Zurich

Zurich [1] (German: Zrich, Zrich German: Zri) is the largest city in Switzerland, with a population of some 390,000 in the city proper and 1.2 million in the agglomeration area. Zurich is on Lake Zurich, where the lake flows into the River Limmat , in the north of Switzerland.

By plane
The train station is to be found at the lowest underground level G02 of the adjacent airport shopping center just accross the street of the arrival gates ([7]). A single ticket to Zrich Hauptbahnhof (central train station in Zurich, on time tables usually listed as: Zrich HB) costs CHF 6.40 for 2nd class (without any discount) and being valid for 1 hour. You can board any kind of train, since the ticket is valid for ANY kind of public transport (SBB-CFF-FFS trains, S-Bahn (suburban trains), tram, bus, boat) within on the ticket indicated areas, the so-called fare zones (zones 21 for Zurich Airport et al., and 10 for Zurich City for the ticket from the airport to the city, [8], zones 10 for Zurich City and 20 for Winterthur counts double). Also take into consideration ZVV's special tourist offer ZurichCARD [9], a ticket valid, either for 24, or for 72 hours, for the whole area of Zurich city and its adjacent zones [10], including free access to all Zurich museums, either for CHF 20.-, or CHF 40.-. Make sure that you have a valid ticket before you board the train, or whatever vehicle, and that the ticket is valid for the respective class, either 1st or 2nd class, if you travel by train; indicated by large big number 1 or 2 on the coaches' exteriour, 1st class is also indicated by a yellow stripe along the 1st class seats outside the coaches. Fines for travelling without any ticket, or a wrong ticket, even for the wrong class, can be hefty (around CHF 100.-)! There is also a Tram (tramway/streetcar) line No. 10 (colored pink) running between the airport and the city centre, a 37 minutes ride to Zurich HB, valid with the same ticket (only 2nd class necessary), though eventually gives you a better first insight into Zurich [11] and its adjacent suburban area, since running exclusively above ground and through the streets of the communities. Several bus lines connect to the airport and provide access to the suburban area [12] as well as the Winterthur region [13]. The bus terminal and the tram(way) stop are to be found at ground level south of the airport shopping center at level G1 [14].

See Most of the interesting sights are in the old town around the river and lakefront.

Grossmnster, Zwingliplatz, [36]. Old Romanesque church, symbol of reformed Zurich, where reformer Huldrych Zwingli was appointed the people's priest in 1519. Go up the tower for a great view of Zurich, though the stairs can be quite small and steep. Tower 4CHF/2CHF students. edit Fraumnster, Kmbelgasse 2, [37]. Old Gothic church (former convent) with window paintings made by Marc Chagall. No photos or videos allowed inside. edit Landesmuseum, Museumstrasse 2, +41 44 218 65 11, [38]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM and most public holidays including M. The biggest Swiss history museum. You can also learn about 1

the various traditions of the cantons comprising Switzerland. 10CHF. edit

Kunsthaus, +41 44 253 84 84, [39]. One of the major Swiss art museums. Its specialities are modern sculpturer Giacometti and the surrealist 18th Century painter Fuseli, both Swiss. Entry is free to the main collection Wednesdays. edit Schanzengraben. A small canal that used to be part of the city fortifications between Limmat and Sihl. From the main station, go to Gessnerallee, find the stairways down to the tiny creek, and walk all the way to the lake. edit Rietberg Museum, Gablerstrasse 15, +41 (0)44 206 31 31, [40]. One of Europe's best collections of Asian art (mainly Indian drawings). edit Langstrasse. Red light district of Zrich, with more drug dealers and police than usual, but interesting because even this most notorious spot in Switzerland is so clean and safe. The area is the most overtly multicultural spot of the town. In recent years, ateliers and stylish bars start to coexist side by side to the about 15 strip clubs. edit Zoo, Zrichbergstrasse 221, +41 44 254 25 05, [41]. With the new Masoala Rainforest Hall, the Zoo is really worth a visit! edit Lake Promenade. Especially during summer, the lake is a beautiful place to spend the evening or the weekend. Starting from Bellevue, the boardwalk goes for about three kilometers along the lake towards Tiefenbrunnen. About halfway from Bellevue there is a meadow where you will find thousands of people on a sunny day. edit Chinese Garden, +41 44 435 21 11, [42]. This small but beautiful Chinese garden was offered to the city of Zurich by the Chinese city of Kunming as symbol of gratitude after Zurich helped Kunming with technical knowledge. edit Le Corbusier House, (near Chinese Garden), [43]. A beautiful, modern villa planned by the famous Swiss architect. The visiting hours are very limited (i.e. one day / week only in the summer) and entry is expensive. Additionally, there is a legal battle between the city (owner) and the long time tenant. edit Lindenhof. The hill in the heart of the old town. A beautiful view of the city and one time location of a Roman fort. edit Niederdorf. The old town offers beautiful alleys, restaurants and shopping mainly aimed at younger consumers. In the evenings, people visit the Niederdorf's many bars. edit Bahnhofstrasse. One of the busiest and best known shopping streets in the world. Highly refined. Certainly a must-see for every tourist in Zurich! (see below). edit Museum Buehrle, Zollikerstrasse 172, +41 44 422 00 86, [44]. A rich private art collection worth visiting - although a little less rich after a recent brazen robbery in broad daylight. Call ahead, as it's currently not open during regular hours. edit Take the Polybahn, a 19th century funicular, up the steep hill for a fine view. Starts at tram 2

Do

station Central and goes up to the ETH. Zone 10 ZVV ticket is valid. Nice terrace up there. During the week, the student cafeteria below the terrace is also open to the public.

The Grossmunster sometimes has organ concerts in the evenings. Check the front door for notices. Take a 45 min train ride to see the largest waterfall in Europe, the Rhine Falls. Take the train from the Zurich Airport or Zurich HB (central station) to either Winterthur then transfer trains to Schloss Laufen (from April-Oct) or Schaffhausen then take the city bus #1 or #6 to Neuhausen Zentrum.

Buy For shopping in Zrich there are three different areas in the centre:

Bahnhofstrasse, which runs from the Zrich Train Main station "Hauptbahnhof" right down to the lake. Bahnhofsstrasse is famous for being one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world. Here you can get anything from diamond rings to chocolate to fur coats. Globus and Jelmoli are two fiercely competitive department stores, both of whom carry items from many high-end brands. Niederdorf, which is the Old Part of Zurich and expands from "Bellevue" by the Lake right to "Central" which is just over the River from the train station. The Niederdorf is more for young people. Aside from a lot of fast food places you will find a lot of trendy clothes stores here. Lwenstrasse, which runs west of Bahnhofstrasse from the main train station, has lower range shops and a large branch of Migros, a department store chain.

Eat While Fondue (melted cheese in a central pot, dip bread into it) and Raclette (cheese melted
in small portions, served with potatoes and pickles) are not really local to Zrich (they come from the Western Switzerland) they are commonly available at restaurants aimed at tourists. Try grilled Bratwurst from street stands, served with a large crusty roll of sourdough bread and mustard, or sandwiches made with fresh baked Bretzeln (large, soft pretzels). A typically Swiss bread is the Zopf, a braided soft bread that is commonly served on Sundays (the other name for it is Sonntagszopf).

Budget

Baba's take-away part of the Restaurant Pumpstation [60] is located direct at the lake promenade (south of Banhof Stadelhofen). During the summer (April-October) serves fresh grilled sausages, ribs, and chicken for about 6 to 10 Francs. Lee's take-away, Preyergasse 8 (in the Niederdorf). Stand-up place serving excellent large portions of Asian food. Special student dishes under 10CHF. Pizzeria Molino, Limmatquai 16 (near Stauffacher), +41 044 261 01 17. Pizzas and pastas in a relaxed setting. Ah-Hua, Ankerstrasse 110 (next to Helvetiaplatz) offers delicious Thai dishes to budget prices. Great pit-stop in a Langstrasse pub crawl. Gambrinus, Langstrasse 103 (near Helvetiaplatz) is a typical Swiss restaurant with good food and cold beer. It is located in the Red Light District (Langstrasse) of Zurich and is not the ideal place to bring children or acquaintances. Gambrinus looks like a pub more than 3

anything else,but the staff are friendly and speak English. Try the Zrigschntzlets mit Rsti or the Fondue (one of the best in Town). Prices are from CHF 14 onwards. Rheinfelder Bierhalle, Niederdorfstrasse 76 (at the beginning of the Niederdorf, near Central), +41 44 251 57 09. In this huge and boisterous restaurant you get good-value food and rich portions (only try the Jumbo Jumbo Cordon-Bleu when really hungry). Cheap beer. Millennium Restaurant, on Limmatplatz (Limmatstrasse at Langstrasse) (right across the X-tra bar). Offers great pizzas, large hamburgers, spicy kebabs and other Italian and Turkish dishes at reasonable prices. Staff is very friendly and service is great. Perfect for lunch or a late-night snack. Vorderer Sternen Grill, 22 Theaterstrasse. Zurich's most famous sausage stand near Bellevue tram stop. Red or white sausage for 6CHF, piece of bread and (hot!) mustard is included. Currently located across from the Globus between Bellevue and Stadelhofen train station in a silver travel trailer.

Food courts

The Migros and Coop supermarkets (several branches all over the city) are good places to assemble an inexpensive and delicious picnic lunch consisting of freshly baked bread, cheese or ham and fresh fruit. Migros Gourmessa is the 'gourmet' takeaway counter, available in larger Migros stores including the Migros City branch at Lwenstrasse. The Coop Bahnhofbrcke branch near the main station also has a small fast-food restaurant. Note: the Migros branch in the main station is open on Sundays when most other stores are closed, and also until 9PM on weekdays, whereas the Coop Bahnhofbrcke is open 7 AM to 10 PM every day except Sunday. Jelmoli, St. Annahof and Manor department store restaurant for a cheap buffet lunch, Short excursions from Zurich: Rapperswil Pretty town on the other end of the Zurichsee, accessible by S-Bahn S5 (36 min), S7 (39 min) or S15 (36 min), or boat (tip), famous for its rose gardens, beautiful oldtown with castle and many lake-side restaurants and cafs. Winterthur Since in winter there is little to do outdoors, people flock to this city, the city of museums. It can be reached by taking S-Bahn S7 (33 min), S8 (28 min), S12 (20 min, fastest route) or S16 (30 min), to Winterthur Hbf. The Rheinfall, a large-volume waterfall. Take the S-Bahn S7, S8, S12 or S16 to Winterthur or S16 to Andelfingen and change there for S33 to the station called Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall. This station, however, is only open during summer. If you're going to the Rheinfall during winter (which you probably won't), you should get off at Dachsen, the station before Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall on the S33, and take the 634 bus to the stop Schloss Laufen, Rheinfall.

Amsterdam
Orientation
The "Amsterdam" that most visitors experience is the city centre, the semi-circle with Central Station at its apex. It corresponds to the city as it was around 1850. Five major concentric canals ring the Old Centre; the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht, the Prinsengracht, and the Singelgracht, together forming the Canal Ring. Other districts inside the city centre are the Jordaan, a former working-class area gone upmarket, and Plantage, a leafy and spacious area known for its zoo and botanical gardens. The roads Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade, and Mauritskade surround the centre and mark the location of the former city moat and fortifications. Almost everything outside this line was built after 1870. The semi-circle is on the south side of the IJ, often called a river but more exactly is an estuary. Going east from Central Station, the railway passes the artificial islands of the redeveloped Eastern Docklands. North of the IJ is mainly housing, although a major dockland redevelopment has started there too. The river Amstel flows into the city from the south. Originally, it flowed along the line RokinDamrak. The dam in the Amstel, which gives the city its name, was located under the present Bijenkorf department store. The original settlement was on the right bank of the Amstel, on the present Warmoesstraat: it is therefore the oldest street in the city. The city has expanded in all directions, except to the northeast of the ring motorway. That area is a protected rural landscape of open fields and small villages that could be considered a part of the Waterland region. The radius of the semi-circle is about 2 km. All major tourist destinations, and most hotels, are located inside it or just outside it. As a result, a large swathe of Amsterdam is never visited by tourists: at least 90% of the population lives outside this area. Most economic activity in Amsterdam the offices of the financial sector, and the port is near or outside the ring motorway, which is 4-5 km from the centre. The expansion of Amsterdam outside this beltway, and the expansion of activity outside the old centre, is redefining what locals consider the 'central area' of Amsterdam. Without a doubt the most popular district outside of the city centre is the South for its quality museums and gentrified neighbourhood 'De Pijp'.

By plane
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (IATA: AMS) (ICAO: EHAM) [2] is one of the busiest airports in the world, situated 15 km south-west of the city. When leaving Amsterdam, give yourself enough time to get to your plane and through security (especially when flying to the United States)! Schiphol is a large airport be there at least 2 hrs in advance. If you have time to kill, drop into the Rijksmuseum's Schiphol branch, between E and F Pier (non-Schengen area airside), which is free and open 07:00-20:00 daily. 5

[edit] Schiphol by train

From Schiphol there is a direct train[10] to Amsterdam Central Station, for 3.70 (or 7.40 for same-day return), in 20 min. Buy the ticket from the machine (yellow with blue writing, pictured here); if you purchase your ticket at the counter you will pay 0.50 extra. Not all machines accept credit or debit cards. Don't buy the comfort class ticket, buy an single ticket with 'NS only'. The train station at Schiphol is located underground, under the main airport hall; trains to Amsterdam Central Station usually run from platform 3. Keep in mind that there are two seperate railwaylines to Amsterdam; one goes to Amsterdam Centraal station and the other goes to Amsterdam Zuid (Amsterdam South). These lines are not connected with eachother so check if the train you board goes to the Amsterdam you want. There are 4 to 5 trains per hour between Schiphol and Amsterdam in peak times. Trains run all night, although between 1am and 5am only once an hour. The price and duration of the journey are the same as during the day. Watch out for pick-pockets and baggage thieves: a common trick is a knock on your window to distract you, so that an accomplice can steal your luggage or laptop. Another one is to have an accomplice jam the doors and then steal your luggage. The thief jumps out and the door immediately closes, making it impossible to catch them. However, in recent years, railway police have made a great effort to reduce this sort of crime; nowadays it is at 'normal', big-city like levels.
Schiphol by local transport

If you are desperately trying to save money or are staying near Leidseplein, you could use local transport from Schiphol to central Amsterdam. A trip takes about 30 min and leads directly to the south-west of the centre of Amsterdam (namely Museumplein and Leidseplein). Take local bus 197 which costs you 2.38 to Leidseplein using the OV-chipkaart (see below), or 4.00 on board. Bus 197 currently runs every 15 min for most of the day, daily from 5:01AM till midnight. From midnight till 5AM, night buses run to and from the airport. If you don't want to change buses, take night bus N97 for 4. This bus runs once an hour.

By train
Most trains arrive and depart from Amsterdam Centraal Station (with one extra 'a' in Dutch), located on an island between the Amsterdam/Old Centre and the IJ waterfront. Other important train stations are Duivendrecht and Bijlmer-ArenA in the southeast, Amstel and Muiderpoort in the East, RAI and Zuid-WTC in the South, and Lelylaan and Sloterdijk in the West. Schiphol Airport also has its own train station, which functions as a major interchange station. It has at least seven trains an hour to Amsterdam Centraal, with additional trains going to other stations in Amsterdam.

[edit] Get around

Amsterdam's centre is fairly small, and almost abnormally flat, so you can easily get to most tourist destinations on foot - from the train station, within half an hour.

[edit] By public transit

Windmills were not built in urban areas, since the buildings obstructed the wind. The Amsterdam windmills were all originally outside its city walls. There are a total of eight windmills in Amsterdam, and most of them are in West. However, the best one to visit is De Gooyer, which is not far from the city centre, and is being used as a brewery for you to enjoy. The only windmill fully open to the public is the Molen van Sloten in Sloten, a former village now part of West.

[edit] Churches and synagogues

Since the Middle Ages and throughout the 17th century, the Netherlands was a country with a relatively high degree of freedom and tolerance towards other religions and cultures, especially compared to other countries in Europe. Between 1590 and 1800, the estimated foreign-born population was never less than 5 percent, many of them settling in Amsterdam. This led to a large diaspora of Jews, Huguenots (French protestants), Flemish, Poles and other peoples in the city. Especially the Jewish have always had a large presence in Amsterdam, notably in the Old Jewish Quarter (though this quarter has been in a status of decay since World War II). The most prominent synagogue is The Esnoga [49] (or The Portuguese Synagogue) , built in 1675 in an austere Classicist style. As the Netherlands was a protestant nation, most of the churches are from this branch of Christianity. Some of the most notable churches:

Oude Kerk (1306) [50] Located on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, in the red-light district. The oldest of the five main churches in the historic centre. You can climb the tower from April to September on Saturday & Sunday, every half-hour. Also open in the winter by group appointment (maximum 10 people) cost 70 per hour. (mailto:[email protected]) for more information. Nieuwe Kerk (15th century) [51] Located on Dam Square. Used for royal coronations, most recently the crowning of Queen Beatrix in 1980, and royal weddings, most recently the wedding of crown prince Willem-Alexander to princess Mxima in 2002. Today, the church is no longer used for services but is now a popular exhibition space. Zuiderkerk (built 1603-1611) [52] Located on Zuiderkerkhof ("Southern Graveyard") square. Now an information centre on housing and planning. You can visit the tower from April to September Monday to Saturday (with guide only) every half-hour, cost 6. Also open in the winter by group appointment (maximum 15 people) cost 70 per hr. (mailto:[email protected]) for more information. Noorderkerk (built 1620-1623) [53] Located on Noordermarkt on the Prinsengracht. Westerkerk (built 1620-1631) [54] Located on Westermarkt near the Anne Frank House. The church is open (free) for visitors from Monday to Friday, 11AM-3PM, from April to September. You can also climb the tower (with guide only) every half-hour, Mon to Saturday 6. The tower is also open in the winter by group appointment (maximum 10 people) cost 70 per hr. (mailto:[email protected]) for more information. In good weather you can see all of Amsterdam, and as far as the coast.

The late-medieval city also had smaller chapels such as the Sint Olofskapel (circa 1440) on Zeedijk, 7

and convent chapels such as the Agnietenkapel on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal 231 (originally 1470), now the University of Amsterdam museum. Later churches included the Oosterkerk (1669) in the eastern islands, and the heavily restored Lutheran Church on the Singel (1671), now used by a hotel as a conference centre. Catholic churches were long forbidden, and built again only in the 19th-century: the most prominent is the Neo-Baroque Church of St. Nicholas (1887) opposite Central Station.

[edit] Museums
Amsterdam has an amazing collection of museums, ranging from masterpieces of art to porn, vodka and cannabis. The most popular ones can get very crowded in the summer peak season, so it's worth exploring advance tickets or getting there off-peak (eg. very early in the morning). Some of the quality museums that you can't miss:

Anne Frank House dedicated to Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who kept a diary while hiding from Nazi persecution in hidden rooms at the rear of the building (known as the Achterhuis). It's an exhibition on the life of Anne Frank, but also highlights other forms of persecution and discrimination. Rijksmuseum absolutely top-class museum that has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Some artists you can't overlook are Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. The must-sees are Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid. The museum also boasts a substantial collection of Asian art. The Rijksmuseum is under heavy construction until at least 2013. Until then, there is a limited collection on display called 'the Masterpieces', showing all the highlights that are absolutely worth a visit. Van Gogh Museum even someone with little knowledge of art must have heard about Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose work had a far-reaching influence on 20th century art for its vivid colors and emotional impact. This museum has the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world.

Alternatively, for short stays, you can consider buying the I amsterdam card [59], starting at 38 per day, which includes "free" access to Amsterdam museums, public transport and discount on many tourist attractions.

[edit] Red Light District

NOTE: DO NOT try to take photos of prostitutes even from the streets, or you might lose your camera without any warning! The Red Light District consists of several canals, and the side streets between them, south of Central Station and east of Damrak. Known as 'De Wallen' (the quays) in Dutch, because the canals were once part of the city defences (walls and moats). Prostitution itself is limited to certain streets, 8

mainly side streets and alleys, but the district is considered to include the canals, and some adjoining streets (such as Warmoesstraat and Zeedijk). The whole area has a heavy police presence, and many security cameras. Nevertheless it is still a residential district and has many bars and restaurants, and also includes historic buildings and museums this is the oldest part of the city. The oldest church in Amsterdam, the Netherlands-gothic Oude Kerk on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal at Oudekerksplein, is now surrounded by window prostitution.

Do

Other companies offer canal cruises, usually lasting from one to two hours. Departures from: Prins Hendrikkade opposite Centraal Station; quayside Damrak; Rokin near Spui; Stadhouderskade 25 near Leidseplein.

The Canal Bus [61]. Runs three fixed routes, stopping near major attractions (Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank's House, etc.). You can get on or off as often as you like, but it is expensive, 20 per person per 24 hr. The first boats start between 9.15AM. and 10.45AM. depending on which stop you get on. The last boats start dropping off at around 7 p.m. Lovers Canal Cruise [62] start opposite the Rijksmuseum. It is 12 per person, but you cannot get on and off. The cruise is about 1 hr 30 min.

Coffeshoppes. If you are above the age of 18 you can enter a cannabis shop, legally. This rule is rarely enforced, just be respectful and know what you are doing. It is illegal to purchase cannabis on the streets. Yes, even tourists that are 18 years of age have access to
these shops. edit

Amsterdam for free

A day in Amsterdam without spending a penny : stroll along the canals, see the Begijnhof, smell the flowers at the Bloemenmarket, visit the Albert Cuypstraat market, see the Magere Brug and relax in the Vondelpark. Diamond factories in Amsterdam offer free guided tours, such as at Gassan Diamonds and Coster Diamonds. Ferry over the River IJ The GVB ferries that run on the north side of central station are free of charge and provide nice views of the harbor and skyline, as described above. o Westerkerk [71] Church at Prinsengracht which has free organ concerts every Friday at 1PM. NEMO Panorama terrace [73] During summer the Nemo Science museum has a panorama roof terrace on its roof with deckchairs with free entry. Rijksmuseum garden [75] a curious collection of architecture, free entrance during museum opening times. The Schuttersgallerij (Civic Guards Gallery) is a hidden passageway filled with 15 enormous 17th-century paintings; entrance is free to the public during museum hours. Known as the Schuttersgalerij (Civic Guards' Gallery), the collection features massive and meticulously realistic portraits of wealthy citizens from the Dutch Golden Age, the same class of subjects Rembrandt depicted in the most famous of Civic Guard paintings, "Nightwatch". You can find it just inside the arched gateway to the Amsterdam Museum at 9

Kalverstraat 92.

Buy
The main central shopping streets run in a line from near Central Station to the Leidseplein: Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, Leidsestraat. The emphasis is on clothes/fashion, but there are plenty of other shops. They are not upmarket shopping streets, and the north end of Nieuwendijk is seedy. Amsterdams only upmarket shopping street is the P.C. Hooftstraat (near the Rijksmuseum). The interesting little shops are located in the side streets of the main canals (Prinsengracht / Keizersgracht / Herengracht), and especially in the Jordaan - bounded by Prinsengracht, Elandsgracht, Marnixstraat and Brouwersgracht. The partly gentrified neighbourhood of De Pijp around Ferdinand Bolstraat and Sarphatipark - is often seen as a 'second Jordaan'.

Fashion & Museum District [89]. Located in Amsterdam Zuid, this is considered the chic area for shopping in Amsterdam, close to the Museum district, the PC Hooftstraat and the Cornelis Schuytstraat have some of the finest designer shops in the city, including designer shoes, health and well-being specialists, massage, fashion boutiques, designer interiors, designer florists and specialist shops.

In the older areas surrounding the centre, the main shopping streets are the Kinkerstraat, the Ferdinand Bolstraat, the Van Woustraat, and the Javastraat. The most ethnic shopping street in Amsterdam is the Javastraat. There are toy stores and clothing shops for kids in the centre, but most are in the shopping streets further out, because that's where families with children live. You can find plus size clothing in the centre of Amsterdam. C&A, and H&M are both on the main shopping streets from the Central station. A bit further from the city centre you can find Mateloos, Promiss, Ulla Popken as well as several stores by chain M&S mode. A give-away shop can be found at Singel 267, open Tuesdays and Thursdays 5PM-17PM and Saturdays 12 noon-5PM. English-language books can mostly be found in the Old Centre.

[edit] Street markets

Street markets originally sold mainly food, and most still sell food and clothing, but they have become more specialised. A complete list of Amsterdam markets (with opening times and the number of stalls) can be found at online at Hollandse Markten [90] and Amsterdam.info [91] in English.

Albert Cuyp. Largest in Amsterdam, best-known street market in the country. Can get very crowded, so watch out for pickpockets. Monday to Saturday from about 9AM until around 5PM. Ten Cate Market. 3rd largest in Amsterdam. Monday to Saturday from about 8AM until 10

around 5PM. Food, households, flowers and clothing.

Dappermarkt. In the east, behind the zoo, and was voted best market in the Netherlands. Monday to Saturday from about 8AM until around 5PM. Lindengracht. In the Jordaan, selling a wide range of goods, fruit and vegetables, fish and various household items. Saturday only. 9AM to 4PM. Tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein, and a short walk along the Lijnbaansgracht.

Local specialties
Local cheese Buy some at the Albert Cuyp market, or at specialist cheese shops found around central Amsterdam. Don't forget to taste the main culinary contribution of the Amsterdammers to the world: Heineken it tastes no better here. Try some of the other excellent beers you can get from this part of the world such as "witbeer" (white beer). Also check out bitterballen, a kind of fried meatball, and the kroketten (the same, but shaped like a cylinder). Last but not least, don't forget to try a traditional herring or a broodje haring (herring sandwich), available from fish stalls around the city. Herring in Amsterdam is usually with served onions and pickles. A good try is the fish stand on the Koningsplein near the Flower Market. If you're visiting in late November or December, you can enjoy oliebollen, which are round blobs of sweet fried dough embedded with raisins (sultanas) and dusted with powdered sugar.

Places to avoid
Avoid at all costs any steak house or fast food shop in the centre - they are well known tourist traps.

Budget
For food during the day, the Albert Heijn supermarkets (largest national chain) usually have cheap ready-to-go meals on hand, from prepackaged sandwiches and salads to microwavable singleserving meals. There is one right behind the Royal Palace on Dam Square, on the Nieuwmarkt, on Koningsplein and in the Vijzelstraat. For budget meal, check out also the various Falafel and Shoarma restaurants around the Damstraat and Muntplein. They usually include in the dish a large amount of salad. Lange Leidsedwarsstraat (just off Leidseplein) has about five Italian restaurants that sell pasta or pizza for 5.

[edit] Coffeeshops Amsterdam is renowned for its liberal drug policy. Coffeeshops, not to be confused with coffeehouses or cafes, are allowed to sell cannabis and hash for personal use (not more than 5 grams).

11

Rotterdam
Rotterdam is known as a city of architecture. A few square kilometres of the city centre offers a complete overview of what the twentieth century has produced in terms of modern architecture.
Most major and international carriers will fly to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (IATA: AMS [11]), which is connected directly to Rotterdam Centraal station by a frequent high-speed rail service (called Fyra). The journey to/from Schiphol Airport in 26 minutes. Trains run every half hour and a one-way ticket costs 11 (as of January 2012). The train station is situated underground, directly below the terminal building. Tickets are available at the station through automated machines, at the ticket desk, or can be booked in advance [12].

See
Museums

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Museumpark 18-20 (Metro: Eendrachtsplein), +31 (10) 441 94 00 (fax: +31 (10) 436 05 00), [37]. Tue-Sun: 11.00AM to 5.00PM; Mon: closed. The museum, founded in 1849, houses a rich, broad collection that can be generally grouped into four wings: Old Art, with masterpieces such as Pieter Brueghel the Elder's The "little" Tower of Babel (1563). The collection of Prints and Drawings and the collection of Applied Arts and Design with their international allure. And the Modern Art wing has an important collection of surrealism, prominently featuring Salvador Dal and Ren Magritte. Adult: 10.00; Wednesday: free entry; child under 18: free entry. edit Kunsthal, Westzeedijk 341 (Metro: Eendrachtsplein), +31 (10) 440 03 00 ([email protected], fax: +31 (10) 43 67 152), [38]. Tue-Sat: 10.00AM - 5.00PM; Sun: 11.00AM - 5.00PM. An exhibition hall that houses some 25 expositions annually. The Kunsthal often experiments with themes that have never been used for an exhibition before. This approach produces a fascinating and widely varied repertoire. In total, the Kunsthal has 3,300 m of exhibition space in a striking building, designed by OMA (Rem Koolhaas / Fuminori Hoshino) and is a true work of art all on its own. Adult: 8.50; child 6-18: 2.00; child under 6: free entry. edit Maritime Museum, Leuvehaven 1 (Metro: Beurs), +31 (10) 413 26 80 (fax: +31 (10) 413 73 42), [41]. Tue-Sat: 10.00AM - 5.00PM; Sun: 11.00AM - 5.00PM; Mon: 10.00AM - 5.00PM in July and August as well as during school holidays in Rotterdam. A variety of expositions about the harbour of Rotterdam and maritime history. The museum also has an outdoor part of wich the Museumschip De Buffel is the absolute highlight. This 19th century gunboat is restored in all its glory and a must-see for naval enthousiasts. Adult: 7.50;group + 15 people: 5 ; child 416: 3.00; child under 4: free entry. edit Museum of Chess-Pieces, Overblaak 94 (Metro: Blaak), [42]. Wen, Sat, Sun: 14.00 - 17.00. This little museum can be found among the famous Cube houses and houses a diverse collection of chess games. From ancient Chinese to all sorts of cartoon characters. Adult: 2; child: 1;. edit 12

Het Schielandshuis, Korte Hoogstraat 31 (Metro: Beurs), +31 (10) 217 67 67 ([email protected], fax: +31 (10) 433 44 99), [44]. Tue-Fri: 10.00AM - 5.00PM; Sat-Sun: 11.00AM - 5.00PM. The historical museum of Rotterdam. The museum is established in the only remaining 17th century building in the city center of Rotterdam. It was once the place where French emperor Napoleon slept, visiting his troops when they occupied the Netherlands. Adult: 3.00; child under 4: free entry. edit Natuurhistorisch Museum, Westzeedijk 345 (Next to the Kunsthal, Metro: Eendrachtsplein), [46]. Tue-Sun: 10.00AM - 5.00PM. The "Natural History Museum" Is situated in the Museumpark, near Boijmans, the NAi and the Kunsthal. It has changing expositions and a fixes collection of mammals, plants and fossiles. The current director Kees Moeiliker became famous in 2003 for winning a scientific prize on his study and book about the strange behouvior of a duck in the garden of the museum. His predecessor did a lot for the whales and left his collection at the museum. Adult: 4.00; child 4-15: 2.00; child under 4: free entry. edit Mariniersmuseum, Wijnhaven 7-13 (Metro: Blaak), [49]. Tue-Fri: 10:00-17:00, Sat,Sun: 11:0017:00. The museum of the Marine Corps is situated in a historic building in the Oude Haven. It shows the history of the 340 years-old corps as well as it's modern day role. Special attention is given to the heroic role of the corps in the 1940 defence of Rotterdam. In the nearby White House you can still notice the bulletholes in the stone wall. edit Oorlogs Verzets Museum, Coolhaven 375 (Metro: Coolhaven, it's under the bridge), [50]. TueFri: 10:00-17:00, Sat,Sun: 12:00-17:00. The small 'War and Resistance Museum' paints life in Rotterdam and the Netherlands during the Second World War. Attention is also given to the military developments of the time and the destruction of the city of Rotterdam. Lectures and evenings with documentaries are often on the programm. 3,00, children 1,50. edit SSN Museumstoomdepot, Bosdreef 75 (Take bus 38 to Nieuwe Crooswijkseweg from where it's a 5 minute walk), [51]. Wed: 10:00-15:00, Sat: 10:00-17:00. Old steam locomotives and trains can be admired at the 'Steam Depot Museum'. Besides a small museum it's very much a workshop too where you can see the actual work of restauration in progress. Check the website for rides, that actually use the normal railway lines. edit Railz Miniworld, Weena 745 (Near Rotterdam Centraal), [52]. Wed-Thu: 12:00-17:00, Fri-Sun: 10:00-17:00. Its the largest indoor model railroad layout of The Netherlands. edit

[edit] Monuments

City Hall, Coolsingel 40 (Metro: Stadhuis). Mon-Sat: 8:00-17:00. Rotterdam City Hall was built in 1914 in a somewhat exuberant Art Deco style. It is nice to walk into the monumental main hall and see the statues. The courtyard is also worth a look. As the City Hall is still in use you are free to enter the public areas and have a look. The other halls will be off limits, unless you can persuade one of the guards to open the showpiece Burgerzaal for you. The City Hall also has a belltower with carillon which is often played, while the roof of the middel tower is made of gold. edit Erasmus Statue, Grotekerkplein (Metro: Stadhuis or Blaak). The statue of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam stands opposite the Grote of Sint Laurenskerk. It is a handsome bronze of the hand of sculptor Keijser and dates from 1622. Children are told by the elderly that Erasmus turns his page every hour. edit 13

De Verwoeste Stad Statue, Plein 1940 (Metro: Beurs). This statue, "The Destroyed City", by the Franco-Belarussian sculptor Ossip Zadkine dates from 1953. Zadkine got his inspiration when visiting Rotterdam shortly after the second world war. The cubist statue depicting a man in agony who just lost his heart (symbol of the bombed city centre) still evokes strong feelings in Rotterdam. edit Sylvette, Westersingel (Metro: Eendrachtsplein). This large work by Pablo Picasso was erected in 1973. It is one of the elaborations Picasso made based on the portraits of his muse Sylvette David. Definitely worth a look. edit

[edit] Windmills
Rotterdam has only seven windmills left. Of these, only De Ster and De Lelie are open to visitors on a regular basis. Other windmills are open to visitors when the mill is turning (easy enough to see), but there are some exceptions to this rule of thumb. A blue flag also indicates that the mill is open to visitors.

Windmills De Ster and De Lelie, Plaszoom (Metro: Voorschoterlaan. From there it is a 10 minute walk (follow the Julianalaan until you reach Plaszoom), [53]. open every 2nd Sat of the month: 10.00 - 16.00; And also whenever the mills are in use. These two windmills (Star and Lily) date from 1777 and 1829. They are very handsomely situated on the side of the Kralingse Plas lake. The mills do still do their original job wich is grinding ingredients for spices and snuff tobacco. Adjacent is a small shop where these products are sold. edit

[edit] Zoo and botanical gardens

Rotterdam Zoo, Blijdorplaan 8 (Take RET city bus 33 from 'Rotterdam Centraal towards Rotterdam Airport and get off at Blijdorpplein. Alternatively, it's a 10-15 minute walk from Rotterdam Centraal, or a few minutes less from metro station Blijdorp (line E RandstadRail)), +31 (10) 443 14 95, [54]. Mon-Sun: 9.00AM - 5.00PM. Rotterdam Zoo (Dutch: Diergaarde Blijdorp), established in 1857, is one of the most popular day trips in the Netherlands. Walk through different parts of the world, seeing interesting animals that feel right at home in an approximation of their natural habitats. An interesting feature of Rotterdam Zoo is the Oceanium. Feast your eyes on your journey through this enchanting world of water, filled with ocean and coastal dwellers, including exotic fish and puffins. edit

[edit] Historic Churches

Please note that in The Netherlands churches are generally closed to visitors on Sundays.

Grote of Sint Laurenskerk, Grotekerkplein 15 (Metro: Stadhuis or Blaak), [57]. Tue: 10:0014:00 Wed-Sat: 14:00-16:00. The "Great or Saint Lawrence church" (Saint Lawrence is the patron saint of Rotterdam) is a late-gothic inner city landmark that dates from the year 1449. It is nice to visit its spacious and attractive, but not so elegant interior. Of special interest are the large organ and the elaborate graves of Dutch sea heroes Kortenaer, Witte de With and Van Brakel. All kinds of cultural and musical venues take place here. edit Paradijskerk, Nieuwe Binnenweg 25 (Metro: Eendrachtsplein), [58]. Sat: 14:00-17:00. This church only dates from 1910, but it was built on purpose to house the baroque interior from 1719 of its predecessor. It is interesting to have a look at the baroque carvings. Also noteworthy that 14

this church belongs to the small Old Catholic denomination. edit

Pilgrimfathers' church, Aelbrechtskolk 20 (Metro: Delfshaven), [59]. Sat: 13:00-16:00, in summer also Mo-Fri 11.00-17.00. This historic church, the Oude Kerk (old church) of Delfshaven, is from which the Pilgrim Fathers set sail to the new world. The building dates from 1417. It is also possible to attend to classical concerts here. edit HH. Laurentius en Elisabethkathedraal, Mathenesserlaan 307 (Metro: Coolhaven), [60]. Due to restoration works temporarily closed. The cathedral of Rotterdam (Roman Catholic) is a somewhat heavy neo romanesque creation from 1907. The interior is quite well proportioned and atmospheric. Sunday mass is at 11.00 (sometimes with a good choir). Besides assisting at the normally well attended mass you can walk in before or after to have a look inside. edit

Do

Euromast, Parkhaven 20, +31 (10) 436 48 11 ([email protected]), [61]. Mon-Sun: 10:00AM - 11.00PM. There's also a great restaurant halfway up the tower, with good food at a good price. Adult: 8.90; child 4-11: 5.40; child under 4: free entry. edit Spido harbour trip, Willemsplein 85, +31 (10) 275 99 88 ([email protected], fax: +31 (10) 412 47 88), [62]. You only see the first 8 km of the harbor starting at the Erasmus bridge (the trip doesn't go all the way to the north sea, and skips some of the more interesting harbors) But Rotterdam is REALLY big, so even in those first 8 km there's plenty to see. edit De pannenkoekenboot, [63]. Eat as many pancakes as you like while you cruise, departs from near the foot of the Euromast. edit The area around train station Blaak. The area was destroyed by a German bombardment during World War II, forcing the Netherlands to surrender. After the war, it has been reconstructed with all kinds of strange and fascinating buildings. Especially the Cube Houses are worth seeing. The marketplace is also here on each Tuesday, Saturday (all year around) and every Sunday (in the summer), it is definitely worth a visit to get acquainted with local food and customs. And the Old Harbour (Oude Haven) is around the corner for a drink and a bite to eat. Chinatown. Just walk out the front of Rotterdam Centraal Station to the first intersection. You can't miss it! Maeslantkering, Havennummer 882 - Hoek van Holland, 0174-511222 ([email protected]), [70]. Storm surge barrier that is one of the largest moving structures in the world. edit The Snerttram, a historical tram, runs on weekends and provides a guided tour of Rotterdam along the tram routes for around 90 minutes. Extensive commentary is given in Dutch, but you can get some English too if requested. [71] De Rotterdam (ss Rotterdam) (Steamship), 3e Katendrechtse hoofd 25 (Metroline D Rijnhaven, then bus 77, busstop Katendrechtsestraat), 0900-337 68 83, [72]. Nov-Mar: 09.00-16.00; Apr-Oct: 09.00-19.30. from 10 (adults)/ 6 (children 4-11) including audioset. edit

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Buy
The main shopping areas in the center are the Lijnbaan and the Hoogstraat. Both are pedestrianised. The Lijnbaan, which runs straight south from the Weena (close to Rotterdam Centraal) was the first pedestrianised shopping street in the world when it was built in 1953. Now it is more of an average shopping street with average shops. In weekends it's very crowded. Linking the Lijnbaan with the Hoogstraat is the Beurstraverse, dubbed Koopgoot (Buying-gutter). A subterrainean passage, also connecting to Beurs metro station. It's all rather big and somewhat strange for a Dutch city, but it fits perfectly into the Rotterdam aspiration of being different. If you're looking for it, ask for the Koopgoot, as the official name is little known. There are about 12 larger and smaller open air markets dotted around Rotterdam. Most of them are enjoyable places to walk through. A nice place to visit is the inner City Market (Tue and Sat, in summer also on Sun a smaller version) which is a huge (about 450 stalls) open air food and hardware market. It's at the eastern end of the Hoogstraat on the Binnenrotte. Metro: Blaak. More exotic and colourful is the Afrikaanderplein Market (South of the river, Metro: Maashaven). This market is geared very much towards Rotterdam inhabitants of Antillian, South American or African descent (a lot of whom happen to live nearby). Wed and Sat, about 300 stalls. Department stores The Beurstraverse gives direct access to the city's main department stores:

De Bijenkorf; This upmarket store offers a lot in terms of better clothing, perfumes, fashion articles, jewellery and the like. The store offers quality, but it comes at a price. Every year in October there's a special sale (called 3 dwaze dagen, the 3 mad days) during which you run the risk of being trampelled over by stampeding bargain hunters. Vroom & Dreesmann; A more middle class department store. Rather lacking in allure, V&D as it is always called, is an average priced store that offers value. The assortment is rather broad and varies from food to children's games and clothing. A safe bet, but not special. HEMA; This star of Dutch budget shopping has a limited range of clothing, food and hardware. HEMA has a reputation of delivering quality goods at very competitive prices. A lot of what it sells is of a fresh and bright design.

Sustainable shopping De Groene Passage is a collection of sustainable shops including a grocery store, restaurant, bookstore and butchery. Mariniersweg 1 33 near Blaak train- and metrostation. Things to buy Dutch cheese is very famous, you can get some at grocery stores or wider variety at the marketplace. Other typical Dutch things are stroopwafels, hagelslag and drop (liquorice).

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Vienna
Culture
Vienna is also famous for its coffee culture. "Let's have a coffee" is a very commonly heard phrase, because despite incursions by Starbucks and Italian-style espresso bars, the Kaffeehauskultur is still the traditional way to drink a cup of coffee, read the newspaper, meet friends, or fall in love. The city has a very centralized layout radiating from the historic first district, or Inner-City with the Stephansdom and Stephansplatz at the centre of a bullseye. It is encircled by the Ringstrae (Ring Road), a grand boulevard constructed along the old city walls, which were torn down at the end of the 19th century. Along the Ringstrae are many famous and grand buildings, including the Rathaus [City Hall], the Austrian Parliament, the Hofburg Palace, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum), and the State Opera House. Districts 2-9 are considered the core districts and are gathered within the Grtel (Belt Road), which encircles the core districts as an outer ring concentric to the Ring around the first district, with the noteable exception of Leopoldstart (District 2). Leopoldstadt (the 2nd District) is the southern half of the island that is formed between the Danube and the Danube Canal. It streches from the more wild forests of the Prater in the south up through the point where the Prater becomes a more formal park and amusement park where the transportation hub Praterstern is located. Going onward to the North are several neighborhoods from the Grnderzeit[6] with dense housing including impressive Neo-Baroque buildings. Towards the north of the district along the Danube Canal across from Schwedenplatz is the Karmeliterviertel (Karmeliter Quarter) which was once a Jewish ghetto and today is the hub of Jewish life in Vienna. This area is indeed quite diverse across the board and is becomming gentrified. At the edge of that area is the Augarten. The area past that has been hand-picked for an intense development project that will turn several former freight yards into entire new neighborhoods. Along the Danube are numerous massive housing projects from the twenties onward. Landstrae (District 3) is a rather large district to the southeast of the center separated more or less by the Wien River (which is partially underground and otherwise chanellized. Streching from the station Wien Mitte and the surrounding business and financial district where the lively Landerstraer Haupstrae shopping street begins, over quiet residential areas where the Hundertwasser Haus is located, all the way to the industrial hinterlands and the bus station at Erdberg in southeast, through neighborhoods countaining examples of public housing like the Rabenhof and many embassies to the Belvedere Palace and the Soviet Memorial at Schwarzenbergplatz. 17

Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) (ICAO: LOWW, IATA: VIE) [7] is located just outside the city limits of Vienna on the far side of the City of Schwechat. The airport is the home base of Austrian Airlines [8] and Niki [9].
[edit] Airport transfer

Just past customs, there are numerous companies offering ground transportation. Here you can look for two very small monitors displaying all the next trains and the buses departing, to the right and left respectivly (at the back of the space where people receive travellers). By preference:

S-Bahn (commuter rail), (underneath terminal), [10]. 5:00-24:00. S-Bahn suburban trains run on the S7 line to Vienna providing cheapest and most convenient connection to the city centre. Take a train bound for Floridsdorf, which departs twice an hour, and get off at WienMitte station on the eastern edge of the city centre (25 min). From there the U-Bahn line U3 connects to Stephansplatz right in the core of the city centre, whereas line U4 provides service to Karlsplatz (for the Opera House) as well as the Donaukanal and the Schnbrunn Palace. Transfer is available to the U1 and U2 at Praterstern and U6 at Handelskai. Departure is one level below arrival on a separate platform from the CAT. Tickets can be purchased from the red vending machines. The button to buy single tickets is obvious. If you intend to buy a travel pass for the core zone (Zone 100) for your stay you may do so here and supplement it with an extra VOR 'Auenzone' ticket (2.00) instead of purchasing the single. Other varients using the zone system are possible (see [11], point at Tickets & Preise and klick on Wochen/Monatskarten and Tarifzonenplan). Conductors aren't hesitant to fine anyone (100) without a valid ticket, and being a tourist is not a valid excuse. 4.00 each way. edit Vienna AirportLines Bus, (outside arrivals), [12]. 5:00-24:00. Direct buses drive frequently between Vienna International Airport and assorted points in Vienna. Operated by Postbus. Tickets can be purchased with cash from the operator. All routes: One way 8, Round-trip 11. edit o Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz line goes to the city center (District 1). Buses every 30 minutes, the trip takes 20 minutes. At Schwedenplatz there is a connection to the underground lines U1 and U4 as well as buses and trams. St. Stephans Cathedral (the very center of Vienna) is a five-minute walk away. o Meidling/Westbahnhof line is the railway connector, departing every 20-30 minutes and stopping at Meidling Railway Station(30 min.) and Westbahnhof/West Railway Station(45 min.). o Kaisermhlen VIC/Kagran line goes to Vienna International Center (the UN) and serves hotels in the eastern part of Vienna. Runs hourly and takes 20-45 min. depending upon destination.

You must validate (stamp) your ticket if the time and date is not printed on it before entering the subway platform or train or as soon as you get on a bus or tram. You do not need to show your ticket to the bus or tram operator. Although there are not many spot checks, the fee for traveling without a ticket is 100. Tickets are available at machines (Visa, MC accepted) and from counters at subway and rail stations 18

as well as at tabacco shops (Tabak "Trafik").

Single Trip Ticket 2 A single direction uninterrupted trip to anywhere, with as many transfers as needed. (Children, Bikes, Dogs 1.00) Single tickets can also be purchased in trams and buses but cost 2.20 full fare, 1.10 reduced. Shopping ticket/Einkaufskarte 5.40 Valid workdays from 8 AM to 8 PM 24-hour ticket 6.70 Valid from time stamped.

[ On foot Walking can also be very pleasant. The inner ring is quite compact with lots of pleasant cobblestoned and paved streets. It can be crossed in about 20 min. Bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes as this is the most common way of getting around.
Do River and Canal tours The Canal tours are horrible. All you see are trees and industrial buildings. It's a waste of money and time.

Buy
Store hours are generally 8 or 9AM-6 or 7PM Monday-Friday, 9AM-6PM Saturday, Closed Sunday. There are slightly longer hours at some malls. Credit cards are normally accepted at large and at high-end stores. All chains that you can find in the malls also have stores on the city's shopping streets, which tend to be more accessible and tourist-friendly.

[edit] Groceries
Viennese supermarkets are not very large, especially compared with the hypermarkets covering the rest of Central Europe. However, there is practically one on every corner. They are open about 7 AM to 7 PM M-F and 7 AM to 6 PM on Saturday. Only three stores in train stations (Westbahnhof, Praterstern and Franz-Josef-Bahnhof), one at the General Hospital (Allgemeines Krankenhaus, AKH) and three at the airport are open later (Praterstern and Franz-Josef until 9 PM, Westbahnhof and the airport to 11 PM), on Sunday and on public holidays. Hofer [127], Penny [128], and Lidl [129] strive to be discount stores, whereas Billa [130], Spar [131] and Zielpunkt [132] as well as the larger Merkur [133] tout selection and quality. There is not a major difference in prices. Most regular stores have a deli where the clerks make sandwiches for the cost of the ingredients you select. Although many products are Austrian none of the chains are actually Austrian-owned. If you want to support the local economy more you can do so by frequenting independent shops or visiting actual markets.

Street food
The traditional Viennese fast food is sausage in all shapes and sizes. You can buy hot sausages and hot dogs at snack bars called "Wrstlstand" all over the town. The famous Wiener Wrstel is known as "Frankfurter" in Vienna, but many inhabitants prefer Bosna (with onions and curry), Burenwurst, and Ksekrainer or "Eitrige" (with melted cheese inside). 19

By far the cheapest way to get a fast food meal in Austria (and probably the only meal available for just over 1) is buying an Austrian sandwich (sliced brown bread + ham/cheese + gherkin) from a supermarket. Supermarkets with a deli counter (Feinkostabteilung) will prepare sandwiches to take away at no extra charge. You only pay for the ingredients. There is usually a large selection of meat products, cheese, and bread rolls available here, too. You point at the combination you want, can also mention the max total you can pay, and then pay at the cash register. One of the favorites is the "Leberkssemel", which is like a bigger but less dense version of a high quality hot dog on a bun. There is a nice supermarket,"Spar", that caters towards this idea, with WiFi, off of the U2's MuseumsQuartier train stop. Freshness and quality at the grocery stores are normally better than at a sandwich stand on the street. Another great way to eat on a budget is at one of Vienna's hundreds of bakeries. They sell anything from cinnamon rolls to pizza for a good price. It's also a great breakfast-on-the-run alternative because they also have coffee/espresso to go. However, most places do have a couple of tables and chairs where you can enjoy your food.

Budget

Wienerwald. This family/tourist chain restaurant can be found all over Vienna including in Goldschmiedgasse, right across from St. Stephan's Cathedral and Annagasse, a street to the left off of Krntnerstrasse, the famous shopping street. The restaurant includes authentic austrian food at affordable prices. Soups range from 3 to 4 and you can get a whole meal for 15. It's known for its amazing chicken dishes but the restaurant also has a lot of other choices to choose from. Great!! Also has a delivery hotline and you can order online as well. Cafe Aida, [134]. Chain-cafe across Vienna, one at Stephansplatz. edit

Coffee houses Finding a caf is not hard in Vienna; Finding a particular caf you are looking for is another story. Most of the baroque "top" coffee houses are on the Ring and main streets of the Innere Stadt (District 1), mostly cozier and often less formal 1970s or 80s modern style coffee houses are hidden away on the Innere Stadt's backstreets, and distributed across the rest of the city.
Chains

Oberlaa, [141]. Very Viennese cafes, really delicious bakery and well know confectionary. Also some choice of soups and mains. Several locations, mostly in Innere Stadt. Melange 3.70; Slice of Torte 3.50. edit Aida, [142]. Chic but artificial design, medicore quality, depends on location and luck. Many cafs across Vienna and Lower Austria. edit

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