Vienna Flights And Sights

A whirl of gilded Hapsburg palaces and regal parks on the banks of the blue Danube, Vienna is a fine romance of a city. Tradition and innovation walk hand in hand: Strauss waltzes are still hip to 20-something ball-goers and even the imperial stables have been born again as the surprising and vibrant Museum Quarter. The Viennese love Gemütlichkeit (relaxation), so this city is to be savored not rushed, whether you're indulging in a dark chocolate Sachertorte in a chandelier-lit coffee house or rising gently above the twinkling Prater in the Riesenrad Ferris wheel.

Things to Do

For many the Hofburg Imperial Palace is Vienna, with its prancing Lipizzaner stallions and lavish apartments the Hapsburgs called home for 600 years. Take a horse-drawn Fiaker carriage to clip-clop through the stately Innerestadt to Gothic St Stephan's Cathedral nearby. Picasso and Warhol hang at the avant-garde Museum Quarter, but romantics are more drawn to Klimt's shimmering The Kiss and the landscaped gardens at the baroque Belvedere Palace. As dusk falls, leave the Prater's merry-go-rounds and watch the iconic Riesenrad cast a magical spell.

Shopping

Viennese mornings mean shopping at the Naschmarkt, where locals bag the freshest produce and creamiest Austrian cheeses before breakfasting on sugary Kaiserschmarrn (caramelized pancakes). Those with the means shop for made-to-measure fashion and handmade Augarten porcelain on elegant Graben and Kärntner Strasse, pausing for tea, scones and a gift-wrapped tin of candied violets in Demel's rococo salon. The arty Neubau district is dotted with galleries, concept stores and quirky boutiques run by young creatives.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Ball season or not, there's always a reason to dress up in this music-loving city. Book tickets for the revered Vienna Philharmonic in the Musikverein's Golden Hall or the opera at the neo-renaissance Staatsoper. Fir branches dangle above the doors of Vienna's vaulted Heuriger (wine taverns), where you can chat over home-grown Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners. Upbeat pubs fill Bermuda Triangle and the Danube Canal, where mega club Flex hosts Vienna's top DJs.

Restaurants and Dining

If you want chandelier-lit splendor or wood-paneled coziness, there's a coffeehouse with your name on it. The quintessential Viennese experience involves contemplating the world over rustling newspapers, Sachertorte chocolate cake with whipped cream and a Brauner (espresso with milk). You'll still find classics like wiener schnitzel and Tafelspitz (boiled beef with horseradish) in the Innerestadt district, but Vienna's evolving scene includes late-night dining and world flavors in Mariahilf and trendy supper clubs with DJs in Neustadt.

American Airlines can help you find flights to Vienna so you can discover the unique charm of this historic and scenic city in Austria. From viewing amazing architecture (both modern and Baroque) to visiting impressive museums and galleries, there is no shortage of things to do in Vienna.

The city has significant historical importance, with ties that can be traced back to ancient Roman influence. One of our favorite activities in Vienna is also one of the most popular, and that is a visit to Schloss Schonbrunn. This opulent palace was once an imperial summer residence, and it is considered by many to be one of the most outstanding cultural monuments in Austria. An UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, it's also home to truly breathtaking formal gardens along with the Gloriette monument. As if that's not enough to keep you enthralled, it also boasts the world's oldest zoo.

After seeing Schloss Schonbrunn, the next item on our list of things to do in Vienna is visiting Belvedere Palace. Located in the heart of the city, this gorgeous Baroque showpiece is the former summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Comprised of the Upper and Lower Belvedere palaces, it also features elaborate gardens. Be sure to visit Marble Hall in Upper Belvedere for a magnificent view of the city.

Once you've taken in the architecture and history of the city's palaces, visiting museums and galleries is something that's high on our list of favorite activities in Vienna. This area features examples of modern architecture as well as Baroque buildings. It's one of the world's largest complexes devoted to art and culture. You'll find nine museums along with exhibition and event spaces. We recommend the Leopold Museum (home to a large collection of modern Austrian art, including works by Gustav Klimt) and the MUMOK (a museum of modern art with a great collection of works by artists from around the world).

Last but certainly not least, we'd be remiss not to include the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to our list of recommended things to do in Vienna. The performance hall itself is a thing of beauty, while the actual performances are breathtaking.

It's easy to discover all the facets of this lovely Austrian destination for yourself when you let American Airlines help you fly to Vienna. Browse flights and book your trip today.