Why visit Vienna
Vienna wears its imperial past on its sleeve. Begin at Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' summer residence with 1,441 rooms and formal gardens stretching to the Gloriette. The city's UNESCO-listed historic core revolves around St. Stephen's Cathedral, with its colourful tiled roof, and the sprawling Hofburg complex that once housed emperors and still hosts the Vienna Boys' Choir. Art lovers will linger at the Belvedere, home to Klimt's 'The Kiss', and the museum quarter packed with Habsburg-era collections. End the day at the Naschmarkt for a glass of grüner veltliner, then catch an evening performance at the Vienna State Opera — the city where Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss all worked is still very much a living music capital.