Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/608340
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2015 44 44 Travel Two readers have the chance to win a complimentary return ticket each for travel on any scheduled Air Malta flights (excluding taxes and charges). All you have to do is answer the question below and send in your name, mobile number and email address to: Maltatoday competition, Air Malta plc, Sky Parks, Malta International Airport, Luqa, LQA 4000. The closing date is 13 December. Two readers have the chance to win a complimentary return ticket each for travel on any scheduled Air Malta flights (excluding taxes and charges). All you have to do is answer the question below and send in your name, mobile number and email Maltatoday competition, Air Malta plc, Sky Parks, Malta International Airport, Luqa, LQA 4000. The closing date is 13 December. Question: How many weekly flights is Air Malta operating to Vienna this winter? Is it a) 1 weekly flight b) 2 weekly flights or c) 4 weekly flights? ✂ Name Email Mobile Number Regal, romantic Vienna VIENNA has been described as Europe's cultural capital. It is a metropolis with unique charm, vibrancy and flair, with a rich history and romantic atmos- phere travellers come to expect from the old guard of Europe's big cities. It boasts outstanding infrastructure, is clean and safe, and has all the inspiration that you could wish for in order to discover this wonderful part of Europe. Things to do A trip to Vienna would not be complete without a visit to Schönbrunn Palace (schoenb- runn.at), the summer residence of the royal Habsburg monar- chy. Stroll around the gardens and take in the prowess of one of Europe's most important royal families. The Vienna zoo (zoovienna.at) is located on the palace grounds and is worth a visit, especially for young trav- ellers. If Habsburg or European his- tory is your thing, don't miss out on the Imperial Palace (hofburg. com). The winter residence of the royal family, today the pal- ace is the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria, and important political events are still held here. Theatre, film and music, in particular, are part of the fab- ric of Vienna's culture. The State Opera House (wiener- staatsoper.at) is a monument in itself and is worth a visit, even if you're not into the music. Still, tickets to performances are very affordable (often under €20). Prater Park (praterwien.com) is one of Vienna's largest public spaces and home to a number of attractions, including a huge Ferris wheel, seasonal activi- ties such as winter market and plenty of room to roam, people- watch, jog or simply take in the natural beauty of this beloved park. For a more unusual excursion, plan a visit to the Spanish Riding School (srs.at), where you can take a tour of the magnificent building or watch as the world famous Lipizzaners practise and perform their graceful and precise equitation exercises. Late in the year almost every square seems packed with stalls, each with its own character and specialities. The most famous, and most expensive, is in front of the Rathaus; Karlsplatz is more about handicrafts – hats, bags, jewellery – and really good for presents; the Spittel- berg market is devoted to arti- sanal foodstuffs. A stroll along the Danube is highly recommended – take in the city's impressive water- front, perhaps while munch- ing on a snack from one of the many sausage carts at strategic locations. Things to eat Traditional Viennese cui- sine really requires you to burn 10,000 calories a day or face the consequences, and there is no dish more Viennese than wien- er schnitzel, a boneless cut of veal, doused in egg and rolled in breadcrumbs before being fried. Figlmueller (figlmueller.at) calls itself the home of the schnitzel and the constantly packed din- ing room is testament to the quality of its offerings. Large student and immigrant populations have restored vi- brancy to Vienna's cafe culture. Café Benno (cafebenno.at), just inside the ring road on Alser Strasse, is a convivial games cafe where you can eat, drink and play board games – an incred- ible variety are stacked up on the walls. Noisy and lots of fun, it opens at 4.30pm and goes on till 2am. For something sweet, head to Demel (demel.at), a centuries- old pastry shop whose interiors are as sweet as its edibles. After admiring the wares in the display cases downstairs, go upstairs to the chandeliered cafe to order your coffee and cake, stopping along the way to peer through the glass into the kitchens where the goodies are being made. Where to stay Wombat's City Hostel (wom- bats-hostels.com/vienna/the-nas- chmarkt/) is an excellent hostel if you're on a backpacker budget. Just make sure to book the Nas- chmarkt location – the other two are around the train station, which is a somewhat less desirable neigh- bourhood. For those with a few more euros to sprinkle liberally on their ac- commodation, nH Hotel on Ma- riahilferstraße (nh-hotels.com/ hotel/nh-wien-city) has a fantastic location, great staff and a trendy vibe. At the top end, Hotel Imperial (imperialvienna.com ) is an exqui- site and spacious five star hotel. If you'd rather go down the more in- dependent route, then try search- ing for apartments instead. Enjoy this historic patisserie's wonderful interiors and delicious treats Witness the world famous Lipizzaner horses practise in beautiful surroundings Schonbrunn – The summer home of the Habsburg royal family