Austria
To get our mini brochure for this holiday please click here, and we will email you a PDF copy.
Day One: Wilkommen in Wien!
You will be picked up from the Vienna airport and brought to your luxury hotel, where you can settle in to the beautiful Austrian capital.
Overnight in Vienna
We only offer Deluxe accommodation on this luxury break. Click hotel name below for more details.
Deluxe - Hotel Intercontinental Wien
Meals included: none
Day Two: Waltzing in Style
Prepare for the night ahead with a big breakfast, served by the hotel - you’ll want to fill up as you’re going to need the energy. After breakfast, you’ll have time to yourself, so pick up a hired ballgown or dinner suit if you don’t already have one: our recommended hire shop is Kleiderverleih Rottenberg near the Sigmund Freud Museum. In the afternoon, develop your waltzing skills with a two-hour lesson with the acclaimed Elmayer Dance School, one of Vienna’s oldest and most prestigious dance schools. The lesson is designed for total novices, but if you can dance already they will pitch it accordingly.
Dancing is hungry work, so you’ll need dinner before the Ball commences. You can try out some traditional Austrian cuisine, such as Wienerschnitzel, gulasch or apple strudel. Finally, put on your ballgowns and suits and head to the ballroom of your ball of choice. For the Blumenball, you'll be travelling to the grand Viennese City Hall; finished in 1883, the Vienna Rathaus is a marvel of neo-gothic architecture and remains the seat of Vienna’s local government. There, you will waltz and party late into the night until the ball officially comes to a close at 4am. If you're attending the Boku Ball, you'll be waltzing around the ballroom of the stately Hofburg Palace until 1am, while the Bonbon Ball takes you to the early-20th-century Vienna Konzerthaus and finishes at 2am.
The Ball starts with a display by debutantes and young dancers in traditional debutante costumes. Once the master of ceremonies announces ‘Alles Waltzer’ the real dancing begins, typically including a line dance (Gavotte) at midnight in which the Master of ceremonies tells you what to do and everybody else helps! In addition to ballroom and Latin dancing there are normally rooms with a disco, jazz dancing, rock ‘n roll and salsa too. The Bonbon Ball has a Sweets Parade, a live performance by a popular Viennese musician and a travel raffle, while the Boku Ball includes a traditional song and dance by Viennese performers in traditional Austrian clothing. The Blumenball features a three-course meal and a variety of dances throughout the night. Sekt (Austrian champagne) and food is widely available throughout the night, and you go home with a ‘goody bag’.
Overnight in Vienna
Deluxe - Hotel Intercontinental Wien
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Three: An Afternoon in Vienna
Once you’ve recovered from your late night, step out onto the bustling streets of Vienna to explore the best of what this charming city has to offer. We include tickets to three of Vienna’s iconic landmarks: the Kunsthistorischen Museum, housed in a palatial building on the grand Ringstrasse and home to an impressive collection of Old Masters and ancient artefacts; the Hofburg Palace, once seat of the Habsburg Emperors with a museum dedicated to national heroine, Empress Sisi; and the ultra-modern Leopold Museum, packed with works by Schiele, Klimt and Kokoschka. You can try out some more Austrian delicacies: try fine-dining in the grand Restaurant Rote Bar or, for an authentic Viennese pub dinner, locals recommend Gasthaus Rebhuhn. If you’re in the mood for music, book a ticket for the famous Viennese opera or ballet as a treat. After dinner, return to your hotel at your own leisure for a good night’s sleep.
Overnight in Vienna
Deluxe - Hotel Intercontinental Wien
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Four: Wandering Through History
Begin your morning with a traditional Viennese breakfast of warm pastries, Vienna coffee and fresh fruit in one of Vienna’s traditional coffee shops. You’ll have this day to yourself as well, so that you can continue exploring the city’s cobbled streets and grand palaces. If you still haven’t seen all of the palaces and galleries included in your experience, take some time to tick these off your list. Alternatively, do the tourist thing and take one of the carriage rides from outside the Hofburg Palace around central Vienna. Otherwise, some more must-see landmarks include the Schönbrunn Palace, the erstwhile summer house of the Habsburg family and a defining masterpiece of Baroque architecture; the world-leading 19th-century Museum of Natural History Vienna ; and the Belvedere Palace, an 18th-century complex currently hosting the iconic Klimt collection.
When you need a break from palatial spendour, take some time to admire the ornate St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Blending Romanesque and Gothic architecture, and dating back to the 14th Century, the Cathedral is the religious heart of the city. The ancient crossing place of East and West, and rich with history, Vienna has something for everyone: 20th-century art lovers can explore the Albertina gallery with paintings from Monet to Picasso; activity-seekers and film buffs can check out the Prater, home to the iconic Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel, made famous in Welles’ classic film of “The Third Man”. For lunch, seek out Vienna’s street food scene; here you can sample traditional bratwurst or bratkartoffeln, or taste-test some of the edgier fusion cuisine on offer.
Finally, return to your hotel to be picked up and taken to the Vienna airport, in time for your flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 3 Breakfasts
What's included:
- Private transfers from/to Vienna International Airport
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Two-hour dance lesson with Elmayer Dance School
- Entrance tickets to the Viennese ball
- Entrance tickets to a selection of top Viennese art galleries and museums
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience
Call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the holiday
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
SUITABILITY FOR FAMILIES : Suitable for families with adult kids.
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 432 0885
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London to Vienna cost around £150 per person and take approximately 2 and a half hours.
Experience start point: Vienna (VIE).
End point: Vienna (VIE).
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