Vienna has topped the Global Liveability Charts for three years in a row – and with return flights from the UK costing as little as £35, Austria’s capital makes the perfect affordable weekend break
Vienna is regularly named as one of the UK’s best cities(Image: Getty)
A breathtaking European capital has been crowned the continent’s “best” city, and it’s just a short three-hour flight from Britain. Even better news for budget-conscious travellers – you can jet off to this stunning destination for as little as £35 return.
Vienna, the Austrian capital, has claimed the top spot in the Global Liveability Charts for three consecutive years. The city of approximately two million residents outranked popular destinations including Copenhagen, Zurich, and Geneva, earning top marks for its stability, cultural offerings, and excellent local infrastructure.
The city is also a cultural treasure trove, celebrated for its musical heritage, exquisite art scene, and charming coffee houses.
YouTuber Ed Chapman made the journey to discover whether it truly deserved its reputation as “the greatest city in the world”. His itinerary included the Danube Tower, which boasts Europe’s tallest slide, a round-the-clock amusement park, and the internationally renowned Cafe Central.
Situated in Vienna’s Innere Stadt district, this historic establishment once welcomed legendary figures including Sigmund Freud, Leon Trotsky, and Josef Stalin. The venue earned the nickname “Chess school” due to its popularity amongst elite chess players who used it as their gaming headquarters, reports the Express.
Ed sampled beef goulash, hot chocolate, and cake during his visit. Reflecting on his meal, he remarked: “That is beautiful, what a delight, lovely and warm, great flavours. Proper hearty food.”
When asked whether Vienna deserves its crown as the world’s finest city, Ed remarked: “It’s a beautiful place. It’s lovely. Buildings are amazing, astonishing. It’s got some history knocking about. Mozart is, you know, his place is out here somewhere. There’s something to walk past. All sorts of museums.”
He continued: “I’m very impressed by this place. But is it the greatest city in the world that I’m not sure about. It’s a very, very good city. I can absolutely see why it’s been given the most livable tag in both Europe and the world. And I could absolutely imagine living here myself.”
Beyond the celebrated coffee house scene that Ed experienced in Vienna, visitors will find no shortage of attractions throughout the city. Austria’s capital boasts an array of stunning Baroque churches alongside architectural gems such as the vibrant Hundertwasserhaus and the Wiener Riesenrad, an impressive 64-metre-high Ferris wheel.
Travel expert Mark Wolter, from Wolter’s World, was full of praise for Vienna’s culinary offerings. He explained: “The cakes, the food, yeah you have your Wiener Schnitzel and your hot dogs but there’s so many great foods, pork, duck, all this food from all over the holy Roman empire, because you have Hungarian goulash or pasta from those times.”
Mark describes Austria as a “really cool” tourist destination, particularly highlighting the quality of accommodation and transport links. He noted: “Whether it’s trains, buses or trams they have this all out there, which is really cool to use as a tourist.
“The museums will have things usually in German but they’ll have cards in English to help you.”
Beyond Austria’s charming historic towns, Mark urges visitors to explore the country’s rich cultural offerings and stunning natural landscapes. “I like to tell people, if you want to get cultured come to Austria, because there’s so much of the museums, architecture and history,” Mark added.
Flight comparison site Skyscanner reveals that travelling to Vienna can be remarkably affordable, with one-way tickets from Manchester Airport starting at just £19, whilst return flights from Bristol can be snapped up for around £35.