In the true heart of Europe, Austria should be well known amongst those who enjoy their winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding.

While you’ll have a difficult time actually skiing in the capital city, if you’re willing to travel there are a few decent ski resorts like Semmering, just over an hour’s drive away (similar time on the train). In any case, Vienna is an incredibly clean city with lots of green areas and possibilities for long walks and hikes.

The elegance of the city really presents itself through the beautiful architecture of the buildings both old and new. Regardless of your field, it’s safe to say that Austrians have played a critical role in our history contributing significantly to the fields of music, art, economics and philosophy and by visiting Vienna you can experience all of this through performances, exhibitions or museums of which there are well over 100.

Vienna has great public services which lends itself to the well functioning economy and citizens’ generally strict adherence to rules. Included in these services is of course the vast transport network of buses, trains, trams and metro which will effortlessly zip you all across the city. If you prefer to be a bit more active then the city is also very bicycle friendly.

Austria has a very diverse range of cuisines but one of the most famous are it’s sweet treats and desserts such as the Kaiserschmarrn which is a warm, fluffy, sweet, pancakey plate of deliciousness. If you fancy tasting some of these treats you won’t have to look far as there are countless exceptional cafes which bake fresh and due to the great Wifi networks, you can be almost certain you can get online from almost anywhere.

Vienna has been rated as having one of the highest qualities of living in the whole of Europe so it’s probably not surprising to know that the tech scene is thriving with many startups and of course endless coworking spaces. This includes the likes of collaboratoryvienna which has on site babysitters and legal counsel!

Unfortunately, all of this does come at a bit of a price as Austria is a bit on the expensive side. However, if you can stomach a 2.5-3k a month living cost then get yourself to Vienna!