Spittelberg was our "go to" area for many dinners, as our apartment was relatively close by. It's a…read moresmall district, maybe 4-5 blocks total - located right behind the Museumsquartier and entirely pedestrianized. Back in the day, this was the "red light" district for the soldiers serving the Hofburg palace. Most of the buildings are original, dating from the 18th and early 19th century - so you really get a feel for "old Vienna" here. The streets are cobbled and quiet so you don't feel like you're in the middle of a major city. During the day, there are cute (and pricey) boutiques, shops and art galleries. At night, there are a good number of restaurants and gasthauses to explore. We especially liked Boheme and Witwe Bolt but there are many more to pick from. If you're visiting during the Christmas season, the neighborhood hosts a popular Christmas market in the "village square" area.

This is a delightful little corner of Vienna you could easily miss even if you spent your while…read morelife in the city. But you definitely don't want to miss it! Over the years Yppenplatz has developed into a lovely place for people to come together. There are wonderful restaurants, a couple of artsy places and the classic Viennese Staud's marmelade store. You can spend an enjoyable morning or afternoon here and finish it all off with a trip next door to the Brunnenmarkt, an authentic market which, unlike many markets in Vienna, hasn't lost its ethnically diverse character. Personally, I like to treat myself to breakfast at An-Do or Rasouli, buy some fresh fruit and veg at the market and then stop by Halis Börek to pick up some sweetpotato börek for my kids. The wonderfully old-fashioned (in the experience-a-piece-of-history sense of the word) Kaffee Putz is a great place to stop in, too. Yppenplatz is an ideal example of true local character.

A pretty cool ride in Vienna's Prater amusement park…read more It operates even in late winter (early February) and gives a great view of Vienna from above. Located in the second district, you are close to the city center. You are able to see some old buildings, some new ones, and you get a good view of WU-Wien. The ride length is pretty generous. While I would like the ride to spin a little faster, it may just be that I don't get as excited as I did when I was a kid. Still, I find it interesting that either all the way up and down, or towards the end (depending on the weather), the ride will speed up a bit. A few additional notes: it is best to go during warm weather with little to no wind. If it is chilly and or windy, the ride experience may not be as pleasant. The ride is fun, but 5€ seems a little excessive. P.S. If you've ever been in a Six Flags with a "Sky Screamer" ride, this one is manufactured by the same company!