Austria · Central Europe
Vienna
Vienna is imperial Europe at full volume: Habsburg palaces, Klimt and Schiele in the museums, coffeehouse culture where one melange buys you the afternoon, and Christmas markets that take over the whole city in December. Pairs perfectly with Budapest.
Best season
April to June and September; December for the Christmas markets, though it is properly cold.
What it costs
Western European prices. Palace tickets 16-24 EUR, coffeehouse coffee with cake 8-12 EUR, central hotels 120-180 EUR a night.
Getting there
Vienna airport (VIE) is 16 minutes from the centre on the CAT train; direct rail to Budapest (2.5 hours) and Salzburg.
Getting around
The U-Bahn, trams and buses are superb; the whole Ringstrasse and inner city are walkable.
Highlights
- Schonbrunn Palace and its gardens
- Belvedere with Klimt's The Kiss
- St Stephen's Cathedral
- a proper coffeehouse afternoon
- Christmas markets at Rathausplatz in winter
Local tips
- Cafes are for lingering - nobody rushes you out
- buy the Vienna City Card only if you plan heavy transit use
- book Schonbrunn's first morning slot.
What to eat
- Wiener schnitzel at Figlmuller
- Sachertorte at Cafe Sacher or Demel
- apfelstrudel
- a melange coffee at Cafe Central.
Where to stay
- Innere Stadt for first-timers
- Neubau for boutique hotels and cafes.
Sample itinerary
Day 1: Ringstrasse - Opera, Hofburg, St Stephen's, coffeehouse afternoon. Day 2: Schonbrunn morning, Belvedere and the MuseumsQuartier. Day 3: Naschmarkt brunch, Prater ferris wheel, evening classical concert.