Any visit to the Austria needs to include the capital city of Vienna. Take time to explore Vienna and its great history. Be sure to visit some of Europe’s great palaces, art museums and churches. Vienna is rich is in culture and next to the historic River Danube. In addition, the city dates back to a Roman era settlement

Learn about the life of the Hasburg dynasty with a trip to the Hofburg Palace. Be sure to visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Hence, you will learn about the great European artists. Also, visit the cities many churches, such as the great St. Stephan’s Cathedral.

5 Fun Things to Do in Vienna, Austria

In the evening, take in a concert at the Schonbrunn Palace. Not allow you can you tour the palace, but also experience the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss. This is a definitely a Bucket List event for sure. You can also enjoy a nice dinner, as an added bonus to this unforgettable event.

1) St. Stephen’s Cathedral – (photo above)

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is an impressive Catholic church. You can find it in Stephansplatz, in the center of Vienna. It is the most recognizable church in Austria’s capital. In addition, you will recognize the church’s colorful roof. It can be seen from almost any place in the city. Be sure to take in stunning views of Vienna from the 450 feet high tower.

When the church was constructed more than 800 years ago, it was built outside the city. The original plan included two towers. The unique unbalanced look is simply due to a lack of funds to complete the construction. Thus, the reason there is only one impressive tower. Sadly, during World War II, St. Stephen’s Cathedral was severely damaged. Luckily, a comprehensive reconstruction project took place.

2) Vienna State Opera

Built in the 1860s, the Vienna State Opera is one of the greatest and most famous opera houses in the world. It is the location of countless musical concerts, ballets and operas.

Don’t miss out on one of its well-known shows, while in Vienna. The impressive Vienna State Opera presents Vienna State Opera House Mozart Concert in Historical Costumes.

3) Hofburg Palace

The Hofburg Palace in Vienna provides an authentic view into the daily life of what was once the center of the powerful Hasburg dynasty. The family ruled the mighty Austria-Hungry empire. At the time, the house of Hasburg was one of the most important dynasties in all of Europe. Some of the kings ruled Western Europe for several decades, beginning in the 15th century.

Today, the Hofburg palace hosts some very interesting museums. These provide a unique opportunity to learn traditions and history of the imperial court.

4)Stadtpark

This lovely 65,000 square meter park is on the edge of the old city of Vienna. Thus, it’s a terrific location to enjoy an afternoon break. The lush, green lawn is amazing. As a result, the park is offers many sculptures to see up close. For example: Franz Lehar, Robert Stolz and Franz Schubert. Of course, the most famous of them all, is the stunning bronze monument of Johann Strauss II. He is the composer of famous “The Blue Danube” Waltz.

5)The Belvedere Palace

The Belvedere Palace is one of the best examples of baroque architecture in Europe. In addition, the palace serves as a great museum. Interestingly, the property is made of two palaces. First, is the upper palace. It is the more popular one. It displays the richness of the architectural invention of that time. View the the incredible decor decorations within the palace are of the finest rococo interiors examples to be found in Europe.

The museum mostly hosts Austrian artists. Their works start as early as the Middle-Ages and Baroque periods. Then up to the Fin de Siècle and the Art Nouveau periods. Plus, you will find works from famous artists such as like Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. A must see for any art lover.

Contact The Life of Luxury to assist with your next luxury travel getaway. We can plan and book your entire itinerary. Plus, we have access to countless VIP events all around the world.

With so much to see and do, enjoy your trip to Vienna, Austria. Return again soon and follow our popular, digital magazine.

The luxury Ring Hotel is located in Vienna, Austria’s prestige location with a world of culture, art and shopping at your doorstep. In the heart of Vienna, The Ring Hotel offers wonderful views of the famous Ringstrasse and Vienna State Opera.

The Ring, Vienna’s casual luxury hotel, offers guests a warm and welcoming atmosphere by blending a new and contemporary design with charming historical features. This designer boutique hotel offers the perfect balance of style along with casual ambiance.

With a unique design experience, the 68 spacious guest rooms and elegant suites are a comfortable mix of contemporary and classical furniture complemented by innovative lighting. Many of the guest rooms reveal a fabulous view of the historic Vienna ring road – Ringstrasse.

Drings is the Ring Hotel’s stylishly chic bar and serves a novel selection of exclusive vodka cocktails. The restaurant, At Eight, offers a concept of ‘aroma cuisine’ consisting of various tasting components finished with herbal oils.

The Ring Hotel Day Spa is a relaxing sanctuary, comprised of breezy colors, warm woods. Your senses will be stimulated by a multitude of textures, gentle music and therapeutic lighting.

You can choose from various treatments at the Ring Spa, which includes a fitness area and private treatment room for soothing massages. There is also a steam bath and sauna with a fantastic view overlooking Vienna.

So if you are lucky enough to visit beautiful Vienna, stay at chicest and most modern design hotel in the city – The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel.

The Ring Hotel
Kaerntner Ring 8
A-1010 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 22 1 22
Fax: +43 1 22 1 22-900

In a city as resolutely classical as Vienna, even the Bauhaus facade of the Levante Parliament hotel stands out as something stylistically extraordinary. Equally surprising is what’s inside — a contemporary take on the era’s obsession with monochrome and geometric forms that’s just as striking as the typical clean-lined design hotel, and a good deal more livable.

The 74-room Levante Parliament hotel opened several years ago in a 1908 Biedermeier building. Natural stone, dark wood, glass and chrome — with a dab of bright colors is used for the modern architecture interior.

One improvement comes in the area of materials, what seems like miles of marble, glass, and exotic woods. Accents in orange and copious black-and-white photo prints break up the Levante’s minimalism, and the rooms are filled with inviting creature comforts, from down duvets and plush towels to the sort of high-tech gadgetry that’s quickly becoming indispensable — you don’t know you need underfloor heating or speakers in the bathroom until you try going without them for a while.

There’s a restaurant named after the glass sculptor Ioan Nemtol, the creator of many of the orange glass pieces you see around the place, and there’s an arrangement with the Palais Auersperg next door for events and conference space. The Parliament building, sensibly enough, is right next door, and the historic city center is just to the east, making most everything in this compact and walkable city easily accessible.

The hotel could also serve as an art gallery. Everywhere you look, there are glass works by Romanian artist Ioan Nemtoi (he also co-designed the hotel’s Nemtoi restaurant), or photographs by Viennese photographer Curt Themessl. All of the art is for sale.

The Levante Parliament
Auerspergstrasse 9
Vienna, Austria

Salzburg Castle in or better known as Festung Hohensalzburg or Hohensalzburg Fortress in Austria, is the mightiest fortress of Central Europe.

This powerful castle sits in a prominent position, as Salzburg Austria’s prime attraction and most dominant feature of the city’s skyline. The historic Salzburg Castle should not to be missed during any visit to Salzburg.

The first record of a fortification on the southern side of the Mönchsberg Mountain dates back to Roman time, but this is not certain. However, it would make sense: from the position of Hohensalzburg Castle one can see the surroundings of Salzburg and the Salzach river better than anywhere else in the entire city.

Prince Archbishop Eberhard (1060 to 1088) built the first castle on the Festungsberg in 1077. Initially, this was little more than a bailey with a wooden wall, serving mostly for the protection of Imperial troops of the Holy Roman Empire. However, during the “Investiturstreit”, a struggle for power between Pope Gregor VII. and Emperor Henry IV., Prince Archbishop Eberhard decided to stand by the Pope.

After 1933, Salzburg became one of the areas in Austria that were most fiercely targeted by Nazi underground terrorists, many of them exiled Austrians themselves, fighting for a union with Nazi Germany.

When some Nazis launched an attack in Lamprechtshausen near Salzburg, they were imprisoned in the fortress in 1934. This was the last time that Hohensalzburg Castle held prisoners. In more recent years, Hohensalzburg was renovated extensively and so looks into a shiny future.

The Kiss, with its gold symbols and romantic appeal is one of the best known paintings in the modern era. Gustav Klimt is best known for The Kiss, despite a career full of extraordinary works, with the others sometimes overlooked.

The glowing themes of The Kiss painting by Klimt showed lovers intertwined into one being, symbolizing the strength of this bond. Some art traditionalists rejected this for its use of eroticism, but others found it refreshing.

Gustav Klimt’s ground breaking art style courted controversy but his support from key areas of Austrian society helped him to continue his style. Key features of Klimt’s work were intensive colors, golden backgrounds & ornamental layouts.

The Museum of Applied Arts and the Belvedere are best known for housing Klimt’s art in the modern day, after much was taken by the Nazis or fell into private collections. Much has been restored to Vienna and Austria. Klimt’s The Kiss is on show around the world in reproduction form too.

The Kiss uses two lovers intertwined with bold jewelry and shapes to illustrate his symbolic intentions and this method was continued in Klimts Beethoven Frieze and Stoclet Frieze, which further established Klimt’s art.

The style of Gustav Klimt is closely tied in with Art Nouveau and Arts and crafts, with the extravagant, golden styles to convey his feelings into a decadent painting.

The Kiss has supreme popularity amongst even those who know little about art and is a rare case of a painting becoming well known with so many people across the world.

Expert Art Author Tom Gurney is ready to hear your views on all things art, simply drop him a comment on any of his art blogs!