Vienna, about two hours away from Tirana by plane, whose ticket does not cost much if you book smartly, was announced by The Economist Intelligence Unit, based on the annual index of living conditions, as the world's best city to live in . Known for its art, magnificent architecture, gigantic green spaces, traditional cafes, chocolates another quality has now been added to the Austrian capital.
As you may have read, the Index considered 30 qualitative and quantitative factors, which are divided into five main categories: stability (25%), health care (20%), culture and environment (25%), education (10%) and infrastructure (20%).
When defining living in a city, the environment is one of the essential elements to consider. For example, drinking water in Vienna comes directly from the Alps, while half of urban areas are covered with greenery.
Not to mention public transport, which is one of the most modern and freest in the world. An annual public transport card allows you to move around the city for just 1 euro a day.
Unlike many other cities, Vienna can hardly distinguish between the strata of society because domestic policies have prevented inequality through the cost of living. The city's crime rate is also the lowest in 20 years.
Residents report to various media that the city has no dangerous neighborhoods and cultures interact well with each other without conflicts.
If you are going to visit Vienna, remember that the locals are the happiest people in the world. So you are unlikely to encounter cold, gloomy German or Swiss glances. According to a June study by local authorities, nine out of ten Viennese are happy.
In the clear, green streets, in the background you can hear Mozart, whilst carrying a nice aroma of coffee and chocolate.
Below, find some of the most famous places to visit in Vienna.
1. The Hofburg - most commonly known as the Imperial Palace, once used as a venue for Habsburg dynasties. The palace includes small cafes, luxury restaurants and parks. There is also the famous Spanish school of hipism. The oldest part of the palace was built in the 13th century, while the rest lies in the 20th century.
2. St. Stephen's Cathedral - a historical monument, but also one of the city's symbols and one of the most visited places in downtown Vienna. The 700-year-old cathedral offers a fantastic view of the city if you climb 343 stairs to one tower. Twelfth-century Gothic architecture, large columns and saint paintings will keep you stuck for minutes.
3. Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens - one of the historical monuments of Vienna. The palace reflects the charm of Baroque architecture in all its grandeur.
4. Zoo - the oldest and largest zoo in Europe, located in the heart of Schönbrunn Palace. There are more than 700 species in the garden.
5. Wiener Rathaus - city hall, built between 1872-1883.
6. Belvedere Palace - includes two buildings adorned by Baroque architecture, where one of Gustav Klimt's largest collections of paintings is preserved. UNESCO has regarded the Belvedere Palace as an important site of world cultural heritage, including an art collection by Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Max Beckham and others.
7. St. Peter's Church - one of the oldest churches in Vienna built in Baroque style.
8. Karlskirche - another church with Baroque architecture worth a visit.
9. The National Theater - also known as the Burgtheater and is believed to have been operational since 1741 and is considered one of the most must visit places in Vienna.
10. Opera House - We are talking about Vienna so it is understandable to visit The Vienna State Opera House, one of the best opera houses in the world.
11. Hundertwasserhaus - the colorful facade is another interesting place. Inside the building are about 200 trees and shrubs.
12. Kunsthistorisches Museum - Built in 1891, today it is one of the most renowned museums in the capital, including a large collection of Bruegel.
13. Natural History Museum - home to some of the most unique objects and objects in the world.
14. Austrian National Library - one of the largest libraries in Europe with more than 200,000 volumes.
15. Parliament - merges Greek and Roman architecture, a perfect place for a meeting of art and history.
16. The Demel Café - the best cakes and coffee in Vienna.
17. The Donauturm - known as the Danube Tower, the tower is 252 meters high and is located near the north bank of the Danube River. Donauturm offers cafés, restaurants and scenic views.
18. Wiener Riesenrad - the famous park.
19. Kärtner Strasse - one of the most popular shopping places for all after shopping.
20. Freud Museum - Freud's former apartment and office, open to the public since 1971. The space is not large, but it contains a large number of objects and objects of the founder of psychoanalysis.
