Vienna is about 75 kilometres by road from our hotel and can also be reached by direct train from Sopron, so the historic centre and an afternoon programme of your choice can fit into a single day. In the evening, the subalpine forest setting and the wellness area of Hotel Szieszta welcome guests back!
Should we travel to Vienna by car or by train?
Both options have their advantages. By car, you are freer to choose your departure and return times, which is especially convenient with a family. If you drive on Austrian motorways or expressways, you will need a valid Austrian motorway vignette. On-street parking is charged almost everywhere in Vienna, so for a full day of sightseeing it may be easier to choose a P+R car park next to a metro station and continue exploring Vienna by public transport from there.
If, however, you would rather relax on the way than drive, you can also take a direct train from Sopron to Vienna Central Station. Depending on the service and any current track closures, the journey takes about 70–80 minutes.
| Transport | When to choose it? | What to prepare for |
|---|---|---|
| Car | For a flexible schedule, with a family | vignette, traffic, P+R car park |
| Train | For a city-centre programme, without driving | timetable, return ticket, last train |
Sightseeing in Vienna’s historic centre
If you are visiting Vienna for the first time, start your walk at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. From the cathedral, you can reach the Hofburg along the Graben and Kohlmarkt, streets lined with shops and coffee houses. From here, the Heldenplatz and the Ringstraße (Ring) are also within easy reach.
As a continuation of your walk, you can see the Vienna State Opera, the Parliament and the City Hall, or take a longer break around the MuseumsQuartier. However, there is no need to squeeze every sight into a single day. Sightseeing in central Vienna stays enjoyable if you add no more than one larger afternoon programme to the walk through the centre.
Schönbrunn Palace and its park, the exhibitions of the Belvedere, a major museum or the Prater are each a programme of several hours on their own. Choose the one that really interests you – the rest can be a good reason for your next visit!
Things to do in Vienna with children
With children, a shorter walk through the streets of central Vienna is enough; it is better to look for programmes designed specifically for children. The Schönbrunn Children’s Museum playfully presents the everyday life of the imperial family, while Schönbrunn Zoo or the Prater can fill a whole afternoon.
In rainy weather you can choose between the Natural History Museum, the House of Music or the ZOOM Children’s Museum.
A few things worth thinking about in advance
You do not need a minute-by-minute itinerary, but it is good to clarify a few details in advance. Popular palaces and museums may have timed entry, so do not leave buying tickets until the minutes after you arrive. It is a good idea to buy tickets online in advance.
Come prepared with:
- valid travel documents
- the current timetable or route for the outward and return journey
- tickets and opening hours for your chosen sight
- a back-up programme for rainy weather
Christmas markets in December
December is one of the most beautiful times of year in the region. Of Vienna’s Christmas markets, the Christkindlmarkt in front of the City Hall is the largest, but the markets in front of Schönbrunn and Belvedere palaces and in the narrow streets of Spittelberg are more atmospheric and less crowded. There is also a Christmas market in the courtyard of Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, where hotel guests receive discounted admission.
The markets typically open in mid-November and can be visited until Christmas, though some stay open until early January. It is worth checking the exact dates before you set off.
What to expect at Vienna’s Christmas markets
On December weekends, central Vienna and the P+R car parks fill up, so the train is often faster than the car. At the markets, mugs usually come with a deposit, which you get back when you return them. Most stalls accept both cash and bank cards, but it is worth bringing euros for the smaller stands.
Austrian destinations instead of Vienna
Besides Vienna, several other Austrian destinations are easy to reach from our hotel.
Palaces and culture
Hotel Szieszta guests receive discounted admission to Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt (Kismarton), Forchtenstein Castle (Fraknó) and Oper im Steinbruch performances in the St. Margarethen quarry.
Shopping in Parndorf
Designer Outlet Parndorf welcomes visitors with more than two hundred brand stores in an outdoor, street-style layout, so an afternoon of shopping is also a walk. It is a short drive from Hotel Szieszta, closer than Vienna, so it fits into a rest day even if you have other plans that day.
After a day in Vienna, it is good to return to Hotel Szieszta
A day trip to Vienna involves a lot of walking, so at the end of the day it is good not to have to look for another place to stay. Spend the day in Vienna’s historic streets, return to your accommodation in Sopron in the evening, and the next day recharge in our Wellness & Spa area!
Book a room at Hotel Szieszta and combine the tranquillity of the Lővérek with the experiences of the Austrian capital!
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Vienna
Yes, a direct service runs to Wien Hauptbahnhof via Ebenfurth. It is worth checking the current timetable, as there may be periodic track closures on the line.
Yes, Familypark in St. Margarethen is half an hour from our hotel, and Eisenstadt and Forchtenstein Castle are also a 30–40-minute drive away. Hotel Szieszta guests receive discounted admission to these places!
Yes, but Vienna’s markets are usually at their most beautiful in the afternoon and evening, so it is worth timing your walk from the afternoon into the evening. For one day, however, choosing one or two markets is enough. The Christkindlmarkt in front of the City Hall is the largest and most crowded, while the markets in front of Schönbrunn and Belvedere palaces and in the narrow streets of Spittelberg are more atmospheric and calmer.