Vienna (Austria)

Vienna is a Danube River cruise port in Austria, and the country's capital, largest city and biggest economic, political and cultural centre. 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 the world's largest city with German-speaking inhabitants - around 2 million. Today, it is the world's 2nd largest - following Berlin.

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

• In 2005, the 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.
• The city helds more than 450 grand balls annually, some featuring live performances by up to 9 orchestras.
• Vienna is popular with its Wiener Schnitzel, which is a cutlet of veal or pork pounded flat and coated in flour, egg, breadcrumbs, then fried in clarified butter. It's offered in almost every restaurant serving Viennese cuisine and is eaten cold or hot. 

Vienna cruise terminal