Vienna. The capital of Austria. The city with a swimming pool on the Danube river. But most of you know it for Mozart, Prater, The Ring (Die Ring Strasse), Schonbrunn and the aforementioned My Hidden City episode. During this tour, I will take you through places such as: The Ring, Schonbrunn, Belvedere Palace, The Hofburg and The Imperial Crypt.

The Ring

A tram and an administrative building, both on the Ring

Although its nomenclature is similar to the movie's, this is actually a circular boulevard which "circularly divides" Vienna into several sectors. Think of the city as a concentric circle. The Ring is sector #1. Most of the administrative institutions as well as the important tourist attractions are situated here. Note that the boulevard is one-way and all of the sights and attractions are on the left. The best way to see the full splendor of this circular wonder is by carriage (or by looking to the left when you travel by bus).

Schonbrunn

The back gardens of the Schonnbrun palace

This palace is well known for the princess that lived here. Princess Sissi that is. Also, this building was the seat of power of the Austro-Hungarian empire, which like the name states, was formed of two countries: Austria and Hungary.

The Belvedere Palace

The front and back sides of the Belvedere Palace (Large)

This architectural wonder is situated on a small hill and is composed of two actual palaces. The first is the largest and is currently an art museum. Works of great artists like Van Gogh and Schiller can be found here. The second palace is smaller and acts as a botanical museum. Both palaces are enveloped in lush gardens and contain elegantly-crafted fountains.

The Imperial Crypt

A skull from one of the tombs and the roof of the crypt

The best way to chill during a hot summer's day [like I've experienced] is to go down here. This crypt contains the remnants of the Royal Family, spanning over eight generations. Although not as fancy as a night club, this place is worth visiting.

As nice as this article may seem, this is NOT a comprehensive guide of Vienna. To fully experience the sights and sounds of this city, I recommend you search for a Lonely Planet or Globe Trekker Guide.