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Rick Steves' Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol

Updates since the first edition:

Vienna

The British Bookshop, a good resource for English-language books, has reopened (Mon–Fri 9:30–18:30, Sat 9:30–18:00, closed Sun, between Franziskaner Platz and the Ring at Weihburggasse 24, tel. 01/512-194-522).

To get from downtown to the Südbahnhof in a hurry, take the U-1 (not the U-3) from Stephansplatz to Südtiroler Platz, then walk five minutes to the station (clearly signed).

We're sad to report that Gerhard at the Schweizer Pension has passed away; his wife Anita continues to run the pension.

The Hotel Schweizerhof has raised its rates slightly: Sb-€80–100, Db-€115–150, Tb-€135–175.

The Hotel zur Wiener Staatsoper has raised its rates slightly: Sb-€80–100, Db-€113–150, Tb-€135–175.

Long home to two bustling train stations, Vienna is currently building one central main station (Hauptbahnhof) that will replace both by 2013. Until then, the Westbahnhof (West Station) continues to serve trains to/from Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary, but the Südbahnhof (South Station) — the locus of the new central station — is mostly closed (though trains to/from Bratislava now run from a provisional eastern "Ostbahn" section of the Südbahnhof). Most other international trains are now served by the Wien Meidling station (southbound trains to/from Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy, as well as northbound trains to/from the Czech Republic and Poland). Trains don't always adhere to these generalizations, so always confirm which station your train leaves from.

This once-small suburban Meidling station has been souped up to accommodate the traffic that once passed through the Südbahnhof. It has a train info desk (near track 1 and underground, near track 4), ATMs (near tracks 1 and 6), luggage lockers (underground, near track 7), as well as airport bus services. To reach the city center, take the U-Bahn on the U-6 line to the Westbahnhof, then change to the U-3 line. (To get here from the center, take the U-Bahn to Philadelphiabrücke.) You can also reach the city center via tram #62, bus #59A, or the Wiener Lokalbahn (WLB Badner Bahn).

The Vienna–Strasbourg and Vienna-Amsterdam night trains are no more (as of Dec. 13, 2009, Vienna–Paris overnight routing includes a change of trains at Munich; Vienna–Amsterdam overnight routing requires a change of trains at Köln). All Vienna–Venice daytime trains now require a connection, often including a bus on the leg between Villach and Venice (Venezia Piazzale Roma). Munich–Vienna–Budapest fast service via Railjet increases to five departures per day (but in the reverse direction, one of the five will end at Salzburg instead of Munich).

Salzburg

Frau Ballwein has slightly higher prices for 2010 than those listed in the book: Sb-€35–40, Db-€55–65, Tb-€78–85, Qb-€80–90 (prices depend on season, family deals, cash only). She also now offers two 2-room apartments for 2–5 people (€85–110).

Haus Reichl has slightly higher prices for 2010 than those listed in the book: Db-€58–65, Tb-€75–85, Qb-€94–104 (prices depend on season, cash preferred).

Bavaria

See updates for our Germany guidebook.