Austria at its best in the wonderful Vienna

The city of Vienna is the capital of the marvelous nation of Austria. Vienna also forms one of the nine states of the country. The city without a shadow of a doubt is the most important city when it comes to almost everything, like trade and commerce, tourism, culture etc.

The city is by far the most populous amongst Austrian cities as well, and houses some 1.7 million residents. The city is also ranked as the 10th most populous amongst the cities in the European Union. Vienna is also home to some of the most important world landmarks as well. The city houses the buildings of the United Nations and OPEC.

Vienna is situated on the eastern side of Austria and is very near to the borders of the neighboring nations of the Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary. The city received a world honor in 2001, when it was included by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The year 2005 saw the city being ranked a joint first with the city of Vancouver in overall terms of quality of life.

The city is full of art-nouveau building structures. International travelers need to keep one thing in mind before traveling to the city; it is recommended you reserve your tickets to all the main attractions in advance as the tickets booked from a foreign country are given preference by the authorities.

Let’s go through some of the Vienna attractions

Vienna State Opera:
The Vienna State Opera is both an opera company as well as an opera house. The opera dates back to the mid-19th century and is located in the heart of the city. The house was initially known as the Vienna Court Opera, until 1920, when it was renamed to the Vienna State Opera.

The opera house also holds the Vienna Opera Ball, which is an annually held top international event. The event is held on the last Thursday of Fasching. The event draws the top most world personalities from the political and business circles besides world wide media coverage.

The year 1968 saw the event being held as a protest for the high prices.

The Spanish Riding School:
Vienna’s Spanish Riding School is ranked as the oldest in the world. The school has been practicing for more than 430 years now and still continues to be a world leader in these times of tough competition.

The Sisi Museum:
This museum is devoted to the country’s Empress Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie. Besides the marvelous architecture, all visitors can view the silver cabinet as well as the Imperial apartments.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum:
This museum dates back to 1891 and is a premier museum in the current day. The museum features collections from Habsburgs, Ferdinand of Tirol, Emperor Rudolf II and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm.

The Naturhistorisches Museum:
This museum houses the Venus of Willendorf. This work of art is without a shadow of a doubt the oldest in the world at some 25,000 years old.

The Museum of Applied Art:
This museum is all about a million piece collection of Rococo Baroque and Jugendstil glass porcelain, fabric and furniture.

Prater Park:
This is a wonderful park and goes back to the 18th century. The talking point about this park is the Riesenrad, which is the same giant wheel as seen in the famous movie, The Third Man.

Vienna Woods:
The place is wonderful for short picnics. The place is a lovely place if you just wish to relax amid marvelous wine gardens. You can also stroll all along the Danube River.

Belvedere Palace:
This palace was constructed as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy during the baroque era.

The city also scores high in terms of education, be it quality of education and the quality of the institute imparting education. Some of the prominent universities in the city are Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, PEF Private University of Management Vienna, University of Applied Arts Vienna, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Webster University Vienna, and Vienna University of Technology.

The international schools present in the city include, Vienna International School, Vienna Christian School, International University, Vienna, Danube International School and Danube International School.

The city also boasts of an efficient public transport system, which comprises of trams, buses, along with 5 subway lines. Besides, Vienna also has various road connections including motorways.

The city also offers a variety of options with regard to food and drinks. The city is well-know for its Wiener Schnitzel. Some of the other famous dishes include Apfelstrudel and Palatschinken.

As regards to the drinks, the city along with a select few cities such as Paris, London Bratislava and Prague hold a rare distinction of being the only capital cities left in the world today, which possess their own vineyards. A must try on your visit is surely the The Grüner Veltliner.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach Vienna?

You need to enter the city and the country via the nation’s premier Vienna International Airport. This airport is by far the best and the largest of all airports in Austria. The airport also hosts a number of flights from around the world.

Once you have entered the city, you can travel to your respective destinations via a hired cab. You can also make use of the public transportation system of the city, which can be classified as reliable and affordable. However, it is recommended you confirm with the authorities before boarding the buses or other modes.

Where do I stay during my Vienna holiday?

When it comes to accommodation, Vienna offers a variety of choices in different budgets. I can assure you will be spoilt for choice. The popular landmarks of the city are Bristol, Hotel Ambassador, Palais Coburg, Hotel Imperial, Hotel Austria, Hotel Congress, Hotel Cristall, Pension Madara, Hotel Birg Cyrus and Acura Hotel.

When is the best time to visit Vienna?

The city can be visited throughout the year. The winter season runs from December through March. The winter sees freezing temperatures and snow on the roads is a very common site. Hence, if you do wish to visit the place during the winters, you need to make all the arrangements from your side to be prepared to handle these sub-zero temperatures. On the other hand your trip can be affected due to the heavy snowfall as roads getting blocked is a common phenomenon here.

The summer months run from June through August. The summers are an ideal time to visit the place as the temperatures are adequate for a visit and the accommodation facilities are also available aplenty. A unique feature of the summers here is the municipal authorities of the city brighten up the entire place with flowers and the place is full of their beautiful fragrance.

The spring season runs from March through May and the autumn runs from September to November. It is recommended you avoid these months as there is nothing extra-ordinary during these months to be part of. However, if you are looking for a cheap holiday, then this is the best time as the rates are expected to be at their lowest.

In conclusion, Vienna is an ideal place to spend a wonderful holiday, be it a single holiday or a holiday with your loved one or a complete family holiday. The city has everything one requires for that ideal holiday experience. The city is a mixture of ancient art works and buildings along with the use of modern technologies to better your experience. I can assure you, there will never be a dull moment during your holiday. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan that all important trip to Vienna.