A Classic Air Canada European Destination For 2019: Vienna, Austria

One of Air Canada’s newest European destinations is one of the continent’s oldest and most beloved cities. Air Canada next April will begin year-round, direct flights between Toronto and Vienna.

“We are pleased to launch new non-stop flights from Toronto to Vienna onboard our state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, further expanding Air Canada's reach in Europe,” said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

“This new service will connect conveniently with our extensive North American network through our Toronto Pearson global hub as well as in Vienna with our Star Alliance partner Austrian Airlines destinations in central and eastern Europe and the Middle East. With Austria's high concentration of head offices and large number of conventions, our Toronto-Vienna flights offer business travellers a non-stop link to a key European market, while Austria's fabled history, culture, cafés and markets all available in one of the world's most livable cities will be of interest for leisure travelers.”

Here's a look at some of the great things to see and do in Vienna.

COFFEE AND CAKE Vienna is famous for its coffee houses and its cakes and pastries. One of the most famous is sachertorte, with plenty of deep, rich chocolate flavour. The story goes that it was conceived by a Viennese fellow named Franz Sacher, who had been told (likely in very firm language) to create a new dessert for a member of the royal family. Beware: some of the more historic places can charge a small fortune for coffee. Check the prices before you order. And don’t feel you have to drink and run. If you pay $10 or $15 or coffee, take the time to enjoy it. Café Sacher might be the best place to try sachertorte, although you should expect a lineup.

TAKE IN A CONCERT There are any number of great places to enjoy classical music in Vienna, home of Johann Straus (fans used to write to him clamouring for pieces of his hair, a precursor to John, Paul, George and Ringo) and other famous musicians. One of the best is Schonbrunn Palace, the stately (one might even say palatial) summer residence of the Habsburgs when they were running things in Austria. One good way to keep track of concerts in the city is www.songkick.com. Vienna being a major European city, you’ll also find jazz, rock and other live music shows here on a regular basis. Christmas is a great time to enjoy music in Vienna, with everything from advent concerts at the massive and glorious St. Stephen’s Cathedral to trumpet recitals in the Annakirche church.

HOP ON AND OFF TOURS I’ve done these tours in several cities and find them a great way to see a destination. You can buy tickets for 24 or 48 hours for Vienna, and let someone else do the driving. You’ll get a knowledgeable guide to point out the highlights, and when you see something you like you just hop off the bus and wait for the next one. You also can find a number of walking tours of the city. Better yet, just wander on your own and see where the road takes you.

SHOP IN STYLE Vienna isn’t known as a cutting edge fashion spot, but when I was there I found a number of cool shops selling chic jeans and hip styles you’d expect to see in Toronto or L.A. Among the top shopping areas in the city are the Goldenes Quarter (think Beverly Hills or Bloor West), the jewelry shops in the Kohlmarket and Graben, which has a nice variety of shops to choose from.

LIPIZZANNER STALLIONS The white stallions of Vienna are famous for their precise footwork and acrobatic athleticism. You’ll find them at something called the Spanish Riding School, named for the style of horses. The Spanish Riding School is said to be the oldest riding academy in the world, and the only where this type of classic horsemanship is still practiced. Tickets are available at viennaclassic.com, concertvienna.com and other websites.

MELK ABBEY DAY TRIP This is a lovely Benedictine Abbey that sits on a hilltop overlooking the Danube River, roughly 75 minutes from Vienna. It’s built in a beautiful shade of deep yellow, with tons of Baroque bits, and dates to the early 1700s. The library is truly amazing, with beautiful dark wood and frescoes galore. There’s also an odd globe from 1688, which shows California as a separate island (no doubt some Americans would cheer at that idea) and illustrates Canada as a rather pinched country that sticks up north of what are now the northern prairies of the United States. The surrounding village has charming shops and cafes.

Air Canada has announced that new year-round services between Toronto and Vienna will start in April 29, 2019. The daily flights will operate with Air Canada's flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring Signature Class, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.