1) Shop at Galarie Augustin – If you love costume jewelry as much as I do, then you will love this little shop nestled near the Guttenberg statue in Vienna. They have unusual designers from Israel, Vienna, Germany and even Brazil. (You can’t get these in the states…)
2) Belvedere – This was the summer palace. It’s a huge estate and houses several art exhibitions including Klimpt’s The Kiss. (Interestingly, a replica is in the HJMT office.)
3) Pratter – This was the most unusual amusement park I have ever seen. I thought Dorney Park was scary. This one has rides that only daredevils would ride. You are turned upside down at hundreds of feet in the air and tossed around. It even has the world’s tallest swing ride.
4) Hofburg – This is an amazing area of Venice. Here you get to tour the imperial apartments of Elizabeth (Sissy) of Bavaria and Emperor Fraz Joseph (who, by the way, stole my husband’s great grandfather’s pony, so we don’t like him.) The ground floor is an absolute bore as you’re looking at china and silverware, but once you get upstairs to the apartments, the tour gets fascinating. You learn all about the life of the Empress, Sissy.
5) Stephansdom – This cathedral has skeletal spire towers and is as magnificent inside as it is outside. It’s definitely worth the visit especially during services when you will hear a choir sing. It adds to the church’s spirituality.
6) Kunsthauswien – This is a fascinating art museum that houses the works of Hundertwasser, a modern day artist who died in 2000. He was also an architect and created uneven floors so that one could feel with the feet. (It was actually a little uncomfortable walking around. Although I saw someone in a wheelchair, I wouldn’t say it was handicap accessible.)
7) Museum Hill – This area is lovely. It has several museums situated in one area. The buildings are so big that you almost feel like a dunkin munchkin next to them. (Although we didn’t have time to go inside, it may be worth the look, but the outside is definitely worth seeing.)
8) Staatsoper – Is Vienna’s Opera House where operas take place every evening during the year, except in the summer months. Go on the tour. It’s definitely worth the couple of euros. Although I’m not familiar with opera, I did find it quite enjoyable and loved sitting where the emperor and empress sat during shows. Backstage was also quite interesting. Apparently, the set up changed in the 90’s and became fully digital.
9) Café Sachur – We went there with a recommendation from the Arthur Frommer book to specifically get the original sachur. But, when we got there, we were hungry for a late lunch and had some of the food also. The meal was superb. It was definitely a recommendation. As for the desserts, I could have gone elsewhere for a better tart!
10) Vienna Film Festival — If you are lucky enough to come to Vienna from July through September, don’t miss the Summer Film Festival in the heart of the city. Every night there is another film, primarily classical music or opera films. The night we went, it was a classical music film and it was fun and entertaining.
