Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

12  Introduc I ng a ustr I a

Two Days in Vienna former imperial residence packed
with breath taking interiors. End
the day by taking the metro
Exploring Vienna’s cobbled once again to Prater (p108),
streets, lavish churches north of the Danube. This park is
and grand architecture is a a huge expanse of lawns and
fascinating journey through trees. It is an ideal spot for a stroll
centuries of history. or a bicycle ride. Look out for the
Prater’s iconic Riesenrad (Ferris
• Arriving Vienna’s Schwechat
Airport is located 19 km wheel), which attracts visitors
(12 miles) southeast of the city until late in the evening.
centre. The CAT (City Airport
Train) takes around 20 minutes A Week in
to reach the city centre. Eastern Austria
Striking façade of the Spanish Riding
• Moving on Vienna has a School in Vienna • Airports Arrive at Vienna’s
smooth and reliable public Swechat Airport, which is
transport system and it is Hofburg is the famous Spanish the best entry point to access
possible to explore a great Riding School (p71), where white Eastern Austria.
deal of the city in a short Lipizzaner horses peer inquisi­ • Transport There are good rail
period of time. tively at passers­by from their connections between Vienna
street­side stables. In the evening, and Eastern Austria’s main
head west across Vienna’s monu­ towns. A car is essential for
Day 1 ment­lined Ringstrasse to the exploring areas such as the
Begin your exploration of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum Neusiedler See, the Waldviertel
Innere Stadt or “Inner City” with a (pp88–91), one of the world’s and Vienna Woods.
visit to the Gothic cathedral leading collections of antique
Stephansdom (p62). Its spire treasures and old masters.
domi nates the busy square of Day 1 & 2
Stephansplatz. The Mozarthaus Day 2 See the city itinerary.
Vienna (p61), where Mozart com­ Start by exploring the cluster of
posed the Marriage of Figaro, is sights that are within easy walking Day 3: Eisenstadt and
just a few steps away. Next, head distance of the Innere Stadt. the Neusiedler See
to the south of Stephansplatz, Just west of the Ringstrasse is the Head southeast from Vienna to
where the pedestrianized vibrant MuseumsQuartier (p86), explore the town of Eisenstadt
Kärntnerstrasse sweeps past home to the Leopold Museum, (pp158–9). Visit the Baroque
several boutiques and cafés. the modern art gallery MUMOK chateau, Schloss Esterházy (p158).
Afterwards, venture to the and a growing number of cafés Next, pay a visit to Haydn-Haus
western end of the Innere Stadt and theatres. Take a short east­ (p159), now a museum dedi cated
to see the Hofburg (pp68–9), a ward stroll from here to Karlsplatz, to composer Josef Haydn. From
vast complex of palaces and site of the late­Baroque master­ here it is a short distance to the
offices that was once the symbolic piece, the Karlskirche (pp98–9). Neusiedler See (pp156–7), ringed
heart of the Habsburg Empire. Continue on to the Belvedere by fishing villages and grassy
Visit the Reichskanzleitrakt (the (pp102–103) to explore its beau­ plains. The town of Rust (p156),
former apartments of Franz Josef, tiful gardens and art museum. with its seasonally nesting storks,
p73) and the Schatzkammer Next, board the U4 metro line is the most pic tu resque of the
(treasury, p73) for a taste of former from Karlsplatz station to lakeside settle ments. Round the
imperial splendour. Opposite the Schönbrunn (pp114–15), another day off with a drive around the
northern end of the lake to the
reedbeds and marshes of the
eastern shore, a landscape best
enjoyed in the Seewinkel
National Park (p157).
Day 4: St Pölten and Melk
Visit St Pölten (pp136–7), a lively
market town with a well­
preser ved Baroque centre. Reserve
most of the day for the stunning
abbey at Melk (pp146–7), located
30 km (19 miles) west. The abbey
contains a host of artworks, a
historic library and a dizzyingly
The giant Riesenrad or Ferris wheel at Prater decorated Baroque church.
For practical information on travelling around Austria, see pp354–9

012-015_EW_Austria.indd 12 03/09/15 5:40 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Country itinerary template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1)
Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm