Waking up on the Ring and scenic walks in the Alsergrund

The journey begins at the very spot where imperial opulence learns to coexist with the rhythm of the present. For those seeking the aristocratic ambience of yesteryear, the Hotel Imperial is the ideal base. Originally designed on the Ringstraße as the private residence of the Prince of Württemberg, it welcomes guests amidst sumptuous gilded stucco, crystal chandeliers and the discreet attentiveness of butlers in livery. Those who prefer a more understated, intimate and contemporary elegance will find refuge just a stone’s throw from the Albertina at The Guesthouse Vienna, a design gem by Terence Conran where the welcome has the reserved warmth of an artists’ club. Leaving the most well-trodden avenues behind to head north, the route crosses the spectacular Strudlhofstiege, the multi-level Art Nouveau staircase celebrated by the Austrian writer Heimito von Doderer, where climbing ivy, copper-green railings and gushing fountains form a green link between the city’s varying levels. A few steps further on, the gates of the Gartenpalais Liechtenstein swing open. Usually off the beaten track compared to the major tourist circuits, this Baroque masterpiece, set within a princely park, is today opening its halls as part of the Kunst.Momente series of open-house events. As you pass through the halls frescoed by Andrea Pozzo, you find yourself in the presence of one of the world’s most prestigious private collections, featuring absolute masterpieces by Rubens, Raphael and Rembrandt.