3 Days in Vienna

An intriguing mix of classic and contemporary culture awaits you in Austria. The country known for composers like Schubert and Mozart has also given us modern notables like the musician Falco and Arnold Schwarzenegger. So whatever your interests, the capital city of Vienna -- Wien to the locals -- will make an outstanding three-day holiday.

Gemuetlichkeit is a term you should know right at the outset. It's best defined as the spirit and converging of all things good: food, drink, people, and atmosphere. It's the vibe Austrians live by, and they'll be more than happy to include the respectful traveler. So as a respectful traveler, remember Austria is proudly independent of Germany, its neighbor to the north.

To put it in perspective, think of the Canadian/U.S. relationship: neighbors, but independent. And unlike North America, history here is measured on a slightly larger scale. After all, Vienna was first settled by the Celts around the year 500BC. That's a lot of history to cover in three days, so let's get started.

All prices are listed in U.S. funds.

Day 1 -- An Artful Day

With just three days to cover such a vibrant city, you'll want an Innere Stadt (inner city), First District hotel. Hotel Royal will suffice nicely. It's in a prestigious area of old Vienna right by St. Stephen's Cathedral (site of Mozart's wedding and his funeral). Mind you, this doesn't have to be a cash-killer, as you'll find with many of the Innere Stadt accommodations. Rooms range $168 to $210, with suites still reasonable at just under $300.

Hotel Royal also has a decent enough restaurant, but get some fresh air and head outdoors. You'll soon be greeted with the "wurst" smells. That would be grilled sausage from a Wurstelstand, specifically, Ehrenreich's in Naschmarkt across from Piccini. Hot dog stands in the States have nothing on these guys for fast, delicious and cheap grub.

For the afternoon, you'll need to get around. Innere Stadt can be covered on foot in an afternoon, but during our stay we'll cover more ground. The 72-hour Vienna Pass offers unlimited rides on Vienna's excellent public transportation system of trams, subways and buses. The $20 charge also gives you discounts at attractions, including Vienna's inner museums.

With that in mind, it's time to get artful. MuseumsQuartier is a complex of modern art you can't miss. Are history and historic art more to your liking? Soak it in at Kunsthistorisches Museum and Liechtenstein Museum.

At this point, head back toward your hotel, and drop by a Kaffeehaus for a late-day caffeine fix and a bite to eat. It's a very Viennese thing to do, and you'll need a refresher before the evening's events.

While we're doing very Viennese things, make the day complete by attending an opera. Based on your budget, you could go all-out for the Staatsoper. Depending on the event and seating, tickets begin around $40 and can be as high as $375. The budget-friendly Volksoper still offers a quality evening for substantially less. The cheap seats are literally just a couple bucks. Even the best are $80-ish, depending on the performance. Whichever venue you pick, remember to rent a tux; your suit won't cut it (your hotel concierge will be happy to help you get your fancy duds). Also, keep in mind the opera off-season is July and August.

If you would rather be an active participant, try a formal ball. This is another Vienna tradition worth considering, especially as a romantic way to spend an evening. Because there are so many events from November through June, ticket prices vary from around $90 to over $500.