Danube river cruise: Grand European Tour

Follow in the footsteps of the adventurers of yesteryear as you embark on a “Grand Tour” of Europe. It was once custom for the pampered elite to make this kind of decadent journey at least once in their lives, and now it’s your turn. You’ll cruise from Holland’s windmill-studded fields, past Germany’s fairy-tale hilltop Rhine castles and among the vineyards of Austria’s Wachau Valley. You’ll follow the blue Danube to Vienna, “City of Waltzes,” experience the magic of Slovakia’s capital of Bratislava firsthand, and finally, view the imperial beauty of Budapest. Along the way, you’ll discover the legend of Lorelei, the ancient art of glassblowing, the music of Mozart and Hungary’s vibrant culture.

http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/

Crowne Plaza hotel Vienna

Crowne Plaza Vienna is situated in Donaustadt and offers the most modern comfort in combination with excellent service. The hotel features 252 guest rooms, including three suites, and 16 large, well-equipped and flexible meeting rooms with daylight which can accommodate a wide range of functions. You can relax in our TIME-OUT Restaurant + Bar which are on the ground floor of the hotel. Or take your time as well in the steam bath, sauna or fitness room.

Vienna Photo

Café Sacher Wien

Experience the typical Viennese coffee house atmosphere at Café Sacher Wien and treat yourself to an Original Sacher-Torte and an Original Sacher Café. The Café Sacher at the Hotel Sacher is a glamorous meeting point for tourists and lovers of Austrian pastries alike. The Café Sacher is also home to the world’s most famous chocolate cake, the Original Sacher-Torte. The cake’s success spread the reputation of the Café Sacher far beyond the borders of Austria. Until today, the recipe of the exquisite chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam, dating from 1832, is a well-kept secret. All cakes are produced in Sacher’s in-house bakery.

Bratislava webcam

The new webcam has been installed in Bratislava at The Main Square. Look at the Bratislava webcam.

Live jazz music in Bratislava

Jazz Café (Venturska 5, Old Town)
Live jazz every Thursday through Saturday in an intimate cellar pub setting. Interpret intimate to mean hot, stuffy, smoky and packed. Get there before the doors open at 8pm or forget about finding a table.

Woch Music Club (Frantiskanske Namestie 7, Old Town)
Jazz, funk, country and pop bands trade nights at this 50-seater basement music club, call ahead for each evening’s program.

Vienna Christmas Market

Starting November 12, the Advent season will descend upon Vienna again. The aromas of candied fruits, cotton candy and other delicacies like Christmas punch and roasted chestnuts wafting around the small wooden market stalls still retain their magical power. While children warm their hands on paper bags containing hot chestnuts, parents can sip their mulled wine and ponder on the way that the Christmas market has retained all of its childhood fascination.
The Magic of Advent with its many attractions and Christmas market stalls will be open this year daily, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from 12 November through 23 December, and until 5 p.m. on 24 December (Christmas Eve).

http://www.christkindlmarkt.at/

Bratislava Christmas Market

The Christmas market in Bratislava is one of the most notable events of the year. Bratislava Christmas Market takes place in the atmospheric Main Square in the Old Town of Bratislava. Stalls are nestled together selling handcrafted ornaments and gifts for the holiday season. You can buy local Christmas specialties such as mulled wine, Christmas punch, lokse (potato crepes) with sweet and savoury fillings and a variety of Christmas decorations and gifts such as handmade crystal, copper forged pots and pans, wooden statues and figurines, corn husk dolls, beautiful pictures and photographs, and toys for children of all ages. The air is filled with laughter and joy as tourists and locals stand shoulder to shoulder sipping glasses of mulled wine or mead and enjoying Slovak holiday delights such as sweet pancakes filled with poppy seeds, apples and walnuts, pancakes with goose liver and hot sausages and pork sandwiches off the grill.

Date:
25.11.2005 to 23.12.2005 - starting from 10:00 to 22:00

Davis Cup Final in Bratislava

Davis Cup Final in Bratislava - Slovakia vs. Croatia. This is the first meeting between these two young Davis Cup nations, both of whom came through last year's World Group Play-offs to earn a place in the 2005 World Group. The meeting of the two first-time finalists guarantees the emergence of the 12th champion nation in Davis Cup history, as well as the fifth different champion of the past five years.
Davis Cup Final in Bratislava

Slovak National Theatre Bratislava

The Slovak National Theatre, one of the country's most important cultural institutions, was established in 1920. Today it comprises drama, opera and ballet sections, each with its permanent professional company, with a central scene shop providing sets for all productions.

Slovak National Theatre

Vienna State Opera

Approximately 50 operas and 20 ballets are offered in the repertoire of The Vienna State Opera every season, which runs from 1 September to 30 June. Try Vienna State Opera panoramic tour.

The closest capital cities

Bratislava - the capital of Slovakia, and Vienna - the capital of Austria - are the closest capital cities in the world - only 64 km (40 miles) apart.