Vienna
Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city of over 1.8 million inhabitants. It is one of the great cultural centres of Europe with a continuous history of more than 2000 years. Situated on the Danube, the first settlements arose at the cross-roads of two important trade routes: the “amber route”, connecting the Baltic countries with Italy, and the east-west route along the Danube. The latter route, together with the traces of the Roman settlement “Vindobona”, can still be seen in the layout of the city’s streets.
During the Middle Ages, Vienna rose to importance both in defending against and connecting central Europe with the East, and eventually became the capital of the vast Habsburg empire. The exceptional concentration of talent, reflected by the great achievements in music, art, and the sciences, was a consequence of Vienna’s role as a meeting place of a large number of different nations and traditions. Although much reduced in importance by the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy at the end of World War I, and placed on the periphery of the western world as a consequence of World War II, Vienna has retained its role as one of the leading capitals of Europe. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain it has successfully resumed its tradition of connecting the East and the West.
Vienna City Hall (© WienTourismus/Christian Stemper)
Today Vienna is a thriving international city, integrating the rich inheritance of a glorious past with a dynamic approach to the modern world. As a seat of numerous international organisations and an important turntable for business enterprises, Vienna is at the same time a city of operas, concert halls, theatres, universities, museums, and, last but not least, of coffee houses and “Heurigen”.
Arrival by Plane
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Vienna Airport (VIE) is located 20 km south-east of the city center and is served by all major airlines. Travel time to downtown Vienna is between 15 and 30 minutes. For flight information, an airport map, as well as information of transportation into the city center visit the airport’s website.
Bratislava Airport (BTS), Slovakia
Bratislava Airport (BTS) in Slovakia is within ~1 hours distance (80km) to Vienna. Both buses and trains connect Bratislava and Vienna, e.g. the airport bus Bratislava.
Arrival by Train
For train connections to Vienna, consult the time table of the Austrian federal railway company (ÖBB). There are direct services to many central European cities.
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