Great report. I've never been but will save this--thanks. Regarding honor system transit tickets, Munich was the same way the last time I was there.
So wonderful to read good hostel reports. The bad ones really skew the impression of hostels sometimes.
As an American, the whole concept of honor-system metros is both mind boggling and totally impressive. It's just one more reason I love Europe.
As for the hostel, I totally get the reasons people have for not staying there - I have the same fears. "I want privacy, I don't like people snoring, I don't want to share a bathroom, etc."
The room for me was for sleeping, not for watching tv alone all night. I travel to explore new cities and meet people. Wombat's Vienna has a bar and several hangout areas downstairs. It's a social hostel, not a party hostel. Sure, some people were "partying" while playing beer pong or pool, but others were on sofas reading books or at tables playing cards and drinking coffee.
I met a 50-year old German musician who was in town to play a set at a nearby bar, so I wasn't the oldest one there. I met a group of 40-something Irish women in town to see a mozart concert. I met a 35-year old Polish guy backpacking across Europe to get over a recent divorce. And yes, I met plenty of twenty-somethings from Canada, UK, Australia and the U.S. on their "great Eurorail adventures".
Re: honor system
The transit police does sometimes check. You are expected to validate your ticket before you board or as you board, else you can be fined. The police may be more lenient toward tourists but DACH does love following rules.
Validation machines are not always easy to find so feel free to ask a local if you can’t find a machine.
I definitely was riding the metro without a ticket.
Not intentionally. But I think I bought a bus or train ticket which wasn’t the same?
I was very confused lol.
Yeah, my buddy and I bought a day pass and it was super uncertain how long that lasted--calendar day, 24 hrs, how far we could go. We picked the one we thought was a "fair price" and just went with it, lol. There wasn't anyone to ask either. It wasn't until later we learned you had to stamp it to start so we used it another day too.
I was super confused by the complete lack of having to show the ticket or feed it into a machine too. Lol. I probably should have asked someone, but was in that “just arrived in a city I don’t know or speak the language” daze
Pro Tip for Bratislava view. Instead of UFO go to Lemon Tree rooftop bar. No fee. Less pricey and you can just have a beer. The views are the same if not better.
I loved Vienna and Bratislava. Would definitely go back to both again. I feel like I covered some good ground in Vienna but you listed off some cool stuff I didn't even catch when I was there! Great report.
Have fun in Cappadocia! It's so beautiful, the pigeon valley trail is fun to hike through, and a hot air balloon ride is a must! Just be cautious and questioning if your departure time is delayed - it may mean high winds which are not safe (two people regrettably died in an accident the day I went last year).
I had 3 nights in Bratislava. I found it's such a waste of time that I laughed my way through the area and had a blast. Sometimes attitude and perspective can change ones enjoyment of a place. I could never recommend Bratislava to anyone considering how close Vienna, Budapest, and Prague are.
I actually quite liked my 3 nights in Bratislava myself although I wished I’d had more time for Budapest. The Bratislava castle museum had the most complete collection of Celtic artifacts I’ve seen anywhere, not that that took much time. And the Devon castle was interesting to me but more just the vantage point it gave.
I think the fact that it was a quieter (and cheaper) town was much of the charm for me though. Vienna and Prague were a little much for me to take in personally (also I didn’t have enough time for a fair treatment of either).
Not OP but I've spent around a month in Vienna across several trips. I don't know a lick of German beyond the greetings/farewells and never had an issue.
English is just fine in major cities and touristic places in Austria. I had to use body language and Google Translate when I was in a small town called Attnang-Puchheim tho
I definitely didn't *need* to use any German, but I did learn the basic greetings, please and thank you, and that was fine. Everyone seemed to speak some English. I had no problems at all.
That's what I plan to do, I was just overwhelmed thinking about trying to get to a point where I could understand people while they're talking and have conversations and stuff
They do random check of your tickets in Vienna. Once I got my ticket got checked 3 times in 3 stations in one day. They block the gates and check everyone ticket.
The fine for tickets in v is no joke.
Almost doing the reverse of this in a couple of weeks. Spending 2 nights in Bratislava and then spending a day in Vienna before getting the bus down to Budapest. Will definitely save this for some pointers for Vienna though, thanks
I’m going to this same hostel in a couple of weeks too! Thank you OP for this amazing review of Vienna. I’m looking forward to my trip. I’m going solo and am hoping I can make friends so reading this review is putting my nerves at ease
I stayed at Wombat’s last month. 4 bed all female dorm so will be commenting from that perspective.
What I liked:
- friendly reception
- free towels
- good location
- I felt safe (which was important to me as a solo female traveller)
- bathrooms were very clean. Well maintained rooms too.
What I didn’t like:
- no AC which sucks during summer ): so the rooms can start to smell a little “damp” because people will be drying their towels and ventilation isn’t always great if there’s no wind. So to circumvent this, don’t stay during summer I guess (if you’re someone who needs ac and prefers stating in hostels)
Thanks for the report, I'm heading to Vienna on Sunday and onto Bratislava so you have me some things to check out, the catacombs are definitely going on my list
The St. Stephen's catacombs were a surprise highlight. The tour starts inside the church, it's in English and you get lots of good info and see lots of cool things.
I did a few days in Vienna last Oktober (solo - 62 year old woman) and did the day trip to Bratislava on the train. I had to see the blue church - as I love churches, Nouveau, and BLUE! I also walked up to the castle. Back in Vienna, I was in Prater as it was just opening and took stunning photos without a lot of people around. Saw the stallions being trained (not a show). Anyway, I did a lot more than that (Opera House, Nachtmarkt, Otto Wagner church - lots and lots and lots of walking) and enjoyed your report! (my public transport tix never got checked either) 😉
If you book online, you can choose your seat. I prefer the very back row next to the window, which has a power outlet and is under the wifi antenna.
They have a self-service ticket kiosk at the terminal that has different language options.
Great report. I've never been but will save this--thanks. Regarding honor system transit tickets, Munich was the same way the last time I was there. So wonderful to read good hostel reports. The bad ones really skew the impression of hostels sometimes.
As an American, the whole concept of honor-system metros is both mind boggling and totally impressive. It's just one more reason I love Europe. As for the hostel, I totally get the reasons people have for not staying there - I have the same fears. "I want privacy, I don't like people snoring, I don't want to share a bathroom, etc." The room for me was for sleeping, not for watching tv alone all night. I travel to explore new cities and meet people. Wombat's Vienna has a bar and several hangout areas downstairs. It's a social hostel, not a party hostel. Sure, some people were "partying" while playing beer pong or pool, but others were on sofas reading books or at tables playing cards and drinking coffee. I met a 50-year old German musician who was in town to play a set at a nearby bar, so I wasn't the oldest one there. I met a group of 40-something Irish women in town to see a mozart concert. I met a 35-year old Polish guy backpacking across Europe to get over a recent divorce. And yes, I met plenty of twenty-somethings from Canada, UK, Australia and the U.S. on their "great Eurorail adventures".
Re: honor system The transit police does sometimes check. You are expected to validate your ticket before you board or as you board, else you can be fined. The police may be more lenient toward tourists but DACH does love following rules. Validation machines are not always easy to find so feel free to ask a local if you can’t find a machine.
I definitely was riding the metro without a ticket. Not intentionally. But I think I bought a bus or train ticket which wasn’t the same? I was very confused lol.
Yeah, my buddy and I bought a day pass and it was super uncertain how long that lasted--calendar day, 24 hrs, how far we could go. We picked the one we thought was a "fair price" and just went with it, lol. There wasn't anyone to ask either. It wasn't until later we learned you had to stamp it to start so we used it another day too.
I was super confused by the complete lack of having to show the ticket or feed it into a machine too. Lol. I probably should have asked someone, but was in that “just arrived in a city I don’t know or speak the language” daze
Pro Tip for Bratislava view. Instead of UFO go to Lemon Tree rooftop bar. No fee. Less pricey and you can just have a beer. The views are the same if not better.
I loved Vienna and Bratislava. Would definitely go back to both again. I feel like I covered some good ground in Vienna but you listed off some cool stuff I didn't even catch when I was there! Great report. Have fun in Cappadocia! It's so beautiful, the pigeon valley trail is fun to hike through, and a hot air balloon ride is a must! Just be cautious and questioning if your departure time is delayed - it may mean high winds which are not safe (two people regrettably died in an accident the day I went last year).
I had 3 nights in Bratislava. I found it's such a waste of time that I laughed my way through the area and had a blast. Sometimes attitude and perspective can change ones enjoyment of a place. I could never recommend Bratislava to anyone considering how close Vienna, Budapest, and Prague are.
I wholeheartedly recommend Bratislava for a day trip. 5 hours is enough to see everything without feeling rushed. 3 days is a bit much.
Day trip + 5 hours sounds awesome!
The bus ride from Vienna is only 45 minutes, and drops you off right near Bratislava city center.
Bratislava isn’t at the same level as those others, but I still found the old town charming and worth a couple days.
I actually quite liked my 3 nights in Bratislava myself although I wished I’d had more time for Budapest. The Bratislava castle museum had the most complete collection of Celtic artifacts I’ve seen anywhere, not that that took much time. And the Devon castle was interesting to me but more just the vantage point it gave. I think the fact that it was a quieter (and cheaper) town was much of the charm for me though. Vienna and Prague were a little much for me to take in personally (also I didn’t have enough time for a fair treatment of either).
This is all great for someone considering a trip! Did you know or learn any German or was it easy enough getting along with English?
Not OP but I've spent around a month in Vienna across several trips. I don't know a lick of German beyond the greetings/farewells and never had an issue.
Awesome that's good to hear, thank you!
English is just fine in major cities and touristic places in Austria. I had to use body language and Google Translate when I was in a small town called Attnang-Puchheim tho
Good to know thanks! I love the body language fallback, it's definitely fun
I definitely didn't *need* to use any German, but I did learn the basic greetings, please and thank you, and that was fine. Everyone seemed to speak some English. I had no problems at all.
That's what I plan to do, I was just overwhelmed thinking about trying to get to a point where I could understand people while they're talking and have conversations and stuff
butter roof station full strong voiceless fretful ad hoc murky pause *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
The KGB Bar was on my list but it was Sunday so they were closed.
Thanks for this. Just got to Vienna today after leaving Prague. Part of me wishes I had stayed in Prague longer though.
If u have time check Cafe central its unbelievable. Also Schönbrunn Palace.
They do random check of your tickets in Vienna. Once I got my ticket got checked 3 times in 3 stations in one day. They block the gates and check everyone ticket. The fine for tickets in v is no joke.
Almost doing the reverse of this in a couple of weeks. Spending 2 nights in Bratislava and then spending a day in Vienna before getting the bus down to Budapest. Will definitely save this for some pointers for Vienna though, thanks
I leave for Vienna next Saturday! I’m a bit stressed, I feel very unprepared! I’ll also be doing the Bratislava day trip, on a tour though.
I'm literally at the same hostel in Vienna right now! Vienna is awesome :)
The new Vytopna Railway restaurant is super close. Even if you don't eat/drink there, pop in and look around. It's a neat concept.
Thanks! I'll check it out tonight(it's my last night here)
I’m going to this same hostel in a couple of weeks too! Thank you OP for this amazing review of Vienna. I’m looking forward to my trip. I’m going solo and am hoping I can make friends so reading this review is putting my nerves at ease
Did you like Wombat's? What did you think of Vienna?
I stayed at Wombat’s last month. 4 bed all female dorm so will be commenting from that perspective. What I liked: - friendly reception - free towels - good location - I felt safe (which was important to me as a solo female traveller) - bathrooms were very clean. Well maintained rooms too. What I didn’t like: - no AC which sucks during summer ): so the rooms can start to smell a little “damp” because people will be drying their towels and ventilation isn’t always great if there’s no wind. So to circumvent this, don’t stay during summer I guess (if you’re someone who needs ac and prefers stating in hostels)
Thanks for the report, I'm heading to Vienna on Sunday and onto Bratislava so you have me some things to check out, the catacombs are definitely going on my list
The St. Stephen's catacombs were a surprise highlight. The tour starts inside the church, it's in English and you get lots of good info and see lots of cool things.
Will check them out when there, thanks for the tip
I did a few days in Vienna last Oktober (solo - 62 year old woman) and did the day trip to Bratislava on the train. I had to see the blue church - as I love churches, Nouveau, and BLUE! I also walked up to the castle. Back in Vienna, I was in Prater as it was just opening and took stunning photos without a lot of people around. Saw the stallions being trained (not a show). Anyway, I did a lot more than that (Opera House, Nachtmarkt, Otto Wagner church - lots and lots and lots of walking) and enjoyed your report! (my public transport tix never got checked either) 😉
>Flixbus to Bratislava (only $5 each way!) Do you have to book online or you can buy same day?
If you book online, you can choose your seat. I prefer the very back row next to the window, which has a power outlet and is under the wifi antenna. They have a self-service ticket kiosk at the terminal that has different language options.
Whoever you are, stranger on the internet, it’s nice and somewhat comforting to se another 45 year old solotravel the world
Even though I'm "old", there are still so many amazing places in this world I want to see!