Buying Vienna Maps

So far as free information is concerned, the Vienna Tourist Board has things pretty well sorted. Before you go, check out their excellent website at: http://info.wien.at, while city centre maps can be picked up at either Albertinaplatz 1 (open daily from 9am to 7pm) or their office in the arrivals hall at Vienna Airport.

If you purchase a Vienna Card (which costs €18.50) you’ll also receive a booklet and city map identifying museums, galleries, major tourist attractions, shops, theatres and restaurants. Aside from the fact it’s a large fold-out (but rather flimsy affair), most visitors will find it more than adequate for a short stay (especially as it also includes a separate map of the city’s public transport network). However, if you do fancy buying a map, then our recommendations are as follows:

Cartographia Map of Vienna (www.cartographia.hu) - excellent 1: 20,000 scale map, with a centre section showing the city in greater detail (1: 12,500). Nicely presented and cheap to buy too. ISBN: 963 352 703 1;

Fodor’s City Pack - comprising of a full-color mini guide together with a full-size color map (in sturdy plastic sleeve), the Fodor’s City Pack makes for an ideal travel companion in Vienna. Covers the city’s top 25 attractions and includes walks, tours/excursions, plus details of hotels, restaurants, shops and nightlife. A fully indexed fold-out map (containing neighbourhood blowups, public transport and points of interest) rounds off a good value, well-thought out publication. ISBN: 067 900 253 7;

Insight Flexi Map - we’re big fans of Insight’s Flexi Map series. A long lasting laminated number which, as well as being clear and concise, benefits from being easy to open and close. Scale of 1: 12,500, with pages on the city’s top ten sights too. ISBN: 0841620 69 5;

Michael Brein’s Guide to Vienna by the U-Bahn (www.michaelbrein.com) - great for deciphering just where Vienna’s major attractions are in relation to the city’s U-Bahn (subway) stations. Also includes a large map of the network, plus walks and other accompanying maps. Inexpensive and very useful. ISBN: 1 886590 12 5;

See also our recommended book/map purchases for Vienna.