1. Bezirk / 1st District, Vienna

3 more images

Favorite thing: You don't have to worry about the Euro 2008 in Vienna because the football fans are not very crazy or dangerous, as long as you stay out of the FanZone in the evenings during the main games. Vienna is generally safe and there are many security people and police all around the city to make sure visitors and fans have an enjoyable stay. Just make sure you keep your wallet and belongings close to you because there might be unscrupulous and damning petty thieves taking advantage of the festive atmosphere and joyous celebrations. There might be some over-jubilant fans - who may have too much beer from the beginning! - walking around and shouting happily, but they are generally harmless and fun to watch.

Fondest memory: During this historic event, I was happy to see the lively, colorful and festive atmosphere in the usually cool and calm Vienna city. I enjoy seeing the many nationalities and cultures coming together to celebrate the "beautiful game" of soccer.

Favorite thing: One day is not nearly enough to visit Vienna. However, for those who cannot stay more than one day, here are my suggestion to make the most of it.
First of all buy a 24-hours travelcard, then:
1) Start with a complete tour of the Ring by tram (list of the sights in my Vienna page). Start at any point of the Ring, but get off the tram at Burgtor;
2) Walk under the Burgtor, see the Heldenplatz and the "new" wing of the royal palace (Hofburg), walk across the other courtyards of the palace and under the dome of the Michaelertor;
3) Have a cup of coffee and a slice of cake at the cafe on your left-hand side when you get out of the Michaelertor in the Michaelerplatz;
4) When you get out of the cafe, take the street named Kohlmarkt up to the Graben;
5) Walk the Graben, admire the elegant shops but be careful not to miss the historic and artistic beauties of the place;
6) At the end of the Graben you will see Stephansdom, the cathedral;
7) After taking an adequate number of pictures of the Cathedral, walk southward along the Kartnerstrasse, the trendiest street in town;
8) At the end of the street you will see the Opera;
9) If you wish to have lunch, the informal Augustinerkeller is nearby (details in my Vienna page);
10) Take the D tram in front of the Opera (other side of the avenue, so use the underground crossing) and go to the Schloss Belvedere, one of the most beautiful palaces in Vienna;
11) Visit the exhibition of paintings (Klimt, Schiele etc) inside the Schloss Belvedere;
12) Take the tram D again (opposite direction) to get back, but get down at Schwarzenbergplatz;
13) A short walk will take you to the Karlskirche. Admire, take pictures and then walk to the underground station Karlsplatz;
14) Take the line U1 to Praterstern. When you get out you will see the big ferris wheel of the Prater;
15) Get into one of the wagons and have a view of Vienna from this vantage point. You will be able to see the Danube from there;
16) Give your tired feet a rest;
17) For a nice evening out, take the tram 38 from Schottentor to Grinzig and have dinner in one of the many typical Heuriger (wineries cum restaurant).

Favorite thing: Do not forget to look up, every now and then. You will notice how varied the top parts of these palaces are: turrets, gables, spires and statues. When you walk in narrow streets you risk to miss them, especially if you are distracted by the beautiful shops, so don't forget that the interesting things to see are not all at street level.

Favorite thing: When I first came to Vienna, I was told that Austrians tend to be quite strict on "trinkgeld" (tips). This is because the workers get low basic salaries and they depend on tips for their survival.

Most Austrians would round up the amount. Hence, Euro 2.25 would become Euro 2.50; or Euro 64.50 will become Euro 70. One will not offend if one simply "rounds-up." I do think that excessive tipping seems rather frowned upon. I doubt the receiver of the tips will complain but I think it is seen as a bit showy if you give a big fat tip. So, you will just have to play it by ear.

I would usually give @10% tips, unless the service was horrible.

Fondest memory: In restaurants and bars, the service fee is not included in the total bill. The waiters/waitress will expect around 10% tips.

For others - in general - you can give 10% - 15% to taxi drivers and hair-dressers. Porters may expect about Euro 1 or Euro 2.

Favorite thing: Vienna is divided into districts, politically, and there are 23 of them. Bizirk means district, and if you want to know in which district you are it's simple: look for a street sign: the number before the street name refers to its district. So If you read "1, Albertinaplatz " it means that you are in the first district, not at building number 1.

Fondest memory: District 1 is the innermost district, the most historical one and where most sites of interest are located. Stephen's cathedral would be at the very heart of this district.

This district had just under 20000inhabitants but the people who work there are many more: about 100000. The Ringstraße (the road that runs around the city centre) circles the Innere Stadt and more or less follows the area where the former city walls were located.

Favorite thing: The Innere Stadt is the first Viennese Municipality District. The Innere Stadt is the old town of Vienna. Until the city boundaries were expanded in 1850, the Innere Stadt was congruent with the city of Vienna. Traditionally it was divided into four quarters, which were designated after important town gates: Stubenviertel (northeast), Kärntner Viertel (southeast), Widmerviertel (southwest), Schottenviertel (northwest).

Fondest memory: The Ringstraße circles the Innere Stadt along the route of the former city walls.

4 more images

Favorite thing: City Park is a spa, a green oasis in the middle of the city, but also, an open-air collection of precious artworks, that reminds at important celebrities of the music lives and the history of Vienna.
There, are placed monuments that were realized from famous sculptors, for famous musicians.
The monument of Franz Schubert, for example, was realized from the sculptors C. Kundmann and T. Hansen, in the year 1872, and is a donation of the M?nnergesang-Verein (male choir) of Vienna, to the city park.
The monuments of Hans Makart, Robert Stolz, Schindler, or Andreas-Zelinka are placed on the avenues of the park.

Fondest memory: This photo was taken by Joe at the Train Station, minutes before I took my train to Salzburg !
It was a 3 hour journey & I was so happy in being there !
Also, meeting another friend Bruno.You can see all the photos that I took there if you go to my SALZBURG page ![Click on Salzburg].