Things to do in Lower Austria

Explore the stunning region of Salzkammergut, a Unesco World Heritage Site on a guided tour. See the snow-white castle, the beautiful alpine regions, Hallstatt town, and more. Enjoy a convenient pickup directly from your centrally-located Vienna hotel or opt to head to a central meeting point if you're staying at a hotel outside of the pickup area or in other accommodations like an apartment. Board your bus and depart to the stunning region of Salzkammergut. Your first stop is the Schloss Ort, a snow-white castle where countless couples dream of celebrating their weddings. Take the opportunity to snap some photos on its famous wooden bridge. Continue to the heart of the Salzkammergut region, the fabulous town of Hallstatt, set on the shores of an azure-blue lake. Ascend to the Skywalk to enjoy breathtaking views over the town, lake, and mountains. You will have some free time for lunch, or to wander the narrow streets of the town. Admire the unforgettable natural landscape of the area, before continuing to Vienna where your tour will end at the Vienna State Opera.

Experience Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, a masterpiece of classical music. Visit Vienna’s Karlskirche and listen to the concertos of a string quartet and basso continuo. The performance by Orchestra 1756, a classical period instrument ensemble, makes this concert extraordinary. Enjoy a journey through time with this evening concert and experience unforgettable moments with historical sounds. The Four Seasons includes four of twelve revolutionary violin concertos that interpret each season of the year. Four sonnets are the inspiration for this masterpiece that takes you into a world of sound, with thunder and lightning, cracking ice and birdsong, a sleeping shepherd boy, hunting parties, and many other places. Program: Le quattro stagioni – The Four Seasons Spring, Op. 8 Nr. 1 Summer, Op. 8 Nr. 2 Autumn, Op. 8 Nr. 3 Winter, Op. 8 Nr. 4 One or two additional parts which are changing from week to week and could be from these composers: Works by W. A. Mozart, J. S. Bach, H. I. F Biber, and other major composers.

Visit the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens and gain quick access inside this Viennese gem on a guided tour that includes skip-the-line tickets. Follow a licensed guide through lavish interiors, learn about the Habsburgs Royal Family, and explore the ornate palace gardens. Meet your guide in front of the palace and start with an informative introduction to the history of the royal compound. Receive a modern audio device so that you can always hear the tour’s live narration along the way. Benefit from priority entrance tickets and gain quick access inside the palace. Marvel at the grand entrance and begin your guided walk through 22 staterooms of the famous Austrian palace. Admire the 40-meter long Great Gallery and the Hall of Ceremonies and see how the Habsburg Dynasty lived as you stroll through lavish halls and peek into private chambers. Listen to entertaining stories about the former royals, which are infused typical Viennese humor by your local and friendly guide. Learn not only about the fascinating history of the royal family of Habsburgs and the famous Empress Sissi but also about how the palace has evolved in modern times and where the royal descendants now live. Following the tour, enjoy the opportunity to walk around the gardens at your own pace and catch a glimpse of the Gloriette, an arch on top of a hill overlooking Vienna’s forests.

Enjoy the Ballet of the White Stallions at the unique, baroque Winter Riding School at Hofburg Palace, built under Charles VI. These performances are the result of years of training for the rider and their Lipizzans. The Spanish riding school is the only institution in the world which has practiced classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole for more than 450 years. From the young, boisterous stallions to the fully trained School Stallions, they enchant the audience with their performance of breathtaking excercises such as caprioles, Levade and many more. The physique and grace of Lipizzans are ideally suited to the High School of Classical Horsemanship. They are Europe's oldest horse breed. The exercise and preservation of the High School of Classical Horsemanship are some of the core tasks carried out by the Spanish Riding School which is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A particularly atmospheric lighting concept was developed by renowned multimedia artist André Heller for the performances in the most beautiful riding arena in the world. This atmosphere and the accompanying classical Viennese music make the wonderful presentation by the rider and their Lipizzans even more enjoyable. The 1.5-hour Gala Performance includes live moderation, the Standard Performance is 70 minutes long, and the Tribute to Vienna performance lasts for 2 hours.

Visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and observe the horses during their training. In the magnificent setting of the baroque Winter Riding Academy, the training offers an insight into the years of training of the Lipizzaners and their riders. The morning exercise of the horses is accompanied by classical Viennese music. The Training includes relaxation exercises, refining and perfecting movement, and strengthening certain muscles. The famous school jumps levade, courbette, and capriole, which are shown as part of the performances by the Spanish Riding School, are not practiced on a daily basis and can only sometimes be seen during the morning exercise. The white Lipizzaner stallions are put through their paces by their riders almost every day. The primary objective of the morning exercise is to maintain the horses’ athleticism and health, as well as to build up various muscle groups that are necessary for performing the exercises of the haute école.

Experience St. Peter's Church, one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Vienna with entry tickets to the Classic Ensemble Vienna concert. Hear wonderful interpretations of works by famous composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and many more. Step inside St. Peter's Church, built from 1701 to 1733 according to plans by Lukas von Hildebrand. Let the Classic Ensemble Vienna enchant you here with an evening of classical music. Hear "Eine kleine Nachtmusik," let the music lead you through "The Four Seasons" and follow musical stories by Mozart, Bach, and Schubert. Enjoy these Classical works in the indescribable ambiance of the underground vaults of St. Peter's Church in the heart of Vienna.

The Belvedere in Vienna is one of the leading museums worldwide. Its famous art collection includes works ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day. The unique complex, with its two palaces of the Upper and Lower Belvedere and extensive gardens, is one of the most stunning Baroque architectural marvels in the world. Highlights include the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings as well as prominent works from the periods of Viennese Biedermeier, Austrian Baroque, Vienna around 1900, and French Impressionism. Now, for the first time in decades, the museum will once again host large-scale special exhibitions that you can admire on your visit. In the 18th century, the Austrian general Prince Eugene of Savoy commissioned the renowned Baroque architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to build the complex. After the death of Prince Eugene, Empress Maria Theresa acquired the entire complex and transformed the Upper Belvedere into an exhibition venue for the imperial collections – making it one of the first public museums in the world. The Lower Belvedere, formerly the residence of Prince Eugene, is home to illustrious exhibitions. The Baroque gardens of the Belvedere rank among the most beautiful in the world. The main garden is situated between the Lower and the Upper Belvedere and extends over three large terraces. The Belvedere park is also home to the Botanical Garden and the oldest Alpine garden in Europe.

Hear the finest Viennese pieces performed by the Salonorchester Alt Wien orchestra in Vienna's Kursalon music hall. Upgrade to the VIP experience for premium seating and a glass of wine. Spend an evening listening to the unique program of the most celebrated compositions by the "waltz-king" Johann Strauss and that most brilliant exponent of Viennese Classicism, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played by the renowned Salonorchester Alt Wien. Experience one of the best-known performances of classic Viennese music at this fabulous concert in the world capital of music. Lose yourself in an evening full of Viennese charm as you hear virtuosic musicians, opera singers, and enchanting Ballet soloists. From the lusty sounds of the waltz and the polka to the dramatic arias and duets, listen to the best operatic works and concertos, by two of the world's greatest composers, performed by artists at the highest pinnacle of excellence.

Enjoy a superb concert of Mozart and Strauss classics at one of the city’s most venerable concert halls. During this entertaining and stylish evening, you will see a performance by the renowned Vienna Mozart Orchestra. Founded in 1986, the Vienna Mozart Orchestra is composed of frequent participants at the concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, as well as other prestigious Austrian ensembles. Beside its worldwide touring history, the Vienna Mozart Orchestra is well known for holding Mozart concerts in Vienna in period costumes, enriching the musical life of the city. Listen as 30 exceptional musicians, 2 internationally renowned soloists, and 2 opera singers from the Vienna State Opera and Vienna’s Volksoper, present a well balanced concert program in the style of the musical academies from the late 18th-Century. Directed by star conductors, the incomparable acoustics and impressive architecture of these beautiful Viennese concert halls make for an unforgettable evening.

Vienna’s Spanish Riding School has been in continuous operation for more than 450 years. It continues to cultivate classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole. On an exclusive 55-minute behind-the-scenes tour, visit the Winter Riding School, a gem of Baroque architecture, the Summer Riding School which houses the world’s largest oval horse walker and the stables in the Stallburg. The Stallburg is Vienna’s most significant Renaissance building, and features an arcade courtyard and the historical stables of the Lipizzaner stallions. Learn about the history of the equestrian tradition and about the Lipizzaner stallions, who are the stars of the establishment.