SPEND NEW YEAR IN VIENNA 2007-2008

Vienna…Romantic City of Dreams…

Join us for this special occasion and experience the lively atmosphere in the elegant city centre along the pedestrian area with its shops and cafes on the Graben and Karntner Strasse. Let’s celebrate New Year’s Eve in style in the Hofburg Palace, festively decorated with thousands of flowers. Herbert Fischerauer’s artistic programme guarantees you will be dancing the night away in an ambience of classical elegance and Viennese charm under the motto “Wiener Blut”. Sing and dance to melodies from Viennese operettas... Its midnight… To the sound of the band marching through the palace halls join the Imperial Couple to wish all ‘HAPPY NEW YEAR’! A Gala Banquet is served before the ball, or you may opt to try the splendid buffet by Intercontinental. Very Limited places are available so pre-book your table reservation. The traditional New Year’s Day Concert, performed in the beautiful Grand Festival Hall, is an exciting beginning to the New Year 2008. The Wiener Hofburg Orchestra ably conducted by Gert Hofbauer will play favourite Waltzes and operetta melodies. This year we once again have the opportunity to enjoy the Spanish Riding School performance by the famed Lipizzaner horses.

Direct flights Malta/Vienna/Malta
Accommodation 3/4*hotel
Buffet Breakfast
Coach transfers Airport/Hotel/Airport
Vienna City Sightseeing tour
Services of experienced Tour Escort

Wednesday 26th December: Meeting at Malta International Airport at 05:05hrs in time for Air Malta direct flight KM512 to Vienna departure 07:05hrs. Arrival 09:25hrs and coach transfer to our hotel in the centre. After settling in our rooms orientation visit followed by Vienna city sightseeing... St. Stephen’s Cathedral, State Opera House, Museums of Fine Arts/Natural History, Town hall, Hofburg Imperial Residence, Schonbrunn and Belvedere Palace, Karlskirche and Music Verein… Evening at leisure to enjoy our surroundings or to visit a typical Keller.

Thursday 27th December: Morning optional excursion to the beautiful Vienna Woods and historical surroundings: Liechtenstein castle, Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz (1133), Hodrichsmuhle where Franz Schubert composed the Linden tree and the spa resort town Baden where Beethoven once lived. Afternoon free at leisure for shopping or personal sightseeing…

Friday 28th December: Full day optional excursion to SALZBURG, world-renowned for music festivals, the Sound of Music and birthplace of Mozart. Sights in this beautiful city include Mirabell Palace, the Cathedral, Festival House, Mozart Memorial, St. Peter’s Abbey, Fortress etc. Time at leisure before return to Vienna

Saturday 29th December: Day at leisure – besides shopping there is so much more to do ... opportunity to visit the Hofburg Imperial Apartments; Schonbrunn Summer Palace; the ‘Museums Quartier’; StaatsOper Wien etc…

Sunday 30th December: After breakfast optional excursion to the pilgrimage town of Maria Zell set amidst the snow-capped mountains. We tour through picturesque Austrian Alpine landscape, typical villages and beautiful valleys with dramatic and restful scenery.

Monday 31st December: The Spanish Riding School is the oldest in the world. Opportunity for the morning exercise training session held in the baroque riding school hall. Afternoon at leisure with time to enjoy one of the famous Viennese coffee houses. Evening New Year’s Eve Imperial Kaiserball at the Hofburg Palace including an extensive cabaret show. (Dinner jacket’s and evening gowns)…. The Elegant beginning of the grand ball season, the Imperial Ball takes place each year on the 31st December in the Vienna Hofburg Palace. Visitors come from all over the world to spend New Year’s Eve in the former winter residence of the Austrian Emperors. In the entrance hall Imperial Guards perform the historic changing of the guards. The ‘Imperial Couple’ greet guests on the grand staircase and ladies receive a gift as a token of the evening. Visit beautifully decorated state apartments. Internationally known orchestras & bands invite you to enjoy and dance the night away in the grand palatial halls.

Tuesday 1st January: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008! Morning at leisure… After lunch we return to the Hofburg Palace Grand Festival Hall for the traditional Viennese New Year’s Day Concert. Evening optional farewell dinner in the village of Grinzing. Try the new wine and original ‘Heurigen’ lively music/dancing.

Wednesday 02nd January: Breakfast and transfer to Airport in time for return flight KM513 departure Vienna 10:30hrs and arrival Malta 12:55hrs

Vienna on New Year's Eve offers an explosive mixture of events as the city lets its hair down for an all-night party. There are marquees and live performances, rock 'n' roll, disco and old-fashioned waltzes. The New Year's Trail points the way from one attraction to the next. Everything stops on the stroke of midnight as the 'Pummerin' bell in St. Stephen's Cathedral booms in the New Year, before the revelers continue to party on right through the night