Culture & History

Gain interesting insights into the routines of the riders and their young Lipizzaners as you visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. See how the traditions, which have been practiced at the school for the last 457 years, remain almost unchanged to this day. Observe the future stars of the Spanish Riding School at their first training sessions in the imperial ambiance of the baroque winter riding school. Listen to commentary and classical Viennese music that accompanies the session. See the training for the basic walk, trot, and canter, the foundations for every equestrian rider and horse. These are the main exercises for these young Lipizzaner talents. The young stallions are particularly interesting as the exercises are explained in detail demonstrating the commitment and hard work required to achieve the perfection that each rider and horse strives for.

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.

After pickup from your centrally-located Vienna hotel, depart on a day trip to stunning region of Salzkammergut. Stop at 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 and to wander the narrow streets, or hire a boat to explore from the water. On the way back you to Vienna, make a stop at the charming resort town of Traunkirchen, located on the bank of the deepest lake in Austria. Admire the unforgettable natural landscape from this lovely place, 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 Works by W. A. Mozart, J. S. Bach, H. I. F Biber, and other major composers.

Experience a ride on the famous Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, a landmark of the Austrian capital and a symbol for the world-famous Wiener Prater. With its iconic silhouette, the Giant Ferris Wheel is a must-see attraction for all visitors to Vienna. A ride on the Wheel is just as important to a visit to Vienna as the Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, or the Spanish Riding School. A ride on this significant and fascinating structure provides spectacular views over the whole city. The Giant Ferris Wheel is a true cultural and architectural highlight for any guest in the city: you haven't really visited Vienna until you've taken a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel and marveled at the breathtaking views over the roofs of Vienna! The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel rotates at a speed of 2.7 kilometers per hour. A complete rotation takes just over 4 minutes, but only when the Ferris wheel has not stopped to let passengers on or off. More commonly, a ride takes between 12 and 15 minutes, during which time you can enjoy picturesque views over Vienna and the surrounding area, such as the hills of the Vienna Woods, the Danube, the Marchfeld, and the Pannonian Basin.

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. The modern pavilion of the Belvedere 21, by architect Karl Schwanzer, is a stage for contemporary art.

Explore the Vienna State Opera on this guided tour with skip-the-line entry privileges. Immerse yourself in the Renaissance Revival architecture and intricate designs of the opera house and discover many things that remain hidden from the typical evening audience. Arrive at the opera house and enjoy a streamlined entry process by simply showing your confirmation voucher. Meet your guide and start your journey through the building.  From the foyer, take the grand staircase to the state rooms (the tea salon, Marble Hall, Schwind Foyer, Gustav Mahler Hall) before reaching the auditorium.  Stop and take a look at the stage where many famous musicians, dancers, and artists have stood. As you explore, hear facts about the building’s history and its architecture, and learn how an opera house is run.

Experience St. Peter's Church, one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Vienna. The church was 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 wonderful interpretations of works by famous composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and many more. 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 indescribably ambience of the underground vaults of St. Peter's Church in the heart of Vienna.

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.

Enjoy a classical concert by a string ensemble of musicians from renowned Viennese orchestras. The program includes complete works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven or Schubert, played on period instruments and therefore recreating the atmosphere of the golden age of the Viennese Classic Era. St. Anne's Church ( Annakirche), the concert venue, is located in the heart of Vienna and is considered an architectural masterpiece with splendid acoustics and Baroque ambiance. Vienna is widely known as the capital of music. Enjoy a live performance in the city of Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, and Beethoven.