The primary residence of the Habsburg emperors for more than 700 years, the Hofburg has been remodelled and embellished repeatedly over the centuries. Highlights include the private apartments of Franz Josef I and the Habsburg family silver.

The Habsburg love of pretty things went into overdrive at their finest imperial residence. This extraordinary baroque palace is a treasure house of elegant furniture, lavish upholstery, gilded chandeliers and trompe l’oeil paintwork.

Offering two exquisite baroque palaces for the price of one, this was once the personal playground of Prince Eugene of Savoy, and later, of Franz Ferdinand. Set in elegant formal gardens, the Upper and Lower Belvedere overflow with Habsburg riches.

It’s hard to say which is more impressive – the lavish art or the building that contains it. Set in a Habsburg palace, this grand art museum covers everything from the German Renaissance to works by Titian, Rubens and Veronese.

A whole city block of museums, arts centres and cultural spaces, MuseumsQuartier is the creative heart of modern Vienna. Take your pick from children’s museums, performance halls, public exhibition spaces and big art museums such as the Leopold Museum and Museum Moderner Kunst.

Long before the fad for giant Ferris wheels swept the world’s capitals, the Wiener Riesenrad was lifting tourists high above the streets of Vienna. The giant wheel, with its chalet-style cabins, was constructed in 1897, and the park that surrounds it has been a favourite Viennese retreat since 1766.

Vienna has a ring road like no other. Following the lines of the old city walls, the Ringstrasse was laid out in the 19th century, and the tram route that follows it whispers past some of Vienna’s most spectacular buildings, from historic hotels to handsome state offices and elegant palaces.

From the baroque high altar to the soaring South Tower and the Habsburg eagles on the roof tiles, this Gothic masterpiece is a testament to the imperial glory of Vienna.

Founded way back in 1498, the Vienna Boys Choir is perhaps the most famous gathering of trebles and altos in Europe. Despite 500 years of history, the choir exercises its collective vocal chords in the futuristic MuTh concert hall, designed for almost perfect acoustics.

Watching the prancing Lipizzaner stallions has been a favourite pastime for Vienna’s well-to-do since the time of the Habsburgs. The stables are set within the Hofburg palace complex, and horses perform their famous dressage routines on Saturdays and Sundays.

Vienna’s most famous opera house, with a stunning programme of classic opera and stylish modern interpretations.

The ‘new’ opera house in Vienna has been staging grand operas, plays and orchestral performances since 1801.

If your perfect recipe for a chic night out is a glass with a view, head to this lofty cocktail bar, perched atop the Steffl department store.

A year-round favourite for big-name guest DJs and local talent, covering everything from Austrian techno to international rock.

This tiny art deco speakeasy has been serving the best cocktails in the Innere Stadt since 1908.

The grand dame of Vienna restaurants, with two Michelin stars and a gorgeous location in a historic pavilion in the Stadtpark.

A superior menu, complimented by a superior wine list, in this cosy, Michelin-starred Viennese eatery.

Diners flock to this garden restaurant in the MuseumsQuartier for perfectly prepared Viennese classics with a modern twist.

Casual cousin to Restaurant Steirereck, serving lavish breakfasts and the city’s favourite goulash in a fine setting in the Stadtpark.

The historic coffee shop at the Hotel Sacher is still the best place to sample Vienna’s famous Sachertorte, invented here in 1832.

Ask Eva Buchleitner what she makes and she’ll say “tokens of chivalry.” That sounds like something from a bygone era, but the fashion accessories the 42-year-old designer sells under her own Eva Blut label are anything but old-fashioned. Her current collection of purses and bags displayed in the window of her store on a street corner in Vienna’s First District play with transparency and are made of materials as different as leather and nylon. The designs are straightforward with a twist. And that’s not just a figure of speech. The Twister bag made of slategray Napa leather and printed canvas turns on its own axis at the center so that it hugs your body no matter how you carry it. “I wanted to make bags that were practical and wearable,” Buchleitner explains, “that were both versatile and beautiful.”

Viennese fashions are refreshingly fun and offbeat. Young designers are moving to the capital from Linz, Graz and Salzburg because of the great opportunities and quality of life Vienna offers. Lena Hoschek, Thomas Kirchgrabner and the Sandra Thaler and Annette Prechtl duo have all gained a reputation beyond Austria’s borders.

Julia Rupertsberger and Mark Baigent met at fashion school in Linz and soon began winning awards for their unisex designs after establishing the Mark & Julia label in January 2010. Although Julia and Mark both earn their living mainly as stylists, they have a clear goal: “If our designs aren’t earning us proper money by the time we’re 30, we’ve chosen the wrong career,” says Mark.

Ute Ploier, 36, is a graduate of the renowned Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London and the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Her graduate collection won the City of Vienna Fashion Award, which came with prize money for starting her own collection. Ploier set up shop in 2003, specializing in men’s fashions because she liked the idea of turning the “men design for women” principle on its head.