter – weekly listings, from newsagents.
THINGS TO DO
Stephansdom; visit the cathedral and/or go up the tower.
South tower has stairs to 240ft, North tower has a lift to 197ft.
Take a walk in the Stadtpark or the Burggarten.
Visit the Hundertwasserhaus – a whacky social housing project if this wasn’t included on the city tour. Popular with students; great funky/artsy shopping mall across the street (Tram N from Schwedenplatz).
See also Otto Wagner’s Jugendstil Post Office opposite the Regierungsgebäude on the Stubenring.
Opera house tours in English hourly, usually from 2 p.m. depending on rehearsals (sometimes earlier – check their website for availability).
The training sessions of the Spanish Riding School take place only in the mornings and only early in the season. Check with your hotel or local guide. However, guided tours of the school are available through the day (reservations required and available at short notice) and they are excellent.
VIENNESE CAFES
Demel, Kohlmarkt 14 and Hotel Sacher, behind the Opera
Hawelka, Dorotheergasse 6 and Sperl, Gumpendorferstr 11 for nostalgic connoisseurs. Or take your pick from the vast selection to be found in the pedestrian areas.
MUSEUMS
Vienna has many magnificent art museums and collections, the following selection will probably appeal to your students. Many close on Mondays.
Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury) Treasures and crown jewels of the Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire. In the Hofburg complex.
KunstHausWien – Untere Weissgerberstrasse. Permanent collection of Hundertwasser’s work, housed in typically wacky building.
Kaisergruft Tombs of the Habsburg Emperors on the Neue Markt.
Upper Belvedere Some wonderful 19th and 20th Century works including Klimt (with the iconic Kiss), Kokoschka and Schiele.
Kunsthistorishes Museum World famous and comprehensive art collection. Also sculpture, Egyptian, Greek and Roman art and Habsburg treasures.
Albertina Over one million items: engravings, drawings and architectural designs. A unique collection of Dürer engravings and drawings.
Haus der Musik Seilerstatte 30, near Kärntnerstrasse. Vienna’s newest museum; located in a beautiful 17th century palace, exhibits centre around city’s rich musical heritage; very interactive and fun – open late (10.00 – 22.00, 7 days a week)
SHOPPING
Vienna is expensive, so it’s worth reminding the group about the VAT refund scheme (minimum spend EUR 75).
The best-known shopping streets are Kärtnerstrasse and Graben, and there are lots of specialist and souvenir shops around St Stephen’s (needlepoint etc). The further end of Mariahilfestrasse has more everyday stores. There are no Department Stores.
Flea Markets
Naschmarkt Sats. 08.00 – 18.00 U-Bahn: Kettenbrückengasse
Also along the Donaukanal at Schwedenplatz in July and August Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. Beware of pickpockets!
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Prater, if not included.
Haus der Musik (above) is open until 10pm.
Tickets for the Opera (mostly expensive) and concerts are often available from the Agencies; for example, in Operngasse or in the underground Opernpassage. It’s always worth trying first at the Opera itself, ticket sales are at Goethegasse 1. Standing tickets are very cheap – queue 2/3 hours in advance!
There are frequent concerts in various churches, it’s usually easier to get tickets for these.
Check listings for concerts geared towards tourists (Mozart and Strauss), for example the Palais Auersperg. Tel: 817 21 78/40 107. There are always fancy-dressed ticket sellers around the city for these concerts.
Waltz concerts at the Kursalon in the Stadtpark. These are extremely popular with groups as they play all the expected”big hits” and are relatively good value. Tel 713 21 81
You can offer an excursion to Grinzing to visit one of the Heurigen. Discuss this first with your driver. You must reserve in advance. (This is usually only popular with adults!)
A good evening venue is: Altes Presshaus Coblenzlgasse 15 Tel 320 02 0