Very Viennese: Give Austria a Whirl for a Short Break

Vienna is a city full of sweet surprises from its Art Nouveau facades to attractive parks and traffic free boulevards. Possibly one of the most beautiful baroque cities in Europe, Vienna is adorned with grand architecture and impressive sculptures.

The river Danube runs through the city of Vienna, which stands in a somewhat regal manner in the Danube Valley. The city is divided into two sides by the river, with the old centre and many major attractions lying on the south-western side. The sloping hills of Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) are visible beyond the northern and western suburbs and consist of a densely wooded and rambling series of hills and mountains.

With marked walking and hiking paths the woods are a rejuvenating place to spend time and even contain a few surprises themselves including vineyards and old vintner’s villages. Vienna’s vineyards make it the only metropolis in the world where wine is grown within the city limits so sample Austria’s finest whilst there for the ultimate authentic experience. Vienna Woods are easily reached by public transport so jump on a train or bus and be on your way to the foothills of the Alps.

Whilst on the subject of public transport it’s worth mentioning that Vienna is well serviced by trams, trains and buses though most of the city is easy to see by foot.

Within the ring of broad streets that replaced the old city’s walls stands Vienna’s medieval centre which is dotted with delectable pastry shops, restaurants and coffee houses for the hungry and art galleries, museums and operas for the curious.

As most of the key sights and attractions lie in the historic centre (Innere Stadt) this makes a practical starting point. St Stephen’s Cathedral can be found at the heart of Vienna’s historic centre and is easily the most important Gothic building in Austria. Built during the 13th and 14th centuries you can climb the steeples to gain a bird’s eye view of the city and delve down to the catacombs to sneak a peek at the innards of the Old Prince’s vault.

The sprawling Imperial Palace (Hofburg) encompasses almost every architectural style from the 13th to 20th century and is worth a look when visiting. The Jewish Quarter (Judenplatz) is another notably authentic area to visit and soak up the Viennese Jewish traditions unfolding around you.

Vienna acted as both home and inspiration for a myriad of famous musicians and composers; Strauss, Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn to name a few. The city therefore has a strong musical focus with concerts held throughout the year.

Getting to Vienna should prove as easy as getting around the city itself. The international airport (Flughafen Wien Schwechat) lies 19k from the city centre so a short journey will have you in the thick of it. The airport is served by around 80 different airlines so flights to Vienna shouldn’t be hard to come by and before you know it you could be enjoying the highlights of this Austrian treasure in no time.

The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.