Introduction
The city that at one point of time in the history controlled much of the Central and Eastern Europe still maintains some of the splendours of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, Vienna serves as the capital of Austria, the city known for imperial palaces and art museums, ornate cafes and beer taverns, baroque churches and stately elegance, and more than anything else the birthplace of Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, and so on. Come and visit the city that can easily claim to have the strongest musical traditions in Europe and walk around in one of the most charming European capitals.

What to do
Music is an integral part of life in Vienna and you are not expected to miss the concerts held at major symphonies. The countryside around Vienna gives ample opportunities to indulge in different activities such as hiking, skiing, and viewing. Danube River cruising should be a part of your itinerary as well as regular sightseeing, shopping, and dining options.

City at a Glance

Latitude 16°11'03" to 16°34'43"E Longitude 48°07'06" to 48°19'23"N Area 414.95 Sq Km Population 1,606,843 Language German Religion Christianity Telephone Code 01

History
Vienna was established as a military camp called Vindobona by the Romans in first century AD. The civilian settlement begins in third century, but with the decline of Romans in 4th and 5th century, the city also declined. The city was called by its present name only in 9th century when it was having troubles with Magyar expansion. The Magyar threat was contained in the battle of Lechfeld in 955. The Austrian magraves, who were the dukes of Bavaria at that time transferred their residence to Vienna and founded its oldest monastery, Sankt Maria zu den Schotten (St Mary of the Scots). The city wall was built around 1200 and it was also termed as one of the principal cities of the empire after Cologne. The latter middle age belongs to the Habsburg Empire in Vienna who encouraged development of art, culture, and education and constructed many new structures. Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in the history of Vienna belong to the stories of regular siege of the city by Turks. Though, they could never control the city but changed the physical structure of the city much. The history of Vienna after this was a regular saga of wars, triumphs, deaths, destruction, birth of a republic, and foreign occupation. It is amazing that even in these turbulent time, so much happened in the fields of art, architecture, music, painting, literature, and theatre.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
Vienna has a moderate subalpine climate January is the coldest and July is the hottest months. Summers in Vienna starts from Easter and continues through mid October while mid December to mid March is the winter season. The best time to visit the place is the shoulder seasons when the temperature is moderate. The high season in Vienna starts in April and continues through October.

Attractions
Stephansdom (St. Stephan's Cathedral)
This is the epicentre of Vienna, constructed in 12-14 century and a cultural and visual landmark for centuries. There are some fancy tombs inside and 450-foot Steffl (South Tower) gives panoramic views of the city.

Hofburg Palace
The palace with its many blocks and multiple entrances was started in 1279 and new additions were continued till 1913. Main attractions here are Kaiserappartments or Imperial Apartments, Silberkammer, Schatzkammer or Imperial Treasury, and Neue Burg or New Castle. The main entrance is Michaelerplatz and the palace takes up many square city blocks.

Staatsoper (State Opera House)
Opened in 1869 with a performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni, this is one of the most important Opera Houses in the world. Enjoying regular performance during the nights is the best way to appreciate Staatsoper.

Akademie der Bildenden Kunste (Academy of Fine Arts)
This is a small but very important art gallery with a choice collection of paintings from 15th to 17th century. Some of the major attractions include Last Judgement by Hieronymus Bosch, Self Portrait by Van Dyck, passels of Rubens, Venice Scenes by Guardi, and some works by Rembrandt, Botticelli, and Cranach the Elder.

Scloss Schönbrunn
Situated at a distance of around 6.5 km from Vienna, this was the Hapsburgs' summer palace after mid 18th century. There are 1441 rooms in this sprawling palace, but only 40 of them are open today for the public. Two basic tours, Imperial and Grand (both of them audio) are available as well as guided tours.

IMPORTANT FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS
The best part about Vienna or Austrian festival scene is their relation with music. Concerts are part of any festival and they have special flavour in the country of Mozart and Beethoven. The festival season starts with New Year Concerts consisting of lavish balls in the city. Vienna Fashing (Carnival) in February lasts through Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Grass). In April, the city celebrates festivals like Vienna Mozart Week, Osterklang Wien (Sound of Easter in Vienna), and Vienna Spring Festival. In May, you can go through International Music Festival and Vienna Festival. The season ends with Chriskindl, between Mid November and New Year Day.

PLACES NEARBY
Salzburg
Vienna is a city that believes in something of everything and nightlife is not exception to this rule. There are nightclubs, cabarets, casino’s, theatre, orchestras, and last but not the least wining and dining. Don't miss the legendary symphonies of Vienna including Vienna Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, VRF Symphony Orchestra, and Niedervsterreichische Tonk|nstler.

Innsbruck
Occasional host of Winter Olympics and imperial home away from home of the royalty is nestled amid a ring stupendous Alps on a milky white river. This is one of the best place for skiing, hiking, and scenic drives around. From Munich there are around 14 trains daily that moves you to Innsbruck in around 5 hours.

AFTER HOURS
Vienna is a city that believes in something of everything and nightlife is not exception to this rule. There are nightclubs, cabarets, casino’s, theatre, orchestras, and last but not the least wining and dining. Don't miss the legendary symphonies of Vienna including Vienna Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, VRF Symphony Orchestra, and Niedervsterreichische Tonk|nstler.

SHOPPING
Vienna has a glorious tradition of creating handicrafts by skilled workmanship and you can spend hours searching for these items in the shopping arcades of the city. Some of the famed objects in Vienna include hand-painted Wiener Augarten porcelain, silver and gold work, ceramics, enamel jewellery, wrought-iron articles, and leathergoods. Kdrntnerstrasse, the Graben, Kohlmarkt, and Rotensturmstrasse are some of the major shopping areas in the city.

WHERE TO STAY
Westbahnhof situated at some distance from the city centre is the Mecca of cheap accommodation in Vienna. Most of the quality hotels can be found in the city centre and as the demand for rooms increases during summer, prices would get higher and higher. If you are planning to visit the city in late spring or late summer, advance booking well in time is necessary.

WHERE TO EAT
Wien Schwechat Airport is situated at a distance of around 20 km southwest from the city centre and connected to the local buses that leave every 20 minutes. Vienna is the entry point for most destinations in Austria and Central Europe and that increases its importance. From European cities like London and Frankfurt, there are regular flights to Vienna. From America, you may need to change your flights to neighbouring European cities. Though, the national carrier Austrian Airways has recently upgraded its service and direct flights from New York to Vienna has been established. British Airways and Lufthansa also provide good connections to Vienna from other parts of the world.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
Air Travel Resources
Wien Schwechat Airport is situated at a distance of around 20 km southwest from the city centre and connected to the local buses that leave every 20 minutes. Vienna is the entry point for most destinations in Austria and Central Europe and that increases its importance. From European cities like London and Frankfurt, there are regular flights to Vienna. From America, you may need to change your flights to neighbouring European cities. Though, the national carrier Austrian Airways has recently upgraded its service and direct flights from New York to Vienna has been established. British Airways and Lufthansa also provide good connections to Vienna from other parts of the world.

Land and Water
If you are arriving in the city from Northern or Central Europe you would be stopping at Westbahnhof or Südbahnhof stations. If you are coming from Berlin and Prague by train, your connecting railway station would be Franz-Josef Bahnhof or Wien Mitte/Landstrasse stations. Many cruise lines navigate Danube River and connect the city with places afar like Passau in Germany, Bratislava in Slovakia, and Budapest in Hungary. Autobahnen or Express Highways connect Vienna with most of the places in neighbouring countries such as Munich, Bratslavia, and Prague. You can drive your own car from London using English Chunnel or most of the neighbouring places in Italy and Germany.

Local Transport
The best way of discovering Vienna is through its public transport system which have a vast network and reasonable fares. The network includes underground trams, buses, and rapid transit.

TRAVEL RESOURCES
Tourist Office
City Centre
Wien 1, Albertinaplatz / Maysedergasse
West Motorway (A 1)
Wien/Auhof motorway services

South Motorway (A2)
Zentrum motorway exit, Passion Week - June: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., July - September 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., October 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Main Road from the North
Florisdorfer Bridge (Danube Island exit), May 1st - September 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Airport
Arrivals hall, opposite the baggage carousels, daily 8.30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Western Railway Station
Entrance hall/ground floor, daily 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Airlines
Austrian Airways
Town Office
Kärntner Ring 18
1010 Vienna
Tel: (0)5 1789

Medical Care
Neue Allgemeine Krankenhaus
Währinger Gürtel 18-20
Tel: 0222/31339

Bank and Money Exchange
American Express
Kärntnerstrasse 21-23
Tel: 0222-515-40