Vienna

If your next road trip is to the capital of music, fill up the trunk and head to beautiful Vienna! The city is packed with references to the world of music wherever you go. The cultural scene is vibrant and the city never fails to please, whether it's classical music, shopping, coffee or sweets.

Austria's capital Vienna is home to many of the great musicians and composers of all time. These include Mozart and Beethoven. As a result, the city is particularly influenced by classical music. There are three major opera houses in Vienna: the Staatsoper, the Volksoper and the Theater an der Wien. So you can really get an authentic musical experience here. If you like Mozart, you can also visit his former apartment in the Domgasse street, which is behind the famous St Stephen's Cathedral, located in the city centre. Today, the apartment serves as a museum for tourists. Here he composed, among other works, The Marriage of Figaro and eleven of his 28 piano concertos.

After a visit to the museum, it's time to visit the cathedral, one of Vienna's main attractions. In the Renaissance dome, you can take an elevator up to the church tower and enjoy the view over the city. Or, if you're feeling energetic, take the 343 steps up to the south-facing tower. This is 137 metres high, so the view from here is phenomenal. If you just can't get enough of heights and beautiful views, and the opportunity to take the best holiday photo on the trip, then the Danube Tower, at 150 metres, is an obvious option. It is the tallest tower in Vienna and a sight for the whole family.

Schönbruun Palace is one of the most important cultural treasures in Austria. The castle is now a museum where you can see how the former imperial family lived during the summer months. The lavish Rococo interiors are positioned exactly as they were then. The palace is accompanied by a beautiful park where you can stroll and enjoy the peace and quiet and let the impressions sink in. In addition, the Vienna Zoo, founded in 1752, is the oldest zoo in the world. Among other things, it is known for having giant pandas as one of the few zoos in the world. In 1996, UNESCO placed the Schönbrunn Palace on the World Heritage List, so this is clearly worth a visit.

Vienna's shopping streets are also home to the more mainstream clothing chains, such as H&M, Zara and Mango, but also many exclusive fashion houses, such as Prada, Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Mariahilfer Strasse is Vienna's main shopping street, starting behind the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Kärntner Strasse is also home to a number of large chains and department stores, so just park your car and start from one end!

After a long shopping trip, you need something sweet with your coffee and a rest. In the oldest part of the city you will find some of the oldest cafés and coffee shops. So if you want a special and authentic afternoon experience, visit one of the many places where cake is not just cake, but a little piece of art. Konditoriet Demel is one of the great ones in town and you should almost try their famous Sachertorte.