Discover Vienna's alternative side

The traditional view of Vienna generally involves scenes of Baroque castles and exquisite architecture, set to the stirring strains of Beethoven or Mozart. However, there's another side to the City of Music, and it's a little more alternative and adventurous than those picture-perfect views let on.

In your first few days in Vienna, you really must stop and marvel at sights like St. Stephen's Cathedral, get lost wandering around Blutgasse district, sip coffee and fill up on sachertorte in a quaint café and, of course, listen to the Philharmonic Orchestra. However, as charming and enjoyable as these activities are, once you've ticked them all off it's well worth delving a little deeper and arranging a few slightly more novel ways to spend an afternoon in the city.

Trapped in an underground bunker, can you stop an impending nuclear catastrophe? How about preventing a heist in the vaults of the Vienna International Bank? Located just off Währinger Strasse, Room Escape's 60-minute live-action whirlwind will put your problem solving skills to the test, with endless riddles and brainteasers. Played in teams of two to five people, it takes teamwork, tactics and an awful lot of lateral thinking to beat the clock and escape in time. Psst! It's a great idea for a team building event!

This enterprising company offers both standard cycle rental and guided cycling tours of Vienna - thankfully all in English. At Pedal Power you can choose between a classic route through the bustling inner city, or an after-hours tour of the lamp-lit city streets. If you're in a big group, you could even book an exclusive special tour, which allows you to set your own sightseeing itinerary. Segway tours are also available.

Located on the fifth floor of the Millennium City Complex, Monki Park is a must for any little monkey. Giant building blocks and ball pits keep toddlers entertained in a separate area, while older kids can drive go-karts through jungle scenery, tumble on the trampolines or clamber along high ropes, obstacle courses and climbing walls.

Putt your way through an elegant nine-hole golf course in the heart of the city at City and Country's unique leisure centre. Transplanting a green, open space to an urban setting, the resulting paradox is peaceful, pleasing and surprisingly picturesque. Afterwards, you can hit the gym, relax in the sauna or keep the competition going on the tennis, badminton and squash courts.

Just a short stroll away from the Radisson Blu Style Hotel, Vienna, this little gem is a chocolate lover's dream. Xocolat's motto is "Chocolate makes you happy", and they set out to prove the truth of that statement with a huge selection of confectionery from the world's best chocolate makers. Get a look behind the scenes at a Xocolat Manikfactur workshop, which also teaches you how to create your very own confectionery and dessert. No golden ticket necessary.

You may have arrived in Vienna by plane, but chances are you weren't flying it yourself. In Vienna Flight's high-tech simulator, you can pick from an Airbus A320, a Boeing 737 or a Bell 206 Jet Ranger Helicopter, learning how to handle real flight situations from take-off to landing. State-of-the-art motion and visuals make the journey feel incredibly lifelike, with original cockpit parts from former aircraft heightening the experience.

Make one of our central hotels, the Radisson Blu Style Hotel or the Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel, your base to exploring the exciting city of Vienna.