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5 authentic luxury experiences in Vienna

In 2015 Vienna was named the world’s most liveable city for the sixth time in a row by Mercer and it's not difficult to see why with the city's rich history and quality restaurant and theatre offerings.

In 2015 Vienna was named the world’s most liveable city for the sixth time in a row by Mercer and it’s not difficult to see why with the city’s rich history and quality restaurant and theatre offerings.

If you’re not on a shoe-string budget there are several amazing things to see and do in the historical city often refer to as a ‘unique onion’, and we’ve listed our top five luxury experiences not to miss;

 

1. Sleep in the Emperor’s Summer Residence

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Photo Credit: Austria Trend

Live like an emperor! In Vienna visitors to the city can choose from an exclusive range of accommodation in palaces. A very special one is a heritage hotel suite inside Schönbrunn Palace.

The truly unique 167sqm suite on the top floor of the East wing of Schönbrunn Palace was once reserved for close relatives of the Imperial Court. Today it exudes imperial charm, with the interior and finishing taking their cues from the decorative style running through the rest of the former Habsburg summer residence: gold, black and white provide the colour scheme, which is touched off by luxury wood elements and the court damask design. Delicate stucco work, chandeliers, and herringbone parquet floors complete the imperial ambience.

The one and only suite in the whole Palace boasts two bedrooms, two modern bathrooms, a salon, a generous living room and a kitchenette. The views of the formal gardens and the Gloriette and Neptune Fountain are an absolute highlight.

Guests check in at the nearby four-star Parkhotel Schönbrunn, run by Austria Trend Hotel, which also operates the suite.

Schönbrunn Palace is Austria’s most frequented sight attracting more than 3 million visitors each year.

Schönbrunn Palace Suite

Arrangements from €699, — per person

 

 

2. Listen to world class live music

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Vienna is the world’s uncontested capital of music: No other city has been home to so many composers – Mozart, Mahler, Haydn, Beethoven and Johann Strauss, the king of the Viennese waltz, all worked in the city. Every night in Vienna around 10,000 music fans are treated to live classical music, something that is simply unheard of in any other city in the world. Each year the Vienna concert schedule includes more than 15,000 events of various sizes and genres.

The Musikverein and its Golden Hall is known to music lovers all over the world as one of the most illustrious concert halls of them all, where only the crème de la crème are invited to perform. Every year television audiences all over the world tune in to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year’s Concert in a live broadcast of works by Strauss (father and son) and their contemporaries from the Golden Hall. Tickets for this exclusive concert are rare and highly sought.

The New Year’s Concert Special Package of the 5* Superior Palais Coburg Residence, member of the renowned Relais & Châteaux hotel association, includes not only two best category-tickets for this world famous concert on 1st January, but also four nights in one of the most exclusive suites, a Grand Gala Dinner on New Year’s Eve in the hotel’s own Michelin starred restaurant, access to a highly exclusive New Year’s party and many more luxurious experiences.

Palais Coburg Residence

Arrangement from €9, 455, — for two persons

 

 

3. Experience first class wines in authentic surroundings

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Wine was produced in Vienna since Roman times. The typical Viennese wine is a white wine, the “Wiener Gemischter Satz”. For this kind of wine grapes of different varieties are planted, harvested and vinified together. From the 2013 vintage onwards, Wiener Gemischter Satz wines have enjoyed DAC status, a quality seal that guarantees their origin. In English, this result of the most natural mode of production is referred to as “field blend”.

Wine tasting in the middle of the vineyards

From Vienna’s city centre the surrounding vineyards can be easily reached. There many small, typical local wine taverns pour wine and serve regional self-produced Viennese cuisine. An even more authentic culinary experience is the visit of a so called „Buschenschank“, where vintners set up tables and benches directly in the vineyards.

Select your choice from the world’s best wine list

A total of six different wine cellars arranged according to different themes are located in the historical vaults of the Palais Coburg. The Palais is also home to the five-star Palais Coburg Residenz hotel. 60,000 bottles are stored here, the oldest one being from the year 1727. The Coburg cellar, one of the world’s best-stocked ones in the world, was given the rare Grand Award by American Wine Spectator, and was awarded “World’s Best Wine List 2014” by The World of Fine Wine magazine. This spectacular wine cellar is also open to the public. Appointments can be made for daily tours and samplings – from the “wine stroll” including a glass of champagne, to samplings of rare wines.

Wine Cellar at Palais Coburg

 

 

4. Attend a Viennese ball

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Photo Credit: Private City Hotels

For more than two centuries Vienna has been the uncontested ball capital of the world. A unique blend of age-old Austrian traditions, magnificent court ceremonial and the trademark Viennese waltz has seen the capital’s ball industry turn into one of the nation’s best-loved exports with replica events playing out in around 30 cities worldwide, from New York to Moscow. But nothing beats the original – the romance and charm puts the Viennese ball season in a league of its own.

Ball season starts each year on 11th November and runs until Ash Wednesday/ beginning of Lent. It reaches its peak in January and February.

Specialized shops rent out ball gowns and tuxedos and dancing schools offer blitz courses in waltzing and ballroom standards. A ride in a horse drawn carriage from a grand ball dinner to the splendid ball venue makes your fairy tale night complete.

Next season’s ball highlights

Philharmonic Ball 21st January, 2016

This ball enjoys the reputation of being a ball for artists organized by artists. The quality of the guests is said to be superior. The world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic orchestra holds its ball in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, one of the world’s most imposing concert halls, and familiar to TV viewers all over the globe as the venue of the New Year’s Day Concert.

Opera Ball 04th February, 2016

The ball to end all balls plays out at the Vienna State Opera each year. It is a major get-together for leading cultural figures, captains of industry and high-ranking politicians from Austria and abroad.

Ball of the Coffeehouse Owners 05th February, 2016

This ball is highly appreciated by the local population because of its typically Viennese ambience and is virtually regarded as a smaller version of the Opera Ball. It is the only ball to use all the ballrooms in the Hofburg, including the Redoutensäle and the elegant roof foyer with its view over night-time Vienna. It annually attracts around 5,500 visitors and dancers.

For more information visit www.austria.info

What are your travel tips for Vienna?