For Expert Advice Call 01722 445900 A unique occasion deserves a unique experience. https://italian-short-breaks.co.uk/italian-short-breaks/scenic-trains-orient-express/venice-vienna-city-break/ Venice to Vienna on the Venice Simplon Orient Express Break available: Departing 24 September, 22 October 2018 and 6 May, 23rd Sept, 21st Oct 2019 6 days Highlights This super break combines two romantic and elegant cities with a overnight journey on the iconic Venice Simplon Orient Express. For those looking for a glamorous special romantic break this is hard to beat! Begin your trip in Venice with a romantic gondola ride for 2 and a Michelin Starred gourmet dinner prepared by Hotel Metropole's top chef. Then travel onto Vienna in the best way imaginable; on the Venice Simplon Orient Express. Finish your trip in Vienna where you have a private horse and carriage ride, a Mozart concert and a private city tour including a visit to Schonbrunn Palace. We specialise in complicated travel arrangements so you don't have to. Sit back and enjoy! 1 Night on board the iconic Venice Simplon Orient Express Train between Venice and Vienna 2 Nights in Venice staying in 5 star centrally located Metropole hotel 2 Nights in Vienna staying in 5 star central Grand Hotel Wien Romantic Gondola Ride Michelin Star Tasting Dinner in Venice Private Horse & Carriage Fiaker Ride in Vienna Mozart Concert in Mozart's house in Top Seats Schonbrunn Palace Tour Private airport and train transfers Flights (into Venice and from Vienna) Day by Day Itinerary DAY 1 Fly to Venice, Private Watertaxi to your hotel and Sunset Gondola Ride. Fly into Venice where your Private Meet & Greet watertaxi will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. 5 Star Hotel Metropole is conveniently located around a 10mins walk from St Mark s Square, and overlooks the Grand Canal and St Giorgio Island. Why not upgrade your room to a Deluxe Lagoon View so you can wake up each morning with this beautiful vista. See Optional Extra below for more information. This afternoon take a private gondola ride around the lagoon. There is only one way to truly see Venice and this has to be by gondola. page 1/11
Venice - Upgrade Hotel Metropole Deluxe Lagoon View Room Hotel Metropole is ideally located on the grand canal, but only a deluxe lagoon view room will provide you with a fantastic vista of San Giorgio Island and the lagoon. The rooms are larger and feature further intricate Venetian design and detail. Price Per Person: From 70 per person per night DAY 2 Day at Leisure and Gourmet Tasting menu at Michelin Starred Metropole restaurant Day at leisure to explore Venice using your Venice Pass Card. This beat the queues card provides free access to both the Doge s Palace with prison and St Mark s Basilica. Enjoy visiting the famous tapestries in the map room showing the rule of the Venetian Empire, along with the portraits of previous Doges in the palace. Then head to St Mark s Basilica to see Venice s East meets West eclectic style Venetian-Turkish design building. It is worth paying the 3 each to be allowed access to the roof, just to be able to enjoy the views over St Mark s Square. Also pay special note to the horse statues both within and outside the top floor and roof. The ones inside are the originals taken from Constantinople in one of the many battles. These were taken by Napoleon when he invaded Venice but were returned after he departed. Those on the roof are copies but after Napoleon, the decision was made to hide the originals! This evening tantalise your taste buds with the Gourmet tasting menu in the Michelin starred Met restaurant at the Metropole. The atmosphere is intimate and sophisticated, the service attentive and discreet. Generous windows offer a scenic view of the island of San Giorgio, while wood panelling, elegantly designed Fortuny lamps, damask cushions create a stylish and intriguing decor in perfect harmony with the creative cuisine of the chef. Overnight in Venice. Venice - Private Highlights Tour page 2/11
For first timers to Venice, this is a great introduction. Your own private guide will take you on a 3-4 hr tour around the Basilica and Doges Palace. You will be able to walk through the prison made famous for temporarily housing Casanova, along with walking over the Bridge of Sighs; prisoners last glimpse of the outside world. Price Per Person: 190 per person Venice - Lagoon Island Regular Excursion Begin this 4hr excursion sailing past San Giorgio Maggiore before disembarking on your first island of Murano. Murano is known for its glass manufacturing and the tour includes a visit to one of the factories. Travel onwards to Burano, an archipelago of four islands, and sample the lace which Burano is famous for. Finish the tour on Torcello, visiting the cathedral and church on this quieter island. Transfer back to Venice. Please note this is in a small group and is not private. Price Per Person: 30 Venice - Semi Private Tour of Murano & Burano The boat will collect you and take you onto both Murano and Burano with your guide. For no more than 8 people in total, this semi private tour, also includes a glass blowing demonstration on Murano. Price: From 160 per person for the small group (up to 8 people in total), to Burano and Murano with glass blowing introduction. Please note this is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. page 3/11
Venice - Attend La Fenice Opera House This evening attend the opera at La Fenice in your top seats. La Fenice, (The Phoenix) is aptly named as it has burnt down twice in its lifetime. It has been recently re-mastered to its current glory as one of the most famous theatres in Europe. Click on the first photo below for a short video. La Fenice Opera Schedule 2018: Richard III June 29, Jul 01, 03, 05, 07 La Traviata Aug 25, Sept 1, 6, 9, 13, 16, 18, 21, 28, 30 Semiramide Oct 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 Price Per Person: From 175 with Stall (top level) tickets Venice - Musica a Palazzo Opera Evening Whether you are an opera lover wanting a new opera experience, or someone wanting a taster of the opera, this is a great option. Located just along the Grand Canal, this opera takes place right in front of you. There is no stage but only a limited number of chairs, with the singers performing right in front of you! Click on the first photo for a short video. Schedule 2018: La Traviata Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays The Barber of Seville Wednesdays & Sundays Rigoletto Fridays Price: 100 per person. page 4/11
DAY 3 Water Taxi Transfer to Board the Venice Simplon Orient Express to Vienna. Enjoy a day at leisure prior to your private transfer to the train station, to board the Venice Simplon Orient Express to Vienna. Click on the first photo opposite for a flavour of this fantastic train. Once you have settled into your cabin, you will have some time to explore the train. From the 1920s-30s the carriages of the Venice Simplon Orient Express train played a significant role in the golden age of travel. Today, every carriage has been lovingly restored to its former glory, recreating one of the finest luxury experiences. Dress to impress this evening in your finest outfits. It is up to you what you choose to wear but the dress code is smart and there will be people wearing cocktail dresses and flapper dresses. A delicious four course dinner will be served in the restaurant car, and after dinner you may wish to join your fellow guests in the Bar Car for a coffee or cocktail whilst enjoying music by the resident pianist. Overnight on the Venice Simplon Orient Express. Venice Simplon Orient Express - Upgrade to a Twin Cabin Suite Why not upgrade to a Twin Cabin Suite. Instead of having one room with bunk beds, the Cabin Suites give you a second room. You can either stay with the bunk beds and have one room for daytime and one for night use, or alternatively have the beds positioned on the floor per room. Price Per Person: From 2,170 page 5/11
Venice Simplon Orient Express - Upgrade to a Grand Suite The Grand Suites features a double/twin bedroom, living area with space for private dining and a sofa which can be converted into an additional bed in the evening. A private en-suite bathroom includes shower, washbasin and toilet. Enjoy the celebrated 24-hour cabin service complemented by free-flowing champagne in your suite. Price Per Person: From 6,195 Day 4 Arrive in Vienna, Private Transfer to your Hotel, Horse & Carriage Ride and Mozart Concert After a good night s sleep in your cabin, wake up to a delicious breakfast served in your cabin, before your arrival in Vienna. Waiting for you at the train station will be your private driver to transfer you to your 5 star Grand Hotel Wien. Within easy walking distance of the Vienna State Opera and St Stephen s Cathedral, this hotel is a perfect setting for your Vienna trip. Once you are settled into your hotel, enjoy the best introduction to a romantic break in Vienna, which is a Fiaker carriage ride through Vienna s old town streets. See some of the key sites including the Hofburg Palace and St Stephen s Cathedral. After an afternoon to explore Vienna, this evening immerse yourselves in the music of Vienna, with a concert in the house where Mozart lived. He performed many concerts and one of the oldest concert halls in Vienna. Enjoy chamber music from Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Beethoven. Top Category 1. Overnight in Vienna. Gourmet evening at Museum of Fine Arts Every thursday you can enjoy a gourmet evening in the historic building of the Museum of Fine Arts. This is a unique experience where the museum is open exclusively for the diners from 18.30 until 21.00,and you can visit the art before dinner. The dinner consists of 3 courses, with the main course being served to you. Price Per person: From 85 (Excluding beverages) page 6/11
Day 5 Visit Schonbrunn Palace Your private driver guide will take you to see the most important historical sites along the Ringstrasse; the State Opera House, National Musems, Imperial Palace, Parliament, City Hall and University. This is all before taking you to the highlight of the tour; the UNESCO cultural heritage site of Schönbrunn. Schönbrunn, the former summer residence of the imperial family is considered one of the most beautiful of the baroque palaces in Europe. At the Palace you will have an audio guided tour of the majestic stately rooms. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy Vienna at your own pace or add our Optional Extra of an evening at the Vienna State Opera. See below for more information. Overnight in Vienna. Vienna State Opera This night you are in for a treat as you attend the Vienna Opera considered to be one of the four leading and most Famous Opera Houses in the World. You will be seated in the very best seats so you can fully enjoy this experience in style. Boccanegra -10th May, Elixir of Love -11th May. Rest of schedule not issued yet Price per person: Varies on performance Candlelight Dinner for 2 in Ferris Wheel page 7/11
To crown off a truly spectacular day enjoy a candlelight dinner for 2 in the Prater, the Giant Wheel that has dominated the skyline of Vienna for 100 years. Have a private luxury cabin affording splendid views of the city a real highlight for your romantic special occasion weekend break. Price per person: From 200 Vienna Boys Choir Concert Attend a late afternoon concert with the Vienna Boys Choir, which for 500 years has entertained royalty and nobility and without doubt are now regarded as the best boys choir in the world. Relax and enjoy as the choir perform a repertoire of some of the most famous pieces of classical music together with the Camerata Schultz orchestra in the new MuTh concert hall. Works by Haydn, Schubert, Mozart are part of their repertoire as well as some international folk songs and their speciality, waltzes and polkas by Strauss. Top Category VIP. This category includes 1 glass of sparkling wine, meet & greet with the choir and programme booklet, Concerts on 11th May, 28th Sept starting at 5pm. Rest of schedule not issued yet. Price per person: From 95 per person Day 6 Private Airport Transfers and fly back to the UK At leisure prior to your private transfer to the airport for your flight home, after your special break away. Alternatively, if your flight is not until mid afternoon, why not add our Optional Extra visit to the Spanish Riding School. See Optional Extra below for more information. page 8/11
Vienna - Spanish Riding School Attend the Spanish Riding School to see the incomparable Lipizza horses display their unique mastery of the haute Zcole exactly as they did three centuries ago. Performances are located in the Hofburg Palace Winter Riding School. You will be seated in Top Category 1. Performances 11am on 12th May, 29th September and 27th October and 7pm on 28th September 2018 2019 not issued yet Price Per Person : From 225 Where You'll Stay The Venice Simplon Orient Express Train The Orient Express has three levels of cabin. The first is the Double Cabin which comes with a lounge, banquette sofa and a washbasin. By night it is transformed into a bedroom with an upper and lower bed. The second is the Cabin Suite which consists of two interconnecting cabins. One room can be kept as a lounge with the second having an upper and lower berth, or make way for two single beds; one in each room. The third, new for 2018, are the Grand Suites. Each has a double/twin bedroom, a living area with space for private dining and a sofa which can be converted into an additional bed in the evening. A private en-suite bathroom includes shower, washbasin and toilet. The celebrated 24-hour cabin service is complemented by free-flowing champagne in your suite. The train also has fine dining with not two but three restaurant cars. The first is the Cote d'azure with blue opaque glass classical figures. The second is the Etoile du Nord with fantastic marquetry, and the last is L'Oriental which is stylised in black lacquer panels. page 9/11
Hotel Metropole - Venice (5 Star) This hotel offers exclusive suites and elegant salons. It has a web of enchantment, a seductive ambiance and an aura of mystery and exoticism. The hotel has period furniture, soft music and relaxing perfumes, which enhance your feeling of relaxation. The Michelin Star Chef at The Met restaurant conjures up an experience for even the most discerning of palettes. Grand Hotel Wien - Vienna (5 Star) The Grand Hotel Wien is ideally located on Karntner Ring, only a stroll away from the Vienna State Opera, the famous Karntner Strasse and St. Stephen's Cathedral. With a spectacular view over the city of Vienna its award-winning restaurant Le Ciel is known as one of Vienna's best gourmet restaurants. For lovers of Japanese food at the very highest level the Unkai Restaurant will delight the senses. Westin Europa & Regina - Venice (5 Star) The hotel offers traditional beauty combined with contemporary conveniences. Each of the five magnificently restored historic buildings date from the 17th to 19th centuries. Enjoy cuisine at the waterside Restaurant or simply sit on the Grand Canal Terrace and breathe in the local atmosphere. Testimonials Had to drop you a line and say what a wonderful time we had on the Orient Express and in Venice and Vienna. Our treatment in both cases was superb with a lot of very nice touches which made it very memorable. It was a superb trip and both the train and the Hotels and Cities exceeded expectations. Thank you again. Christopher We had a great trip. The highpoints were the Orient Express and the tasting dinner at the Metropole in Venice the latter was a unique combination of theatre and taste. Thanks for your itinerary, it was the holiday of a lifetime. David Price Per Person: From 4,335 page 10/11
What's Included? 1 night full board Venice Simplon Orient Express 4 nights bed & breakfast Hotel Metropole & Grand Hotel Wien Private Gondola Trip Mozart Concert in best seats Private Fiaker Horse & Carriage ride Private City tour & Schonbrunn Palace visit with audio tour Gourmet Tasting Menu Private arrival and departure transfers One way return flight to the UK (includes 1 hold bag per person) Departure dates for this break: 7 May 2018 24 September 2018 22 October 2018 Return Flights to Gatwick, Heathrow and Edinburgh. Our international clients are welcome to book their own flight. 2018 Weekend a la Carte For Expert Advice Call 01722 445900 page 11/11