Europe’s best destinations for classical music

For restful waltzes and sweet symphonies, immerse yourself in the classical music institutions of Europe. We’ve selected a few of the best destinations to do so.*

Salzburg, Austria

Nicknamed the ‘Salt Castle’, Salzburg to many, goes by another more musically-oriented name – the ‘City of Mozart’. The city’s lasting affinity with music comes courtesy of the widely successful The Sound of Music, but its classical heritage extends far beyond the Von Trapp children. The birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg doesn’t shy away from one of its most revered alumni. Both Mozart’s place of birth and residence are open to visitors, which walk you through his upbringing in Salzburg, while the Mozart Festival has developed into a city-wide celebration.

Salzburg is also the home of The Salzburg Whitsun Festival. This multi-day event began as a concert series in homage to classical music, but has now evolved into a programme that includes classical dance and opera performances. The festival founder, Herbert von Karajan, was also born in Salzburg and is considered to be one of the most influential conductors of the 20th century. All said and done though, a jaunt through the city while you listen to No.21 in C is a suitable way to spend the day, before reaching Villa Trapp.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is the city of music. Heralded as the bastion of all things concerto and symphony, it once attracted composers and musicians from all over Europe. Mozart, Antonio Salieri and Ludwig van Beethoven all worked here at some stage, and the classical era is sometimes referred to as the Viennese classical era. Music courses through the city’s architecture; a stroll through the Stadtpark and you’ll stumble upon statues dedicated to Johann Strauss I and Franz Schubert. All it takes is a short glance at either the State Opera House or the Wiener Konzerthaus and you’ll be swept up in the palatial grandeur of it all.

Contemporary visitors can catch a performance of the Vienna Philharmonic, widely regarded as one of the finest of its kind in the world, often found paying tribute to Tchaikovsky’s melodic compositions and Strauss’s waltzes. The annual Summer Night Concert is an outdoor showcase held in the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace, and La Perla Vintage-Apartments is just around the corner.

Leipzig, Germany

The musical centre of Germany and the home of Johann Sebastian Bach, Leipzig has a strong classical music tradition. A one-time Communist city, music in Leipzig was more than just a means of entertainment; instead, it gave them an opening into the international world. The Gewandhaus on Augustusplatz is the home of the celebrated Gewandhaus Orchestra, which claims to be the oldest orchestra in Germany, and its reputation for excellence has long attracted the luminaries of classical music, such as Mendelssohn and Schumann.

Opposite the Gewandhaus is the neo-classical Leipzig Opera – the third oldest opera house in Europe – where you’ll be able to catch performances of the acclaimed Leipzig Ballet. Take the Leipzig Music Trail, and you’ll be guided through 23 stops that include Mendelssohn House and Bach Archive. Rest your legs before a night out at the opera – Book Hotel Leipzig is a mere four-minute walk away.

Verona, Italy

A city known for being the setting to a certain Shakespearean drama (and a lesser-known comedy), Verona is more than its lovelorn literary associations; its classical music scene is good enough to send you swooning, too. At the very heart of the city – amid patchworks of lemon and mandarin-coloured townhouses complete with Juliet balconies – sits the Verona Arena; a 1st century Roman amphitheatre renowned for its grand opera performances. When night falls, the booming crescendo of song ricochets around this gorgeous stone theatre, while twinkling spotlights illuminate the arena for a star-crossed effect of its own.

It’s a memorable event so try and make the annual Summer Opera Festival. The Teatro Filarmonico was once the stage for Mozart to showcase his prodigious talents, so grab yourself a glass of amarone and stay for a philharmonic performance or the ballet. The grand setting of Hotel Colomba d’Ora is blissfully close.

Moscow, Russia

Russia’s glittering capital is another star in the European classical music scene. A hub for the arts, Moscow has over 100 theatres and 24 concert halls, including the stately, neo-classical Bolshoi Theatre, which has a long-standing association with Tchaikovsky’s classic Swan Lake. A trip wouldn’t be complete without paying a visit to the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, a legendary venue that is the cradle of Russian classical music and you can stay in the neighbouring Tverskoy district at Florinn Hotel.

One of the many reasons to seek out classical music in Moscow is that it’s often free; Tchaikovsky’s Moscow State Conservatory has students put on small shows, while museums such as the A.Losev house and M.A. Bulgakov’s museum host performances which are included in the entrance fee.

*These destinations were picked based on endorsements for ‘classical music’ according to Booking.com travellers.