Travels with Amy and Dave: Vienna Day 2

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Vienna Day 2

Our goal on this day was to see a large portion of the city by tour bus. We purchased tickets on line in advance for the Red Bus City Tours. Our tour was called "Totally Vienna" and covered the following highlights: Academia of Fine Arts – Goethe and Schiller Monument – Mozart Monument - Hofburg – Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History – Parliament – City Hall – Burgtheater – University - Stock Exchange – Schwedenplatz – St Stephan’s Cathedral - Urania – Hundertwasser House (20 min stop) - Prater - UNO City – Stadtpark – Beethovenplatz - Musikverein - St. Charles Square - Schönbrunn Palace (30 min stop) – Belvedere Palace – Karlplatz (ST Charles Square) – State Opera House – Albertina.

After breakfast we stopped in the Merkur Hoher Markt to watch the noon Anker Clock performance. First we toured the market looking at their extensive wine and products. The clock was built in 1911 and has 12 historical figures that pass each hour with a Roman numeral above their heads. At noon all 12 figures pass by.


Anker Clock in the evening

After the market and clock watching we walked through Vienna killing time before our tour. We walked smack into an area with another Hilton hotel that was situated in the heart of activity and easy access. We immediately walked in and spoke to a front desk agent letting her know we wanted to cancel our reservation at the Hilton Vienna Plaza to this hotel, the Hilton Hotel Vienna. The other hotel was on the other side of the Ringstrasse and honestly was too old and stuffy for us. While we enjoy typically historic properties, we just weren't feeling it there. We spoke to Hilton Honors and got our reservation changed and would check in to the hotel on Friday for two nights.

After changing the reservation we walked to our tour. On the way we stopped at the Opera House (tours only) and decided to return another time and also purchased two concert tickets for Friday night. The concert is at the Misikverein as the Opera House is closed for performances in July.

We arrived to Albertina Platz where we began our tour. The tour covered the following landmarks: Albertinaplatz and around the side of the Opera House, down the street past the Natural Art and History of Art Museums (Kunsthistorisches and Naturhistorisches), the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament, in between the Burgtheater, University, Stock Exchange, and Rathaus, past the Borse and alongside the Danube Canal (Donaukanal), over by Urania, and stopping at the Hundertwasser-Krawina Haus. Then we crossed over into Prater passing the Ferris Wheel. UNO City, Stadtpark, Beethovenplatz, Musikverein, St. Charles Square, Schönbrunn Palace (30 min stop), and Belevedere Palace.


Albertina Platz


The Opera House

Hundertwasser-Krawina Haus

After touring we stopped for the original Sacher Torte at the Sacher Hotel then shopped a bit (hooray for an H&M) also shot a few pics of St. Stephan's then had an early dinner at a sausage stand.

The infamous Sacher Torte

Dave enjoyed the Bratwurst and me a cheese sausage with mustard and brown bread; food heaven! We stopped at a mini market for some snacks and beer and called it a night.