April 30 – May 4, 2026
DAY ONE: APRIL 30, 2026:
Flight from Denver to Frankfurt to Vienna:
We flew from Denver to Frankfurt with no problems. Nancy actually slept well on the plane (for the first time).
Flight from Denver to Frankfurt
Once we got to Frankfurt, we had to go through the new EES (Entry-Exit System) to register our biometric data for Schengen (29 European) countries. Gerry’s biometric entries (passport, facial scan, fingerprints) worked fine – but the machine wouldn’t take Nancy’s fingerprints – we were told we had to go through manual Border control.
EES (Entry-Exit) System kiosk at the Frankfurt Airport
So, we went through manual Border control (there was a very long line, since many people were having to reenter their biometric data in addition to showing their passport – as Nancy did). Then we had to go through airport security.
To make a long story short, we barely made our connection to Vienna in time (even though we had a 1 hour, 35 minute layover time between landing at Frankfurt and departing to Vienna).
The Vienna flight was also fortunately late taking off, which helped us make our connecting flight.
Once we arrived in Vienna, we took the CAT (City Airport Train) to the city center. What a nice smooth ride…
City Airport Train
Vienna Subways:
Then we took the subway from the city center to our hotel.
U3 Subway (not too crowded)
Mural Permanent Graffiti by Oswald Oberhuber – Landstraße Subway Station
55 Schritte durch Europa (55 Steps Through Europe) by Adolf Frohner – Westbahnhof Subway Station
Finally we made it to our hotel for four nights in Vienna, Flemings Hotel Wien-Stadthalle.
Right by our hotel is the Hesser-Denmal monument, which commemorates the Infantry Regiment Freiherr von Heß (Hess) Number 49 and was unveiled on May 13, 1909, to honor the regiment’s participation in the victorious battle for Austria against the French in the Schwarzlackenau in 1809.
Hesser-Denkmal Monument
Haus der Musik (House of Music):
The first Vienna attraction we saw was the Haus der Musik (House of Music). Spread over four floors, it uses various interactive means to explore music. One floor is dedicated to the greatest Viennese composers (Hayden, Mozart, Beethoven, etc.), while other floors explore the Vienna Philharmonic, the physics of sound (including an “Instrumentarium” where four giant instruments, including a drum, demonstrate the principles of sound generation). At the end of the tour of the House of Music you can conduct a digital orchestra, with the orchestra members playing softer/louder/faster/slower, etc. to your direction.
Joseph Hayden Room
Joseph Hayden Stuffed Parrot
Mozart Room
Map of Mozart’s Journeys Through Europe
Beethoven’s Room
Clip of the Vienna Philharmonic
Physics of Sound Rooms
“Instrumentarium”
Conducting a Digital Orchestra
There are fun things to do like digitally throwing dice (with a wave of your hand) to compose music, playing a tune by walking/running up and down a staircase, catching a ball using a Virtual Reality headset, and chilling out in the Universe of Sounds room.
Throwing Dice (with a wave of your hand) to compose music
Playing a Tune While Walking-Running on the Stairs
Catching a Ball Using Virtual Reality Headset
Enjoying the Ambience of the Universe of Sounds Room
We capped off the first day with a nice dinner and drinks (and Tiramasu) at an Italian Restaurant called Vini E Stuzzichini (established in 1948), and a short walk in the Old Town of Vienna.
Vienna Walk at Night
DAY TWO: MAY 1, 2026:
Hofburg Palace – Sisi Museum & Imperial Apartments:
Our first stop on day two was the Hofburg Palace and its Sisi Museum & Imperial Apartments. We were lucky we purchased tickets in advance as both attractions were sold out for the day (and we got there when they opened in the morning).
Hofburg Palace
We entered the Hofburg Palace Rotunda through the main entrance. There was netting up to keep away the birds.
Rotunda
Sisi Museum:
Sisi’s Death: The first room in the Sisi Museum deals with Sisi’s (Empress Elizabeth of Bavaria’s) sad end (her death by assassination), showing her death mask, photos of her funeral procession (in front of Hofburg Palace), and engraving of a grieving Franz Josef.
Sisi’s Death Mask
Sisi’s Funeral Procession at Hofburg Palace
Engraving of Grieving Franz Josef
The Sisi Myth: The next room deals with the myth of Empress Elizabeth (“Sisi”). Sisi was not a major public figure in her lifetime, as newspaper clippings of the day make clear. After her death, however, her image quickly became a commodity and began appearing on everyday items such as candy tins and beer steins.
Newspaper clipping of the day
Sisi’s Image on a Tray
This room shows some of Sisi’s poetry and normally has a statue of Sisi (it was removed for our visit).
Sample of Sisi’s Poetry
Sisi-mania really got going in the 1950s with a series of movies based on her life (starring Romy Schneider), depicting the empress as beautiful and innocent, and either crying or singing at any given point in the films.
Movies About Sisi
Imperial Apartments:
Imperial Treasury:
We toured the 21 rooms of the Imperial Treasury filled with scepters, swords, crowns, orbs, weighty robes, double-headed eagles, gowns, gem-studded bangles, and a unicorn horn.
Crown of Rudolf II: This was the personal crown of Rudolf II (we’ll see the Holy Roman Emperor Crown later below).
Personal Crown of Rudolf II
Accompanying the crown are the matching scepter (made from ivory tusk of a narwhal) and orb (holding four diamonds to symbolize the four corners of the world, which the emperor ruled).
Crown, Scepter and Orb
Orb (detail)
This crown, scepter and orb became the official regalia of the Austrian Emperor after Napoleon conquered Austria and dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, as seen by this painting of Franz I, Emperor of Austria.
Painting of Franz I, Emperor of Austria
Coronation vestments and regalia needed for the new Austrian (not Holy Roman) Emperor:
There was a different one for each of the emperor’s subsidiary titles – for example, King of Hungary or King of Lombardy.
Coronation Vestments
Napoleonic Era: This room reflects on the impact Napoleon had on Habsburg, Austria.
We saw the cradle of the King of Rome, once occupied by Napoleon’s son, who was born in 1811 and made King of Rome.
Cradle of the King of Rome
Cradle of the King of Rome (detail)
We also saw portraits of Napoleon and his new bride, Marie Louise, Franz I/II’s daughter (and Marie-Antoinette’s great-niece).
Portrait of Napoleon
Portrait of Napoleon’s New Bridge, Marie Louise
Baptism Room: The 23-pound 4) gold basin and pitcher were used to baptize noble children, who were dressed in baptismal dresses displayed nearby.
Gold Baptism Basin and Pitcher
Jewels Room: There are true treasures in this room, including the world’s largest emerald.
The irregularly shaped, 2,680-karat emerald (center) is rough-cut to avoid ruining the stone.
World’s Largest Emerald
The Crown of Stephen Bocskai (a Hungarian King) was a gift from Muslim Turks.
Crown of Stephen Bocskai
Hierlooms: The eight-foot-tall, 500-year-old 6) “unicorn horn” (actually a narwhal tusk), was considered to have magical healing powers bestowed from on high.
Unicorn Horn
The huge agate bowl, cut from a single piece, may have been made in ancient Roman times and eventually found its way into the collection of their successors, the Habsburgs. It was thought to be the Holy Grail when it was stolen from Constantinople.
Agate Bowl (thought to be the Holy Grail when stolen from Constantinople)
Religious Objects:
Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire: The collection’s highlight is the crown of the Holy Roman Emperor. It was probably made for Otto I (c. 960), the first king to call himself Holy Roman Emperor.
Crown of the Holy Roman Emperor
The right side of the jeweled arch spells out: “Emperor of the Romans, Augustus” (ROMANORU[M] IMPERATOR AUG[USTUS]).
The right side of the jeweled arch.
King Solomon’s portrait on the crown (to the right of the cross) is Old Testament proof that kings can be wise and good.
King Solomon Portrait
King David (next panel) is similar proof that they can be just.
King David Portrait
On the forehead of the crown, notice that beneath the cross there’s a pale-blue, heart-shaped sapphire. This was a replacement for a long-lost opal with magical powers.
Pale Blue Heart Shaped Sapphire Below the Cross