Vienna is a premier travel destination in Europe, with a long history that has much to offer travellers of all types and with a wide variety of interests. It is the economic, political, and cultural heart of modern Austria, and was also home to many different empires and imperial families through the centuries. This modern feel combines wonderfully with the sense of history that permeates the city, creating a wonderful ambiance and atmosphere for visitors. |
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The city itself is a mix of older, more traditional sections and newer, more modern sections. The city centre, sometimes also called "the old town", is where you will find many of the most famous and interesting attractions and historic sites in all of Vienna. Spiralling out from the centre are other sections that include plenty of shopping, arts, culture, nightlife, and much more. Visitors often find themselves moving back and forth between the modern and the historical during their stay as a way of taking in as much of Vienna's true feel as possible.
Vienna is famous for its dominant coffee culture, especially the traditional Kaffeehaus locations that are found on every block and around every corner. These are not like Starbucks, however; a traditional Vienna Kaffeehaus is somewhere you can sit, visit with friends, read the paper, and meet new people in an environment where the owner is your server and the hospitality is generous. One of the most common phrases you will hear when in Vienna is "let's go have a coffee" so do as the locals do and spend a wonderfully relaxing time in a charming local Kaffeehaus.
Sometimes it seems as if Vienna has far more than its fair share of amazing museums, and perhaps this is true. However, for the visitor this is a very good thing because there are so many choices to consider when you are interested in exploring a local museum. For instance, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the world's leading fine arts museums, with a collection rivalling that found in the Louvre and other famous museums. The collected works include classic art pieces, ancient pieces from Rome, Egypt, and Greece, and a huge array of the finest pieces to be found anywhere. If you enjoy great art, then plan to spend at least a day (and maybe multiple days) exploring this exceptional museum.
You can't go to Vienna without visiting one of its famous castles, and there are plenty of great choices to put on your list. One of the very best is Schloss Schönbrunn, an immense castle complex located quite close to the centre of the city. It is widely viewed as one of the grandest castles in the entire world, right up there with more famous castles such as the Palace of Versailles in France. The castle itself is incredibly large and opulent, and the grounds are full of other interesting and fun attractions. There is a zoo within the walls of the castle, as well as some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. You can take one of the self guided tours to view the most splendid and memorable features of the castle, or you can choose a tour led by an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide.
Air travel to and from Vienna is primarily through Vienna International Airport. This is a very busy airport and is the home base of Austria's national carrier AustrianAir. Nearly every major international carrier offers direct flights into and out of Vienna, plus there are many choices for connecting flights to other places in Austria or the European Union. Transportation into the city from the airport is also quite easy and convenient. Many hotels offer complimentary shuttle services, and of course there are plenty of taxis and buses available as well. There are also two train systems that can take you into the city, the City Airport Train (CAT) and the S-Bahn commuter train. Either one is an economical and convenient way to travel into Vienna from the airport.
Wiki:- Vienna
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