Recreation

Sightseeing

Vienna is one of Europe's most historically and architecturally divine cities. Sightseeing in the city begins as soon as you enter and does not end till you leave because nearly all the buildings are architectural monuments. Must see in Vienna include the great palaces of the Hapsburg empire, the museums, the opera houses and the churches.

Horse Riding

With a ‘riding and showing' history of over four centuries, Vienna is one city that knows its horses. The Spanische Reitschule (Spanish Riding School) in Vienna is renowned for its amazing equestrian shows where horses trot to music and jump over the knurliest hurdles with ease. The grace of the thoroughbreds is unparalleled. Riding and interactive sessions are held on special request.

However, the Riding School is one activity only people with an avid interest in horses and equestrian events will enjoy. Do not visit if you are expecting a fast-paced, rodeo-style horse nonsense.

Location: 1, Michaelerplatz,

Hofburg,

Vienna A-1010

Park Visits:

If you were in any other city, visiting parks would be a real lame activity that only those with a laid back attitude would indulge in. This however, is not the case in Vienna, which has more than eight internationally recognized parks. Most parks were commissioned and designed by the royals centuries ago and still convey the original charisma and panache that they were created with. Many of them are even created as tributes to the famous people of Austria.

Must sees on the park list are:

- Rathaus Park

A park designed way back in 1863 with an excellent selection of woody plants.

Between Rathaus and Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring,

A-1010 Vienna

- Volks Garden

Great sculptures and marble monuments

A-1010. Vienna

- Burg Garden

Monuments of the likes of Mozart and Goethe and a tropical paradise for butterflies are the best feature of this park.

Josephsplatz 1, A-1010 Vienna

- Kurpark Oberlah

A spa built around the natural hot, sulphur springs.

Between Kurbadstraße, Laaer-Berg-Straße and Filmteichstraße,

A-1100 Vienna.

- Alps Gardens

This place was the first artificial Alpine habitat created in Europe and looks as if a piece of the mountains has broken off and decided to stay in the city.

Schönbrunn Palace (Schlosspark Schönbrunn),

A-1130 Vienna

Winter sports

Not too many people, who visit Vienna, know its status as a world-class skiing destination. The snow-clad slopes of the Alps are just a short drive from the heart off the city and offer a range of winter activities from Olympic level skiing to simple snow-fights. Most slopes have facilities such as floodlights and can thus support nighttime skiing. There are varying degrees of difficulties of trails, pistes and jumps for experts, families and learners. Most ski resorts also have skiing instructors and schools for those who wish to learn the sport from the best.

The skiing trails go up to a height of 330 feet and skiing season is operational from late November to early March, depending on temperature variation. Most slopes function only for a part of the season till the snowfall makes them inaccessible.

Places to hit the slopes are:

Hohe Wand Wiese

Hirschenkogel

Semmering

Stuhleck

Ötscher

Gastein

Bird Watching

Only a nature buff would realize the significance of watching a dozen warblers make their way across the marshes. Birds are considered as a part of our environment and most of us would not consider it worthwhile to go out and especially view them. But Vienna is one of the best places to see the winged species of Europe. What's more going on a Bird watching tour gives visitors a chance to explore the lush green surroundings of the city; the mountains and parks as well as the monuments the birds call home.

To get in touch with bird scouting experts and ornithologists that can guide you on your birding tour of Vienna, please contact the Austrian Birders Society.

Golf

Golfing in Vienna is a great way to unwind after a hectic session of sightseeing. The city is also one of the cheapest places in Europe for beginners to learn their moves. The city has a number of golf courses and ranges that need no membership for visitors and charges for a range is as less as 10 Euro ($12). Most clubs are very polite to newcomers and amateurs and offer golf lessons to them. Visitors also very rarely have to present handicaps for bookings.

Recommended Locations:

For Beginners:

Club Danube Golf-Wien

Weingartenallee 22,

1220 Vienna

Phone: +43 1-256 82 82-50

For Professionals:

Golfclub Wien - Freudenau

Freudenau 65a, 1

020 Vienna

Phone: +43 1-728 95 64

Theatre / Classical Music / Opera:

Vienna was the cultural capital of the world even before the Americas were discovered. Fine arts have always been central to the lives of the residents as well as to travelers. Classical and contemporary plays such as ‘Lady in the dark', ‘Grease' and the works of Shakespeare are regularly put up at the various theatres and Opera Houses. There are separate venues for English and German theatre, mimes and musicals.

Opera and classical music performances in Vienna are sophisticated and lavish affairs. The presentations coming under this category are performed in traditional musical styling of three hours or more but may include operettas and short musicals as well.

Tickets are generally available at the venue up to an hour before the performance but these are usually the cheaper variety. For prime seats, visitors should approach

The State Ticket Office,

Bundestheaterkassen,

Goethegasse 1, Vienna.

Phone: 514 44-7880/01

Tickets are also available with various agents across the city. However, they generally charge a huge commission making the tickets cost twice as much.

The best theatres in Vienna are:

The English Theatre

For all English Plays.

Josefsgasse 12

Phone: 402 12 60 / 08

Serapionstheater im Odeon

Mime acts

Taborstrasse 10

Phone: 216 51 27 / 02

Burgtheater

Premier German theratre

Dr Karl Lueger Ring 2

Phone: 514 44 221-8 /01

The Theater an der Wien

Best musical shows in Vienna

Linke Wienzeile 6

Phone: 588 30 265 / 06

Web: www.musicalvienna.at

The best Opera houses in Vienna are

Volksoper

Wahringer Strasse 78

Phone: 514 44 3670 /09

Grosser Saal in the Musikverein

The place the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs

Bosendorferstrasse 12

Phone: 505 81 90 / 01

The Konzerthaus

Lothringerstrasse 20

Phone: 772 12 11 / 03

The Orangery

Mozart concerts all through the year.

Phone: 812 50 040

Spectator Sports

Lying in the heart of Europe, Vienna is definitely passionate about football (soccer). Visitors can view many domestic and international football matches in the stadiums across the city and have a roaring time for the odd 90 minutes. Other sports such as golf, basketball, baseball and handball also feature on the list of spectator sports. Vienna also holds various marathon events all year long. The most popular of them is the New Year's Eve Marathon that is held on the last day of the year and is open to all. It is a five kilometer long race, run for the heck of exposing oneself to the winter chills and having fun by dressing up as lobsters or horses.

Speaking of horses, horse racing also features high on the list of public entertainment and people can easily obtain tickets from the race course.

Freudenau,

02, Rennbahnnstrasse 65

Phone 728 95 31