A Full Day Uncovering Vienna

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Itinerary

On this 8-hour extensive private tour we will show you the major examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Vienna and we will accompany you to discover one of the two best art nouveau churches in the Austrian capital.

Morning:

We will start our tour punctual at 9.30 in Postsparkasse to arrive in Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) half an hour later. There, we will explore a collection of early 20th-century paintings, illustrations, and furniture, including works by Gustav Klimt and Josef Hoffman, amongst others.

Then, we will head to Karlsplatz, a popular square on the border of the 1st and 4th districts. After noon we will go to Secession and visit this icon building of Viennese Secession style. Originally conceived as an exhibition hall, this space allows us to consider the exchange of ideas between the avant-garde in various cities across Europe as the continent teetered on the edge of World War I. If we have a good timing we may be able to see the Otto Wagner Houses on Wienzeile.

After, we will head to Belvedere Palace. Highlights from the holdings Vienna 1880–1914 are the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt’s paintings (including the famous golden Art Nouveau icons the Kiss (Lovers) and Judith) and works by Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.

Afternoon:

Around 13.30 we will take you to an Art Nouveau restaurant for lunch. We suggest the café Belvedere because it is convenient as is nearby. There are also another recommended place within a walking distance of 10 minutes so it will depend on your wishes.

After lunch we will go to the beautiful Steinhof Psychiatric Hospital complex designed by Otto Wagner, a jewel of the Viennese Art Nouveau. There, you will spend an hour visiting the interior of the architectural masterpiece which is Kirche am Steinhof Church and admiring many design and architecture details like lamps or rails around balconies. As this highlight spot is closed from November 1st 2024 until mid-march 2025, during this time we will visit other places instead, making it a full day full of hidden gems not only art nouveau style.

If there is some time left and the members of the group agree, we will do a 10 minutes ride to visit Klimt-Villa, Gustav Klimt’s studio in the last 8 years of his life. Despite it is not original, the building is still interesting to see. We don’t guarantee the visit to Naschmarkt or Wagner Häuser on the Wienzeile.

A pioneering work of modern architecture, the Church of St. Leopold is considered one of the most significant Art Nouveau churches worldwide. During the works at Steinhof church, we will visit with you St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church instead. The striking, centrally domed rotunda is strongly reminiscent of the Steinhof’s Otto Wagner church, who was himself on the jury evaluating the cemetery buildings put out to tender and was thus familiar with Hegeles‘ plans of 1899.

The Friedhofskirche zum Heiligen Karl Borromäus (St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church) is a stunning example of Viennese Art Nouveau architecture, designed in 1911 by Max Hegele. Located at the heart of Vienna’s Central Cemetery, this church combines artistic grandeur with profound symbolism, embodying themes of transience and eternity. Originally dedicated to Vienna’s influential yet controversial mayor Karl Lueger, its name was changed in 2000 following renovations, reflecting a shift to its sacred mission while preserving its historical significance.

Surrounded by the vast expanse of Vienna’s Central Cemetery—one of Europe’s largest burial grounds—the church offers a serene and reflective experience. The cemetery itself is a rich blend of history and art, hosting the graves of cultural icons like Beethoven and Schubert. With its accessible location and architectural beauty, the St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Vienna’s cultural and historical tapestry.

If traffic is good and there is time left, we will see some other interesting art nouveau places in our way back to the city center.

The focus of our tour are museums, interiors of buildings and the cultural background of the Secession style in Vienna. Therefore, if you book the tour you will get an in-depth understanding of the style and its cultural background. If you have any special interest, please tell us in advance and we can adapt the tour to your needs. To discover other Art Nouveau Private Tours in Vienna HERE.

This 8-hour full day private tour is probably the best art nouveau tour in Austria.

Tailored to your interests

Immerse yourself in Vienna’s cultural and artistic splendor with a full-day private tour tailored to your group’s passions. From historic landmarks to hidden gems, your guide will design a comprehensive itinerary highlighting the city’s most captivating sites and stories.

If you prefer, we can also customize this full-day private tour to be conducted entirely by public transport and walking, without the use of a private car. Flexibility is paramount, with the day’s schedule and pace adjusted to suit your preferences, mobility needs, and any spontaneous interests. This personalized approach ensures an unforgettable and immersive Viennese adventure.

Your interests will determine the museums or houses included in the tour. Our tour guide will adapt the itinerary to your interests according to what you mention before the day of the private tour and also on the day of the tour.

  • The Secession building (Mondays closed)
  • Museum of Applied Arts – MAK (Mondays closed)
  • Klimt-Villa (Mondays and Tuesdays closed)
  • Postsparkasse (weekends closed)
  • Belvedere
  • St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church
  • Kirche am Steinhof (closed until March, 14th, 2025). During the weekends we may have to invert the order of the tour and visit it in the morning. It will happen the Saturdays or Sundays that services and weddings take place in their premises.

While other tours don’t include interiors and show only facades, our tour is focused on museums and interiors, as well as enjoying façades, and therefore on a deeper understanding of the style and the cultural background. Flexibility is at the heart of this private tour.

In this tour learn about the design elements, political and aesthetic philosophy of the elegant turn-of-century style. Understand the history behind the movement that rejected Austria’s imperial past through new types of art led by a visionary group of artists including Gustav Klimt, Otto Wagner, Rudolf von Alt, Hoffmann and Moser.

This private, special themed tour is suitable for those who would like to immerse in the atmosphere of Vienna 1900, when it was the cultural capital of Europe, and beyond, up to today.

Where the private tour Begins and Ends

Your private guide will meet you at Postsparkasse or your hotel (if located nearby). We will end this tour leaving you by car/minivan at your hotel or also we can drop you off at any other place in the city center.

Exclusions

Entrance fees to the museums visited during the tour.

Your interests will determine the museums included in the tour. Our tour guide will adapt the itinerary to your interests.

Payment for public transport. We recommend 24-hours Vienna ticket (around 8€ per person) BUY IT HERE. This is a walking private tour and it is not required the use of public transport. If during the private tour you want to use a public transport like a taxi or bus, the fare is not included.

Food and drinks.

Additional Information

Most of our guests prefer private tours in English or German, but if you’d like a tour in another language, simply let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

Our Vienna guides are experts in their fields, each with a deep passion for sharing the city’s rich history, culture, and architectural legacy. Whether you’re drawn to Otto Wagner’s groundbreaking urban designs, the elegance of Art Nouveau, or the broader historical and cultural landscape of Vienna, our guides offer a highly engaging and personalized experience. We recommend booking early to secure the guide best suited to your specific interests.

What started as exclusive Art Nouveau tours over a decade ago has since evolved into a diverse range of curated experiences. While Otto Wagner’s architectural masterpieces continue to be a highlight for many, we now offer general city tours, business lunch arrangements, home-hunting assistance, filming location scouting, and chauffeur-driven explorations. We also provide hotel recommendations and airport transfers to ensure a seamless visit to Vienna.

For a truly custom experience, visit our VIENNA-city-PAGE, where you can also stay up-to-date with Vienna’s latest exhibitions and events. Whether you want to dive into Otto Wagner’s legacy or explore Vienna’s modern-day delights, we are here to bring your vision to life.

Art Nouveau – Viennese Secession style

This private, special themed tour is suitable for those who would like to immerse in the atmosphere of Vienna 1900, when it was the cultural capital of Europe, like Florence was around 1500. In the year 1900 Vienna, “the City of Music”, was the seventh largest city in the world. Nowadays the Austrian capital is not in the the list of the “100 largest cities in the world”.

Explore Vienna’s captivating past and present with our expert guides. Our personalized tours delve into art, history, and culture, tailored to your preferences. It offers a relaxing morning exploring more than Vienna’s Belle Époque era, when the city was a cultural hub akin to Florence during the Renaissance. You’ll gain insights into the design principles, political and aesthetic philosophies that underpinned this elegant style. Discover the historical context behind the movement that challenged Austria’s imperial past, led by visionary artists like Otto Wagner, Gustav Klimt, Rudolf von Alt, Hoffmann, and Moser, and also from the other times os history.

At that time, Vienna had a higher density of conservative nobility than Budapest, the other co-capital of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and this fact delayed the entrance of the new artistic movement in Vienna. It was not until 1896 that the painter Gustav Klimt and several other artists quit the conservative Künstlerhaus and founded a new art association called Secession, and wrongly cited sometimes as art noveau, a name used by a popular building completed in 1898 and used by many of the members of this movement, artists like Otto Wagner or Josef Hoffman.

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