Impulsively going to Vienna for a week! Need itinerary suggestions!

I could easily do a week in Vienna. All of my previous visits have been from 10 days to 1 month there. Get an apartment and enjoy this jewel of a city. We rent from Famile Walkner at Apartments Augarten.
http://www.apartment.at/eng/apartment/66

All of your ideas - 7 days in Vienna with daytrips, combining Vienna with Budapest or Prague, or seeing Vienna along with other places in Austria - are all possible. So, it's up to you. I know that doesn't help you narrow it down, but my tastes may not be yours, so only you can decide.

Don't worry about the language "barrier" - you will find enough English for your needs.

Wow, what a great deal! I don't blame you for jumping all over that!

Salzburg or Budapest would be great choices. Salzburg is 2.5 hours by train, and Budapest is 3 hours. You're right that the planning is half the fun! Maybe look at Rick's videos (available here on the website for free) to see if any of the towns/cities near Vienna jump out at you more than others.

Have fun!

I've been watching some of Rick's videos. I just ordered the Vienna book. I'm thinking Melk looked nice for a day trip, as well as Bratislava. I thought about Salzburg, but then being that close to Germany I'd be tempted by Munich. Which is obviously possible, but I do have to depart Vienna very early on the 4th, so I need to make my way back there.

I'm also trying to do it fairly inexpensively, which made me think apartment or airbnb in Vienna for the week would be the best option.

Has anybody spent late fall in Vienna? What are your suggestions?

If you stay in Vienna and do day trips, check out Gyor and Sopron. I haven't been but heard good things about both. They are each about 1.5 hours from Vienna. Another fun thing would be to take the bus to some of the heurigers (wine gardens) in the Vienna woods.

Can I ask how you heard about this great airfare? Are you signed up for alerts?

I did decide to just base myself out of Vienna and do day trips. I think I found a gem on Airbnb. A bit outside the city center but with a tram stop right outside. Great reviews. And it's a room in a good sized flat with a woman and her son, so she's available to translate and give general advice on the city. Just what I'd like for my first solo travel experience. Inexpensive too, in keeping with my impulsive decision and therefore smaller budget!

And the airfare - yes, sort of. I'm signed up with airfarewatchdog, but it wasn't an email alert. They were live tweeting deals this morning. AA seems to have had a glitch for some travel to Budapest and Vienna through fall 2014 to spring 2015. Lots of folks going to Budapest for $400ish. The Vienna fare was from Chicago, an airport I can easily get to for cheap, (or likely, just use FF miles to cover my ticket). However, it was only for certain airports. The same trip from my local aport was over $1,000!

Thanks for the info. I will take a look at that website.

You are going to have so much fun!!

I'm also spending 7 days in Vienna, then going by train to spend 4 in Budapest and fly home from there. While in Vienna I'll do day trips by train to Bratislava and Salzburg, and possibly a Danube trip. From what I've read and been advised, Budapest is incredible and not to be missed.

As much as I would love to do Budapest, with only seven days total, I think it's going to have to wait for another trip. There's so much to see and do there that I don't think a short trip would give it justice, and I have basically decided to base myself out of Vienna for the full seven days.

Everyone keeps saying that they could easily do seven days in Vienna, but I do want to take advantage of reaching some other points. I was leaning toward four full days in Vienna and then the other three days up to my discretion. Probably day trips, but more time in Vienna if I want it. I know Bratislava won't take a full day, but I'd like to see it (and that would give a few more hours to Vienna). Then the other two days I'd like to consider a trip into Hungary, Czech Republic, or further into Austria...maybe Melk, or maybe even Salzburg, though I may also save Salzburg for a future trip to Bavaria.

The other thing I will need to consider is the fact that I will be there over Nov. 1st, a holiday, and things may be closed. Has anybody been in Vienna over a public holiday? That may be a good day to attend Mass in one of the churches I want to see, but also use it as a "shopping" day. (But will shops be closed as well? Are restaurants still usually open?) Then again, that may also be a good day to do Bratislava after Mass. I don't have high expectations other than the old town, maybe the UFO and hiking up to the castle for the view.

If anybody has been to Gyor, Sopron, Brno, or done a day trip to Salzburg from Vienna, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

For day trips, I would definitely do the Wachau (Melk, Durnstein, Weissenkirchen, Spitz). The weather may or may not be in your favor, however. The journey from Vienna to Salzburg is 2:30 by train and when you add in getting to/from the train stations, it quickly becomes 3 - 3:30 hours. This makes for an early start and late return when the days are already getting quite short. I think your instincts to hold off on this trip for now are good. Sopron is lovely and very doable. Bratislava is very meh in my opinion - don't be surprised if you are disappointed. There are likely going to be some festivals happening around that time, but not my favorite - the Pumpkin Festival in Retz, unfortunately. Check out Perchtoldsdorf as well.

On Nov. 1, shops will all be closed, so plan accordingly. Restaurants and attractions, however, will be open.

j you mentioned that you found an inexpensive room in Vienna I will be in Vienna next month and I am looking for an inexpensive but convenient room can you give me the name of the place