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Travel Tips Europe |
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"Vienna, Vienna oh only you Vienna" is an old lovesong to this old Austrian city which today has got a new meaning. Vienna has in recent years been awakened like a sleeping beauty. And, wow! How it is alive today!!! It's a town of music, theatre and fine arts. And all over this famous town you can sense an air of tranquillity, elegance and tradition. Whether in the cobbled lanes of the old town or in the elegant shopping district, everything is so very much Vienna; unlike any other town I have ever been to.
There is so much to see and do here that it is almost impossible to list all the exciting attractions. Let me just tell you about the most important ones to give you a glimpse of what life in Austria can be like.
Just one tip ahead: Depending on the money you allow yourself to spend you should either choose to stay in a typical Viennese "pension" (guesthouse: the pension "Shermin" is very centrally located) or in one of the old and famous hotels (my recommendation: The "König von Ungarn", which is located in a 16th century building and has only few but exclusive rooms.) Start your day with freshly brewed coffee in one of the many original "Kaffehaus". I found people, who believe that the vampiric need for blood can be substituted by huge amounts of chocolate. If that's true most Austrian vampires will be regular guests to the Patisserie "Demel". Here you can throw yourself into mountains of calories in the cakes and tarts and -of course- the famous "Sacher Torte". Though the Hotel Sacher still claims to be the inventor of this piece of art in my personal opinion only Demel can make it the way it has always been made.
Now for some sightseeing: Right in the centre you will find the "Stephansdom" the famous cathedral of Vienna. I usually like to lift my mood by indulging in the nearby shopping district. Afterwards allow yourself some culture in the Academy of Fine Arts, which houses the famous Tryptichon about the world's end by Hyronimus Bosch.
If you like to spend time exploring old architecture then why not pay a visit to the "Hofburg" the winter palace of the Habsburg emperors. In summer you might also like to see the summer palace "Belvedere" or castle "Schönbrunn", both are worth the way and can only be compared to Versailles near Paris.
Follow the footsteps of the beautiful empress Elisabeth of Austria ("Sissi") and relax the afternoon away on one of the many hills that surround the town. As an alternative for a more spooky waste of time: the Vienna central cemetery is really worth a visit. You will find the names of the most nobel families of Europe there on the doors of the tombs and graves.
The "Grinzing" quarter is famous for it's many winebars and the best place to spend a warm summer evening. Since the history of Austria has been for centuries connected to near Hungary there are still many Hungarian restaurants in town where you'll find heavenly food combined with the romantic music of a gypsy band. Do you dare to have your future read out of you hand?? As long as your end will not be as tragic as Sissi's it can't be that bad...
Oh, did I forget to mention it..?? Vienna is the town of the Vampire. Well, at least since the musical house that hosts "Tanz der Vampire" (dance of the vampire, after the famous film by Roman Polanski) opened its doors. The whole show is just fantastic!! Never miss it !!!!