Vienna Winter 2012 - Part 1

Vienna

Thursday - December 27th 2012

Before 2012 ended, we wanted to spend some days in Vienna and so we decided to go there for two nights. Unlike the last time, we stayed at the Rainers Hotel again, because we wanted to give it another try and because the internet offer included a free mini bar and breakfast. In 2011 we were a bit disappointed by that hotel, but this time it was better again. 

We left our home Thursday morning and arrived in Vienna around noon. First we parked our car and checked in. The staff was friendly and helpful and soon we had our keys. We dropped off our luggage in our room, which was nice and clean. It included a TV, a bathroom and a mini bar.

Rainers Hotel

Our Room

Mini Bar

Bathroom

Afterwards we were on our way to a vegetarian Taiwanese restaurant called Vegetasia. We ate there nearly every time when we had been in Vienna and like always, we opted for the buffet. Later we walked into the inner city and stopped at a new shopping mall, where we enjoyed a wonderful glass of wine at the Hillinger Wine Bar. Our next stop was the Stadtpark with the famous Johann Strauss Monument, before we went to T.G.I. Friday's where we had a glass of beer.

Vienna

Stadtpark

Stadtpark

Stadtpark

Stadtpark

Stadtpark Johann Strauss Monument

Stadtpark

T.G.I. Friday's

T.G.I. Friday's

T.G.I. Friday's

Then we just walked around the inner city and did some window shopping. Since it was getting colder, we decided to return to the hotel and relax a bit. Of course we had to try a beer from the mini bar, since it was for free.

Vienna

Vienna

Vienna

For dinner we went to a local Irish pub named Rupp's, which offers many different beers, over 100 whiskys and a vegetarian menu. We both ordered veggie burgers and while I had a beer, Claudia opted for the cider. Later we returned to the hotel and enjoyed a last drink at the hotel bar before we went to our room.

Vienna Winter 2012 - Part 2

Vienna

Friday - December 28th 2012

Our package included a breakfast buffet, which offered coffee, tea, juices, rolls, breads, cereals, jam, cheese, potatoes, eggs, fruits and more. After we had breakfast, we took the tram into the city. Unfortunately the weather was really bad that day and so we decided to do some shopping. To warm up again from the cold weather, we enjoyed a hot cup of mulled wine. However the rain didn't stop and so we returned to the hotel to change into warmer clothes and better shoes.

Austrian Parliament

City Hall

Back at the hotel we waited until the rain stopped und then we were on our way back into the inner city, where we passed along the Hofburg Palace, the Austrian Parliament and the Vienna City Hall. Claudia did some shopping and afterwards we had two very delicious cupcakes from Cupcakes Vienna for a very late lunch. To warm up again, we decided to have a cup of hot coffee at Starbucks.

Museum of Natural History

Hofburg Palace

Hofburg Palace

Hofburg Palace

Vienna

Next was a stop at the famous Julius Meinl Store, where we enjoyed a wonderful glass beer at the cafe and bar in the ground floor until we moved downstairs into the beautiful wine bar.

Julius Meinl Store

Julius Meinl Store

Meinl's Winebar

Meinl's Winebar

Since it was already 8:00pm, we decided to have dinner at an Italian restaurant called Vapiano, which is a self service chain restaurant that offers pizzas, pastas and salads. While I tried a pizza, Claudia had a pasta dish. Both tasted great.

Pasta at Vapiano

Pizza at Vapiano

Then it was time to return to the hotel, but before we did so, we just walked around the inner city and enjoyed the atmosphere. Back in the hotel we plundered the mini bar and watched TV.

Demel Coffee House

St. Stephan's Cathedral

Hotel Sacher

Vienna State Opera

Returning Home

Saturday - December 29th 2012

After breakfast we packed our belongings und returned to the Julius Meinl Store to buy some international beers and other specialities. Before we drove back home, we stopped at Austria's biggest Shopping Mall and on our way back to Salzburg, we made another stop at our favourite vegetarian restaurant named Schillinger.