Hello,
My husband, myself and my 8-year old will be in Vienna from sep 6-8. We are coming from Atlanta. I'm looking for some fancy/chic 'budget' hotel suggestions, if that is even a possibility in Vienna. :-) This will be our first time in the city. So, we want to visit all the main attractions and explore the city as much as we can in 2 days. Our budget for the hotel is up to $260. I would love to get your recommendations!
Thanks
Take a look at Hotel Austria. The largest most beautiful breakfast buffet I've ever seen. It is a smaller hotel with excellent customer service at the edge of town center. I would call it moderately priced.
Your stay is quite last minute so it is slim pickings with hotels. That said, there are two excellent options showing on booking.com, both in the very convenient and family friendly third district. First is Spiess&Spiess Hotel on a leafy street near my favorite market, Rochusmarkt, and just by a subway station. Next is Parks 73 The Townhouse Hotel, which has family friendly rooms right near a tram stop that gets you into the city center in just a few minutes.
Thanks so much Emily! I have booked Austria Trend Savoyen just in case since I saw availability on their website this morning. But I'm not sure how great that hotel is or if it's worth it. I can cancel it anytime though. Do you recommend Spiess&Spiess over this one?
Oh the Savoyen is a great choice! It’s one block from my apartment. Very easy access to the S7 train to the airport. Tram 71 is right in front taking you to the Ring in three stops (or walk in 10 minutes). My parents have stayed in this hotel a few times. Breakfast is very good as well. Rooms are modern but the hotel has elegance.
Thank you! Now I'm torn between Austria Trend Savoyen and Spiess and Spiess, I like both lol...
Do you have any favorite restaurant recommendations and also must-visit attractions in 2 days?
I’ll write my restaurant recommendations in a message. For activities, what are your interests?
Activities wise, we love exploring pretty neighborhoods/beautiful architecture while walking, may be visit one of the museums although we get bored with museums if we stay too long inside. May be catch a show.
although we get bored with museums if we stay too long inside.
Then visit the Prater amusement park - there are rides suitable for a 8-year-old, including the iconic Ferris wheel. It's a great place to hang out with a family-oriented crowd.
I do not recommend the Prater Amusement Park, primarily because (compared to amusement parks in the US), the Prater is very sub-par and kinda sketchy (think a really bad Myrtle Beach boardwalk). Also lots of obnoxious teenagers are hanging around. My kids can't stand it.
Have you seen some of the recent posts I have made which include walks around the city?
There are also two really great kid-friendly festivals in the city this weekend:
Ernte.dank.festival - It is like a giant harvest/Oktoberfest bonanza. It is extremely family friendly with lots of really good food. I HIGHLY recommend this event. It takes place at Heldenplatz next to the Hofburg. https://www.erntedankfestival.at/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22872796041&gbraid=0AAAAAqLqvjqZdQyXHfDEhhw1jVvVnHSkT&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8eTFBhCXARIsAIkiuOwhE6zP1RFMDde1i4sa4yYaECojhxQ2GL5-JtCO6Ex24joIgiLUk8YaAonpEALw_wcB
The Feuerwehrfest - Feuerwehr means Fire Service, so this is everything to do with the Vienna Fire Service, held in the very lovely Am Hof square. https://www.wien.gv.at/menschen/sicherheit/feuerwehr/feuerwehrfest.html
And I have a bonus idea - the Roman Festival at Carnuntum (https://www.carnuntum.at/en/romanfestival). Not too many know that Vienna was a major Roman military outpost. This festival, taking place at a reconstructed Roman site, is mega fun.
As for attractions, I always recommend Schonbrunn Palace for families. The zoo is great and the grounds are free. The maze and labyrinth (fee) are great fun for kids as well.
With museums, I suggest the free Wien Museum, which has descriptions in English and lots of hands-on activities for smaller humans.
I share Emily's opinion about the Prater Amusement Park only partially.
My grandkids loved this attraction very much, especially the mirror maze:
https://www.koenigreich-der-eisenbahnen.at/
It is located at the eastern end, i.e. accessible without walking through the whole park (with its temptations), if using subway U2, stop Messe-Prater.
Best museums/attractions for kids are:
https://www.nhm.at/en
https://www.technischesmuseum.at/en
https://immersium.com/en/
https://museumderillusionen.at/en/
https://www.3dpicart-museum.at/
I do not recommend the Prater Amusement Park, primarily because (compared to amusement parks in the US), the Prater is very sub-par and kinda sketchy (think a really bad Myrtle Beach boardwalk)
...where "sub-par" means it's not a sterile, corporate, squeeky-clean environment like Disney, Universal, Six GpFlags, etc. where the primary purpose is to relieve you of your money? First of all, no gate admission - it's free until you decide to eat or get on a ride. It's in a bit of a time-warp, as evidenced by the longevity of the Ferris wheel - and that is what some of us find appealing. Watch "The Third Man" before visiting.
