Vienna seems apart from the rest of Austria in that it is a giant city and it is flat. Sitting on the banks of the awesome Danube River, just as it really starts to show any real size, Vienna is one of the towns that marked the Northern edge of the Roman Empire. For some reason the Romans were unable to beat the savages to the north of the Danube.

In 1492 the seat and capital of the Habsburg's Holy Roman Empire was moved here from Innsbruck and the cities development was guaranteed. Now almost 2 million people reside here.

Vienna the Great

Because of its 400 year stretch as the centre for Austro-Hungarian empire (and therefore the centre for most of Europe) Vienna is still today undoubtedly one of the greatest capitals in Europe and offers unrivalled sightseeing for anyone with more than a passing interest in history.

The St. Stephan's Cathedral is one of the City's oldest buildings, combining a number of different architectural styles that were adopted as its gradual construction spanned the ages.

The Ringstrasse, the former outer edge of the city, was turned into a magnificent boulevard in the 19th century and following it around brings you full circle about the city and helps you encounter most of the noteworthy sites. Including the Viennese Hofburg. Which grew as the Habsburgs official residence from a medieval castle and exhibits one almost any architectural style, from gothic to art nouveau that was signature to the long periods of history under the Habsburg‘s rule.

The Hofburg is now home to the National Library, the Imperial Treasury, the Museum of Ethnography and the Spanish Riding School. The "Heldenplatz" (square of heroes), situated outside the Hofburg, celebrates the heroes of the Austro-Hungarian empire by making them immortal in stone, i.e. these are huge statues of Archdukes and Generals on horseback.

An essential detour, though, for all tourists is the Schloss Schönbrunn, another of the many residences of the Habsburgs – but probably the biggest, with parks, a palm house, a butterfly house and even a Zoo. So you could easily spend a whole weekend just here alone.

Entertaining with Class

There is no shortage of entertainment in Vienna either. The town sees itself as a Bastian of The Arts and goes out of its way to stage great arts festivals on regular occasions. Any culture vulture should be sure to investigate the diaries of the Vienna State Opera and the Koncerthaus which always have something spectacular waiting in the wings.

And being the capital of the country and also the largest city for several thousand kilometers, Vienna also works as the centre for alternative youth culture growing on the streets of Austria – because of this virtually any international band that travels through Europe will play here - So keep your eyes peeled and you might catch a gig to your particular peculiar taste.