Parking in Vienna?

If you can get a good street map of Vienna it should show several parking garages. Mine shows two that are just off the Ringstrasse within a block or two of the Opera House. We stayed in a hotel on Mariahilfer strasse and parked in a garage on Stiftgasse, also walking distance-unless you're in heels. I would think most garages are a secure place to leave your car.

I didn't find driving in Vienna to be too difficult (Paris on the other hand...). I would recommend inquiring with your hotel via e-mail, but there is a parking garage very near the opera house. (Mala) Some of the sights you've listed are in the old center or central pedestrian zone, so once you park, you shouldn't need to move your car to visit these various places. At Schonnbrun, you can park right across the street in a big pay lot - a few Euros per hour. I'm not sure about free weekend street parking. Vienna has a bunch of rules around short-term, long-term, are you a resident, time of day, day of week, etc. Your hotel should be able to explain parking options. Ask them where to park for check-in purposes.

If you're still looking for a hotel, check out Pension Suzanne right across from the opera house. You probably already know this, but you'll need to buy a vignette sticker to use the motorways in Austria. Can you return your car in Vienna before going to Budapest to avoid paying for it (and parking) when you're not using it?

Thanks! Do you remember the appoximate cost?

I have another question on the same lines...Do you know if the parking is free on saturdays near the attractions ? Steven cathedral, Shonbrunn palace, Opera ? We will have a car with us since we will be driving from Salzburg via wachau..and since it will be a saturday , I was wondering if I could just park near the major sights

What is a vignette sticker ?? where can I get it ?
we are planning on driving from Salzburg to Halstatt and then to Melk and vienna ....Would we need Vignette Sticker?
Thanks
Mala

Yes, you'll need one for that route using the motorway. The vignette is a toll sticker that must be placed on the windshield...you can pick one up at any gas station. Just purchase one before leaving Salzburg. Don't drive too far down the road without one, because the fines are high. It's been a couple of years, but I recall it to be less than 10 Euros & it was valid for something like 10 days.

Hi Lisa and Mala

Michael is correct. It is mandatory to have the Vignette. You can get a 10 day sticker is 7.70 euro and any gas station should have them. Also, a few other point of interest - The driver is required to have a reflective safety vest, and of course, don't forget your international drivers license - available at any AAA office for about $15.

Check out this web site which has all this and more info regarding driving in Austria:

http://www.austria.info/xxl/_site/us/_area/417406/_subArea/417457/_subArea2/417770/index.html

Thanks for all the advice. We are staying at Pension Suzanne, as a matter of fact. I asked them twice about nearby parking garages and got no answer regarding that, thus my post. It sounds like I won't have any problem finding parking.
No, I can't turn the car in before leaving for Budapest. We are coming back to Budapest 4 days later and I need the car to drive back to Frankfurt. Two separate rentals would be more expensive than just parking it for 4 days.

Oh, by the way, I knew about the driving sticker..in regard to the reflective vest, last time I rented in that area of Europe, the rental car came with vests and whatnot.
I didn't drive in Paris, but Prague was a nightmare!

Lisa: You should expect to have a problem parking on the street when you arrive at Pension Suzanne to check in. The garage is only about a block or two from there, so you might want to park first and walk back to the hotel. The building housing the hotel looks like a Soviet party office from the outside, but it's a great hotel on the inside (check tripadvisor.com for reviews). I completely forgot about the international driver's license, because it wasn't required (only recommended) the last time I drove through Austria, so I didn't bother with it. A few fun facts: no right turn on red allowed, unlike the German autobahn - there is a speed limit, and no cell phone when driving. Have an uber-great trip!

Thanks all for the help!!