Image: bmvdwest / iStock

VIENNA, AUSTRIA: It's known as the City of Music, but there's much to see and do in beautiful Vienna. From imposing buildings, castles and monuments from different eras to hip restaurants and outstanding art, we know just where to go.

The Creme de la Creme of Austrian Pastries

Schmankerls - as the Austrians call their delicious, sweet treats - are a delicacy in these parts and a must-do for any visitor to the Austrian capital.  Start your day with a decadent breakfast or you treat yourself to some afternoon delight at Créme de la Créme dessert restaurant on the Langegasse. This family-run bakery is a hidden gem and worth the walk out of the main centre.  It's warm and friendly and their handmade, elegant pastries use locally sourced organic produce.  Unforgettable for the eye and the palate, this pâtisserie's signature dishes include tarte au vanille, macarons and hot chocolate to die for.

Austrian Contemporary Culture at its Best

From Créme de la Créme, it's just an easy 15-minute stroll south to Vienna's MuseumsQuartier (or MQ for short). From world-renowned art collections to smaller cultural initiatives in the fields of visual arts, music, theatre, dance, architecture, street art, photography, design, fashion or children's culture, there's a genre for every taste. The MQ is home to large art museums like the Leopold Museum, which houses one of the most important collections of Viennese art, to the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna) with its Andy Warhols and Pablo Picassos.

Insider tip: If you visit in summer, be sure to head to the annual Wiener Festwochen cultural festival, an annual summer event that's been running since 1951.

Enjoying a Light Lunch at The LaLa

In a city known for its huge portions of crumbed schnitzel - yes folks, the wiener schnitzel (or Viennese schnitzel) is the national dish of Austria, and they are fiercely proud of it - The Lala Vegan restaurant is a taste of LA in the middle of Austria. This superfood and smooth bar dishes up flavour-packed tasty plant bowls - like the Earth Lover quinoa bowl with tofu, tomatoes, cucumbers, red cabbage, spring onions, peanuts and a peanut dressing - served without using plastic, sugar, lactose or animal products.  Here, the different flavours and textures of the veggies shine through and, best of all, it's located next to Veganista, a vegan ice-creamery.

Tour Vienna in an Electric Fiaker

Tourists can often be seen driving through Vienna in iconic horse drawn carriages called Fiakers, but last year E-Fiakers (electric carriages) were trialled and are proving popular. The E-Fiakers have been modelled on the Fiakers that were historically seen on the streets of Vienna until 1910. Whilst politicians debate whether Vienna should switch from real horsepower to battery power, tourists can make their own choice and, whichever model you choose there's no doubt you'll get a very good overview of the Austrian capital in a short time.

Dots Restaurant: For the Palate and the Eye

After your Fiaker ride, stroll down Maria-Hilfer-Strasse - one of Vienna's biggest shopping streets. This 1.6km street has been redesigned as a continuous shared space, divided into three zones. Pedestrians rule the inner zone of the street and it's the perfect place to window shop and give your credit card a workout. Of course, shopping and sigh-seeing can be hungry work, so if your tummy starts to grumble, head to Dots Restaurant for the best sushi in town. Expect artful and delicious sushi creations perfectly complemented by an incredible art collection that the restaurant walls:

And, when the work, rest and play is done, you know you can retire to the comfort of your Adina Apartment Hotel Vienna Belvedere - the very first in Austria. We're conveniently located in the middle of the city and one of just seven hotels with a swimming pool in the historic Austrian capital. The hotel is close to Belvedere Palace and the new main railway station and boasts studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments along with a fitness room and sauna.  Click to find out more about this and our other fabulous hotels in and around Europe.

Peace of mind when you stay with us: Introducing Clean Touch. *Activities listed may be subject to Covid restrictions.