Vienna (Austria)

Vienna is a Danube River cruise port and Austria's capital, largest city and biggest economic, political and cultural center. The city has population around 1,6 million (metro around 1,84 million), ranking it Europe's 12th-largest. Before WW2 (1939-1945), Vienna was world's largest city with German-speaking inhabitants (~2 million), and currently is ranked world's 2nd largest (following Berlin).

Vienna is in eastern Austria and located near Austria's borders with Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The whole downtown is designated as UNESCO Heritage Site. Apart from being regarded as "City of Music" (due to its huge musical legacy), Vienna is also famous as the hometown of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) - world's first psycho-analyst. Vienna was the primary capital (together with Budapest) of Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918). City's historic downtown is rich in architecture, featuring Baroque castles, gardens and Ringstrasse - city's main street lined with parks, monuments and grand buildings.

In 2005, city's high quality of life ranked it first in a study of 127 most liveable international cities (actually, in a tie with Vancouver Canada and San Francisco USA). Between 2011-2015, Vienna was ranked 2nd (behind Melbourne Australia). For 8 consecutive years (2009–2016), the consulting company Mercer ranked it first in the "Quality of Living" category in the company's annual survey of hundreds of international cities. In 2012-2013, UN-Habitat classified Vienna as the world's most prosperous city. It was also ranked first for culture of innovation (2007-2008) and 6th (in 2014) out of 256 cities considering 162 indicators covering infrastructure, markets and culture.

The city hosts regular urban planning conferences and is frequently used as case study by urban planners. Between 2005-2010, it was the world's leading destination for international conventions and congresses. Vienna attracts over 6,8 million tourists annually. In Vienna are organized over 450 grand balls annually, some featuring live performances by up to 9 orchestras simultaneously.

Vienna is popular with its Wiener Schnitzel - a cutlet of veal (or pork) meat pounded flat and coated (in flour, egg, breadcrumbs), then fried in clarified butter. This traditional dish is offered in almost every restaurant serving Viennese cuisine and is eaten cold or hot.

Vienna cruise terminal