buck
Junior Travel Member
Posts: 8
|
Post by buck on Jan 15, 2008 12:36:23 GMT -5
Off travelling this summer for the first time, we planning on going to;
Amsterdam
Hamburg
Copenhagen
Stockholm
Prague
Vienna
Milan
San Marino
Paris
Among others, any suggestions of things to see or experience would be great
Thanks Buck x
|
|
|
|
Post by britalexis on Jan 18, 2008 2:20:04 GMT -5
Hi Buck! Out of your list, i've only been to Vienna and Paris. Vienna, really great choice. Before i went there i'd never really heard of it except for in "the sound of music" and even then i just thought it would be a bunch of green hills with little cottages, and cows. haha. i know, quite funny. Vienna, is absolutly amazing. I would for sure say to visit #1 - The Schonbrunn Palace. This is where Maria Theresia would stay when not at Versailles. ( they are made to be replica palaces). Especially if you don't plan in a day in Paris to visit Versailles. And of course, Vienna and opera are a match made in heaven. I would suggest buying tickets from one of the neat "dressed up" characters in the streets to experience a taste of vienna's musical talents. Next on my list are the Spanish Riding School, and St. Stephans. Trust me, you cannot go wrong going to Vienna. For me, i had low expectations of it before i went, and now after, i love it just as much if not more than paris. Have a fun time, i know you will!
P.s. - do you mind me asking when you are going. I was in Vienna in March 2006, and let me tell you right now, that it was rediculously cold. I'm talking -20 deg C. Im from Canada, and i have the harsh winters, and it was nothing compared to what i experienced in Austria. If your going anytime before April, i suggest bringing some really warm scarves and tuques. Otherwise you may end up like us, buying them there once we got off the bus.
|
|
|
|
Post by herrbert on Jan 18, 2008 8:21:12 GMT -5
Vienna is one of my favourites, I have been there 3 times, and still something inside me, is wishing to go back there.
Britalexis, already pointed out some of the highlights, so I am not gonna repeat those, but add a couple more. The Hofburg was the official residence of the Emperor, Schönbrunn was (just) the summer palace, outside of town. You can get a tour inside of the Hofburg, and see the rooms how there used to be. (after visiting more palaces, I don't bother anymore, they all look alike on the inside.) The complex of the Hofburg, also includes the Libraries. At the Hofburg there are also concerts, you can attend.
If you go to Schönbrunn, also take enough time to visit the gardens surrounding the palace. From the Gloriette you have a nice view over the gardens, and over the city.
In the city center there are more churches to be visited, beside der Stefl. The big sights, can be found on the places where once the city walls stood. The University, City Hall, Burgtheater, Parlament Building, Opera are all located on the Ringstrasse. A tour in the Opera is even for a not-music lover a good tour to take.
Just outside the Ringstrasse are the Karlskirche, and also the Palace of Prinz Eugen, the Belvedere, which I find more beautiful than Schönbrunn.
Prater is an amusement park, that is nice to visit in the evening. But if you want to make a ride in the ferris wheel, it's better to go a little earlier.
For the best views from above, you can go to Kahlenberg (which it included in the public transport cards. You can buy card for 24,48 and 72 hours), it's is possible to go the furthest north as you can by Metro, and then continue by bus. From the top, you can make the walk back (through the vineyards) to the foot of the mountain. And take the tram back to the center.
I have two favourite places for food: one is restaurant Gutenberg on Lugeck, not that far from the Dom, and the other is getting an Icecream from Paolo Bortolotti on the Mariahilferstrasse. (try Marilleneis) yummy !!
Copenhagen is nice, but the major sights are not the little mermaid, and Nyhavn. I found those completely over-rated. The Mamorkirke, is a sight to visit, so is the Rundetarn (Round tower) and I also liked the NY Carlsberg Glyptotek, because of the statues that it houses. Very nice to go in the evening is the Tivoli. I think 2 days, should be enough, unless you want to visit Roskilde as a daytrip, then add another day.
Stockholm, 3 days are OK here. I arrived late in the afternoon, coming from Türkü, Finland. To be honest Stockholm doesn't rate too high on my list. The Old city (Gamla Stan) is nice to walk around in. The Vasa Museum is an absolute must, it's the most amazing museum I've ever seen. Skansen is nice if the weather is good, and taking a boat trip to Drottningholm Palace is nice. I liked to visit it, but it didn't give me a reason to go back. (unlike Helsinki, which I love).
Amsterdam: Well what can you tell from it's own capital. I like it, but compared to other major cities it always gives me a feeling that is small. It doesn't have wide avenues, the plan of the city is still like it was build a long time ago. Most sights are close to eachother, so you can go everywhere by foot. I think the van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank house are the must sees, for anyone visiting Amsterdam.
|
|
dddx
Full Travel Member
Posts: 25
|
Post by dddx on Jan 20, 2008 4:48:36 GMT -5
P.s. - do you mind me asking when you are going. I was in Vienna in March 2006, and let me tell you right now, that it was rediculously cold. I'm talking -20 deg C. Im from Canada, and i have the harsh winters, and it was nothing compared to what i experienced in Austria. If your going anytime before April, i suggest bringing some really warm scarves and tuques. Otherwise you may end up like us, buying them there once we got off the bus. Sorry to be hijacking this thread!  But I'd just like to ask about this. I'll be in Vienna in March this year, but really, does it get that cold (-20 deg C)? It seems way colder than I'd expect. I thought I would be able to get away with a shirt, a sweater and a light jacket. |
|
|
|
Post by pointofnoreturn on Jan 20, 2008 10:50:44 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by herrbert on Jan 20, 2008 19:07:56 GMT -5
P.s. - do you mind me asking when you are going. I was in Vienna in March 2006, and let me tell you right now, that it was rediculously cold. I'm talking -20 deg C. Im from Canada, and i have the harsh winters, and it was nothing compared to what i experienced in Austria. If your going anytime before April, i suggest bringing some really warm scarves and tuques. Otherwise you may end up like us, buying them there once we got off the bus. Sorry to be hijacking this thread! But I'd just like to ask about this. I'll be in Vienna in March this year, but really, does it get that cold (-20 deg C)? It seems way colder than I'd expect. I thought I would be able to get away with a shirt, a sweater and a light jacket. Remember that Vienna has a landclimate, and if the wind is coming from the East (Russia), then it can still be cold in March. Walking around in a T-shirt, would be an expection. I wouldn't do that until May. around 7-12 C degrees, would be normal for March. |
|
|
|
Post by me on Jan 20, 2008 20:56:10 GMT -5
i think, perhaps, the English word Herrbert means here is "continental climate" rather than landclimate.
|
|
|
|
Post by herrbert on Jan 21, 2008 8:54:07 GMT -5
i think, perhaps, the English word Herrbert means here is "continental climate" rather than landclimate. yes. (hey it was early ...) |
|
But I'd just like to ask about this. I'll be in Vienna in March this year, but really, does it get that cold (-20 deg C)? It seems way colder than I'd expect. I thought I would be able to get away with a shirt, a sweater and a light jacket.
