ITINERARY : TOUR IH04: VIENNA – Sisi’s Imperial City
Wednesdays from April 06 to October 19, 2011

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Stay-a-while: City Stopover: 5 days, 6 nights
Guaranteed departures with a minimum of 2 travellers.

Vienna, city of the Imperial Habsburgs, has much to offer today’s traveler. From the city one can cruise the “blue” Danube; explore the Vienna Woods; or ride the majestic Imperial Train passing through extensive woodlands while enjoying a four course dinner. And your time within the city is also a magical experience as you follow in Sisi’s footsteps and visit the Hofburg and the Imperial Apartments; the Schonbrunn Palace; the Vienna State Opera House, numerous galleries and museums. Perhaps also to your liking is the city’s rich cultural and artistic life synonymous with Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Mahler and the Strausses – the evening entertainment on this stopover includes Mozart and Strauss concerts. But there is also ample time to stroll and to enjoy coffee and cakes, Austrian style.



DAY 1: Wednesday: Arrival in Vienna. Meet, greet and transfer to central city hotel. Free time to unpack, settle in, or explore before dinner. Evening: Mozart or Johann Strauss Concert including dinner.
Meals: Dinner

DAY 2: This morning you will set off for a tour of the Imperial City with an emphasis on the life of Sisi (Empress of Austria-Hungary). There is a guided tour through the Hofburg, the official residence of the Imperial Family, followed by a visit to the Imperial Crypt. Afterwards there is an opportunity to watch the famous Lipizzaner horses training in the Spanish Riding School. After lunch there is an Imperial Holidays’ special treat. Departing from Vienna Westbahnhof at 3.15 pm is the elegant and majestic Imperial Dinner Train. As you step aboard you will experience the splendour of the Majestic Imperator – the luxury steam train designed for the nobility of Europe of past eras. Whilst enjoying a 4 course gourmet dinner you wind through spectacular scenery. Evening: Dinner and Deluxe Imperial Train Journey.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner


DAY 3: After breakfast at the hotel you will embark on a tour to see the city’s main sights. You will travel along the famous Ringstrasse and see the Hofburg, Vienna’s State Opera House, Parliament Buildings, City Hall and the Belvedere Palace before visiting the Schonbrunn Palace, the former residence of the Imperial Family. There will be time for lunch (your own arrangements) and a rest at your hotel before this evening’s program. Tonight you can begin with a ride on Vienna’s giant Ferris Wheel (optional) for a spectacular view of the city at night. Then move on to Grinzing to sit down to a three-course meal in an amazing wine tavern. You will be entertained by local musicians performing Viennese songs and operettas. Transfer back to your hotel. Evening: Grinzing wine tavern for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 4:  Today you have a choice:
(1) Enjoy a totally free day;
(2) A day in Slovakia (additional cost); After breakfast this morning you have a 9.00am departure to visit another country. A 1.5 hour trip by hydrofoil will take the group to Bratislava the capital of Slovakia (no visa required for Australian citizens). This rich cosmopolitan city is also situated on the Danube River. It is often described as “down to earth” and is not overrun with tourists. Your visit will include Bratislava Castle, the Historical Museum and the Museum of Jewish Culture. Lunch will be at Modra Hviezda, a cosy little place which features Slovak music. The afternoon will allow time to wander through the Old Town, before catching the hydrofoil back to Vienna at about 5.00pm;
OR, (3) Salzburg (additional cost) A full day Sound of Music trip to Salzburg to see the landmarks and scenery featured in the film. Note, this trip means an early morning start and will take about 13 hours.
Evening: Free.
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5: Sunday: This is a must on everyone’s stopover in Vienna. At 8.30 this morning you can enjoy the beautiful voices of the Vienna Boys’ Choir during mass at the Imperial Chapel (duration- about 3 hours). This afternoon you will set off for a half day tour of the beautiful Vienna Woods. There is a stop at the Roman city of Baden famous for its thermal springs. Next is a visit to the former hunting lodge at Mayerling, important as the site of Archduke Rudolph’s suicide with his mistress Maria Vetsara in 1889. To conclude this tour, there is a visit to the Cistercian Abbey at Heiligenkreuz and a boat ride on Europe’s largest subterranean lake. On returning to your hotel there is a free evening. Evening: Free Meals: Breakfast


DAY 6: Today you will enjoy a full day cruising on the Danube River to the Wachau. You will wind past beautiful scenery, steep hillsides covered in vineyards, charming old villages dotted amongst the greenery and castles glimpsed among the hills. But the highlights of today’s trip include the ‘ports of call” at Melk with its baroque Benedictine Abbey; the medieval castle town of Durnstein with its schloss dominating; and the former merchant town of Krems. Melk will provide an opportunity for lunch.
Evening: : Historic Restaurant and Wine Cellar for a farewell dinner: 3-course meal with live zither music and Viennese ballads. 
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

DAY 7: After breakfast at your hotel, transfer will be available to take you to the airport for your onward journey.
Meals:  Breakfast

Prices: from $4,300 per person, twin share
Single: from $6,846

 

Features of this Holiday

5 full days and 6 nights accommodation
Visit the major city sights
Cruise on the River Danube
Option of : Full day visit to Bratislava in Slovakia;
OR Salzburg
Explore the Vienna Woods
Hear the Vienna Boys’ Choir
Attend a Strauss & Mozart Concert in Schonbrunn Palace