Lieux à visiter en/au Vienna

Vienna is both the capital of Austria and, under the constitution, one of its nine federal states (Bundesländer), an arrangement shared with no other Austrian city. The state covers roughly 415 square kilometres, entirely enclosed by the state of Lower Austria, and is divided into 23 numbered districts (Bezirke) that spiral outwards from the first district, the Innere Stadt, which is ringed by the Ringstrasse boulevard laid out from the 1860s on the site of the old city walls. The historic centre was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and has been discussed for the 'in danger' list since 2017 because of high-rise proposals near the Heumarkt.

The state's geography is unusually varied for a capital: the Danube and its Danube Island recreation strip run along the north-east, the wooded Wienerwald hills start in the west, and more than 600 hectares of vineyards produce the city's own wine, served in Heuriger taverns in districts such as Grinzing and Nussdorf. The U-Bahn (five lines), trams and buses are run by Wiener Linien and cover the whole state on one fare zone.

April to June and September to October give the most reliable walking weather, with July and August hot and busy at Schönbrunn and the Hofburg. From mid-November to 24 December the Christmas markets draw a second peak. Most museums close on Mondays, so plan Monday around palaces, churches and markets.