Renting a Car in Vienna

I would like to rent a car in Vienna for one day. Can anyone recommend a company that I should use and whether I should book it now, or when I get there? TIA

|||

All major car rental companies have offices in Vienna. Most have an airport facility and also one downtown.

I would check them all for the best price as they can vary greatly.

Friends tell me that they were able to get a better rate than those quoted from the US by just walking into the office in Vienna and booking.

This is especially true in the %26quot; Off Season%26quot;

Much depends on your comfort level of traveling without this reservation.

You can also check with your airline. They often have a discount arrangement with rental companies for passengers.

The firm - Autoeurope is often quoted as being able to provide cheap rates.They are simply a rental broker that shops for best rate with various companies.

The Public Transport system including rail and bus systems outside of Vienna very efficient.

You may be able to reach your destination easily without a car.

Please note that parking in Vienna, should you need it, can be expensive in parking garages and very hard to find on the street.

The parking rules are also very confusing even to residents.

|||

Vertical summarized pretty much everything to the rent-a-car issue already. there is nothing to add really.

but probably you could tell us more specified what would you like to see or reach by car because it%26#39;s very much possible that you rellay wouldn%26#39;t need it. Vienna is a cosy little place, with an excellent public transport system, but big parking problems.

I%26#39;d rather avoid the car.

|||

In addition to the public transportation system (train or bus), you might find it more convenient, and not much if any more expensive, to hire a car and driver for the day (perhaps just a regular taxi, but on an hourly or fixed-rate basis). Last month we had great success with such an arrangement. Your hotel concierge should be able to arrange this. If your destination is not too far outside Vienna, having a local car/taxi from that area come into Vienna to pick you up and then return you at the end of the day (as we did) may well be considerably cheaper, too.

|||

Thank you for your advice. We wanted to rent it to go outside of Vienna for the day. Some of the places we are considering are Schneeberg, Hallstadt, Durnstein, etc. Any suggestions?

|||

If you%26#39;re a Haydn enthusiast, Eisenstadt. Vertical undoubtedly will recommend anywhere in the Wachau portion of the Danube, and rightly so. Correct, Vertical?

|||

I agree with the day trip to Eisenstadt, as a longtime enthusiast of classical music and Haydn. In addition, Eisenstadt, and Dürnstein, are easily accessible by train. I found the hike in Eisenstadt -- from the train station to the Schloss and beyond -- to be overexerting, but that%26#39;s because of my own poor cardiac health. (I just remembered I took the train to Krems, not Dürnstein). Train travel from Vienna is very scenic itself. It%26#39;s like wandering through a postcard.

If you have the time, take the Wachau tour from Krems to Melk, and see the Melk Abbey.

|||

Yes, you are correct Hoftraveler! I would recommend the Wachau area Krems to Melk. This is an easy day trip from Vienna. ( Vienna- Krems is less than one hour by train.)

Many alternative ways to see the sights from an all- inclusive ticket ( train to Melk- tour of Melk- boat trip on the Danube Melk to Durnstein and Krems - back to Vienna by train - 39 euros)

Rent a bike at any rail station in the Wachau and slowly pedal along the Danube, through the many vineyards, stop at a winery for a glass of wine, explore the small villages on the way ( Some more than 1000 years old)

Or take the train Vienna- Melk- transfer in Melk to the small regional train that runs along the Danube, pick some towns to visit like Durnstein , Weissenkirchen, Spitz, Loiben etc.

The Wachau visit is best made May to the end of October.

Eat and drink in one of the many nice Heuriger or restaurants.

I will leave my seat in Eisenstadt for the true fans of Haydn as I prefer Strauss- father and son.

Another interesting day trip ( and not well known outside of Austria)is a visit to Carnuntum- Petronell. This area was formerly a town built by the Romans to protect their frontier.

Interesting ruins and a nice museum.

This is near to the Highway A-4 and is less than 45 minutes from Vienna toward Hungary.

You can combine this with a visit to Bratislava ( formerly Pressburg ) now the capital of Slovakia.

Several interesting castles are also nearby to complete a nice day.

Numerous fish restaurants along the Danube in this area too!

In winter, a nice day trip is the train to Semmering - scenic way through the mountains and many tunnels to this, one of the closest places to ski and find good snow near to Vienna.

|||

Message to Hoftraveler- tonight Jazz! A visit to Salzburg Congress House and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band- so no constant Strauss or Kalman.

|||

Re Eisenstadt -- I just recently posted some details, including information on live concerts on Haydn%26#39;s own concert hall, on the thread %26quot;Must Sees for First Timers.%26quot;

For transportation to Eisenstadt, we used a car service as described in my earlier posting here. But before finally settling on that, we%26#39;d learned that the Postbus from Vienna (bus terminal is near the Sudbahnhof where the trains leave from, I believe) takes one straight to the heart of downtown Eisenstadt, which would avoid the long walk mentioned by ttlms.

Re the Wachau, I strongly second Vertical%26#39;s suggestions re Melk, especially the boat trip down from Melk to Krems. Better check to be sure it runs as late as November and onward, though.

|||

Regarding Wachau River trips.

Season is generally From middle of April to end of October.

see websites of Ship companies

wwww-brandner.at

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

This is a good trip as Hoftraveler has adviswd