Vienna - advice please

Vienna always makes me think of the New Years Day concert live on Radio 3.

Always try never to miss it. Brilliant!

A beautiful city, we got DK guide from the library and followed that. Don’t forget to try the strudel!

Musikverein for a concert. A tour of the Opera House. visit the Cathedral. See the Golden statue of Strauss in the park. Eat Sachertorte in one of the many cafes and have a lovely time

I agree with H1954; we bought tickets outside the Opera House (I think about 40 - 50 euros each) for a similar concert held in a beautiful but small stately palace that was hidden behind an anonymous looking pair of huge doors in a back street! I would also suggest getting the open-top bus as soon as you get there; it will give you an idea of the main things to see and you can then decide where to visit.

We managed to see the Vienna Boys Choir and the fabulous "dancing" horses of the Spanish Riding School.

Also, while people watching from wonderful coffee shops, cakes, cakes and more cakes.....!!

Do try to get to one of the classical music concerts. When I visited Vienna tickets were being sold on the streets in the city for small orchestral ensemble ( 5 or 6 musicians ) and it was fabulous but didn't last too long, maybe 90 minutes, I really don't remember.

Cafe Central!

Thank you all for your quick responses.
I'd better wear clothes with elasticated waists DoraMarr!
I think I definitely need to start to make a plan so we don't miss anything we really want to see.

www.atlasobscura.com/places/vienna-grand-ferris-wheel

There is a tradition in Vienna of having a “Second breakfast”, which is usually a pastry and coffee eaten in one of the gorgeous Art Nouveau coffee shops. Then, after a good lunch and a bit of a stroll, it is time for a cake and a coffee or hot chocolate with whipped cream in another coffee house. I need to go back, because I have only sampled a few of the cakes.....

Watch the film The Third Man before you go and go to Prater Park preferably at dusk.

Then visit the sewers to see where the Third Man was filmed (tour) And the Third Man museum.

For me Vienna is all about the Third Man.

having got out my copy of the guide book I'm now staring at the info about the Palace gardens and Belvedere….we spent half a day there wandering around and then had a small private tour of the art gallery....seeing all those fabulous Klimts in the flesh will stay with me forever.

Not the usual grand buildings but my highlights were the Kunsthaus museum and the Danube Tower revolving restaurant. And a concert in Golden Hall.

Get yourself the little Dorling Kindersley 'Eyewitness' travel guide. Its small but packed. There is just so much in Vienna that you really need to pick and choose and make a bit of a plan or you could wear yourself out and miss something you really wanted to see. To be honest Vienna has far too much for a short break and its also one of those cities that you just need to 'be' in...wandering around and then finding a café to suit.....its all about sitting eating cake and watching the crowds....some of whom are very smart. Enjoy and I am a tad envious!

If you are there on a Sunday, google ‘what to do in Vienna on a Sunday ‘ as quite a lot of things are shut