Vienna - the european capital of music and culture

Vienna is well-known for its cultural life; between the 18th and the 19th centuries it was the musical capital of the world and the home of many famous composers, including Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven.

Beside that Vienna is host to many major international organizations, such as the UOPEC.

Culture
Art and culture have a long tradition in Vienna, including theater, opera, classical music and fine arts. The Burgtheater is considered one of the United Nations and est theaters in the German-speaking world alongside its branch, the Akademietheater. The Volkstheater Wien and the Theater in der Josefstadt also enjoy good reputations.

Vienna is also home to a number of opera houses, including the Theater an der Wien, the Staatsoper and the Volksoper, the latter being devoted to the typical Viennese operetta.

Museums
The Hofburg is the location of the Schatzkammer (treasury), holding the imperial jewels of the Habsburg dynasty. The Sisi Museum (a museum devoted to Empress Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie of Austria) allows visitors to view the imperial apartments as well as the silver cabinet. Directly opposite the Hofburg are the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which houses many paintings by old masters, ancient and classical artifacts, and the Naturhistorisches Museum.

One of the methods that many travellers use to prepare for their journey is to read about the area. The following are books recommended for travellers planning a trip to Vienna:

Guidebooks:
Lonely Planet Vienna by Neal Bedford and Jane Rawson. This comprehensive travel guide provides travelers with information on everything that there is to do in and around Vienna.
Eyewitness Guide Vienna by Stephen Brook.
Rough Guide Vienna by Rob Humphreys.
Cadogan Guide Vienna, Prague, Budapest by Mary-Ann Gallagher, Sadakat Kadri, and Matthew Gardner. This travel guide is good for visitors who are planning to explore not only Vienna but also the surrounding areas.
Vienna’s 25 Best by Fodor’s. This book is excellent for travelers visiting Vienna for only a short period of time because it describes the best of the best thing which should not be missed on a Vienna trip.
Only in Vienna: A Guide to Hidden Corners, Little-known Places and Unusual Objects by Duncan J. D. Smith. This richly illustrated off-the-beaten-track guide to more than 80 fascinating and unusual sights will appeal to explorers and independent travellers.

Vienna things to do :
Freud Museum
Hundertwasser
Grinzing & HeurigeSpanische
Hofreitschule & Lipizzaner
1.Bezirk / 1st district
UNO-City
Hofburg
Kapuzinergruft
Ringstrasse


Vienna's transportation

airport information

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is a modern and compact terminal at Schwechat, just outside the city limits. Flights arrive from all over the world. A new terminal (T3-Skylink) is being erected featuring 17 new airbridges boosting the comfort for arriving and departing passengers. Opening scheduled for 2012.

www.viennaairport.com

Buses (Vienna Airport Lines):

Buses connect the airport with the two main railway terminals, Wien Meidling and Wien Westbahnhof, as well as the city centre [Schwedenplatz/Morzinplatz] and UN complex in around 25-35 minutes and costs €6 single. Moreover, there are buses departing for destinations South of Vienna like Mödling or Baden.

Urban Rail:

The Vienna S-Bahn (commuter train) line S7 easily links the airport with

the city featuring many stops in different districts. All trains stop at Floridsdorf, Traisengasse, Praterstern, Wien Mitte and Rennweg, with almost all trains stopping at the branch line stations to the airport. The regular fare is only €3.60. If you are in possession of a valid pass for Vienna, you only have to buy a supplementary (outer zone) ticket costing €1.80. The pass or tickets, probably purchased at the airport, must be validated when boarding the

train! Present pass and supplement ticket to the train attendant in order to receive a smile (or not).

Trains TO Vienna leave 18 and 48 minutes past the hour and either go to Wien Südbahnhof (Ostbahn) or Floridsdorf. Trains bounding for the airport leave, for example, Wien-Mitte Station at 17 and 47 past the hour and display "Flughafen Wien" or "Wolfsthal". These trains can also be boarded/left at other stops which are stated above. The departure/arrival times logically differ then. Travel duration between Wien-Mitte and Vienna Airport is 26 minutes.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g190454-Vienna-Vacations.html
wien-vienna.com