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Hofburg palace: the baroque winter palace of the Habsburgs, once the home of one of the greatest royal dynasties in Europe, today houses the headquarters of the President of the Austrian Republic. A visit to the museum of empress Sissi is a must-do. The collection of three hundred personal items, dresses, jewellery, gloves, beauty recipes unveil the troubled story of Elisabeth of Austria, who lived in the 19th century, from her childhood to her assassination.  
Address: Michaelerkuppel, 0043 1 5337570, www.hofburg-wien.at

Saint Stephen's Cathedral: trademark of imperial Vienna, the Stephansdom Gothic church dominates the central Stephansplatz square. Get on the observatory on the gallery to see the 230,000 colourful tiles on its roof and the amazing view of the city. The sound of the 23 bells of the church can be heard across the entire centre of Vienna.  
Address: Stephansplatz 3,  0043 1 515523054, www.stephansdom.at/

Schönbrunn Palace: the summer Schönbrunn palace of the Habsburgs was built in the 1696-1712 period, based on the model of Versailles. In its 1,440 luxurious rooms it accommodated Maria Theresa, empress Sissi, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon the Great and the very first performance of a 6 year old pianist named Mozart, in its mirror room. Do not miss the baroque zoo, the oldest in the world as it was established in 1725!
Address: Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 0043 1 81113239, www.schoenbrunn.at/ 

Art History Museum: the imposing Kunsthistorisches Museum, at Maria Theresa square, excites the interest of art lovers. In the Louvre of Vienna you will see works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Vermeer and more.
Address: Maria-Theresien-Platz, 0043 1 52524, www.khm.at/ 

Museumsquartier (Museums District): at the south-west end of the historic centre, behind the imposing walls of the old imperial stables, you will discover the treasures of the Museumsquartier, a complex of museums and galleries, historical and modern buildings, unified in the same area, covering in total 60,000 sq.m. Visit top museums such as the Leopold, Kunsthalle and MUMOK, for a cultural journey from baroque to cyberspace.  
Address: Museumsplatz 1, 0043 1 5235881, www.mqw.at/ 

Belvedere Palace: a complex of baroque palaces and gardens, standing on a verdant hill of the city. Built in late 17th century by prince Eugene of Savoy as a summer residence. The palace is worth a visit just to see the famous “Kiss” by Klimt, among the other masterpieces of the Belvedere collection.  
Address: Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, 0043 1 79557134, www.belvedere.at/

Austrian Parliament: pass in front of the Austrian Parliament and feel like you are in the centre of Athens, at Panepistimiou street! Indeed, the neoclassical building of the Austrian Parliament was built in the 19th century based on the model of the Academy of Athens and was decorated with the fountain of Pallas Athena.  
Address: Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring 3, 00431401100, www.parlament.gv.at/

Walk of Fame: Vienna has its own Walk of Fame, at the pedestrian area of Naschmarkt market up to Saint Stephen's Cathedral. Follow the 70 marble stars of famous people who wrote music history in Vienna (Haydn, Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Karajan, Bernstein....)

Sigmund Freud Museum: Manuscripts, personal items and photographs of private moments of the leading Austrian doctor and father of psychoanalysis are exhibited in the Vienna home where he lived for 47 years. 
Address: Berggasse 19, 00431319596, www.freud-museum.at

Chocolate Museum of Vienna: travel to the three thousand years of cacao tree history, from Olmec xocolatl in Mexico to the pralines of Vienna chocolatiers. Keep an eye for the impressive fountains of milk and bitter chocolate. 
Address: Willendorfer Gasse 2, 00431667211019, www.schokomuseum.at/

Mozart's Residence: visit the elegant 17th century two storey house near the cathedral, rented by Mozart in 1784. The renovated mansion is a venue for concerts and theme tours. Come here to listen to the “Marriage of Figaro”, the famous opera composed by Mozart in this house. 
Address: Domgasse 5, 004315121791, www.mozarthausvienna.at/

The crème de la crème of international haute couture houses and the most historic jewellery and watch shops of Vienna, are gathered in the so-called “Golden Block” of fashion, in the 1st neighbourhood of the historic centre defined by the ultra chic streets: Kohlmarkt, Κärntner Strasse and Tuchlauben. 

Explore the boutiques and design shops of the 7th neighbourhood defined by the streets: Thaliastrasse, Westbahnstrasse and Mariahilfer Strasse. Mariahilfer Strasse is the longest and busiest street of the city, full of delicatessens and chocolatiers, boutiques with avant garde creations, vintage stock shops, shops with textiles and environment friendly materials, innovative collections by young Austrian and foreign designers.

In this district, between the Museums district and Gumpendorfer Strasse, you will find perfumeries that continue an art since the time of the Habsburgs, original china souvenirs, handmade hats that excited Madonna and Brad Pitt. At bohemian Spittelberg district there are many cool concept stores, studios and tasteful small shops.

Keep an eye for one of the famous Vienna cafés in the city centre, the historic kaffehäuser where Mozart and Beethoven hanged out, to enjoy a cup of Vienna coffee accompanied by a strudel or a slice of chocolate sachertorte cake, listening to the melody of “Blue Danube”. 

Get on the enormous Ferris wheel of verdant Prater amusement park, a playful note in the city air. Locals and tourists alike spin around the melody of happiness enjoying the view of the “metropolis of dreams” from the sky.  

Discover the special atmosphere of Spittelberg district, the so-called Viennese Μontmartre, a bohemian hangout of city artists in the 70s, with alleys bustling with life, bars and avant garde galleries.   
Taste the secrets of the local cuisine  in one of the heurigers, the traditional taverns of the city. Try a glass of red wine with your schnitzel and Viennese escalope. Do try goulash soup, spicy liptauer cheese and the schinkenfleckerl, a pasta and cold cuts soufflé. During Christmas look in the traditional markets for the festive vanillekipferl, crescent-shaped cookies made of vanilla, sugar and almonds.

Night life in Vienna is not just opera and classical music. The hip night spots of the city in Gürtel, at Prater, near Danube party on with electronic music, techno, soul, hip hop and R ‘n’ B.

Music is the protagonist of events in Vienna with its special atmosphere.

• Christmas Vienna celebrates the Holy Night in a dream and fairytale atmosphere. The lights of the Christmas Adventzauber market at the City Hall square are lit in mid November and the wooden stalls are filled with vintage toys, handmade Christmas decorations, mistletoe from the forest slopes of the Alps, baked apples and warm wine. Tchaikovsky's Christmas fairytale comes to life in the imposing building of Vienna's Opera House with performances of the “Nutcracker” over the holidays. Traditional Austrian melodies, carols sang by Viennese choruses, literature and painting works inspired by Christmas contribute to the festive atmosphere at the Museums' District. 
• Long Night of Museums One hundred and five museums of the Austrian capital stay open for one night in October, calling all night-owls of art to enjoy cultural trips under the moonlight, in the framework of the successful Lange Nacht der Museen institution. For the convenience of visitors in their tours, Long Night organisers have designed special services with night buses, although most museums are gathered at walking distance from the city centre.   
• Summer Night Concert The famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best in the world, gives its annual summer concert in May in the baroque gardens of Schönbrunn palace, a true rite of classical music.

Getting to and from the airport in Vienna

Aegean Airlines lands on the International Airport of Vienna, the largest in Austria, located 18km south-east to the city. This ultra-modern airport has many shops and restaurants, from Viennese cafés to gourmet restaurants as well as banks, foreign exchange offices and a small clinic. Wi-Fi is free in all airport areas.

To get to the city from the airport, you can catch suburban railway line S7, arriving at Wien Mitte railway station. There are many bus services connecting the airport to the city. Taxis are convenient but the fare prices to Vienna centre start from 33 Euros.