1516 (Vienna)

Advantages: Great city for a weekend break or even more
Disadvantages: can be quite hot in summer

...This A to Z guide is intended to give you an overview about what to see and where to go in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Some more detailed reviews of certain attractions will follow later (some are already available). A Augarten This is a nice park north of the city centre, long ago a hunting area for the emperors, but since 1775 open to the public. It also hosts the famous Augarten porcelain factory, which is located in the former Orangerie where Mozart and Beethoven did perform music for the emperors. B Belvedere The two palaces (Upper Belvedere and Lower Belvedere) have been built as the summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, an important Austrian military strategist who defeated the Turks in 1683 after they besieged Vienna and he defeated the French Army of Louis XIV at Blenheim in 1704 (together... Read review

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Advantages: lively city with tradition
Disadvantages: not cheap, old folks peculiar, traffic jams

...it says on large billboards when entering Vienna City Limits. Sure it is, lucky visitors! As a resident for 35 years - I was born and raised in surrounding Lower Austria - I´m inclined to offer some info you wouldn´t find in an ordinary travel guide. In fact I do recommend to read a guide just to get the idea on the history, sights, restaurants and such before following my special hints. Just recently I had the pleasure to read an op of a female visitor who managed to get a picture of the city and its inhabitants in just 10 hours. This sounds to me like the classic statement of an American tourist doing Europe in 8 days: If it´s Tuesday, it must be Belgium! To see and feel Vienna should take at least a whole week, but I understand that most visitors come here for 3 or 4 days, so I´m going to adept to this schedule... Read review

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Advantages: Full of culture and beautiful enough to just walk around
Disadvantages: Not really the destination for anyone who is used to holidaying in Ibiza

...DIARY Thursday 1st April 1999 We arrived in Vienna about an hour before midnight. The train was in fact delayed but this didn't matter, we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. Finding a place to stay here proved considerably easier than Prague. On my Mum's vague advice we hung a left out of the station and after passing one four star hotel we came to a three star that proved reasonable. The room apart from being a bit small was fine and there was hot water 'a' plenty. Our first meal in Vienna proved somewhat disappointing as it was in Prague but all credit to the place we ate anyway for staying open until the hour it was. The Austrian's obviously don't take breakfast that seriously. Nothing wrong with the food it was just that the bowls and plate were so small I had to go up for fifths. The hotel manager was most helpful... Read review

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