The capital city of Austria, Vienna has been one of the main focus points in Europe for people interested in the arts for centuries. However, it is in fact a surprisingly compact place: The centre is only around 1KM across, and provided you have the time, can easily be explored in a weekend, although most visitors will find that there is plenty to see and so, and longer stays are recommended.
The focal point of the city is Stefan Dom, the gothic cathedral that sits imperiously looming over the pedestrian centre. Around the inner city runs the Ringstrasse, which is the showpiece of the city, and along which, many of the main attractions lie, including the Hofburg, the opera house, and the main museums.
Vienna is an excellent destination throughout the year and has a vast amount to offer to people looking for an exceptional city of culture and art, but Vienna also boasts great shopping, with many designer boutiques, and also an often-overlooked nightlife that catapults into high gear on the weekend. The city is also the home of several renowned organisations, the Vienna boy's Choir and the Spanish Riding School being just two of many, and the cultural scene is second to none.
It is possible to get cheap flights to Vienna at most times of the year, and there are a number of good value hotels in the city, that mean a city break in Vienna is an excellent value option. Flights operate indirect and direct between most British cities and Vienna, and the flying time direct is around 2 hours.
Facts for the Traveller:
Name: Republic of Austria
Capital: Vienna
Area: 88858 sq km
Population: 8.18 million
Language: German
Flight Time: 2 Hours from London
Currency: Euro
