4 DAYS

Vienna
City Break

Day 1. Arrival & Ringstrasse Imperial Tour

Arrive in Vienna — the Imperial capital of the Habsburgs and one of the most magnificent cities in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage city of extraordinary musical, artistic and architectural heritage. Begin with a walk along the Ringstrasse — the grand 5 km boulevard built by Emperor Franz Joseph I (1857-1865), lined with the most spectacular public buildings of the 19th century: the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper), the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Naturhistorisches Museum, the Austrian Parliament, the magnificent Rathaus and the Burgtheater. In the evening, explore the atmospheric inner city (Innere Stadt) and dine at one of Vienna's legendary coffee houses — the Café Central (1876) or the Café Landtmann (1873), intellectual gathering places since the era of Freud, Trotsky and Hitler. Overnight in Vienna.

Day 2. Schönbrunn Palace & Belvedere

After breakfast, visit the Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) — the magnificent summer palace of the Habsburg emperors, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 1,441 rooms, the extraordinary Imperial State Apartments, the Gloriette hilltop pavilion with panoramic views over Vienna, and Europe's oldest zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn, 1752). In the afternoon, visit the Belvedere Palace complex — the Baroque summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1720), housing Austria's greatest art collection: the Klimt Collection in the Upper Belvedere, with the original Kiss (Der Kuss, 1907-08) — the most famous painting in Austria and one of the most celebrated works of Art Nouveau in the world. Walk the extraordinary formal French garden between the two palaces. Overnight in Vienna.

Day 3. Kunsthistorisches Museum & Spanish Riding School

Morning at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) — one of the world's great art museums, built as a monument to the Habsburg imperial collections, with extraordinary works by Vermeer, Brueghel, Caravaggio, Rubens, Raphael and Velázquez, and the world's finest Cellini collection. Afternoon: visit the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule) — the world's oldest and most prestigious classical equestrian school (founded 1572), where the famous white Lipizzaner stallions have been trained in the baroque art of classical dressage for over 450 years. Also visit St Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) — the Gothic masterpiece at the heart of Vienna, with its extraordinary mosaic-tiled roof and the catacombs beneath housing the remains of the Habsburg dynasty. Overnight in Vienna.

Day 4. Vienna Woods & Departure

Final morning: excursion to the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) — the beautiful green hills surrounding Vienna, with the charming town of Klosterneuburg and the extraordinary baroque Klosterneuburg Monastery (1114, with extraordinary Imperial apartments). Return to Vienna and visit the Naschmarkt — Vienna's legendary outdoor market (since the 16th century), with 120 stalls of exceptional Austrian, Eastern European and global produce. Transfer to Vienna International Airport for your return flight.

Must see

ATTRACTIONS

Options

ACCOMMODATIONS

Vienna

★★★★★

Hotel Sacher Wien
The Ritz-Carlton Vienna
Hotel Imperial Vienna

★★★★

Marriott Vienna
Radisson Blu Style Hotel Vienna
NH Vienna Airport

★★★

ibis Wien Mariahilf
Hotel Ibis Wien City
Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier Wien

Must try

FOOD

Viennese Goulash

A classic case of culinary exchange; this originally Hungarian dish has evolved to have a unique character in Austria; the hearty, slow-cooked stew is filled with tender beef, onions and spices like sweet paprika and caraway; often served with buttered or egg noodles or bread dumplings.

Tafelspitz

Tracing its fame back to the royal tables of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; this elegant dish features prime cuts of beef simmered to perfection in a vegetable and spice broth; traditionally served with apple and horseradish sauces, every mouthful is a refined, flavorful experience.

Wiener Schnitzel

A world-famous Austrian dish consisting of a flattened veal cutlet coated in flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs, then fried until golden brown; it is traditionally served hot with a lemon wedge and a side dish of potato salad or parsley potatoes.