If you manage to organise some free time around your busy European SharePoint Conference 2016 schedule then check out these Top 10 Things To Do In Vienna…

1.Schönbrunn Palace
This residence attracts millions of visitors to Vienna each year. Its baroque splendor and sprawling parkland with incredible garden art are truly impressive. Inside, rooms are steeped in history. The mirror room has played host to performances by Mozart and meetings with Napoleon as well as many other great moments of history.

2. Hofburg

Nothing symbolises the culture and heritage of Austria more than its Hofburg, home base of the Habsburgs from 1273 to 1918. The oldest section is the 13th-century Schweizerhof (Swiss Courtyard), named after the Swiss guards who used to protect its precincts. The Renaissance Swiss gate dates from 1553. The courtyard adjoins a larger courtyard, In der Burg, with a monument to Emperor Franz II adorning its centre. The palace now houses the Austrian president’s offices and a raft of museums.

3. Kunsthistorisches Museum
Art lovers should not miss this museum. Vienna’s museum of Fine Arts. Masterpieces by the likes of Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Velasquez can all be found here. As well as holding some of the most significant works of art in history, the museum also boasts the largest Brueghel collection in the world.

4. Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is well known by opera fans all over the world. For many it is the symbol of Vienna. In the past, greats like Richard Strauss and Herbert von Karajan performed before enthusiastic audiences – and not much has changed in that regard today. Year after year, famous opera stars such as Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón return to perform in Vienna’s iconic opera house. Similarly, world-renowned directors and stage designers bring new life and excitement to the stage with spectacular new productions.

5. Ringstrasse
Vienna’s Ringstrasse is 5.3 kilometers long. It is one of the most beautiful boulevards in the world. Ringstrasse is home to numerous monumental buildings, which were built during the period of Historicism in the 1860s to 1890s. Today, the Buildings that stand there – from the Vienna State Opera to the Museum of Fine Arts – are among the most important sights in the city of Vienna.

6. Museums Quartier
If you want to experience modern Vienna, plan a trip to the Museums Quartier or Museum Quarter (MQ) near the popular shopping street of Mariahilfer Straße. It is one of the ten largest cultural complexes in the world and offers, in addition to museums such as the famous Leopold Museum, a variety of restaurants and cool bars.

7. Shopping in the Seventh District
The Seventh District of Vienna is the city’s best kept secret for shoppers. The streets and lanes here are full of trendy design stores showcasing everything from fashion to shoes and accessories.

8. The Prater
Home to approx. 250 attractions including a roller coaster, flight stimulators and a giant ferris wheel, the Prater is well worth a visit. Although The Prater is only in season from March to October, the giant ferris wheel and some other attractions are open year round. The adjacent Green Prater offers an ideal environment for relaxing strolls and leisurely bike rides.

9. St Stephen’s Cathedral
The symbol of Vienna. Construction commenced in the 12th century. Today, it is one of the most important Gothic structures in Austria.

10. The Hundertwasser House
And last on our Top 10 Things To Do In Vienna, The Hundertwasser House in Vienna is one of Austria’s architectural highlights. Each year, thousands of visitors from around the world visit the house designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The colourfully decorated exterior façade of Hundertwasser House draws attention to itself almost magically. More than 200 trees and shrubs on the balconies and roof terraces make the Hundertwasserhaus a green oasis in the heart of the city.