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VIENNA
Sheer Grandeur
Vienna

The Austrian capital is an architectural testament to imperial grandeur. With grand baroque palaces and stately boulevards, there's a certain nostalgic regal air that can even feel a little intimidating.

It is a city where urban life is lived at a slower pace, with mandatory daily stops at the legendary coffee houses or cool modern cafes for their divine pastries and cakes. They're housed in glorious ornate buildings that once also saw many of Europe's greatest musicians pass through their doors (Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Haydn, Strauss...), making Vienna the world's classical music capital. Naturally, it is also home to world-class orchestras, as well as incredible art collections.

MuseumsQuartier is one of the world's largest art complexes, displaying the more contemporary side of the city, including the MOMUK Museum of Modern Art alongside other superb museums. Also worth checking out is the Blickfang annual design exhibition that features fashion, furniture, and jewelry.

The city also offers chic shopping opportunities, and a growing number of hip bars and pumping clubs, making Vienna in the end turn out to be more inspiring than intimidating.

Vienna

Top 10

  1. See the incredible collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
  2. Go inside Schloss Schönbrunn Palace and walk around its stunning landscaped gardens.
  3. Wander the halls of Hofburg Palace.
  4. Go up STEPHANSDOM, the city's glorious Gothic cathedral.
  5. Roam the Museumsquartier, with its the Austrian Museum of Architecture and the Leopold Museum.
  6. See why the Belvedere is considered one of the finest Baroque palaces in the world.
  7. Visit the colorful Hundertwasserhaus.
  8. Admire the Baroque architecture of KARLSKIRCHE.
  9. Go inside the grand Staatsoper.
  10. Spend a couple of hours at the NASCHMARKT.

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A CITY FOR: Art, Culture

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The Best Vienna Hotels

DESIGN HOTELS:
Do & Co faces the city's iconic cathedral and has the best designed rooms in town, together with those of the Levante Parliament Hotel. Get more details about these and other Design Hotels in Vienna HERE>>

BOUTIQUE HOTELS:
Altstadt Hotel features well-designed rooms recalling the Belle Epoque together with contemporary furnishings, while The Ring is another good choice for those looking for casual luxury. See more about these and other Boutique Hotels in Vienna HERE>>

CHARM HOTELS:
With its beautiful winter garden, Hotel Altwienerhof is one of the most romantic retreats in Vienna, as is Hotek Schwalbe. Know more about these Charm Hotels in Vienna HERE>>

LUXURY HOTELS:
Palais Coburg not only offers luxurious rooms but also a Michelin-starred restaurant, while at the palatial Hotel Bristol or Hotel Imperial you'll know that you really are in a grand imperial city. These are just two examples, but there are more Luxury Hotels in Vienna HERE>>

CHEAP HOSTELS:
Independent travelers enjoy staying at the Wombat's City Hostel The Lounge for its modern facilities and chance to meet other travelers. The same applies to Meininger City Hostel, which you can read about along with more Cheap Hostels in Vienna HERE>>

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MORE VIENNA:
Sights & Attractions
Hotels & Hostels
Bars & Clubs
Cafés & Restaurants
Shopping
Body & Soul
Gay & Lesbian
Map & Transportation
Car Rental
Tours & Daytrips
Concerts & Events

Hotels & Hostels
The city's best design, boutique, charm, and luxury hotels, as well as cheap hostels with easy online booking at special rates. All of the best, special, and hip places to stay are HERE (Vienna Hotels & Hostels Guide)>>

Sights & Activities
The city's must-see landmarks, classic and modern art, striking architecture and street life, daytrips, and tours -- it's all HERE (Vienna Sightseeing Guide)>>

Cafés & Restaurants
You haven't experienced Vienna until you go to a kaffeehaus. After your coffee or sachertorte (the city's famous chocolate cake), you could go for the wiener schnitzel for lunch (the traditional veal scallops specialty) but you don't have to -- Vienna's culinary renaissance has brought it influences from around the world and there is a variety of menus throughout the city. Where to find them all is HERE (Vienna Restaurants Guide)>>

Bars & Clubs
Vienna's club scene is not very big when compared to other European capitals, but the city does enjoy a good drink and you can have a very good night out. Whether you're looking to drink or dance, or both, the places to go are all HERE (Vienna Nightlife Guide)>>

Body & Soul
As expected in a sophisticated city like Vienna there is a number of world-class spas specializing in some quite special treatments:
Sacher Hotel Spa - Housed in the grand Sacher Hotel, this spa specializes in luxury chocolate treatments and uses its own Time to Chocolate® products. You don't have to be a hotel guest to indulge in its services, including the thermal areas and the gym.
Pure Day Spa - This world-class spa is an exclusive service for those who can afford it. Its list of treatments only uses luxurious brands, but there are others using natural ingredients such as the body Dreaming treatment from Li'Tya that uses plants, sea grasses, desert salts, and earth pigments.
John Harris Medical Spa - Despite the name, you don't need a doctor's prescription for the services at this spa. It offers rejuvenating treatments, including facials, massages, and Botox injected by trained surgeons.

Shopping
After the obligatory stop at Naschmarkt, begin your Viennese shopping spree at one of the many cool interior design shops in the city. For everything else, there's one-stop shopping at one of the city's department stores. All the places to check out are HERE (Vienna Shopping Guide)>>

Gay & Lesbian
If you always thought of Vienna as a city stuck in its past glory days, devoid of modern and cosmopoltian attractions, think again. It has a vibrant and growing contemporary cultural scene which is also giving rise to a more exciting gay life. There are a number of gay events and nighttime hotspots in the city, which you can read about HERE (Vienna Gay Guide)>>

Getting Around
How to go from the airport to the center of the city and back, how to get around using public transportation, and city map HERE (Vienna Airport & Transportation Guide)>>