Social Events

Conference delegates often regret later that they were too busy to notice their surroundings. There is a tour programme for the following weekend, which will give delegates the opportunity to see something of Vienna and appreciate the refined and romantic Austrian Countryside. During the three days of the conference there is a full programme of tours, so why not take advantage of amazing and romantic Austria and make e-2004 a really valuable and enjoyable break for you and your partner.

To book tours, please contact Vienna Sightseeing e-mail: michaela.ulreich@viennasightseeintours.com. In addition, partners may book tours with a hostess from Vienna Sightseeing, who will be available during the conference at the Conference Registration Desk to help delegates and partners organise bookings and deal with personal requests.

Cocktail Reception

The eChallenges Consortium are pleased to announce that a Cocktail Reception sponsored by the City of Vienna and hosted by the Mayor of Vienna will be held on Wednesday 27th October. This Invitation Only Event will be hosted in the distinguished City Hall of Vienna located in the heart of the city.

Networking Reception

The eChallenges Consortium are pleased to announce that a Networking Reception sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology and Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will be held on Thursday 28th October.

Partners' Programme

Partners may attend luncheon, the Cocktail Reception and Networking Reception at special prices subsidised by the eChallenges consortium. These events should be booked with the Conference Secretariat upon registration at the Hofburg - 10 euro for each lunch and 20 euro for the Cocktail and Networking Receptions.

Wednesday 27th October

Wednesday morning

City Walk - The Highlights of the City Centre

This tour offers an initial overview of the history and the sights of the city. The tour takes you through the most beautiful and elegant streets to the most famous sights in Vienna. Stops are made at the Hofburg, residence of the Habsburgs for nearly 650 years and St. Stephen's Cathedral, the landmark of Vienna. A colourful narration will combine this tour on tales of the Habsburgs e.g. Sisi and Franz Joseph - the marriage and burial rites, or history surrounding the Sachertorte, coffee houses and the oldest cake shop in Vienna.

This guided tour lasts 2 hours and will cost 19 euro per person.

Wednesday afternoon

Vienna Woods - Mayerling

A half-day excursion which shows you the most beautiful sights of the southern part of Vienna Woods. Passing the Roman City of Baden which is famous for its thermal springs, there is a drive through the romantic valley of Helenental to the former Mayerling hunting lodge, today a commemorative chapel, where Crown Prince Rudolph together with Baronesse Vetsera died tragically in 1889. In the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz (1133) there is a visit to the mediaeval cloister which houses the remains of last the Babenberger. The tour then passes the Hoeldrichsmuehle and arrives at the Seegrotte. After a boatride on the largest subterranean lake in Europe partners and delegates finish up at the Opera House.

The tour lasts 4 hours and will cost 28 euro per person excluding entrance fees or 41 euro per person including entrances to Mayerling, Heilingenkreuz and Seegrotte.

Thursday 28th October

Thursday morning

Vienna Museum

The Museum of Fine Arts ranks among the richest and most important art collections in the world. At the core of the museum's unique Picture Gallery are paintings by Breugel, Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Duerer, Raphael, Titian and Velazquez. The guided tour will cost 24 euro per person, which includes entrance to the museum.

Thursday afternoon

Giant Ferris Wheel & Danube Tower

The Giant Ferris Wheel is a symbol of Vienna's Prater district, and has become the city's trademark. Erected by the British engineer Walter B. Besset, it has withstood all the natural catastrophes and acts of war to which it has been subjected. A circular trip on one of the most significant and fascinating structures in the world including audio presentation and a diorama, and the unique view of the city of Vienna, is an absolute cultural and architectural must for every visitor to Austria's capital. To complement this tour, participants may take the express elevator up to the observation platform - 150m above ground and enjoy the fantastic view over cosmopolitan Vienna. At the end of their visit, participants may have a break in the cafe-restaurant and go shopping.

The guided tour lasts 3 hours and will cost 34 euro per person, which includes bus transportation and entrances to the Giant Wheel and Danube Tower.

Friday 29th October

Friday morning

Hop On - Hop Off Line

See Vienna in a completely new and relaxing way with a unique Hop On Hop Off bus tour. e-2004 partners may set their own pace, get on and off at any of the 13 stops, as often as they wish. Shop, see sights, have fun and create an inidividual tour. Enjoy the Full City Tour and see every major sightseeing attraction in Vienna accompanied by a hostess. Commentaries are in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Russian. Tickets purchased after 3 p.m. are valid the whole next day.

Costs: Short City Tour: 1 hour 12 euro, 2 hours 15 euro per person

1-Day Ticket: 20 euro per person

Pick-up every hour in front of the Hofburg Congress Centre.

Friday Afternoon

Confiserie Heindl - Viennese Chocolate Museum Walter Heindl

A family-owned, Austrian enterprise founded in 1953 by the confectioner Walter Heindl senior and his wife Maria. They started production with liqueur-filled chocolates and confectionery products. Today their creations are famous as classical Viennese confectionery. Classics of the Heindl Confiserie company include heart-shaped Mozart candies, creme liqueurs and violet-scented products.

The tour offers a glimpse at how these delicacies are produced and information about the progress from a cocoa bean to a sweet delight. Tastings included.

This culinary delight will cost 23 euro, which includes bus tranportation, guide, entrance and all tastings.

Weekend Programme

Saturday 30th October

Romantic Danube Valley

A full-day excursion, showing off the beauty of the Wachau in all its glory. Through this romantic scenery full of history and legends the Danube winds his way past charming old villages and steep vineyards. A visit to the old castles and Duernstein especially famous, because King Richard Lionheart was imprisoned here, while waiting for his ransom to arrive from England, raised by his true minstrel Blondel. During a romantic boat-trip the history comes alive. The heart of the Wachau is the old vine-merchants town Krems. To complete this day of highlights a visit to the Melk is planned, the Cradle of Austria, the magnificent Benedictine Abbey, a pearl of the Austrian Baroque and there is the possibility for lunch in the Abbey Restaurant at Melk. The tour finishes at the Opera House.

The tour lasts 8 hours and costs 55 euro per person (including the boat trip and entrance to Melk Abbey) or you can splash out an extra 19 euro per person if you would like to include lunch.

Sunday 31th October

City walk - The Highlights of the City Centre

For those of you who missed out on the Wednesday tour, it is repeated on Sunday. This tour offers an initial overview of the history and the sights of the city. The tour takes you through the most beautiful and elegant streets to the most famous sights in Vienna. Stops are made at the Hofburg, residence of the Habsburgs for nearly 650 years and St. Stephen's Cathedral, the landmark of Vienna. A colourful narration will combine this tour on tales of the Habsburgs - e.g. Sisi and Franz Joseph - the marriage and burial rites, or history surrounding the Sachertorte, coffee houses and the oldest cake shop in Vienna.

This guided tour lasts 2 hours and will cost 19 euro per person.