Palaces, coffee houses and the opera: the essentials for your time in Vienna.
Vienna is easy to cover on foot and by tram. Most of the highlights sit inside or just off the Ringstrasse, the boulevard that circles the old city. Give yourself two full days and you can see the big sights without rushing.
The Habsburgs' summer residence has 1,441 rooms and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most visitors take a guided or audio tour of the state apartments, then walk the gardens up to the Gloriette for a view back over the palace and the city. Book a timed ticket ahead in high season.
The Hofburg was the heart of the empire for more than six centuries. The Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum show how Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth lived. Plan about two hours.
Stephansdom, with its patterned tile roof, stands in the middle of the old town. Step inside for free, or climb the 343 steps of the south tower for a view across the rooftops.
Two baroque palaces joined by formal gardens. The upper palace holds the largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings in the world, including The Kiss.
The coffee house is part of daily life here and is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Order a melange, add a slice of Sachertorte or apple strudel, and stay as long as you like. Café Central and Demel are the best known.
Tip: nobody will hurry you. Ask for the bill ("zahlen, bitte") when you are ready to leave.
The Vienna State Opera stages a new performance almost every night of the season. If full-price seats are sold out, standing-room tickets go on sale shortly before curtain and cost only a few euros. If you would rather not go inside, the building is worth a look from the outside at night.
Naschmarkt is Vienna's best-known market, with stalls of spices, cheese, olives and small restaurants. For an easy overview of the city, ride tram line 1 or 2 around the Ringstrasse and see the Parliament, City Hall, the University and the Opera from your seat.
Vienna works well as the start of our Imperial Austria itinerary, and it pairs naturally with Salzburg. Spring and autumn give the mildest weather, and December brings the Christmas markets.