Own travel arrangements to Vienna and The Guesthouse Vienna, an exclusive retreat amidst the hustle and bustle of the city centre. The hotel is situated directly behind Vienna’s magnificent opera house and the world-famous Albertina, right in the cultural heart of Austria’s capital. The location makes it the perfect starting point for a stroll through the charming streets and alleyways or an exploration of Vienna’s rich history and vibrant present.

Welcome dinner in a good restaurant.

Today’s excursion takes us to the outskirts of the city and the town of Klosterneuburg. We wander through the streets and the picturesque market square before visiting the Augustinian Abbey, founded more than 900 years ago by Margrave Leopold III and his wife Agnes. For centuries a residence of the Babenbergs and Habsburgs, it remains to this day one of Austria’s most important theological and cultural centres. We view important manuscripts and sacred art treasures, most notably the “Verdun Altar”, a triumph of the enameller’s and goldsmith’s art dating from the 12th century.

From there, we continue over the Kahlenberg, in the midst of Vienna’s wine country, stopping at one of the local wine taverns for lunch.

In the afternoon, we learn all about the Collection of Historic Musical Instruments on an exclusive guided tour. Home to the world’s most important holdings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the Collection also keeps, maintains and presents examples played by prominent musicians and composers. Its most remarkable exhibits include Viennese fortepianos, stringed instruments by Jacob Stainer, and Renaissance woodwind instruments. The Collection covers the entire repertoire of sounds available to the composers of Viennese Classicism. We return to the hotel at around 5 p.m.

Choice of evening programme:
“Hansel & Gretel”, opera by Engelbert Humperdinck at the Staatsoper
Conductor: Axel Kober
Production: Adrian Noble
With: Peter Besenbinder, Jochen Schmeckenbecher, Regine Hangler, Szilvia Vörös, Florina Ilie, Norbert Ernst
Ticket in price category 2: CHF 215

or at the Volksoper: “My Fair Lady”
Musical by Frederick Loewe / Alan Jay Lerner
Director: Robert Herzl
Set design: Rolf Langenfass
Choreography: Susanne Kirnbauer / Gerhard Senft
Ticket in price category 1: CHF 115

The year 2025 marks the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II. In the morning, we visit the “House of Strauss”, a museum devoted to the waltz king in the refurbished Casino Zögernitz, where the composer himself originally performed. The Strauss Hall, in which Johann Strauss once played, now echoes to the sound of concerts featuring his music. It is also home to the Vienna Institute for Strauss Research. The world has danced to his Blue Danube waltz since 1867, and it is now played at every New Year’s Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic. Our special tour will be led by his great-grandson Prof. Eduard Strauss, who has many fascinating anecdotes to tell. Return to the hotel at around 12.30 p.m.

The afternoon is free for you to spend as you wish.

7 p.m. at the Konzerthaus: Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Marie Jacquot
With: Ewa Polka, Ekaterina Gubanova, Benjamin Bass, Wiener Singakademie

Followed by New Year’s Eve dinner in the hotel restaurant.

In the morning, we enjoy an extended walking tour of the old town with an expert guide. June 2022 saw the opening of an outstanding new addition to Vienna’s already remarkable cultural landscape: the Heidi Horten Collection, one of Europe’s most prestigious private collections now located in the heart of the city, which we view on a private guided tour.

We then sit down to a gourmet New Year lunch.

Evening: “Die Fledermaus”, operetta by Johann Strauss at the Staatsoper
Conductor: Bertrand de Billy
Set design: Otto Schenk
With: Georg Nigl, Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, Wolfang Bankl, Daria Suskova, Jörg Schneider, Clemens Unterreiner, Ilia Staple, Michael Niavarani

After breakfast, departure and return journey as per your personal travel arrangements.