Hotels By City: Cheap Hotels, Hotel Guides & Hotel Blogs

pumpkins waiting to be carved at last year's fall festival

This Friday and Saturday, September 26 & 27, a fall festival (Herbst Fest) and organic farmer's market will take place on Vienna's Freyung Platz. The Freyung Platz is a beautiful cobblestone plaza in the heart of the first district (near Stephansdom), and the fall festival gives a taste of what the spectacular Christmas markets there are like. There ...

Cool shops, classy museums, and a hip courtyard comprise the MQ.

This Friday and Saturday evening (Sept. 19 & 20), a free fashion show will take place in Vienna's Museums Quartier (MQ). Many of the styles featured will showcase approximately 20 local independent designers, many of whom have chic and funky items for sale in the MQ and surrounding neighborhoods. Models will strut down the runway in Arena21 ...

Cafe Demel remains one of Vienna's best confectioners.

While the cafe at the Hotel Sacher might be more well-known, the Cafe Demel has a more classic Viennese cafe feel and a dignified history. Nestled in a cozy little shop with high ceilings and elegant antique decor, the Cafe Demel is the perfect place to stop for a Melange (Viennese coffee) and a bite to ...

The Giesswein store is conveniently located in the Ringstrasse Galerien.

As the chill of Fall begins to hang in the air, Giesswein's Austrian-made woolens come to mind. The company is famous for producing high quality boiled wool clothing, accessories, and housewares. Its locally made jackets, blankets, and slippers are particularly warm and wonderful and make great gifts. The fairly-priced designs are traditional with a modern flair and are ...

Cafe Central serves cakes and coffee near Stephansdom.

When searching for a true Viennese coffee house experience, look no further than Cafe Central. The centrally-located cafe is filled with classy traditional decor, elegantly-clad waitstaff, and numerous Austrian edibles and beverages. Sample Vienna's signature Melange (similar to a cappucino) coffee drink and a slice of one of Cafe Central's many enticing cakes (like Vienna's esteemed Sachertorte) to reenergize after ...

Danube Canal view from Leopoldsberg.

Summer and Fall are opportune times of the year to enjoy strolling in Vienna's National Forest (the Wienerwald). Enjoy the quiet and seclusion from cars and other city noise afforded by the forest's tree-lined trails. Or sample a glass of local wine or Sturm (alcoholic grape cider available in Fall) at one of the nearby guest houses' outdoor dining areas. To get to ...

IKEA is the home of cheap and stylish housewares.

IKEA, the well-known Swedish home furnishings store, is a great place to stock up on inexpensive, fashionable housewares. Vienna's premier IKEA store lies just to the north of the city and can be reached with public transportation. The store is enormous - full of bathroom fixtures, bedding, kitchen gadgets, and more. There is even a fabric department, food store ...

Surf the net among the trees and fresh air of MQ.

When the weather is pleasant and you're itching to get online, consider heading to one of Vienna's free outdoor wireless areas. Currently available internet areas include the main courtyard of MuseumsQuartier, the quartier21 section of the MuseumsQuartier, Gaussplatz, Karlsplatz, and The Academy of Picture Arts (Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste). Each zone is part of the "q/spot free ...

See Vienna from a convertible Oldtimer truck.

If you're looking for a small-scale group tour of Vienna, consider riding on the Vienna Classic City Tour. Tour participants travel in a cool vintage-style convertible truck and will see all of Vienna's most significant historical sights and city highlights. The tour visits many of the famous buildings within and along Vienna's Ringstrasse, including the State Opera, Hofburg Palace, and St. ...

The shop sports an inviting arched entranceway.

When looking for books printed in English in Vienna, The British Bookshop is the place to go. Formerly in two different locations, the closing of the Mariahilferstrasse store leaves the Weihburggasse location as the premium place to find quality English reads. The store stocks a plethora of bestsellers and classics, and is sectioned off into different genres (mystery, hobby, romance, etc.) ...