Welcome to Vienna!

Vienna used to be terribly old-fashioned.
It is the city of classical music and was 3-4 centuries ago home to the most impressive composers and pianists of the world - Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Johann Strauss to name just a few.
With the Wiener Philharmonics (one of the world’s top orchestras), the Vienna Boys’ Choir and the Vienna Conservatorium the classical music tradition has been preserved right to the present day.
The architecture is beautiful – it’s broad, sweeping boulevards are as grandiose as anything in Paris, but the atmosphere in its corner cafés was generally pretty sleepy in the past.

Today, the city is as handsome and elegant as ever, but it feels fresh and sprightly. With a host of new bars and restaurants to compliment its haughty monuments, Vienna has rediscovered its joie de vivre.

Vienna, also described as Europe's cultural capital, is a metropolis with unique charm, vibrancy and flair. It boasts outstanding infrastructure, is clean and safe, and has all the inspiration that you could wish for in order to discover this wonderful part of Europe. The perfect winter mini break.

Here are our tips:

WHERE TO STAY:
Hotel Sacher
Hotel Sacher is the epitome of old Vienna. It is favourite for opera singers and other celebrities but the best known thing is the traditional Sacher-Torte. It is a layered chocolate cake filled with apricot jam and has to be eaten with whipped cream!
www.sacher.com

Hotel Imperial
Built in 1863 for the Prince of Württemberg, this former palace is possibly Vienna's grandest hotel. The restaurant serves traditional Austrian fare and the Imperial café is very famous for its afternoon tea.
The hotel is just a short walk from the Vienna State Opera, Music Concert Hall and the 12th-century cathedral.
http://www.hotelimperialvienna.com/

Do & Co Hotel
The Do & Co Hotel is located in the heart of the city just opposite Stephan’s Cathedral. It is a modern alternative to the other two traditional hotels in the classical Vienna style.
http://www.doco.com

WHERE TO EAT:
Starbucks and Viennese cafes are two different shoes. Either you stick to the ‘rush drinking’ coffee bars or you relax and take the time to enjoy one of the fabulous typical afternoon teas with one of the delicious “Mehlspeisen” (sweet dishes of dumplings, pancakes, yeast pies, etc.).
But remember: Being in a rush is the height of bad manners in Austrian cafes. No one is ever busy here, least of all the staff. The service is spectacularly leisurely, the mood seductively sedate. But the coffee is worth the wait – many smothered in whipped cream or sweetened with liquor.

Café Sperl
Marbled tables, parquet floor and embroidered banquettes decorate the quintessential Coffeehouse – it has everything that the visitor to Vienna expects. You should definitely try the “Topfenstrudel” with your coffee (layered pastry with sweet soft quark cheese)
www.cafesperl.at

Café Landtmann
This Vienesse institution was founded in1873 by Franz Landtmann and has become to one of the most popular cafes in Austrians capital. You will be transported to another era listening to classical piano music whilst drinking your coffee.
http://www.landtmann.at

Fabios
Restaurant Fabios attracts a smart metropolitan crowd and serves Mediterranean cuisine in an innovative modern style. The desert is all about cheese.
http://www.fabios.at/

Steiereck
Located in the “Stadtpark”, the city's main park, this is the place to go for classic Viennese fine dining. Besides a bountiful wine cellar, there's also a well-stocked cheese cellar.
http://steirereck.at

Figlmueller
On an adventure to Vienna you should definitely try Vienna’s most famous dish: A real “Wiener Schnitzel”. Figlmueller calls themselves: The home of the Schnitzel for more than 100 years.
www.figlmueller.at

WHAT TO DO:
Down the centuries, Vienna has always produced and nurtured world-famous artists. The collecting passion of art-loving rulers and monarchs has made Vienna a treasure house par excellence.
There are so many different buildings to see:
Hunterwasser Haus
The Hundertwasser house is an unusual tourist attraction designed in the typical style of the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
www.hundertwasserhaus.at

Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Art Historic Museum contains the fourth largest collection of paintings in the world plus Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities. There are Venetian works by the likes of Tintoretto, Veronese and Titian, Velazquez portraits, paintings by Rembrandt and whole rooms devoted to van Dyck and Rubens.
http://www.khm.at/

Schloss Belvedere
The Belvedere Palace is the finest Palace in Vienna, built for Prince Eugene of Savoy, Austria's greatest military leader.
http://www.belvedere.at/

Schloss Schoenbrunn
The Schoenbrunn Castle is the most popular sightseeing spot and it is a must to have a little walk in the palace garden.
http://www.schoenbrunn.at

Fiaker
The Fiaker are the noble horse drawn carriages of Vienna. It is a tourist attraction but a good one and you have the sense, when you ride around these palaces, that you are back in the 17th century.
http://www.wien-fiaker.at/en/

Vienna Opera Ball
The Wiener Opernball is an annual Austrian society event which takes place in the building of the Vienna State Opera on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday.
This year it is held on the 16.02.2011 – so if you are there at that time you will definitely see lots of red carpets, celebrities and amazing floor-length ball gowns.
www.vienna-opera.com

WHAT TO WEAR
If you are going in February and do not want to miss out the opera ball take warm clothes with you. The winter is quite cold in Vienna but looks very romantic when it snows. You are perfectly dressed with a ‘Janker’ over your blouse, a country classical jacket, and a hat on top, to keep you warm.
The summers are quite warm but there is always the chance of rain – so take a few things for cover you up, especially at night when it gets chilly.

HOW TO GET THERE
From the UK it is the best going on the plane – Vienna’s airport is located 20km southeast of the city and they are flying many different airlines to.
Airlines from the UK:
Austrian Airlines www.aua.com
BMI www.flybmi.com
British Airways www.ba.com
EasyJet www.easyjet.com
Lufthansa www.lufthansa.com