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Austria : Vienna - June 2009

Country Code: Dial for Austria

With high summer here, you too will feel inspired to sing “Ohhhhhh, Vienna” just like the moustachioed Midge Ure in the 1981 hit. This being the city of Johann Strauss, you don’t have to stick to Ultravox of course. Classical aficionados should take in the 34th International Music Festival, which runs until 21 June, says Nick Hodge

Getting around

Vienna International Airport

Bus: A bus will take you to the city centre in 20 minutes, leaving every 30 minutes, with a return fare of €11.
Train: The City Airport Train (CAT) takes 16 minutes to reach the centre and leaves every 30 minutes. Return tickets cost €16. The regular municipal railway SBahn goes every 30 minutes and takes 24 minutes to reach the city centre. Single tickets cost €3.
Taxi: A trip to the city from the airport costs a standard fee of €31.
Tourist information: Vienna Tourist Office is at 38 Untere Augartenstraße and 1 Albertinaplatz (555, www.wien.info).

1ST DISTRICT

The so-called Innere Stadt (Inner City) is the area that was once enclosed by the medieval walls. It remains the heart of the city today.

Sleep soundly – Not all the hotels here are astronomical in price. Hotel König Von Ungarn (10 Schulerstrasse, 5840, kvu.at, rooms from €153) is welcoming and has a pleasant, leafy atrium and friendly staff. Another bonus is the breakfast, which is served until late in the morning.

Culture vultures – Two of the city’s grandest destinations are the Kunsthistorisches Museum (5 Burgring) and the Naturhistorisches Museum (7 Burgring), which face each other by Ringstrasse. The former is crammed with fine paintings; the latter with stuffed animals.

Must eat – Vienna is often overlooked by serious foodies, but venues such as Walter Bauer (17 Sonnenfelsgasse, tel. ) show the Austrians know their onions. Try the apricot schnapps for a dash of local spirit.

Must drink – Located in the swish Do & Co Hotel, Onyx Bar (12 Stephansplatz) is perched above Vienna’s central plaza and offers sweeping views over the cathedral, Stephansdom.

Dance the night away – Volksgarten (1 Burgring), in the park of the same name, is a snazzy playpen that comes into its own in the summer months.

Shop til you drop – If you want to dress up like the Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music, try Tostmann (3a Schottengasse), which has lederhosen and horn buttons galore. Lode-Plankl (6 Michaelerplatz) is a rather stiff option for dedicated slayers of wild boar.

3RD DISTRICT

South-west of the centre, the third district offers a swathe of imperial architecture and fine parks to boot.

Sleep soundly – InterContinental (28 Johannesgasse, 1220, vienna. intercontinental. com, rooms from €280) remains a stalwart of the business class scene. An added bonus is the nearby Stadtpark. Bag the Presidential Suite, with its sweeping views of the city.

Culture vultures – Belvedere Palace (27 Prince Eugen-Strasse) is worth a look for its gardens alone. Head inside and you’ll find a treasure trove of art, including a clutch of paintings by Gustav Klimt (including The Kiss), Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.

Must eat – Steirereck (2a Am Heumarkt, tel. ) is a contender for the crown of Vienna’s best restaurant. Book in advance for supreme Austrian cuisine and make sure you try the cheeseboard – it’s one of the best in the country.

Dance the night away – Arena (80 Baumgasse) offers regular fodder for die-hard rockers. Check the website arena.co.at for updates.

4TH DISTRICT

Bordered by the hip Naschmarkt, this area has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years.

Sleep soundly – Sir Terence Conran has dipped his toes into Austrian waters. The result is the suave Das Triest (12 Wiedner Hauptstrasse, 9180, dastriest.at, rooms from €218), where you can expect classic Conran chic with a Viennese twist. When booking, ask for one of the suites with their own gardens.

Culture vultures – Wien Museum (Karlsplatz) has a permanent exhibition about the city, and from 11 June you can catch Grand Entrance: Fashion in the Ringstrasse Era, which recalls Vienna’s fin-de-siècle flamboyance.

Must eat – Carnivores simply can’t leave Vienna without sampling some of the local wurst (sausage). Xpedit Kiosk (7 Schleifmühlgasse, tel. ) is a trendy spot that offers new takes on the old hotdog formula and isn’t to be missed.

Dance the night away – The redoubtable Roxy (24 Operngasse) continues to offer late-night frolics on its diminutive dance floor. DJs spin electro and funky house, and there’s the occasional live gig, too.

Compiled by Nick Hodge