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Days trips from Vienna

We have 9 days in Vienna next month. We have already made arrangements for a day trip to Bratislava. I have learned we might have access to a car for a day so am looking for suggestions for a second day trip. We have already been to Melk and the Abbey; my only thought at the moment is Mauthausen and Linz. Any other suggestions? Open to anything that doesn't involve mountain climbing, cable-cars, or spelunking (.....phobias).

Posted by
14482 posts

Hi,

Great.... to set aside nine days for Vienna. Doing a day trip r/t to Linz is doable, still a bit far, but with a car just start off early. I did it by train. As for places closer to Vienna, how about driving to Mayerling, where the Crown Prince ended his life in a suicide with his girl friend? Going to the Vienna Woods is an option.

You can see southeast Austria, ie, going towards Graz, which is very doable by train, more so going by car. Graz was intiguing, esp. when you think of the city at war's end. I liked Graz, will have to revisit the town.

Posted by
672 posts

Eisenstadt is an interesting and easy day trip from Wien. Can visit Schloss Esterhazy where Hayden was the resident composer and enjoy some different wines from Burgenland, located near Hungary.

Posted by
4137 posts

Some great ideas above ,and of course limitless choices . Since you mention it , go see Mauthausen . It is a powerful and moving reminder of what ideologically based thought ( if you can call it that ) can produce . It's about two hours by car or train from Vienna and will change you forever . Needless to say , there is much incomparable beauty in this part of the world , and a day spent at the memorial helps one to keep in mind that not all of life is uplifting . I strongly suggest this .

Posted by
868 posts

Graz is a nice day trip. The old town is very beautiful (and a World Heritage Site AFAIK), and the armory is the biggest preserved real armory (= real weapons to protect the city) in the world. Or see Sopron, which is a cute Hungarian town close to the border. Or how about Baden bei Wien, in the 19th century a popular spa town and a summer residence of the Habsburgs. If you like 19th century fantasy castles you could see Kreuzenstein castle, which is a mightily impressive castle close to Vienna... much more impressive than Neuschwanstein in my opinion:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Burg_Kreuzenstein
Liechtenstein castle is also close to Vienna and quite nice:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Burg_Liechtenstein

Posted by
989 posts

OH, thanks to all of you....these all sound like good ideas....maybe I will find time for two extra day trips, especially if we get nice sunny weather. Appreciate your time and suggestions. Fred - Is the home at Mayerling still there, or is it just a " marked site" now in the Vienna Woods?

Posted by
17643 posts

Elaine, since you have seen the abbey at Melk; if you enjoyed it why don't you compare it to the Archabbey at Pannonhalma. 1.5 hours by train to Gyor, then a cab to the Archabbey and the associated winery. I've seen both, and its not which is "better", they are different and portray the same subject in two very similar and two very opposite ways.

http://www.c2cn.eu/sites/default/files/Pannonhalma%20Monastery_Photo_Akos%20Pottyondy.JPG
http://www.naturalcentrum.eu/files/image/szallas-gyor/pannonhalma_06.jpg
http://bences.hu/lang/en/

Time it write and you can be part of a service with the monks chanting.

Posted by
14482 posts

Hi,

My understanding is that the lodge where the event took place was demolished. Driving out to the Wiener Wald would be well worth it.

If you prefer staying closer to Vienna (admittedly, as suggested, Graz is a bit far unless you're determined to go there, I would), then like above, I also suggest Eisenstadt in Burgenland, which as a province was traditionally Hungarian. You'll tell the difference by looking at the village houses. The Haydn museum/house is there in addition to the one in Vienna.

Posted by
868 posts

Pannonhalma is important for Hungary, but it was destroyed several times and rebuilt in the last few centuries, when the area was quite poor. It is interesting, but there are more impressive monasteries close to Vienna. Like Klosterneuburg, with the Verdun altapiece by Nicholas of Verdun in the impressive museum, for instance:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klosterneuburg_Monastery
Or Göttweig Abbey near Melk:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6ttweig_Abbey
Or Heiligenkreuz with the tombs of several Austrian nobles, among them Leopold V, who arrested Richard Lionheart:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiligenkreuz_Abbey

Posted by
5362 posts

A few suggestions from a local who thrives on getting out of Vienna for a day:

  1. Durnstein, Spitz and Weissenkirchen in the Wachau - I know you have been to Melk, but this stretch of the Danube is very lovely and these villages are picture perfect. Great day trip with a car - rent some bikes while you are there and visit some vineyards. Send me a message and I can recommend some.

  2. Krems - A larger town with charm in the same direction as the villages above.

  3. Klosterneuberg - Basically in the suburbs of Vienna, a beautiful monastery to rival Melk, pretty village. Have lunch or dinner at Nierscher, here is an article about it:

http://sushiandstrudel.com/tag/buschenschank/

  1. Neusiedlsee - Lake with beautiful villages in Burgenland. Perfect for cycling and great to get to with a car. Rust, in particular, is the best village to visit.

  2. Sopron - Also near the Neusiedlsee, located in Hungary. Beautiful, preserved town.

Posted by
17643 posts

Martin, when were you in Pannonhalma? I really don't recommend Pannonhalma over Melk or the other way around. Yes, it's "different" but that's why I recommended both; for the differneces. I always enjoy Pannonhalma, and I enjoyed Melk too; for different reasons.

The majority of the Archabbey dates from the 1600's and 1700's (i believe there crypt is from the 1300's but i might be wrong); but there was a major addition done in the mid 1800's. Being in a poor region never really held the Benedictine monks back and maybe added to some of the character of the place. The monks are once again active (returned after soviet rule) and they once again run a school on the grounds. One of the differences between this and Melk is that you will come into a little more contact with the life of the abbey than you are likely to in Melk. They also resurrected the winery. This while interesting was done a little to modern for my taste; but some of the wines are quite good and there is tasting and tours of the facilities.

Emily I saw a recommendation for Krems? I have it from a very reliable source that "Krems is a larger town and lacks the atmosphere these [Wachau Valley] villages have". I have never been to Krems but I agree about the villages in the Wachau Valley. Loved them. Well worth a day trip if you like to wander quaint narrow streets and ancient small town churches..

Posted by
5362 posts

James - Ha, good one. Regarding Krems, yes, it lacks the charm of the Wachau villages. If I had to choose between the two, the villages would win every time if someone wanted to make the most of the Wachau. Are you really giving me a hard time for throwing out a variety of options??? Seriously??

Posted by
17643 posts

Emily, no, I am just teasing you. I think I was able to help that other couple out. The Combi ticket including Krems no longer exists so I looked up all the connections for them, passed it along and never heard back. Hmmmm, isn't there a post about that?

When one MUST go to Vienna for shopping or the like, the it would be silly to pass the valley villages. They are indeed lovely. Obviously more teasing.

Posted by
989 posts

OK, children...let's play nicely!!

We have a niece who lives in Klosterneuburg so will spend at least one day there.. She might lend us her car for a day, or even better, be available to take us on a day trip. Frankly, I'd be more comfortable with her doing the driving. I'll check out the villages in the Burgenland and the Wachau...I haven't seen many villages in Austria yet.

I don't want to travel into Hungary on this trip, James. Next trip will be three weeks in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia, so will probably dedicate a full week to Hungary then.
Thanks for all the suggestions and the update on Mayerling...too bad...I'd have loved to have seen the actual lodge.

Posted by
17643 posts

Elaine, I think Emily knows I am teasing. After all I have to be nice to her as she has my mother's name. I didn't even realize that was your post. Guess I should spend more time reading and less time talking (no comments from anyone please). I know your plans and they are great plans. You already know that I am a little jealous. You are a class act Elaine. Have a blast. (still expecting to see pictures).