"Do things here and now, not after you're
gone. If you have some money, share it. And
if you have some time, do something
worthwhile"
Jerome H. Stone
Elisabeth Wolf
Founder, Managing Owner
"I have always loved the arts, classical music, travel and nature. Put simply, I am inspired by beautiful things. For many years, I found myself seeking a suitable focus for these personal passions - ideally, one also offering a tangible connection with my chosen field of expertise, the tourism industry.
In 2015 I realised I had found the solution, when I founded Artissimi, a very new kind of agency. Artissimi was designed to offer luxury city tours, high-end cultural experiences which transform Vienna and its surroundings into an aesthetic, living stage for its most sophisticated guests and cultured locals. It creates a space for children who love to be astonished, and adults seeking luxury impressions that will last a lifetime. Every single contact I have enjoyed through Artissimi has been enormously enriching.
I can look back with pride upon many years of experience in the international five-star hotel and tourism sector. I have planned a multitude of luxury events over the years, with great success. I have been an entrepreneur and guide for Austria since 2012, licenced to provide my exclusive cultural experience not just in German, but also in English and Italian. I am also fluent in French, and have held a travel agency licence since 2017."
"The future belongs to those
who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Sophia Wolf
Public Relations & Project Manager
Sophia holds the distinction of being the youngest member of the Artissimi team. In 2023, she successfully completed her education at Tourism College MODUL and is currently contributing her skills during her Gap Year. Notably, this isn't her first experience with Artissimi, as she previously completed an internship with us in 2020.
Sophia's interests are as diverse as they are intriguing. She has a genuine passion for books, a penchant for indulging in True Crime Podcasts, a deep appreciation for Impressionism, and, above all, an insatiable wanderlust for traveling. Post her Gap Year, she has ambitious plans to attend university and is committed to discovering a profession that will continually captivate her.
"Success comes, when you do what you
love"
Unknown
Wiebke loves the Habsburg burial sites, cold weather, and beautiful shoes! Originally from Germany, Wiebke discovered her passion for history and art shortly after her arrival in Austria - 25 years ago. Much later, she trained to become a tour guide, sharing a classroom with Elisabeth Wolf. From then on, her path was set. Today, she practices the profession with much enthusiasm and love. Due to her charming and humorous nature, she has become the "favorite Piefke" (the term "Piefke" is an informal term Austrians sometimes use for Germans) for some locals.
Wiebke enjoys spending her time traveling to cooler places, reading a lot, and she has an organizational talent, so she is also happy to offer support in these areas. Since she now even guides with the Viennese wit ("Wiener Schmäh"), and knows Vienna better than many locals, the success of her entertaining tours is guaranteed!
Tour Guide: German, English
Vidi l'angelo nel marmo e scolpii finché non
lo liberai."
"I saw die angel in the marble and carved
until I set him free."
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Achim David
Artissimi Guide
Achim David loves Kaiserschmarren, Viennese water and philosophizing!
The passionate art lover hails from Italy and even has a career as an actor behind him. Today, he lives in Vienna, where he works as a guide - a role that perfectly aligns with his diverse talents and passions. Viewing Vienna as a stage, Achim considers its boards to symbolize the world. With dedication and expertise, he conveys legends and brings the rich history and culture of the capital to life for many guests from both near and far.
Achim is also a talented painter. His artistic endeavours provide him with profound insights into the world of art and history, extending far beyond what one can glean from books. His experience and empathy render him a unique guide who breathes life into the city of Vienna with all its facets.
Multitalented and deeply rooted in culture, Achim has been enriching the Artissimi Guides team with his creative energy and wealth of experience for several years.
Tour Guide: German, English, Italian
"If you don't have time for the small things,
you won't have time for the big things."
Richard Branson
Barbara is truly passionate about the arts, words and interesting encounters.
So it came as no great surprise when, after pursuing a successful career in management consulting spanning many years, she decided to work as a tour and museum guide in Vienna. The new position enabled her to make more room for her passion for culture by creating an entirely new tier of activities in her life. With joy and enthusiasm, Barbara shares fascinating insights and background stories to monuments and artefacts throughout the Austrian capital - some well-known, some less-so. Barbara's travels, often spontaneously triggered by an interesting exhibition opening or something such, have been a huge source of energy and inspiration to her over the years.
Art Historian and Tour Guide: English, German, French and Italian
"Art can't be modern, art is eternal"
Egon Schiele
Along with art and culture, Kurt loves cooking, cats and classical music. The country he most loves to visit is Italy, where he lived for many years. After pursuing a successful career in the international transport and tourism sector, a change gave him the chance to fulfil a longer-held wish: he gained a degree in Art History in record time, before training as a tour guide shortly afterwards. His preferred place of work is Vienna. Kurt is constantly searching for the capital's countless hidden treasures, and he takes huge pleasure in doing so. He particularly enjoys it when, after a tour, even his Viennese guests enthusiastically say to him: "You know, I've never seen that before".
Art Historian and Tour Guide: English, Italian, German
"Choose a job you love and you will never
have to work a day in your life"
Confucius
Maria loves exploring the world and cooking for her family and friends. She has a passion for fashion, large sunglasses, and red lipstick. Maria studied history at the University of Vienna before deciding to train as a tour guide.
Since 2014, she has been a devoted Austria Guide and enjoys taking guests from all over the world on a journey into the past with her stories, which she sees as her calling. The combination of her particularly charming and dynamic nature with her knowledge makes not only her tours but also her books bestsellers! It's no wonder that she also hosts historical documentaries and has even appeared on television several times.
Book recommendation: "Sex, Drugs, and Rock'n Roll in Habsburg Vienna" by Maria Mustapic.
Historian and Tour Guide: German, English
"Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently
desire, sincerely believe and enthusiastically
act upon must inevitably come to pass!"
Paul J. Meyers
Claudia Blake
Preferred Partner
Our photographer & social media expert Claudia loves Vienna, coffee and Nutella!
A native of Austria, Claudia recently returned home from the United States, where she had first started a family, then gone on to become a professional photographer. Nowadays, Claudia finds her inspiration in travel, magazines and of course walks through her favourite city of Vienna. Her passion, not just for her craft but also for the people she photographs, will freeze moments in time for you, creating contemporary portraits and instant memories that will last a lifetime. We love it, when Claudia joins our Artissimi tours, capturing those special moments and ensuring they become more unforgettable than ever.
"Become who you are"
Friedrich Nietzsche
Ulrike loves string quartets, interior design, Vienna, history, and of course, books.
Ulrike has a profound passion for history, books, string quartets, interior design and Vienna. Even as a student, she delighted in guiding friends from around the world through her beloved city, sharing her enthusiasm for its cultural richness.
After a successful career with an international company, which took her around the globe, and starting a family, Ulrike decided to turn her true calling into her profession. Together with her friends Elisabeth and Wiebke, she pursued formal training as certified tour guide.
Today, she explores Austria's cultural tresaures with an open-minded curiosity and engages in meaningful dialogue with her clients. Each tour becomes a unique experience, enriched by Ulrike's extensive knowledge and deep love for Vienna's historyl, ensuring that every visitor leaves with unforgettable memories. Tour Guide: German, English
"The art speaks from soul to soul"
Oscar Wilde
Markus' credo is to make it possible to experience the history and stories of the former royal seat and capital city in an exciting, desirable way, to create the courage for independent viewing and discovery, and to inspire people with the arts.
Art is a matter of life and death for this native of Vienna, and museums have been a combination of both longing and home for him since his childhood days. Markus has been working as an artistic and cultural mediator for almost 30 years now. He began tour guiding for the Kunsthistorisches Museum when still a student, before going on to work at the Sammlung Essl. In the meantime, he worked at the Belvedere for seven years, as well as at the Leopoldmuseum on an ongoing basis. Above all, he uses his skills as a professional speaker, his background as an actor and his training as a communications expert at the University of Vienna to bring art to life and make wandering through the capital's unrivalled museum collections an insightful, interesting and emotionally captivating experience. All in all, then, is it any wonder that Markus is one of our most sought-after art mediators?
Art Historian: English and German