Vienna, Austria’s capital, is located on the Danube and is home to just over 2 million residents. As the country’s largest city, it is an important centre for culture, politics, research and international organisations.

The city’s historic centre reflects several important periods in European architecture, from the medieval St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Baroque Hofburg to the monumental buildings constructed along the Ringstrasse in the 19th century. The historic centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vienna has a particularly strong cultural tradition. Major institutions include the Vienna State Opera, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Albertina, the Belvedere and the MuseumsQuartier, one of the world’s largest cultural complexes. The city is also closely associated with composers such as Mozart and Johann Strauss and continues to have an extensive programme of classical music, theatre and contemporary art.

Among Vienna’s best-known landmarks are Schönbrunn Palace, the Hofburg, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater. Alongside its historic architecture, Vienna has extensive parks and recreational areas, including the Prater and the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace.