Historic Vienna | Hidden History

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Historic Vienna

6 days

from £1995 per person

As the glittering heart of the mighty Habsburg Empire, Vienna blossomed into one of the world’s greatest cities, producing a magnificent cultural heritage which is best enjoyed in the company of a leading art and architectural historian.

Highlights:

The Hofburg; core of empire and one of the largest palace complexes in the world.
The exuberant baroque splendour of the imperial summer residence at Schönbrunn.
The outstanding fine art collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
The World’s most comprehensive collections of works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.
The medieval Gothic masterpiece of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Dates & Prices:

30 March-04 April 2027. Only £1995. Booking open.

Single supplement only £395.

Early booking is recommended.

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What’s Included:

Five night’s 4-star hotel accommodation in the centre of Vienna.
All breakfasts, two evening meals and one lunch.
Daily excursions with all transport, entrances and expert guiding.

Flexible flight and transfer arrangements (see the Getting There tab).

Tour Overview

Vienna began humbly as a Roman frontier camp on the Danube, guarding the Empire’s northern border, but by the 15th century it was the seat of one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Western civilisation, the Hapsburgs, and the effective capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The House of Hapsburg continued to rule into the 20th century, drawing on the wealth of its vast territories to patronise the arts and turn Vienna into the cultural and intellectual hub of Europe. The 18th and 19th centuries in particular saw the city reach dazzling cultural heights, a golden age of creative genius still evident in its magnificent architecture, sumptuous interiors, and world-class operas, museums and art galleries.

Based throughout at a 4-star hotel in the city centre, we are within easy walking distance of nearly all the historic sites, from the remains of Roman Vindobona through to the medieval Gothic masterpiece of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the baroque splendour and luscious interiors of the Hapsburg residences, and the majesty of the Ringstrasse, a sweeping boulevard lined with grand 19th century palaces and museums. Woven throughout is the fascinating history of one of the world’s preeminent political and cultural centres, and most engaging of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Art lovers are rewarded with a magical series of art galleries, including: the Kunsthistorisches Museum, housing masterpieces by Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Vermeer; the Leopold Museum, with its focus on modernist artists such as Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt; the Secession building, a beacon of fin-de-siècle innovation; and the Belvedere, where 800 years of art history are represented, including Gustav Klimt’s iconic The Kiss. The cultural journey continues with visits to the fascinating collections of the Natural History Museum, and the wonderful sculptures from ancient Ephesus at the Ephesus Museum.

The best way to appreciate all of these cultural treasures is in the company of a leading art and architectural historian. Tom Abbott completed his studies at the Louvre School of the History of Art in Paris, and has vast experience as a lecturer and guide throughout Europe, inspiring everyone with his encyclopaedic knowledge of art and architecture through history.

See the ‘Itinerary’ tab above for more details.

: Schonbrunn Palace [1]

: The Kiss [2]

: Belvedere Palace [3]

Your Tour Director

Tom Abbott

Tom Abbott is an art and architectural historian with vast experience of guiding and lecturing. He is a native of Minnesota, USA, where he graduated in Psychology and Art History before moving to Europe in 1988, where he gained a Master of Arts in Art History at the Technical University of Berlin, and furthered his studies at the Louvre School of the History of Art in Paris. He lectures for numerous arts societies and alumni associations, and leads numerous special-interest tours throughout Europe, inspiring everyone with his encyclopedic knowledge of European art and architecture through history.

Activity Level

Our tours are good for your health. There is plenty of walking and fresh air, but the pace is always gentle and stops are frequent. On this tour the walking is all on even, level ground and is not especially challenging. It simply requires a reasonable level of mobility and independence.

Getting There

For flexibility we add flights on a personal basis, rather than booking group flights. This gives you complete freedom to choose when and how you travel, including your preferred departure airport, flight times, length of stay, airlines etc.

Why not extend your stay in the region, or perhaps reduce your carbon footprint by enjoying the journey to Italy by train instead.

We will be happy to help. See the ‘Getting There’ tab above for more details.

Travel More Sustainably

Did you know you can travel from the UK to Vienna by train in a single day? Or why not stop off on the way? There’s a choice of routes, some fast and some slower but amazingly scenic. Why not go out one way and come back another?

Great scenery, room to breath, loads of legroom, cafes and bars, power sockets, free WiFi, no baggage fees, no 2-hour check-ins, no security queues…and around 80% less CO2 than a flight.

See the ‘Getting There’ tab above for more details.

What to Expect

All our tours include a full programme of expertly guided excursions and interesting talks to create an enriching travel experience. The emphasis is on both the cultural interest and the nature of the experience—focused but with time to relax and absorb it all.

We like to explore and get off the beaten track for special access to hidden gems and better integration with the local culture and economy. We keep our group sizes small (8–18 people) which enhances your experience and minimises adverse impacts on local communities. It is very relaxed and informal with no prior knowledge expected.

Click HERE for more about what to expect.

How To Book

Tours have minimum and maximum numbers of participants, so you will benefit from booking early; it secures your place and enables us to confirm your tour earlier. We keep our group sizes small, so tours can quickly fill but it is always worth checking for late availability.

Reservations & Enquiries: To reserve your place or enquire further simply click the “Book This Tour Now” button on the relevant tour page, and submit your details. You can also call us on (UK) 0121 444 1854, or email enquiries@hiddenhistory.co.uk.

There is no commitment and no payment at this stage; reservations are purely provisional until we have confirmed availability and proceeded with booking and payment.

Booking & Payment: Once we have checked availability, a deposit is required to secure your booking (£100 for UK tours, £250 for non-UK tours). We will email you a payment link which enables payment by credit card, debit card or bank transfer. Card payment can also be made by telephone (UK) 0121 444 1854.

Places and prices are guaranteed only with a deposit. Full payment is usually required 2 or 3 months ahead of the tour.

Financial Protection: Hidden History Travel is a member of the Travel Trust Association with membership number Q2398. This means that we provide you with the strongest consumer protection available in the travel industry. Any payments you make are 100% protected by the association to pay for your holiday or to reimburse you if we fail to provide it. Hidden History Travel also holds ATOL licence number 12463. This means that if you book your flights with us you will be protected if we or your airline cease trading.

See our booking conditions for further details.

BOOK THIS TOUR NOW

Image Attributes

[1] Source

[2] Public Domain, Source

[3 & Hero image] C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0, Source

Day 1: Arrival

After arriving in Vienna, settle in to your centrally located hotel and meet your tour director. Depending on arrival times, a welcome meeting and included evening meal will be held either today or tomorrow.

Day 2: The Heart of Old Vienna

A walk through the historic heart of Vienna brings us to the city’s iconic centrepiece, St. Stephen’s Dom. This marvellous Cathedral was begun in the 12th century and completed in the 15th century, when the façade and beautifully-patterned roof tiles were added by Duke Rudolf IV. Few buildings capture Vienna’s layered history so completely: here, Mozart was married, royal coronations were held, numerous emperors were laid to rest, and the citizens sought refuge during the infamous Ottoman sieges.

Continuing our walk for a short distance to the Roman Archaeological Museum, we go further back in time to the site of the Roman military camp from which Vienna developed. The excavated buildings and their numerous archaeological finds reveal the story of Roman Vienna, known then as Vindobona. The Philosopher Emperor Marcus Aurelius is thought to have died unexpectedly here, and has a street named after him.

At the Judenplatz, we are reminded of a tragic chapter in Vienna’s past. This quiet square was once the centre of Jewish life in the city, until brought to a brutal end in the 15th century in one of the largest Jewish pogroms in medieval Central Europe. The ruined synagogue and powerful Holocaust Memorial cast the void of lost lives into sharp relief. We conclude at the Church of the Teutonic Order, which was founded by the Austrian branch of the famous warrior-monastic knights in the 14th century. The lavish interior is decorated with more than eighty coats of arms of the Teutonic knights, so-called “swearing shields”, and the Treasury is a real ecclesiastical treasure trove, acquired by successive Grand Masters over the centuries.

Day 3: Imperial Vienna

We continue our exploration of Vienna’s historic centre with the breathtaking Hofburg Palace, the political centre of both the Habsburg dynasty and the current Republic of Austria. We see the imperial apartments used by Emperor Franz Josef I and his wife, Elisabeth, affectionately called “Sissi”. The Sissi Museum reveals the secrets behind this mysterious diva, while the Imperial Treasury displays the glittering crowns and ceremonial regalia which epitomised the lavish power and pageantry of the Habsburg court. Stepping into the State Hall, or Prunksaal library, we discover what might just be the single-most impressive room in all of Vienna, with richly frescoed ceilings and seemingly endless rows of leather-bound books.

The Secession Building heralds a different chapter in Vienna’s cultural story as a gleaming manifesto of the Vienna Secession art movement. Its golden dome and clean geometry signal a bold break with 19th century artistic tradition, and it remains an iconic exhibition space for contemporary art, with Gustav Klimt’s historic Beethoven Frieze on permanent display. In the nearby Leopold Museum we find further masterpieces by Kilmt, including the exquisite Death and Life, which epitomises the shimmering symbolism of the Vienna Secession. Here we also discover the world’s largest collection of Egon Schiele, whose searing expressionist works capture the turbulence of early 20th century Vienna.

Day 4: Iconic Art & Artefacts

Today we embark on a cultural and artistic journey through two of Vienna’s great institutions: the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Natural History Museum. Both were constructed at the end of the 19th century by Gottfried Semper, following the vision of Emperor Franz Josef I, who sought to display the formidable Habsburg collections in suitably grand surroundings. Beginning at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, we see extraordinary artefacts such as an agate bowl once believed to be the Holy Grail, and the stunning mantel of King Roger II of Sicily, exquisitely crafted by Arab artisans. The museum also has a remarkable collection of paintings, including masterpieces by Titian, Caravaggio, and Raphael. A particular favourite is Caravaggio’s David and Goliath, a haunting study in the artist’s hallmark chiaroscuro.

After pausing for an included lunch in the museum’s elegant café, we stroll across Maria-Theresien Platz to the Natural History Museum to explore its world-renowned palaeontological and prehistoric collections. These include the famous Venus of Willendorf, one of the most iconic artefacts of early human creativity which dates back some 30,000 years, and the extraordinary 6000 year old Stollhof Hoard of gold jewellery, the second oldest gold objects in the world.

Our day concludes with a visit to the Ephesus Museum , where monumental sculptures and intricate architectural fragments from ancient Ephesus in Turkey evoke the wonders of the ancient Mediterranean world. The highlight is the Parthian Monument, erected in the 2nd century A.D and depicting scenes revolving around the Roman emperor Lucius Verus.

Day 5: Splendid Summer Palaces

Our final full day in Vienna is dedicated to two of the city’s most magnificent palaces. We begin at the Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburg’s resplendent summer residence, whose golden façade and sweeping gardens recall Versailles in both scale and ambition. Inside, we explore the lavishly decorated state apartments, which were shaped by the tastes of the formidable Maria Theresa. We also visit the Carriage Museum, where the dynasty’s extraordinary ceremonial vehicles and gleaming gilt coaches illustrate the pageantry of imperial life and the meticulous artistry that underpinned its spectacle.

We finish at the Schloss Belvedere, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture set amidst beautiful formal gardens that command sweeping views of Vienna. Built at the beginning of the 18th century as the simmer residence of Austria’s military commander par excellence, Prince Eugene of Savoy, it now houses one of Austria’s finest art collections, stretching across 800 years of art history. Its crowning glory is Klimt’s The Kiss, an icon of modernity.

This evening, we include a farewell dinner to celebrate our experiences, friendships and knowledge gained on the tour.

Day 6: Departure

Time to head home, or why not staying longer in Vienna, one of the world’s most liveable cities, or explore more of Austria, one of the world’s most scenic countries.

Hotel Beethoven

Papagenogasse 6, 1060 Wien, Austria. | www.hotel-beethoven.at

Built in 1902 in a Neo-Renaissance style, the elegant 4-star Hotel Beethoven is located in a quiet side street just 100 metres from the colourful Naschmarkt, and a few minutes walk from the Opera House, Cathedral, Museums Quarter and traditional coffee houses and shopping streets of Vienna.

The owners themselves manage this traditional boutique hotel with artistic flair, each floor and room is dedicated to a different aspect of Viennese life and to the personalities who represent them.

Location: Our hotel in Vienna is a 30 minute drive from Vienna International airport, or a 10 minute drive from Vienna Central Railway Station.

Flexibility: You are free to make your own travel arrangements, or you can book them with us. All flights booked with us are fully ATOL protected. Before booking any travel of your own please ensure we have confirmed your tour and your place on it.

Flights and Transfers: Rather than reserving group seats for a particular flight, we keep your flight options open to give you greater choice of price, departure airport, airline, flight times, cabin class, use of air miles etc. There is a selection of direct flights to Vienna from several UK airports. If you book one of our recommended flights we will include your airport transfers in Austria.

By Train: Make the most of your journey while helping the planet at the same time. We recommend taking a look at an excellent website called “The Man in Seat 61”. Here you will find all the details you need for getting to Vienna from the UK by train. You can get to Italy in a single day, but there is a choice of routes so why not enjoy the scenery and stop off at some interesting places along the way?

What is ATOL Protection? The ATOL scheme (which stands for Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) is financial protection that protects you when you book a package trip that includes a flight. It protects you and your money if we, or the airline you booked with us, cease trading, before or whilst you’re on holiday. This means you will be able to claim your money back or continue your holiday and be repatriated. It is separate to travel insurance.

Hidden History Travel holds ATOL licence number 12463.

: Schonbrunn Palace [1]

: The Kiss [2]

: Belvedere Palace [3]

: Gloriette, Schonbrunn [4]

: Schonbrunn [5]

: Secession Building [6]

: Belvedere Palace [7]

: Hofburg Palace [8]

: Karlskirche [9]

: St Stephen's Cathedral [10]

: Hofburg Palace [11]

: Johann Strauss Statue [12]

Image Attributes

[1] Source

[2] Public Domain, Source

[3] C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0, Source

[4] Simon Matzinger, CC BY-SA 3.0, Source

[5] Jebulon, CC0, Source

[7] CC0 Public Domain, Source

[9] Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, Source

[10] CC0 Public Domain, Source

[11] Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, Source

[12] CC0 Public Domain, Source

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March 30 - April 4, 2027

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Please tick here to confirm that you have read and understood the Physical Considerations section on our What to Expect webpage and that you have a reasonable level of mobility and independence. If you have any issues or concerns, please call us for a chat.