Vienna, Austria: Tourist Guide to the City of Music and Imperial Splendour

Vienna is Austria's capital and largest city, on the Danube in the northeast of the country. It began as the Roman military camp of Vindobona, and later became the seat of the Habsburg dynasty, whose emperors ruled a vast empire from here for centuries. That past shows in its palaces, grand boulevards and museums. It is also famous for classical music, coffee houses and a very high quality of life, so it feels both grand and easy to visit. Most sights are close together, and the public transport is excellent. 3 days covers the highlights, and 4 to 5 days leaves room for day trips.

The City of Music

Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert and Johann Strauss II all lived and worked here (Schubert and Strauss were born in the city), and Vienna still lives up to the nickname.

• Vienna State Opera (Staatsoper): One of the world's leading opera houses, with performances almost every evening of its season. Standing-room tickets are sold cheaply shortly before curtain time, which is a great budget option.

• Musikverein: The golden concert hall home to the Vienna Philharmonic and the famous New Year's Concert

• Konzerthaus and Volksoper: Further concert and operetta venues

• Vienna Boys' Choir: Sings at Sunday mass in the Hofburg Chapel (check the season and booking details)

• Haus der Musik: An interactive sound museum, good for families

• Composer sites: The Mozarthaus Vienna, Beethoven Museum (Heiligenstadt and other residences) and the Zentralfriedhof, where many composers are commemorated

• Tourist concerts: Many tourist-style concerts are staged in historic halls. They are fun but vary in quality, so check reviews.

Imperial Vienna

Hofburg Palace. The Habsburgs' winter residence for over 600 years, now a huge complex that includes the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, the Silver Collection, the Spanish Riding School (home of the Lipizzaner horses) and the Imperial Treasury. Parts are also used as government offices.

Schönbrunn Palace. The summer residence of the Habsburgs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (listed in 1996). Its 1,441 rooms are famous, and visitors see around 40 on a tour, including the rooms of Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi") and Franz Joseph. The gardens, the Gloriette hilltop colonnade and Tiergarten Schönbrunn (the world's oldest zoo, founded in 1752) are part of the visit. Book timed tickets online and arrive early.

Belvedere. A Baroque palace pair that holds Gustav Klimt's The Kiss and a large Austrian art collection, with formal gardens between the Upper and Lower palaces.

Karlskirche. A grand Baroque church with a huge dome and twin columns, set beside a pond.

Ringstrasse. The ring boulevard around the Innere Stadt (old centre), lined with the Opera, Parliament, City Hall (Rathaus), the Burgtheater and the University. It's easy to travel around by tram line 1 or 2, or walk in sections.

The Old Centre

• St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom): The Gothic heart of the city, with a patterned tile roof and a south tower about 136 m tall. You can climb the tower (343 steps) or take the elevator up the north tower, and visit the catacombs. The giant Pummerin bell hangs in the north tower.

• Graben and Kohlmarkt: Elegant shopping streets with the Plague Column and fine pastry shops

• Hoher Markt and the Anker Clock: An art nouveau clock that performs daily at noon

• Peterskirche and Jewish Museum: Smaller sights in the old centre, giving a different side of the city

• Judenplatz: The memorial to Austrian Jewish victims of the Holocaust and a quiet historic square

Museums and Art

• Kunsthistorisches Museum: The imperial art collection, with Bruegel, Vermeer and Titian, in a magnificent building

• Naturhistorisches Museum: Opposite, with a huge natural-history collection

• Albertina: Dürer, Monet, Picasso and big temporary exhibitions

• Leopold Museum: The best place for Egon Schiele and Viennese modernism

• MuseumsQuartier: A large culture district with courtyards, cafés and the MUMOK and Leopold museums

• Secession Building: Klimt's Beethoven Frieze and the gilded dome known as the "golden cabbage"

• Hundertwasserhaus and Kunst Haus Wien: The colourful, wavy apartment block and a nearby museum that show Vienna's quirkier side

Coffee House Culture

Viennese coffee houses are a social institution, and UNESCO lists their culture as intangible cultural heritage. Think marble tables, newspapers on wooden holders and waiters in formal dress. You can sit for hours without being rushed, and a glass of water comes with your coffee.

• Order: Melange (like a cappuccino), Einspänner (black coffee with whipped cream) or Verlängerter (a long espresso)

• Famous cafés: Café Central, Café Sacher, Demel, Café Landtmann, Café Hawelka and Café Sperl

• Etiquette: Don't rush, and note that tipping a few percent is normal (see tips below)

Parks, Green Space and Viewpoints

• Prater and the Riesenrad: The giant Ferris wheel from 1897, made famous by the film The Third Man, with a funfair around it and a huge park behind

• Stadtpark: A pretty park with the golden Johann Strauss statue

• Danube Island (Donauinsel): A long strip for cycling, swimming and summer events

• Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg: Hills in the Vienna Woods with city views

• Naschmarkt: A long market of food stalls, restaurants and snacks (busiest on Saturdays, with a flea market)

Food to Try

• Wiener Schnitzel: A thin, breaded veal cutlet, served with potato salad or fries (traditionally veal, though pork is common)

• Tafelspitz: Boiled beef with horseradish and apple sauce, a classic Habsburg dish

• Sachertorte: A chocolate cake with apricot jam, from Hotel Sacher (also at Demel and elsewhere)

• Apfelstrudel and Kaiserschmarrn: Apple strudel and a shredded sweet pancake with fruit compote

• Käsekrainer and sausage stands: Quick, classic street food

• Heuriger: Wine taverns in villages such as Grinzing and Nussdorf, serving local white wine with cold dishes. Vienna is one of the few capitals with its own vineyards.

• Drinks: Grüner Veltliner, Gemischter Satz (a Viennese field blend), Almdudler soft drink and local beer

Day Trips from Vienna

• Wachau Valley (about 80 km): A UNESCO-listed Danube valley with vineyards, apricot orchards, Melk Abbey and Dürnstein, easy by train, boat or tour

• Bratislava, Slovakia (about 60 km): About an hour by train or boat, with a compact old town and castle

• Baden bei Wien: A spa town with a relaxed, elegant feel

• Schloss Hof and Eisenstadt: Estate and Haydn connections

• Salzburg (about 2.5 hours by train): A long but popular day trip, better as an overnight

• Hallstatt (about 3 to 4 hours): Better as an overnight stay, as the journey is long

Best Time to Visit

• April to June: Pleasant weather, blooming parks and open-air events, with moderate crowds

• July to August: Warm to hot (around 25 to 32°C), with outdoor life, summer festivals and cinema nights, but also fewer performances at some music venues

• September to October: Mild weather, wine-harvest season and autumn colours. A very good time to visit.

• Late November to December: The Christmas markets (such as Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn and Spittelberg) and festive lights

• January to February: Cold and sometimes snowy, but this is ball season, with the famous Opera Ball, and you can combine museums and cafés

Getting There

• By air: Vienna International Airport (VIE) is about 18 km southeast of the centre. The CAT train runs non-stop to the centre in around 16 minutes, and the cheaper S-Bahn (S7) and Railjet trains also run. Taxis and buses are available.

• By train: Wien Hauptbahnhof is the main station, with fast trains from Salzburg, Graz, Munich, Prague, Budapest and Bratislava

• By bus and boat: Long-distance buses run from the Erdberg and other terminals, and seasonal boats run on the Danube

• Local transport: The U-Bahn (metro), trams, buses and S-Bahn are clean and punctual. Day, multi-day and Vienna City Card options are available. Check current prices and what's included.

Practical Tips

• Currency: Euro. Cards are widely accepted, but some small cafés and heuriger prefer cash.

• Tipping: Around 5 to 10 percent is customary in restaurants and cafés, by rounding up or telling the waiter the total when paying.

• Shop hours: Most shops close on Sundays and public holidays, apart from some at main stations and airports.

• Tap water: Excellent, fed from Alpine springs, and public fountains are common.

• Safety: Very safe, with low crime. Watch for pickpockets in busy tourist areas.

• Dress: Smart casual is fine for most places. Dress up a little for the opera.

• Language: German, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

• Book ahead: For Schönbrunn, the Spanish Riding School, major opera performances and Christmas-season dinners

• Passes: Compare the Vienna City Card with other sightseeing passes against your own plans

• Prices, opening hours and performance schedules change, so check official sources before you go.