Danube Valley: Day Trip from Vienna

Initially envisioned as a hunting lodge for the Habsburgs, Emperor Leopold I commissioned the construction of Schönbrunn Palace at the end of the 17th century. In the middle of the 18th century, it was converted into a residence for Maria Theresa, the only female Habsburg ruler. Since then, it has played host to the leading statespeople of Europe. 44 of its 1,441 rooms are on display to the public, and it's the most-visited attraction in Vienna. Its gardens have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and have been open to the Viennese public since 1779.

Only a 3-minute walk from the Vienna State Opera, you'll find another of Vienna's treasures – St. Anne's Church. The church embodies some of the best examples of Baroque architecture, and safely keeps a relic of St. Anne (her right hand) within its walls.

With around 65,000 drawings and more than a million old master prints, the Albertina is a mightily impressive collection of art. Located in the largest Habsburg residential palace, the collection also includes more modern works - including two significant collections of Impressionist and early 20th-century art, and temporary exhibitions. Also on display are 21 exquisite Habsburg state rooms, spread over two floors of the palace.