Vienna has a long memory. Once the capital of the Habsburg Empire, the city still carries signs of its imperial past in its palaces, concert halls, and wide boulevards. Visitors can walk through the Hofburg complex, where emperors once ruled, or tour the opulent rooms of Schönbrunn Palace, which features 1,441 rooms and a maze in its gardens. But Vienna’s many historic buildings now house contemporary art museums, cafés, and institutions that reflect the city’s modern identity.

Music is woven into Vienna’s streets and daily life. The city was home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss, and still hosts over 15,000 concerts a year. The Vienna State Opera stages performances nearly every evening from September to June, and tickets can be surprisingly accessible. For something different, visitors can attend a summer open-air film screening at Rathausplatz or hear a string quartet perform in one of the city’s many Baroque churches.

Vienna’s coffeehouse culture is recognized by UNESCO and is less about the drink and more about the experience. A single order often comes with a glass of water and permission to linger for hours. Traditional spots like Café Central or Café Sperl serve layered cakes like Sachertortz and Topfentorte alongside newspapers and marble tabletops. It’s not unusual to see locals reading or writing for hours, as these cafés were once gathering places for thinkers like Freud, Trotsky, and Zweig.