VIENNA

After a tour on the Ring boulevard with the tramway lines 1 or 2 (clockwise or anti-clockwise), you already have seen enough stately buildings, imperial culture and remains of the Habsburg Empire for a whole life, at every corner a Mozart leans against a wall and tries to sell you opera tickets and the former Austrian Empress Sisi waves from every postcards - if this still is not enough for you, the 343 stairs of the "Steffl"(St.Stephen'sCathedral) still wait for you to be climbed. The Danube metropolis is surely unique, a mixture of an elitist club scene,cynical regular's table philosophy and sophisticated ambitions. The Austrian capital celebrates the death like no other city, in grumpy Viennese songs as well as in Europe's second largest cemetery. Viennese are constantly endeavoured to maintain their reputation - from the reputation of the misanthropic restaurateur to the charming "handkisser" and from the stubborn leisureliness to their reputation as endearing "Schmähtandler" (joker). That does not sound great? In fact it simply is amazing. Come here and convince yourself.

Airport
Vienna International Aiport is situated about 19 km outside the city. The quickest way to get to the city is by using the "City Airport Train" (www.cityairporttrain.com), travel time: 16 minutes, ticket € 9,–. The busses of Vienna AirportLines take you from the airport to Schwedenplatz, Süd- and Westbahnhof (the two most important train stations) or to the UNO City; the ride costs € 6,–. In front of the arrival hall taxis can be found, price: about € 30,–. www.viennaairport.com

Public transportation
Vienna's public transportation network functions very well: buses, tramways and subways take you to all of the important sights in the city. Tickets are available at ticket machines in subway stations as well as at Vorverkaufsstellen (ticket offices) or at most of the tobacconist's, one single ticket costs € 1,70 (24-hour ticket € 5,70, 72-hour ticket € 13,60). Moreover you can buy tickets at machines directly in the tramways or at bus drivers, these are, however, slightly more expensive.
With the "Vienna Card" you are not only entitled to free usage of all means of public transportation but also to special price reductions in museums, at sights or in restaurants and cafes (available in hotels, at tourist information offices or at the ticket offices of the "Wiener Linien" for € 18,50).
www.wienerlinien.co.at

St.Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)
A landmark built on the mortal remains of the Habsburgs: when on New Year's Eve the 22 ton bell "Pummerin" is rung the tranquility of the intered monarchs is fairly endangered. The cathedral is a late Gothic stately building and you find references of the Austrian mythical past everywhere: the once ridiculed toothache god or the death light on the outer wall point to the morbid myths which are until today still loved by Austrians.
Stephansplatz (St.Stephen's Square), underground: U1, U3, 6 a.m.–10 p.m., www.stephansdom.at

Imperial Palace (Hofburg)
If you want to know where Empress Elisabeth did her daily "work-out" then you are prefectly right at the Royal Palace. In the "Sisi Museum" you cannot only see the empress's wall bars but also the galvanized copper plating of her bath tub as well as other fixtures of the monarch. Besides the imperial apartment the big complex of buildings built in a baroque, gothic and renaissance style mixture also houses the Sisi-Museum, the silver chamber as well as the official residence of the Austrian president.
Heldenplatz, tramway lines: 1, 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., www.hofburg-wien.at

Heurigen
When people start singing in the typical Austrian "Heurigen" then the roast pork is already eaten up and the third "Weiße Spritzer" (white wine with water) stands on the table. Within the Viennese city boundaries about 700 hectares vineyards are situated, the most famous "Heurigen" district is, however, Grinzing (19. district, tramway: 38). In marked contrast to the tradition you can also order beer here, whereas the atmospheres in the premises of Stammersdorf (21. district, tramway: 31) or Mauer (23. district, tramway: 60)are far more indigenous. By the way such a Heuriger is only open when a pine bunch hangs in front of the door. www.wienerheurige.at

"Wiener Wurstelprater"
A nostalgic trip in the Giant Wheel (Riesenrad) or surges of adrenalin in modern roller coasters - the world's oldest amusement park offers everything that a "fair heart" can wish for. A ride with the historical "Liliput train" is especially peaceful www.liliputbahn.com, teenagers will definitely like the Space-Shot. After a nerve-racking roller coaster ride a quick trip to the legendary Schweizerhaus is recommendable (www.schweizerhaus.at)where you can enjoy beer and a delicious "Stelze" (knuckle of pork).
Prater Hauptallee,underground: U1 (Praterstern), March 15th to Octobre 31st 10 a.m. - 1 a.m. www.prater.at

Plachutta
Tafelspitz, completely original: this small restaurant chain (can also be found in Nussdorf, Hietzing and Ottakring) serves the traditional dish with horse radish, roasted potatoes and chive sauce - just like it has to be.
Wollzeile 38, Tel.: 512 15 77, 11.30 a.m. - midnight, www.plachutta.at

Goulash Museum
In this "museum" you can confidently commit petty larceny: here the meat is not exhibited in glass vitrines but directly "ends up" in "Fiakergulasch" (with beef), "Szegediner Gulasch" (with pork and sauerkraut) or "Znaimer Pferdegulasch" (with horse meat) and finally on your plate. Remember to leave space for the dessert, chocolate goulash!
Schulerstraße 20, Tel.: 512 10 17, Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-midnight, Sat and Sun 10 a.m.-midnight, www.gulasch.at

Imperial
This luxury hotel is not only Austria's "first house" but also one of the world's best hotels ever. The monarchy can still be observed at every stucco corner of this majestic domicile. Its patterns can again be recovered on the wall coverings. The outstanding butler service confirms the suspicion; the guest is king here.
Kärntner Ring 16, Tel.: 50 11 00, double rooms from € 510,–, www.luxurycollection.com/imperial

Das Triest
If you already thought you will not be able to escape the influences of past times then Vienna's best design hotel can be warmly recommended to you. Instead of ostentatious and kitschy "Das Triest" is rather cool and calmingly straight. In the "Silver Bar" professionally shaken and stirred cocktails are available. Hugh Grant and Robbie Williams already sipped on their drinks here.
Wiedner Hauptstraße 12, Tel.: 58 91 80, double rooms from € 265,–, www.dastriest.at

Nightlife district
One of Vienna's most famous entertainment districts is the Bermuda Dreieck (www.bermuda-dreieck.at) around Schwedenplatz and Ruprechtskirche. The audience is as diverse as the cocktails in the numerous bars. The entertainment mile at the street Gürtel is especially recommendable. Once this area had the reputation as the redlight district. Nowadays, however, one chic place is followed by the other beneath the railway arches There are "Q [:kju]" (www.kju-bar.at) or "Babu" (www.babu.at) as well as alternative bars like "Chelsea" (www.chelsea.co.at) or "Rhiz Bar" (http://rhiz.org). Trendy 20-to-30-year-olds are especially popular with the Museumsquartier's extensive inner court(www.mqw.at). In summer the bars built up beer gardens in the inner court and huge couches and chairs invite you to relax. In winter there are punch and mulled wine stands and a curling track.

Naschmarkt
The contrast programme to the Viennese inner city: on Vienna's largest market you are enticed by foreign specialities from all over the world. The colourful stands and loud barkers attract many visitors. Furthermore you will find great bars and restaurants at the Naschmarkt. On Saturdays from 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. a huge flea market is arranged.
Wienzeile, underground: U4 (Kettenbrückengasse), Mon - Fri 6 a.m. – 6.30 p.m., Sat 6 a.m. – 5 p.m., www.wienernaschmarkt.eu

Mariahilferstraße
On Saturdays Vienna's most popular shopping street can be compared to a Japanese underground. Families, students, punks and snobs go shopping here as if there was no tomorrow. Small designer shops in the side streets and famous brands on the main street ensure an empty portemonnaie. The street's small cafes and fast food restaurants offer perfect possibilities to take a break. If you do not find what you are looking for here, you will definitely not find it anywhere else.
underground: U3 (Neubaugasse), www.mariahilferstrasse.at

Manner
"Manner mag man eben" (One simply likes Manner): here the tasty wafers are available in small or big size, with hazelnut, noisette, lemon or cherry filling.
Stephanplatz 7, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.(also Sun), www.manner.com

Café Sacher
Only the local torte is allowed to call itself "Original Sacher-Torte". Try a piece of this delicious chocolate cake in Café Sacher and if you like it (what we actually assume) you can let yourself send a cake home.
Philharmonikerstr. 4, 8 a.m. to midnight, www.sacher.com

Vinissimo
In this bistro you can taste and buy Austrian wines.
Windmühlgasse 2, Mon - Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., www.vinissimo.at

Augarten
Small porcelaine figures and dishes from Europe's second biggest manufacture are decorative souvenirs for the vitrine at home. With a guided tour in the Palace Augarten you can personally convince yourself of the porcelaine's high quality.
Obere Augartenstraße 1, Guided tours Mon-Fri 10 a.m. (€ 6,–), Sale also at Stock-im-Eisen-Platz 3-4, www.augarten.at