Vienna

Austria

Things to do in Vienna:

View the Gallery Vienna Opera

Vienna Restaurants

Cheap (24)

Nice Rice

A bowl of steaming rice could be the perfect thing to warm the cockles this March. Ideal for vegetarians, the spicy selection is sure to please adventurous palates. read more
Affordable (24)

Zwolf-Apostelkeller

A trip down into one of the city's subterranean lairs is an essential Viennese experience, especially since sitting out in the sun is an unlikely prospect. This old stalwart is a classic, serving... read more
Good quality (22)

Artner am Franziskanerplatz

Perched on one of Vienna's prettiest squares, Artner offers sophisticated Austrian cuisine in an equally refined setting. A venue of the famed wine house, you can rest assured that there will be... read more

Vienna Nightlife

Chilled (24)

MAK-Caf�

The superlatively suave MAK Caf� is squirrelled away inside the Museum of Applied Arts. Open till 1am, it's an inspirational setting in which to sip some Sekt (sparkling white wine). read more
Live Music (22)

Barfly's

Very much a place to try your Humphrey Bogart moves, Barfly's offers whisky galore in an art deco saloon setting. Regular jazz gigs are the icing on the cake. read more
Clubbing (21)

Roxy

Good things clearly do come in small packages, as this club has survived in one form or another since way back in the 1960s. Head over for hip-hop, deep house and soulful grooves. read more

This Month in Vienna (March):

By Nick Hodge/vienna-life.com

Shopping: Founded way back in 1858, Knize is where you can find some old-school gentlemen's accessories of the 007 variety for the man of the house (13 Graben).

Sightseeing: Heralding the coming of finer weather, the Vienna Spring Festival (Fruhlingsfestival) kicks off on 20 March. An array of maestros from around the world will be performing at the Konzerthaus (vienna-life.com).

Key areas: The Museums Quartier is arguably the best thing to have happened to Vienna in the last decade. Centred on what was once the imperial stables, this sleek contemporary complex is a paradise for culture vultures.

Day trips: The small town of Rust, on the edge of the Hungarian plains (under an hour's drive away), is considered among the most picturesque spots in all of Austria. This is also excellent wine country, which is a pleasant bonus.

Vienna News & Gossip

Crossing Europe Film Festival, Linz

20-25 APR

Linz, approximately two hours from Vienna, was one of last year's European Capitals of Culture - and with good reason. The city is bustling with a thriving arts and culture scene. Now in its seventh year, the Crossing Europe Film Festival is a fine example of what Linz has to offer. The festival is devoted to a programme of wilful, contemporary and socio-political auteur cinema from across the continent that promises to challenge, entertain and inspire.

WHERE TO WATCH THE FILMS
Half a dozen venues will be participating, including the OK Centre for Contemporary Art (www.ok-centrum.at), which is also the festival HQ.

The AEC (Ars Electronica Center, www.aec.at), is also used to showcase new work. Nicknamed The Museum of the Future, the centre specialises in digital and electronic arts.

WHERE TO WATCH THE STARS
Linz doesn't feature heavily on the paparazzi list, with its understated refinement as opposed to overt brashness. Check out the bars and restaurants of Landstrasse and the main town square, Hauptplatz. Night owls should visit one of the plusher clubs, such as Remembar (17-25 Landstrasse), but be aware of the strict, smart dress code. www.crossingeurope.at

Vienna Trivia

March: Vienna is famous for its schnitzels, and the largest one ever made was a 9.5m-wide whopper, which was whipped up on the city's World Record Day in 2008. Afterwards, the cutlet was gobbled up by a crowd of peckish punters.
February: President Ronald Reagan once had the Sound of Music hit Edelweiss played as the Austrian ambassador marched in to The White House, believing the tune to be on a par with the national anthem.
January: Every year, the pastry chef at the Hotel Sacher dispatches over 100,000 boxes of sachertorte to destinations around the world. The cake was originally invented by Franz Sacher, who made it as a surprise for the "Iron Chancellor", Prince Metternich.