Vienna

Castle & palace tours

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. Exhibition Highlights: Ongoing: Picture this! The Belvedere Collection from Cranach to Lassnig 12 April 2024 - 29 September 2024: IN-SIGHT: Franz Anton Maulbertsch 25 April 2024 - 22 September 2024: CARLONE CONTEMPORARY: Dara Birnbaum UPPER BELVEDERE RENOVATION For the upcoming facade renovation on the north and west sides of the Upper Belvedere, scaffolding will be erected. Over this, a scaffold net will be stretched, replicating the north and west sides of the exterior facade. The planned works are expected to commence on April 8, 2024. During this time, the entrance area will not be affected in any way. This measure aims for completion by Q4 2024.

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.

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.

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.

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. Board the bus and depart to the stunning region of Salzkammergut. Visit the spectacular Schloss Ort, a fairytale-like 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, and explore the fabulous town of Hallstatt, set on the shores of an azure-blue lake. Head up to the Skywalk to enjoy breathtaking views over the town, lake, and mountains. Enjoy 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.

Discover a highlight of Vienna's cultural calendar and enjoy an evening of beautiful music at Musikverein in either the Golden Hall or Brahms Hall. Let the music swell around you and hear Mozart, Haydn, and Vivaldi in classical concert. The first part of the concert includes Viennese classical pieces from Mozart and Haydn. The second part consists of Vivaldi’s legendary violin concerto “The Four Seasons,” featuring a string ensemble and Austrian soloists of international renown. You're sure to be charmed by this unique experience. The Golden Hall is famous for the New Year`s Day Concert and its unique acoustics The Brahms Hall is famous for having the best acoustics of all chamber music halls Dates in the Golden Hall: October 3, 8, 10, 15 November 1, 2, 13, 22, 23, 27 December 3, 5, 10 January 6, 11, 31 February 5, 7, 8, 12, March 15, 29 April 1, 15, 17, 29 May 1, 6 June 5, 26 Dates in the Brahms Hall October 1, 17, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31 November 8, 9, 16, 30 December 8, 12, 17, 19 January 2, 3, 4, 5, 18 February 1, 6, 14, 15, 19, ,21, 22, 26, March 5, 12, 14, 21, 22, 28 April 3, 8, 10, 13, 20, 22, 24, 27 May 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 22, 25, 27, 29 June 1, 3, 10, 12, 17, 19, 22, 24, 29

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.

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.

Visit Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest zoo in the world and Europe’s best zoo five times in a row. Part of a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with the imperial summer residence of Schönbrunn Palace at its center, experience the zoo’s unique blend of culture and nature, promotion of conservation and biodiversity, and imperial charm. 700 Species: From Anteaters to Zebras See 700 species from all over the world, some of which are critically endangered. Explore a 17-hectare site and find giraffes, orangutans swinging from ropes, Siberian tigers dozing on their platforms, koalas munching through piles of eucalyptus leaves, African elephants wallowing in their mud baths, and meerkats rolling around and digging in the sand. Star Attraction: Giant Pandas Get to know the zoo’s most popular residents, the giant pandas. Learn about how Schönbrunn is only one of a handful of zoos worldwide entrusted with a pair of pandas by the People’s Republic of China. Understand the ways that the zoo is unique in helping this endangered species to breed naturally. World Tour of the Animal Houses Take refuge from any poor weather in the numerous animal houses. Lose yourself in the two-story rainforest house, which is home to a rich variety of tropical flora and fauna. Lock eyes with shimmering fish and fascinating reptiles in the aquarium terrarium. See death’s head monkeys and red-ruffed lemurs. Get an underwater view of the seals and penguins in the Polarium. Watch polar bears diving below the at the neighboring Polardom. Find out interesting facts about rare breeds of farm animals at the Tirolerhof.

Hop on a bus and explore Vienna however you wish. This hop-on-hop-off ticket lets you hop on or off the bus as often as you want at any of the stops and lines. Choose between up to 4 routes, each of which takes you to a different part of Vienna. See the State Opera, the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History), Heldenplatz (Heroes' Square), Parliament or the Burgtheater. Or, be driven to Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace before visiting the KunstHausWien museum or the UNO City – the choice is yours! Red Route Admire the sights along the Ring Road, such as the State Opera, Hofburg Palace, and the Burgtheater. Stops: State Opera - Museum of Art History/Heroes' Square - Mariahilfer Straße/Shopping Street - Burgtheater/CityHall - University - Liebenberg Denkmal/University - Liechtensteinstraße/Sigmund Freud Museum - Votiv Church - Vienna Airport Lines - DDSG City Cruises - MAK/Museum of Applied Arts - City Park - Strauss Monument - State Opera Buses arrive every 30 min. The duration is 60 min. Mon - Sun, 9:20 AM - 6:30 PM. Yellow Route Discover the famous Schönbrunn Palace, Schwarzenberg Platz, and Belvedere Palace. Stops: State Opera - Westbahnhof/Train Station - Schönbrunn Palace - Main Station - Museum of Contemporary Art - Belvedere Palace - Lower Belvedere - State Opera Buses arrive every 15 to 30 min. The duration is 75 min. Mon - Sun, 9:15 AM - 6:15 PM. The ride from the State Opera to Schönbrunn Palace takes approximately 36 min. Blue Route: Visit the famous "Prater area" where you can get acquainted with all the masterpieces of the Museum of Applied Arts, Museum of Fine Arts or even the Kunsthaus/Hundertwasser Museum. Stops: MAK/Museum of Applied Arts - City Park - Strauss Monument - State Opera - Museum of Art History/Heroes' Square - Mariahilfer Straße/Shopping Street - Burgtheater/CityHall - University - Liebenberg Denkmal/University - Liechtensteinstraße/Sigmund Freud Museum - Votiv Church - Vienna Airport Lines - DDSG City Cruises - Kunst Haus/Museum Hundertwasser - Riesenrad/Giant Ferris Wheel - DDSG (Pier6 Imperial Bridge - Donauturm/Danube Tower - Alte Donau/Old Danube - Uno City - Donauinsel/Danube Island - Praterstern/Train Station - Taborstraße/Museum of Crime - DDSG City Cruises - MAK/Museum of Applied Arts Buses arrive every 15 to 20 min. The duration is 120 min. Mon - Sun, 9:20 AM - 6:40 PM. Green Route (operates in the summer months, included only in 48h/72h tickets) : Travel to Grinzing and Cobenzl, where you can enjoy a gorgeous panoramic view of Vienna. Buses arrive every 60 min. The duration is 60 min. Mon-Sun, 10:15 AM - 5:15 PM Your ticket includes a self-guided walking tour with an app. Cross the city at your own pace. See the Vienna State Opera, Beethoven Statue, Vienna Concert House, House of Music and the Beethoven Museum. Pick up your headphones and a map from the local partner's service center and follow the instructions of the QuietVox Guiding App to travel from sight to sight.