Vienna in a Day, with Context
- Private Tour
- $ 1342
- Category
- History, Orientation
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Location
- Vienna
- Full-day private tour
- Led by a local expert
- Schönbrunn Palace, St Stephen's Cathedral, and Hofburg exterior
Vienna in a Day
We’ll meet one another overlooking the Danube Canal, before we move to touring Vienna’s oldest church: the Romanesque Ruprechtskirche. We’ll spend time strolling through this ancient district as we move from churches to 18th-century palaces (such as the Freyung, a former Babenberg Dynasty Palace) to St Stephen's Cathedral. We’ll pass the great imperial palace, the Hofburg, and use this to discuss what drew the musicians, artists, and authors to Vienna. We’ll stop for a local Viennese lunch (at own expense) and continue our conversation about Viennese music and culture. After lunch, we will take the train to Schönbrunn Palace, a crown jewel of Austria. We’ll spend the afternoon discussing the power of the Habsburg family while viewing their former living and ruling quarters: ceremonial rooms, impeccably manicured lawns and ancient artwork. We’ll have some time after the tour to independently explore the palace and grounds.
FAQS
What happens if it's raining?
Our tours happen rain or shine. Our guides are great at adapting their route during changes of weather. Please bring an umbrella.
I would like to start at a different time. Is this possible?
We begin early to avoid more crowded times at Schönbrunn Palace. For this reason, we don’t like to start much later.
What is included? Will there be any costs to cover on the day?
Your entrance fees, public transport, and a local snack/refreshment is included. You will be expected to cover the cost of your lunch and any additional refreshments.
Where does the tour end?
We will end at the Schönbrunn Palace.
Can I request a car service?
We find this tour best suited on foot and by using public transport. If you require a car service, please let us know in your clients notes and we can arrange it for you.
Swiss artist Gilles Gubelmann studied piano and dance at the Geneva Conservatory. He then worked for many years as an expert for arts and antiques in an important Swiss Auction House (Koller Auctions) where he was director of the Department of Antique Furniture and Decorative Arts. He realised a dream and moved to Venice where he started working as a painter and as an opera set and costume designer all over Europe, and also deepening his knowledge of art history and architecture. Settled now in Vienna, Gilles continues his artistic activities, works as a lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts and highly enjoys uncovering the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Vienna to curious travellers.
Alexandra Brauner is a Vienna based art historian, licensed guide and psychological counsellor. She grew up in Vienna's 13th District, Hietzing, and has spent time abroad in New York City, in Madrid, as well as in various Italian cities for language courses. The profound interest in art, architecture, design and human development made her an expert guide for bespoke tours in her hometown and counsellor for clients in challenging lifetimes. Her passion for art and architecture started in art history lessons at high-school and continued by her studies at Vienna University. She has a Master of Art History from Vienna University, where she specialized in Viennese Architecture of the Eighteenth Century and Venetian Renaissance Painting between 1440 and 1580. Her passion for modern and contemporary art, architecture and history made her an expert for tours in Vienna about the time from the late 1890ies till today’s aspects and developments. Alexandra looks forward to showing you the many facets of her city during the context tours Introduction to Vienna, The Ringstraße, Art Nouveau in Vienna and the Crash Course of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Piroska Mayer-Sebesteyén has been living in Vienna for over 20 years, after spending her childhood in Santiago de Chile and subsequently receiving a diploma in architecture in Barcelona from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura Barcelona (ETSAB). Originally drawn to architecture because of a love of buildings and an interest in the different styles and functions they offer to people, she has been sharing her passion for Vienna's history and architecture with travelers for over 10 years. As a licensed Vienna guide, she enjoys opening up both Vienna's past and more recent modern history, especially using architecture and art history to discover how different artistic approaches and design concepts reflect the changing criteria that were important in different periods, depending on the historical, artistic, and sociological context of that time. She has a special interest in Viennese modern architecture, particularly Jugendstil, and counts visiting the Kunsthistorisches Museum and hiking in the Vienna Woods among her favorite things to do in her city.
