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Removals to Vienna with Hamiltons Removals
Vienna may be the most famous for its arts and culture, and for its history – but there’s a lot more to Austria’s capital. Hamiltons Removals, who can help with commercial and domestic removals to Vienna, take a closer look at the city and what to expect if you’re looking to move there.
The History and Heritage
The name Vienna comes from the Celtic word ‘Vindobona’ (which literally translates as white base), suggesting the city originally dates back from pre-Roman times.
Various family dynasties have ruled over the city – probably the most important and best known are the Habsburgs, who were in control of Vienna for more than 600 years, from. Over these centuries Vienna developed its reputation as one of the world’s foremost classical music centres, particularly during and after the Renaissance starting in the 14th century, with Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Haydn all making the city their home.
Nowadays, Vienna has a thriving economy – it effectively acts as a gateway to Eastern European markets, since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Major contributors to the country’s economy are the service sector and start-ups, and more specifically IT and life sciences, as well as tourism.
Getting There and Getting Around
Vienna International Airport (code VIE) is just outside the city (to the southeast) and is closest to the suburb of Schwechat. If you’re travelling to Vienna from here in the UK, EasyJet, British Airways and Austrian Airlines all run direct flights between the UK and the city.
You can get to the city centre via the S-Bahn rail service which has a stop at the airport, but you may need to change to the underground or U-Bahn to get to your destination. There are also shuttle buses to the Hauptbahnhof, the main central railway station in Vienna. Inter-city and night trains run to Vienna from most major European cities (look for the Wien moniker, the German translation).
Travelling around Vienna by car is also an option (a third of all journeys to the city are made by car) but parking is limited and expensive in the city centre. It’s recommended that you park on the outskirts and then use public transport – you have a choice of U-Bahn, S-Bahn (five lines), or by tram or bus or by boat down the Danube, which famously runs through the city (but the last option is only best if you aren’t in a hurry).
Cycle lanes are another option, but they aren’t very well integrated with the rest of the network; routes may be shared with pedestrians and are generally not well signposted.
The Main Attractions
Most of the attractions to enjoy in Vienna are architectural or musical (or sometimes both) in nature.
The Hofburg Imperial Palace, pictured, in the city centre, and the Schonbrunn Palace in the Hietzing district, were both residences of the ruling Hapsburg dynasty (the latter just in the summer). Since 1946, the former has been the workplace of the president of Austria and parts of it are open to the public – it also contains museums, a church and chapel, and The Spanish Riding School, which is known the world over for its precision dressage displays and you can still see them today.
Schonbrunn Zoo is in that palace’s gardens, if you would like to visit something more family-friendly; it houses more than 600 species of animals.
When it comes to musical venues in Vienna, you have plenty to choose from. The State Opera House (Staatsoper), and the Volksoper both host operas and operettas regularly; St Stephen’s Cathedral also hosts concerts as well as being a place of worship, and both the palaces mentioned above also host musical events regularly.
Vienna is also famous as the setting for the film The Third Man, and the giant Ferris wheel used in a major scene is still functioning today; you get great views over the city if you don’t mind heights, and the Praterpark in which it’s located also contains other funfair rides, a planetarium, and plenty of shops and restaurants.
Shopping Around and Eating Out
The pedestrianised Old Town (which also contains the Hofburg Palace) has most of the major brand-name stores – particularly in Kohlmarkt, Karntner Strasse, and The Graben.
There are several malls if you want something slightly cheaper, including a Westfield in the Donau Zentrum; if you want something more artisan/independent, head for Neubaugasse in the city’s 7th district.
For a taste of the local delicacies, the Wiener Schnitzel pork cutlets are famous the world over; and sausages are another favourite (sold at booths around the city and at major events). When it comes to desserts – which is what Viennese chefs are most famous for – as well as apple strudel and sachertorte chocolate cake, you could also try Kaierschmarrn – a shredded pancake with plums.
What is the Cost of Removals to Austria?
Vienna is one of the cheaper capital cities to live in in Europe – certainly much cheaper than London. City centre prices in the tourist areas, such as for accommodation and food, are much more expensive than the suburbs as you might expect.
If you are considering domestic or commercial removals to any part of Austria, at Hamiltons we can offer the basic transportation package, or several additional services such as packing and unpacking, and a full professional deep clean of the property of your old and new homes.
We also offer online video surveys and online quotes to help make the process more convenient for you. You can also call us on 01379 855203 and we will be more than happy to discuss your removal options with you.
International Removals to Berne with Hamiltons Removals
Whether you spell it Bern or Berne, the Swiss capital is one of the more attractive places in Europe to move to; three out of every 10 people who live in the city are from outside Switzerland. Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer international removals to Berne, take a closer look at the city.
The History and Heritage
The origin of the city’s name is uncertain, but the city itself dates back to 1191. Some believe it is named after a bear – the first animal the city’s founder and ruler, the Duke of Zahringen, met on a hunt (he had pledged to do this in advance); others say it was named after the Italian city of Verona, which translated as ‘Bern’ in Middle High German. The French and the English still spell the city’s name with the extra ‘e’.
Originally, Berne was part of the Roman Empire, but became a ‘free’ city in 1218 and effectively became part of Switzerland in the mid-14th century.
The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; this is because in 1405 a large fire broke out and destroyed many of the city’s timber buildings. These were replaced by sandstone houses and arcades which survive to this day and are an integral feature of the Old Town.
Berne is the administrative capital of the country, while Lausanne is the judicial capital.
Getting There and Getting Around
There is an airport close to the city, Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome (conventionally known as Bern Airport), but the flights it offers tend to be seasonal (and there are no direct flights from the UK). You may be better off flying in via Geneva, Basel or Zurich and commuting in by train.
While travel links by air may be slightly lacking, the city is the hub of the country’s federal rail network. There’s also a commuter rail network (the S-Bahn, which is partly underground) within the city.
Buses or trams are also viable alternatives; the city is also reasonably bike-friendly, and most thoroughfares have dedicated cycling lanes. Most of the city centre (particularly the Old Town) is easily explored on foot.
The one option that isn’t easy to recommend for travelling in Berne’s city centre is by car, as parking is very expensive and the Old Town streets are narrow.
The Main Attractions
As well as the Old Town, the Zytglotte (the clock tower, pictured above) is always worth a look; make sure you pass it just before the hour as you’ll see a display by mechanical figures including a king, a jester and (in a nod to the city’s heritage) some bears at the turn of the hour.
The city lies on the Aare River, which is safe enough to swim in (and many do during the warmest months of the year). In winter, there are plenty of free ice rinks to skate on; the most famous is the Bundesplatz.
Berne also has its own zoo, close to the river and the city centre, including a bear park with a family of bears living there. Most of the museums and art galleries are located in the Kirchenfeld quarter (also close to the centre), which is easily reachable either on foot or via public transport.
Shopping Around and Eating Out
Spitalgasse and Marktgasse are the main shopping streets in the Old Town – many of the stores are in the stone arcades, so there’s plenty of cover in case of poor weather. However, be aware that the opening hours may not be as flexible as the UK, and prices tend to be more expensive.
There are also plenty of farmers’ markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays offering fresh, local produce. The most famous local dish is probably the Berner Platte which has meat (usually some form of pork) cooked with vegetables such as sauerkraut, turnips, beans and boiled potatoes on a large platter.
For a sweet treat, meringues and hazelnut gingerbread are popular (although the latter doesn’t have many traditional ingredients), with baked goods in particular featuring at the forefront in the many winter markets.
International Removals to Berne with East Anglian Hamiltons Removals
If you are interested in international removals to Berne (and it’s worth noting that Switzerland is not a member of the EU but is part of the single market) then contact Hamiltons, one of the leading removal companies in East Anglia.
We can also help with moves to Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lucerne and all the other major Swiss towns and cities – for more information follow this link.