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Doing business
Err on the side of formality and smartness in Vienna, especially when making your first introductions. Later on, you all might leave the ties at home. Don’t expect too much in the way of socialising beyond a quick after-work drink, though long business lunches are common. While English is widely spoken, if you’ve got German, get it out: it helps.

Cool hotel
Smart, ultra-cool Do & Co (www.doco.com; they also have a number of restaurants in the city) is the new kid on the Viennese hotel block, with hip bars and a panoramic restaurant in the shadow of Stephansdom. The only thing not so cool is the eye-popping room tarrif – you won’t see much change from £250 a night.

Hip restaurant
Neu Wien (Bäckerstrasse 5) is a plush new restaurant on the edge of the Innere Stadt’s medieval quarter, with the look and feel of a trendy lounge bar. Cuisine harks back to the days of the Hapsburg Empire, with rich meaty dishes and traditional Viennese staple dishes, but there are more unusual menu selections on offer too. After eating, sit back and enjoy the cabaret and live music downstairs.

Happening bar
Housed in a beautifully restored Victorian palm house complete with high-arched ceilings, glass walls and steel beams, Palmenhaus (Burgggarten) occupies one of the most attractive locations in Vienna. The crowd is well-to-do and the vibe is relaxed and welcoming.

Must-see sights
The Innere Stadt is the heart of Vienna and is home to Stephansdom, the city’s mighty gothic cathedral (also known as St Stephen's). Strolling around the area’s medieval streets is enough to get a feel for the place, but if you have time for some art, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the world’s finest galleries. An evening at the Staatsoper opera house requires dressing up and good fortune to get a ticket.

Getting downtown
Vienna International Airport is 15 miles southwest of the city centre. There’s a train to and from Wien Mitte train station departing every 30 minutes and costing £13 return. A taxi will cost around £30. International rail services from western and northern Europe arrive at centrally-located Westbahnhof station.

The details
Vienna is one hour ahead of UK time, and Austria’s currency is the Euro. Shops and businesses keep the same hours as the UK. Tips of ten per cent are welcomed by taxis, porters and waiters. July and August can be hot and sticky, otherwise Vienna has a pleasant climate.

Getting there
There are direct flights available to Vienna from London Heathrow (Austrian Airlines, five-times- daily and British Airways four-times-daily), London Luton (easyJet), London City (Austrian Airlines, twice-daily on weekdays) and Dublin (Aer Lingus).

The carbon cost
A return flight from London Heathrow to Vienna will cover 2,508km and emit 0.3 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The CarbonNeutral Company starting from £2.25.

Compiled by Tom Hall on behalf of Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com

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