A Weekend in Vienna

Beautiful Buildings and Café Culture

It’s difficult to put your finger on what’s special about Vienna, but it’s easy to feel the city’s magic. It’s in the impressive Imperial palace and distinctive Karl-Marx-Hof; it’s in the well-dressed waiters in famous cafés as they serve you a debrecziner würstel (pork sausage). Mornings here mean coffee and those all-important Viennese pastries, ¬before a wander in the Volksgarten rose garden, or a moment to contemplate Rogier van der Weyden’s ‘Crucifiction’ in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. You might feel like taking in the view from the Prater Ferris wheel, or taking a stroll to the colourful Hundertwasserhaus. For shopping, head straight to Mariahilfer Strasse. Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Vienna without stopping at least once to sample the world-famous Sacher torte at the Demel, or sipping on delicious Viennese wine in a traditional heuriger. For a few days, this special city is yours. You’ll have a Vienna City Card to make your trip easier, giving you free public transport along with discounts on museums, attractions and restaurants. If you have a little more time, why not journey to this incredible city by train, spending a day in Paris en route before taking the sleeper train to Vienna.

Your Hotel in Vienna

A welcome combination of Wiener Jugendstil, French charm and Italian elegance, your hotel can be found inside a small 19th-century building just three minutes from St. Stephen's Cathedral. The façade has a discreet Viennese chicness, while inside, modern comforts are expertly integrated to give the whole space a classic feel. You can expect luxuriously comfortable rooms and a homemade breakfast that’s both delicious and healthy, ensuring your hotel experience is just as wonderful as the city itself.

In Your Itinerary

Vienna Jugendstil – The German counterpart to Art Nouveau, Jugendstil arose in the mid-1890s and continued into the first decade of the 20th century. With a private guide leading the way, you’ll set off to discover Vienna’s most emblematic Jugendstil buildings: Otto Wagner’s Majolikahaus (1898-1899), adorned with flowers, along with his impressive metro stations; the Artaria-Haus by Max Fabiani (1900-1902); the Looshaus by Adolf Loos (around 1910), with its two distinct floors. Of course, you’ll also visit the Secession Building, designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich (1897). With its famous golden sphere and frieze by Gustav Klimt, this building was built to show the Viennese that the world had changed, and that it was no longer bound by 19th-century rules and ideals.

Schönbrunn Palace – First built by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach between 1696 and 1699, the Schönbrunn Palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, and was regularly remodelled by its owners (Empress Maria Theresa and Kaiser Franz Joseph, in particular). In this impressive imperial residence that has over 1,400 rooms, you’ll discover spaces decorated with gilt stucco, ceiling frescoes and delightful chinoiserie.

A concert at the Musikverein – Vienna’s Musikverein is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful music halls. Renowned for the quality of its concerts, every year it hosts the prestigious New Year’s performance of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The rest of the year, you can take in a variety of music concerts including classical, romantic, contemporary and jazz, all performed by acclaimed musicians.
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