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For seven nights in September there are dance or music performances representing the different cultures living in Vienna in this colourful, multiethnic event. (Hallamasch is Viennese slang meaning “the best of all mixed together”.) The Parade of the Cultures is the highlight of the festival, brimming with life.

Situated in the historic palace of Archduke Karl, the House of Music opened in 2000 and offers a journey through the world of music. Visitors are invited to experiment with sounds, to play giant instruments or to “conduct” the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Fish and reptiles from all across the world have found a home in a former anti-aircraft tower in Esterhazypark. You can “journey” from the chilly North Sea to the Australian Great Barrier Reef, taking in the natural landscape en route. Very popular with kids is the sharks’ and piranhas’ feeding time in the “Amazon pool”, and stroking slippery, harmless snakes.

Great Cuban atmosphere for salsa fanatics and lashings of rum attracts a crowd of locals and expats. Each day has its own motto. There are also dance instructors and guest DJs.

This 3-star hotel is located on one of the main shopping streets, Mariahilfer Strasse, and has an underground station at its front door. The rooms are quiet and are equipped with a telephone, cable TV and a minibar. There are also apartments with kitchen facilities and suites.

The Museum of Military History houses a collection of weaponry, uniforms and trophies that documents the imperial army from the 16th century to the end of the monarchy in 1918.

Founded in the Middle Ages as a monastery, today the building hosts the city’s arts college.

The composer Ludwig van Beethoven often came to Heiligenstadt to spend his summers – Vienna’s bourgeoisie favoured the area as a holiday resort in the late 18th century. Beethoven lived in various houses in Heiligenstadt. In 1802 he stayed at Probusgasse 6 and visited the nearby spa to gain relief for his deafness; when nothing helped he wrote the Heiligenstädter Testament, a desperate letter to his brothers. Today the house is a museum.

Grinzing (see p124) was once a small community of wine-growers but today has one of the highest densities of Heurigen in Vienna. The Hengl-Haselbrunner is slightly off the beaten track but offers excellent red and white wines, as well as a buffet menu of regional specialities. Sitting in the courtyard underneath vines in summer is a romantic experience.