Vienna (Wien in German, the Austrian language) is a gorgeous walking city, packed with spectacular buildings in all possible styles and writhing with muscular statues. Pedestrian areas crisscross the centre, but even the big ring road circling the inner city has comfortable, separate walking, biking, trams and car lanes - not that there are many cars in motion anyway, the city has only 1.6m inhabitants, and anyway, why bother when trams and metro are fast, frequent and cheap? Cars are for late or out-of-town use.

The Blue Danube? Not likely, muddy green at best. There is an explanation for the name however...
Napoleon had never lost a battle when he came across the white coated Austrian army at Aspern, around the Danube, in 1809. The French, in blue coats, lost, and their bodies were thrown into the Danube. Due to poor dye quality the colour ran into the water, turning it temporarily blue. Strauss remembered the great victory in 1867 by calling his latest waltz, 'The Blue Danube.'

Photos: Walk 1 | Walk 2 | Chill out zones | Salzburg Pictures

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