Vienna is a city that can be described in many ways – all of them positive – “imperial”, “refined”, “historical” and “baroque” are among the most commonly used adjectives to talk about this wonderful city full of palaces, fine coffee houses, opera and horse-drawn carts. I love Vienna for its effortless combination of culture and natural beauty, history and modernity and I’m not the only one apparently – Vienna was voted first (alongside Vancouver) for quality of life by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Come for a few days and see why for yourself.
Vienna is a lovely place to visit in spring or summer as you can make the most of the beautiful, well-maintained green space in the city, not to mention the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) and the Danube River. You can take a walking tour of the city for free, taking in the Baroque architecture, parks and fee sights like the Hapsburg grounds, the Augustinian Church and the river.
If you do have a little money to spend, you should invest in a Vienna Card which costs roughly 20€ for 3 days of discounts at 190 museums, restaurants, sights and public transport. You can buy this discount card at the tourist information office or ask about it at your accommodation. The famous Prater amusement park is also in the city and makes a great day trip for families or groups of friends if you have had your fill of history and culture and fancy a bit of light-hearted fun.
All the same rules apply for finding cheap flights and budget hotels in Vienna, book in advance, avoid weekends if possible, come out of the high season, be prepared to travel a little out of the centre and focus on finding somewhere that offers good value for money rather than luxury.
Vienna also offers good nightlife and modern dining opportunities. Asian food is particularly popular here due to immigration over recent years and you can find some excellent sushi bars and Asian – European fusion cuisine in the city if that is your thing. During the day you should head to one of the lovely coffee houses in the city centre and enjoy the Viennese ritual of enjoying an excellent cup of coffee and a slice of Sacher Torte (chocolate sponge cake with jam in the middle) and watch the world go by. If you are longing for a cultural getaway in a film like setting – Vienna comes highly recommended!

“Vienna – Now or never” is the city’s official new slogan and this is more than true when it comes to Christmas Markets in the Austrian capital which run from mid November until Christmas. The Christmas Market in front of the city hall (opens 14/11) might be the most popular one, with enjoying “Glühwein” (Spiced Wine) becoming an integral part of Vienna life during the weeks before Christmas. Located only a stone’s throw away is the Museumsquartier Christmas quarter (starts 12/11), Vienna’s most fashionable Christmas spot. Spittelberg Christmas Market (from 14/11) is nestled in between the narrow streets of Vienna’s 7th district.
Check the wide offer of budget hotels in Vienna and make sure to choose a strategic place to stay from where you can explore Vienna Christmas Markets.