Watch the legendary white Lipizzaner stallions perform their centuries-old haute école dressage in the Imperial Riding School — a living baroque spectacle unlike anything else in Europe. Combine with a private walk through the Hofburg, Austria's vast imperial palace complex.
What to expect
The baroque Winter Riding School, commissioned by Emperor Karl VI in 1735, is one of the most beautiful riding arenas in the world — white pillars, crystal chandeliers, and a royal box where emperors once watched. The Lipizzaners, born dark and turning white with age, execute the legendary 'airs above the ground' with breathtaking precision. After the session, the Hofburg complex beckons: the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection fill out a regal morning. The Naschmarkt food market is a short walk away for a post-tour Austrian lunch.
Good to know
Morning Training runs most weekdays (check the official website calendar); book weeks ahead as slots sell out. Full performances are rarer — check the schedule at booking. The Hofburg is a 25-minute taxi from the Danube piers. Combine with St. Stephen's Cathedral (free entry, tower tickets from EUR 6) nearby on the Ringstraße.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Vienne — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.