Hi Everyone, November 18th, 2010 I will turn 50. WooHoo, happy birthday to me! I've been trying to decide where I want to spend my birthday. I've narrowed it down to three places...Venice, Vienna and Munich. I can't decide, so I'd like to try all three. I'll have a couple of weeks and will be traveling with my husband, Marc. I want to be able to catch the Christmas Markets in Vienna and Munich if possible. I don't plan on renting a car. I love museums and anything historic. I am not into sports. Unfortunately, I don't like sausage of any kind. I love classical music (concerts). I'd like to see Dachau. I thought about flying into Venice for several days and then taking a night train to Vienna for a few days. Then I could take a day train to Munich for several days. I would appreciate any suggestions. I know this isn't much to go on, but I have to start somewhere.
I suggest making it a day train from either Munich or Vienna to Venice.. get first class tickets and a gourmet picnic. It's a very scenic ride.
I think I'd start in Vienna and end in Venice... just personal preference. You can go to Munich in between. I think that makes the most sense train-wise (could be wrong here, though.)
I've narrowed it down to three places...Venice, Vienna and Munich.
3 of my favourite places - although it is over 30 years since I went to Vienna! I'd seriously look at the day train too - it might take a day out of your itinery, but the scenery is lovely & Shannon's suggestion of a gourmet picnic turns it into a fun birthday treat!
Enjoy!
Posts: 561 | Location: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: 08 May 2005
Thanks for the ideas. I think I'll need to go to Venice, then Vienna and then Munich because of the starting dates of the Christmas Markets. The Vienna markets start around the 22nd of November and the Munich markets don't start until about Nov. 26th. If I want to be in one of these towns for my birthday (Nov. 18th) it will probably need to be Venice. I have about 2 weeks, maybe a day or two more. Also, I need to be back by the first of the month for work. I love the idea of the day train and the picnic lunch! My original idea of the night train from Venice to Vienna was to save time because I think the ride is very long. I would take a two person couchette. Do you think it's a better bet for me to take the day train even though it's very long? Do you think I'll have any trouble eating in Vienna or Munich since I don't like any kind of sausage? What else can I eat? I'm used to traveling in Italy and I love italian food, so no problem there. Does anyone have suggestions on what kind of clothing and outerwear to bring? When I went to Italy in June my luggage was lost for a few days. Wearing my husbands clothes was not my idea of a good time. I am determined not to lose my luggage again, so this time I'm not going to check anything. I'll just have a carry-on. I don't mind washing some clothing. Should I expect snow?
Lisa, I do have to say that in both Munich and Vienna I got a little sick of all the meat. But that was in 2001 so it's very possible that things have changed... also there are more resources now to find different places to eat. Have you seen Spotted by Locals? They have some Vienna spotters but not Munich - good tips, from people who live there:
I would personally do the itinerary in reverse: visit Munic first, then Vienna, then end the trip on Venice. It's just me, I like to end a trip on a high note.
Lisa, Too bad you don't like sausage. Not that it is the only thing too eat in Vienna and Munich, but it is one of the best things, along with the breads and pastries, and when travelling one should try the best things.
I share Shannon's frustration re the lack of vegetables in the two cities. Vienna is worse than Munich in that. Once in Vienna I was so vegetable starved I actually ate in a vegetarian cafetaria. Well, it was cafetaria food, nothing to write home about, which means I don't remember the food, much less the address, but I remember being so grateful to have so many vegetables to choose from. Ditto when I ordered a kind of cole slaw in a regular restaurant: sweetened cabbage slices in a ton of an indeterminate creamy sauce. Cabbage! Vegetable! Heaven! (And I am a happy carnivore, which tells you how veg-starved I was.)
I have also taken a train between Vienna and Venice - a night train, which I highly recommend. What an experience to arrive in Venice, not in an airport, but right in front of the Grand Canal.
Vienna has a very rich concentration of excellent museums. Especially on't miss Albertina, die Neue Galerie and the Belvedere.
Venice is something else. Every unremarkable neighborhood church seems to hide the most breathtaking masterpieces.
Have you thought about trying to fly from Venice to Vienna? (It looks like AirBerlin flies that route.) Since you're planning to have only a carryon, this may work for you and would be a more efficient use of time than taking a whole day to travel by train.
We really enjoyed Munich at Christmastime and the big Christmas market. If there is a way to organize your schedule to do this, I would definitely try to be in Munich for the market. We especially enjoyed the market in the evening... drink the hot gluhwein!
I don't think you'll have a problem eating in Munich or Vienna if you don't care for sausages. (I didn't notice that much emphasis on sausages in Vienna, where the food isn't so heavy.) You will find all sorts of restaurants in Munich. I think a wiener schnitzel is always a good multi-purpose dish (love it served with cranberries). In Vienna this is usually veal... in Munich, often pork. I like a "cordon bleu," which I've had as turkey, cooked with a slice of ham and cheese. Tafelspitz is a boiled beef dish, an Austrian specialty. And definitely try the goulash soup-- my absolute favorite. This is a nice lunch meal-- a big bowl of hearty soup served with bread. You really don't need much else.
Buy yourself a phrase book that has a menu section. This will be helpful in understanding what's on the menu. Some guidebooks also have sections on typical cuisine of the region.
In Vienna, try to see a classical concert. They sell tickets on the street or your hotel can help with reservations. (If you want to see an important concert, contact your hotel for help in advance.)
The first time I visited Germany and Austria was around Thanksgiving. You'll need a winter coat and I would definitely bring hat, gloves and scarf. You don't need to dress up. I wear a lot of black jeans. Plan on layers and mixing and matching your wardrobe.
