Vienna, Austria, things to do: Travel tips from aExpert expat: Margaret Plummer, Vienna, Austria

The Viennese love the outdoors.Credit: WienTourismus/Christian Stemper

Opera singer Margaret Plummer grew up in Sydney, moved to Vienna with her family eight years ago and has just completed eight seasons as a mezzosoprano soloist with the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera). She will perform in Australia for the first time since 2014, singing Mozart's Requiem with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in Hobart on November 12. See tso.com.au, margaretplummer.com

SEE

Vienna has an incredible arts scene, from the huge and impressive Kunsthistorisches museum (art History museum) to the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art) and hundreds of smaller galleries, countless theatres for concerts, opera, musicals and plays, khm.at, mumok.at. You could see a different show every day of the week and never double up. For classical music, a performance of the Wiener Philharmoniker in the Golden Room at the Musikverein is particularly special. See wienerphilharmoniker.at

Margaret Plummer grew up in Sydney and moved to Vienna with her family eight years ago.Credit: Kurt Sneddon

DO

The Viennese are very active and love to get out into nature. The city has state run hiking trails called wanderwege at the end of many public transport lines, so bring walking boots and get out into the Wiener Wald (the Viennese Woods). My favourite trail is either Number 1 or 4; Trail 1 has spectacular views of the Danube and the city but does have a very steep incline to earn that view, while Trail 4 has vineyards and beautiful forests. The trails vary in length from seven to 13 kilometres. See wien.info

EAT

When in Wien, eating a schnitzel is a must, my favourite is Figlmuller on Backersrasse (figlmueller.at); the schnitzel is as big as your plate, but super-thin and delicious, plus all of their traditional salads are so good, especially the cucumber dill salad and the white cabbage. However, my go-to restaurant is Mamamon Thai on Albertgasse in the 8th district (mamamonthaikitchen.com), a little family-run business with the best Thai food in Vienna. My favourite dish is the spicy pork laab with sticky rice. You also must get an almond croissant or a Swedish knot – a soft and chewy dough made with cardamom and cinnamon – from the Felzl bakery (felzl.at), and a sausage from a wurstelstand (sausage stand) - the one behind the opera is the best.

DRINK

After I finish a show, I like to go to Kruger's American Bar on Krugerstrasse in the 1st, it's close to the theatre and has an extensive cocktail list. Honestly I've only ever had my drink of choice, a dirty gin martini there, but friends can vouch for the other drinks. For a fancy drink with a view, head to Das Loft, the bar on the roof of the Sofitel, where you can see the whole city. It has lots of delicious seasonal cocktails, but I am partial to the classics; I love their negroni. See dasloftwien.at

AVOID

The guys dressed like Mozart selling tickets for tourist concerts! Instead, book through a venue like Musikverein or the Staatsoper for the real Viennese music experience. See musikverein.at, wiener-staatsoper.at

THRIVE

The city is wonderful by foot – take one of the many walking tours to get a feel for the first district, and then venture out into the outer districts. Public transport is clean and efficient and very easily navigated, so don't be scared to venture out of the heart of the city.