Ask the locals. The Viennese people are very warm so if you are absolutely confused about where to go, ask one of them; the simplest word(s) in German will illicit a smile. Unlike the French or the English, the Austrian Germans don't seem to have one iota of hostility toward Western tourists. Your heart is your passport in this city, where following your instincts -- from sausage cart to sausage cart -- will pay off.
Take public transportation. Like most major cities, Vienna has a great subway system. You can get around for just a few bucks on the Metro system there, and what's more, many lines, such as the U1 and U2, will stop at great tourist destinations such as Prater Park's Praterstern station.To get to Schönbrunn Castle (see top photo) take the line U4. Check Metro map of Vienna for details. The subway system is color-coded, clean and well run. Another cool perk: the stations sell a variety of delectables, from Viennese pastries to espresso to wieners.
Eat on the run. Hot dogs and their cousins, the sausages, are ubiquitous in Vienna. The hot dog was actually born here, so rest assured that stopping for one of these links at the omnipresent sausage cart will not only fill you up but delight your senses.
Enjoy free arts.Check the local arts listings. Prater Park has summer festivals that include showing films, such as black and white French films dubbed in German. Sit on the grass with your stein of beer and watch the many-stories tall film flicker on a summer's night. Grass, sunsets, romantic companions free!Also check out the concerts in town. In the summer, you may find many musicians playing outdoors or free concerts inside churches, for example.You might also take a walk with your sweetie, or spring for a carriage ride (tip: for three people or more it's much cheaper) around town, touring Vienna's Ringstrasse, ending at St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Enjoy a night at a fast food restaurant!Seriously. Europe - at least Vienna - has a way of making even the most simple of pleasures seem like a treat. This fast food restaurant in Vienna has flat screen TVs, cappuccinos instead of coffee, plush leather chairs and carpeting. And no, it's not more expensive than that smelly, crowded American version you're visiting tonight.
