Vienna is a classic weekend or week’s destination that is also a great day out if you’re holidaying elsewhere in Austria or even down the Danube in Slovakia…

Its 09:00. You’ve caught one of the city’s ‘Park and Rides’ into the centre (don’t even think about trying to park in central Vienna), disembarked from the hydrofoil or arrived at Wien Hauptbahnhof. Here are some suggestions for a day in Waltz City.

Start with coffee and Sachertorte. The famous venues are Hotel Sacher Wien or Demel, but they can be a bit ‘touristy’. Instead, try Konditerai Heiner on Wollzeite near the cathedral, or Café Votiv. Then buy some delicious Mozartkugeln (‘Balls’) for later….

City walks and romantic carriage rides
You love city walks? Vienna has lots, including strolls through Burggarten, Heldenplatz and other parks flanking the Innenstrasse. You could hire a traditional Fiaker (horse-drawn carriage) for an hour – bring a bottle of sparkling Sekt Mathäi to share with someone special! You could also enjoy a romantic stroll by the Donaukanal and admire the stunning graffiti art before reaching the famous Prater Park and testing your head for heights on the Wiener Reisenrad – the 65m big wheel made famous in 1949’s ‘The Third Man’. By the way, the Third Man Museum on Pressgasse 25 is also worth visiting.

If heights aren’t your thing, the popular Zeiss Planetarium is nearby. Other great family entertainments near central Vienna include the Haus des Meeres (Aqua Terra Zoo), the food and vintage stalls of the Naschmarkt, and the Schönbrunn Palace – a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

All this exploring is sure to build your appetite, and Vienna has a great range of places to eat at every price. The city can be pricy, and there are tourist traps, but be reassured that at the time of writing, TripAdvisor’s top rated restaurant was the ‘one-€’ Schactelwirt on Jugendgasse 5. As we always say, TripAdvisor is your friend and rarely disappoints.

History or café society?
Accommodation sorted, it’s exploration time. The walled Città Alta is a must-visit for cafes and restaurants, narrow streets, exquisite architecture with distinct Venetian influences, and marvellous views. The climb is definitely worth the effort.

Alternatively, take the funicular to Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, then visit Duomo di Bergamo, Piazza della Cittadella and the Piazza Vechiat’s fountains. It’ll soon be time for coffee, super-sweet Polenta e Osei and Torta Millefoglie, or an early lunch (try Latteria Caffetteria Di Zia or La Marianna). Then enjoy the views over the city and plain from Viale delle Mura, before descending to the lower city between sleepy gardens, vineyards and villas.