Have you ever thought about what light might sound like?

It might seem silly, but that’s the driving idea behind the Vienna Tourist Board’s new “Gold Noise” campaign. With the help of some scientists, sound mixers, and children’s choirs, the VTB recently created a first-of-its-kind sleep playlist featuring the “gold noise” from four of its most famous landmarks and works of art.

How “Gold Noise” works

At its core, “gold noise” is primarily a translation of light frequencies into sound. To transform the city’s shades of gold, scientists from the Vienna University of Technology measured the “reflective light frequencies of [the] gold surfaces… using high-resolution spectrometry,” and were then able to “translat[e] the frequenc[ies]… into audible sound waves” through a process known as sonification. Once “translated,” the sounds were then mixed with humming tracks recorded by the Vienna Boys and Girls Choirs. The end result was four unique “gold noise” sleep tracks, each ranging from 4-5 minutes long.

You can hear the tracks for yourself below.

The “Vienna Gold Noise” Spotify playlist went live the week before World Sleep Day and features gold noise from the Imperial Crown, Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss,” Otto Wagner’s Church at Steinhof, and the Vienna State Opera. To highlight the “wellness” aspect of Vienna tourism while capitalizing on the growing interest in sleep and relaxation audio, the playlist was shared across the VTB’s social media channels.

Vienna: “A city of deceleration”

While tourism might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a relaxing getaway, the VTB believes that its city is uniquely positioned to provide visitors with places to both explore and rest. As Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, recently stated:

“Rest has become a new luxury good. Especially when we travel, we seek experiences that enrich us, not exhaust us.

Vienna Gold Noise positions Vienna as a city of deceleration and cultural depth, meeting a global wellness trend with authenticity and innovation. With Vienna Gold Noise, Vienna does not just invite travelers to see the city. It invites them to hear it — and fall asleep to its gold.”

In addition to highlighting the playlist on social media, the VTB also partnered with various hotels and transportation services to reach even more visitors. Select luxury hotels have now incorporated Vienna Gold Noise into their sleep offerings for guests, and the Austrian Federal Railways has made it available to travelers via a QR code. In a few months, it will similarly be made available to those traveling on Austrian Airlines.