The Perfect Weekend City Break in Vienna

Where? Ritz Carlton, Vienna, Austria.

Exactly? Ritz Carlton is a hotel brand synonymous with luxury and elegance. So when they invited me to the Austrian capital city of Vienna to do a photo walk with Instagram phenomenon Trey Ratcliff, it was the perfect opportunity for me to revisit the city and learn some photography tips on route.

When? Summer 2017

Best time to go? Vienna is an historic city rich in culture, the arts and music, there’s plenty to see and do regardless of the time of year. I love wandering around the grand boulevards looking up at the regal architecture and perfectly manicured public parks in the summer months. Winter is also incredible because the city is filled with Xmas markets and when it snows it’s truly magical.

Where we stayed: The Ritz Carlton Austria

As part of the renowned global hospitality group there’s a certain level of luxury you can expect from Ritz Carlton hotels and the Vienna property certainly lives up to expectations. This palatial building mixes renaissance, gothic and baroque styles effortlessly, the period facade is beautifully restored whilst interiors are updated and modernised. An original frescoed stairwell and chandeliers are happily juxtaposed with warm, minimal, mahogany furnishings. It’s a real case of old meets new and it works.

Original period features are restored and intermixed with modern updated interiors.

Located on the Schubertring in central Vienna it’s the perfect place from which to go and explore this historical city.

Bonnie goes on the city walk with photographer Trey Ratcliff (centre). Trey is doing an ‘80 stays around the world’ tour stopping off in major cities along the way to meet his instagram/facebook followers. In the walks he shares photography tips and hidden gem destinations in each city with the group.

The Roof Terrace

Bonnie enjoys a chilled glass of champagne in the rooftop bar at the hotel. One of the cities favourite pass times is enjoy sunset drinks with a view. One of the best aerial bars is actually on the seventh floor of the Ritz Carlton hotel. That was lucky!

Bonnie wears white jumpsuit by Brand Attic

The Spa

Located on the basement floor of this period property is a wonderfully relaxing, luxury spa. Indulge in some pampering treatments from massages to manis or enjoy the jacuzzis and power shower heads in the heated pool.

Bonnie wears Palm print bikini from Boux Avenue

The couples treatment room

Eating and Drinking

The hotel offers several dining options from the main restaurant, executive floor dining, roof top bar snacks to District Steakhouse, which serves the best beef dishes in town. In the summer months District has a lovely open air seating area which is perfect for Al Fresco dining. Don’t miss out on the daily ‘apple strudel cutting ceremony’ every afternoon at the hotel at 4pm, it’s something of a Viennese tradition.

Above: the historic strudel cutting ceremony

Above: Escargot and avocado prawn starters at District, plus the lovely extra touch of my own personalised menu.

Breakfast is a real extravaganza at the Ritz Carlton, you can get everything from pastries, full english, charcuterie to eggs made to your taste, we also went off piste and ordered avocado on toast which appeared on the table within moments. Yum!

The rooftop terrace by night with a view over the Vienna skyline.

5 things to do in Vienna

There are hundreds of museums, galleries and cultural monuments to visit in Vienna. If you have limited time then I would recommend these 5 fun things to do to a get feel for the city.

1)Visit the Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens, famed for it’s buildings buttery yellow colour and its extensive gardens and land.

2) Have a kiss in front of Gustav Klimt’s famous painting ‘The Kiss’ at The Belvedere Palace Museum.

3) Visit the opera. Whether you visit a free afternoon matinee in one of the many theatres in the city or go all out, for a formal evening performance at the Vienna State Opera, in a city with such an amazing classical music heritage it’s a must do. You can hire ball gowns and historical costume and mask to visit the Royal Opera if that takes you fancy, ask at your hotel concierge for more information.

4) Have cocktails at one of the cities many rooftop bars and watch the sunset over Vienna. See above.

5) Visit the Nach Markt on Monday evening to sample Vienna’s signature dishes and delicious cuisine as you walk round the pretty fairy lit stalls.

The Belvedere Palace houses the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt’s works including the infamous painting ‘The Kiss.’

Bonnie wears pink stripe playsuit by Brand Attic

Schonbruun Palace famed for its beautiful ochre yellow shade and incredible gardens.

Above and below Bonnie wears embroidered dress by Needle & Thread and boots by Zara

Thanks for a lovely weekend Ritz Carlton, Auf Wiedersehen from Vienna, next stop Santorini…

Bon Voyage x