Moda
Vienna, one of the most elegant cities in Europe is even more wonderful at the time of Christmas and Christmas markets..
This year we visited it together for the first time and although we had only one day to explore, we were able to experience the Austrian winter fairy tale. Just because we visited it in the Christmastime, the research of the city was based on the exploration of Christmas festivals, but in this Vienna guide we will also reveal our recommendations for cafes, restaurants, museums and other ideas for enjoying Vienna.
1. City centar walk - Innere Stadt
We started our walk tour in Vienna’s inner city.
From Rathausplatz, the city hall of Vienna, we made a round tour so that we can end it also there in the evening when all the lights are on, at the Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt, one of the most beautiful christkindlmarkt in Vienna.
So, after Rathausplatz we continued our walk through the Volksgarten, beautiful public park which is a part of the Hofburg Palace, the former imperial palace, built in the 13th century.
The palace has been the seat of power of the Habsburg dynasty rulers and today the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria.
The palace looks stunning, especially in the evening with all the lights.
We spent some time in the Michaelerplatz with beautiful horses and contiuned to Kohlmarkt street that is a fantastic place to visit during Christmas with all the decorations and lamps.
There you can enjoy in the beautiful shops, cafes and restaurants.
From Kohlmarkt street we walked into the Graben street where you can find the column dedicated to the Plague - The Pestsäule,
the interesting St. Peter's cathedral and beautiful street decorations during Christmas time.
From Graben street you can continue to Kärntner street and you will come all the way to the Stephansplatz,
located around the St. Stephan’s Cathedral where we came back in the evening ( see on the photos down bellow).
Here you can see our google walk.
We spent early afternoon at the Stephansplatz where we enjoyed at the Stephansplatz Christmas market.
There we bought some souvenirs, mugs and Nutckrackers - favorite christmas toys made by the famous tale The tale of Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816.
Then we decided to make a food/coffee break and we went to Hotel Sacher.
We didnt wait so long in the line and we were so happy when we finally enter inside.
We tried their Sacher cake and yes its the best I ever tried.
And with their hot white chocolate with almonds our time in Hotel Sacher was the sweetest momment in Vienna.
Here you can see our recommendations for other places where you can enjoy in sacher cake.
CAFFE CENTRAL
CAFFE Demel.
Café Hawelka
Dommayer
Café Landtmann
Aida
Hofburg Cafe
3. After that sweet pause we had a photo session with "the red bow", one of the most popular Instagram spot in Vienna, located in front of the Cafe Sacher. Yes, Kiki is my instagram husband and yes, I am thankful that he has a patient for standing there with me, shooting about 20 same pictures.
4. After emberising photo session in front the bow we walked throught the Burggarten park to the the
Maria-Theresien-Platz where is located one of the most beautiful christkindlmarkt in Vienna.
The Christmas markets in Vienna are tradition.
It all started in 1298 when Albrecht I granted Vienna's citizens the privilege of holding a December Market or "Krippenmarkt".
Since then, over 20 official Advent Markets sell seasonal gifts and treats.
And despite the fact that we had only one day in Vienna for everything we wanted to see,
we managed to experience some of the most beautiful Viennese Christmas Market.
We took a centar walk in eh late afternoon so we can enjoy in the city lights and after that we finished our walking tour at the Christmas market at the City Hall .
We finished our Vienna adventure at the amazing Christmas market in front of the City Hall.
Here you can enjoy in christmas atmosphere, listening carols and ice skating.
Also, here you can eat delicious street food, llike Käsekrainer sausage wich was the best I ever tried or you can end your Vienna trip with some sweet.
Here are some other Christmas markets if youll have more time to explore
Christmas village Belvedere Palace
Christmas Village in the former general hospital
Christmas and New Year's market at Schönbrunn Palace
Christmas market at Spittelberg
NEXT TIME
1. FOOD AND DRINK
Salty food.
1. Tafelspitz - boiled beef with vegetables and spices in broth a savory liquid made of water in which bones, meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered
2. Goulash
3 Viennese Sausage (Wiener Würstel) at markets (below you can see photos from Rathaus market)
4. Wiener Schnitzel in those restaurants
Figlmueller
Lugeck Figlmüller Wien
Plachutta - my parents were not so amazed, but I want to give them a chance
Centimeter Rathaus
Sweet food
1. Kaiserschmarrn, also known as the emperor's pancake due to the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph's passionate liking of it
( here you can see how we enjoyed in Kaiserschmarrns in Salzburg)
2. Apfelstrudel mit vanillesauce
3. Stollen
2. SPRING IN THE PARKS
Volksgarten
Heldenplatz
Belvederegarten
Burggarten
Schönbrunn (Gloriette at Schonbrunn)
Stadtpark and Danube canal
3. MUSEUMS
1. Schönbrunn
2. Belvedere Palace Museum -
The Upper Belvedere houses the impressive collection of Austrian art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day.
At the heart of the displays of "art around 1900" is the world’s largest Gustav Klimt collection, one of my favorite artists.
3. Naturhistorisches Museum Wien - Museum of Natural History
4. Kunsthistorisches Museum
5.. ALBERTINA
6. Imperial Treasury of Vienna - A must-see for jewelry fans
7. Sisi museum - In ther museum you can understand her life and how the Emperor Franz Joseph fell in love with
her on a matchmaking visit to meet her older sister Helena. However, he was captivated by the beautiful 15 year old instead Sisi and asked for her hand in marriage.
She was loved by the emperor andthey had many children, whose marriages played a key role in securing influence and power across Europe for the imperial family.
She allowed one daughter to marry for love but all the rest were political matches - one of her daughters was Marie Antionette.
8. Leopold Museum
9. House of music - The Haus der Musik is an interactive museum focused on the world of sound and music
4. New Year Concert - Every new year my morning starts with Philharmonic traditional concert on TV.
Due to extremely high demand, tickets are drawn by lot over website at the beginning of each year.
In this way, music lovers from all over the world have an equal chance to purchase these highly desired ticket. Bucket list.
5. Trip to Bratislava and/or Salzburg
AND FOR KIDS
Vienna Zoo - Tiergarten Schönbrunn and PRATER
Thanks Vienna for our amazing time
and thank you for reading.