11 countries, 31 days, 1 continent
Austria
CAPITAL: Vienna (Wien)
FLAG: The flag consists of a white horizontal stripe between two red stripes.
ANTHEM: Land der Berge, Land am Ströme (Land of Mountains, Land on the River).
MONETARY UNIT: The euro replaced the schilling as the national currency in 2002.
CLIMATE: Climatic conditions depend on location and altitude. Temperatures range from an average of about -7 to -1°c (20 to 30°f) in winter to about 18 to 24°c (65 to 75°f) in July. Rainfall ranges from more than 102 cm (50 in) annually in the western mountains to less than 66 cm (26 in) in the driest region, near Vienna.
The german name for Austria Österreich means "Eastern realm".
ATTRACTIONS OF VIENNA
Vienna is really a romantic city, not only does it have the most romantic history, but with so many white buildings, picturesque coffee shops, wineries, beautiful parks and old castles it makes this place perfect for a romantic weekend - even for budget travellers.
1.) St. Stephan's Cathedral
If you are going to see one church in Vienna it ought to be this one. It's a beautiful Romanesque Gothic cathedral with colored tile roofe and nice details.
2.) Schönbrunn Palace
This big palace that today is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, used to be a summer house for the monarchs in the old days. The history of this place dates back all the way to the 17th century. It has a huge sculpted garden with a maze and botanic flowers.
Coming here you get a sneak peek into what the rich people’s lives were like in the old days. This is a big tourist attraction so either book a tour in advance or count for a long time in line to get in.
3.)The Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum)
In this museum there are some of the world's most famous paintings and art exhibits.
4.)Vienna State Oper
Music and culture have a long history in Vienna, and many of the world’s best artists, musicians and composers hung out here.
If you want to get an even deeper understanding of the city and get a more broad view of the place, visit an opera, theater or musical show.
5.) Ferris Wheel
Located in a large, wooded park called the "Prater", the Vienna Riesenrad (Ferris wheel) is one of the symbols of the city. It was originally erected in 1897 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Franz Josef I.
Unfortunately, in 1944 during World War 2, the original Ferris Wheel was burnt to the ground. However, in the following year, it was rebuilt exactly as it was before.
Before boarding, visitors are led through an exhibit that details the history of Vienna back to Roman times using elaborate props and audio guides.
During the slow rotation of the wheel, visitors get the chance to take in Vienna from all angles.
The Vienna Riesenrad is open all year around, and is very well connected by public transport.
6.) Zoo Vienna
Zoo Vienna, the oldest existing zoo in the world founded in 1752. Schönbrunn Zoo was voted Europe’s best in 2008 and 2010.
7.) Imperial Palace (Hofburg)
For centuries the Vienna Hofburg was the centre of the Habsburg empire. Today the palace houses three museums which afford historically authentic insights into the traditions and everyday life of the imperial court: The Imperial Apartments with their original furnishings and decoration, the Sisi Museum with its sensitive staging of the empress' life, and the Imperial Silver Collection which contains a comprehensive range of tableware and other utensils used at the imperial court.
