Vienna

Resplendent in Baroque and Art Nouveau attire, Austria's grand old dame of a capital is not one mouthful short of a visual, cultural or historical banquet.

Originally a Roman military camp called Vindabona, it belonged to the Hapsburg dynasty by the 13th century, growing in architectural splendour, artistic importance and political power as the Hapsburg Empire spread its mighty wings over Europe. By the 1700s the city had an international cultural reputation, and was home to the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms.

Today, Vienna comprises 23 Bezirke (districts). The major sightseeing attractions are concentrated in the site of the original city, the First District or Innerestadt, although the aged city walls have long been replaced with the splendid ring boulevard Ringstrasse.

Along and within its arms, among pedestrianised avenues strewn with olde-worlde cafés, is a vast array of opulent historical buildings and museums, including the Hofburg (the Imperial Palace) - home to the equine delights of the Spanish Riding School, the Staatsoper (State Opera House), the excellent Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) and the 12th-century Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral).

World-class classical music, opera, theatre and art still weave thickly through the city's cultural fabric. After all of that, you will be more than ready to indulge in the 300-year-old legacy of the city's traditional coffee houses or sample the new vintage at a local heurige (local wine bar) further afield.

The outer districts include myriad attractions of their own, from lavish palaces and important churches to bustling markets, shopping thoroughfares, trendy bars and cutting-edge clubs, as well as the Prater, a giant park with its famous Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel).

Travel tips:
To make the most of this fabulous and jam-packed city, your best bet is to buy a Vienna Card, which gives you unlimited access to public transport plus discounts to a number of museums, shops, restaurants and bars.