Why should you spend your Christmas in Vienna?
I traveled through Europe a lot during the Christmas holidays. And I have to tell you that each place clams to have the best Christmas market. I think each has its own unique features and there cannot be a clear winner. I personally was very impressed with some cool Christmas markets in Germany.
However, here I will talk about Vienna. I brought you a guest author, who thinks it has the best market of all Europe. Anca from One Day Itinerary shares her love for magical Christmas Markets in Vienna. Who knows, maybe you would agree and this could be your destination for the upcoming Christmas.
From now Anca:
Christmas Markets in Vienna
Christmas time is fast approaching now, and one of the main features of the period leading up to this big holiday is Christmas markets – beautiful festive fairs with all kinds of things to see, smell and enjoy. However, when it comes to these particular events, Central Europe is the place to be.
Austrian cities are especially famous for their Christmas markets, but even among them, Vienna is something truly special. So, if you want to experience the magic of Christmas, you really should go to the Austrian capital and enjoy everything it has to offer during this time of year. Here’s why!
Incredible Scenery
If you come to Vienna for the Christmas markets you will quickly see what makes them so special. Yes, THEM – there are about 20 markets scattered around the wider city center, each very much worthy of your time. So apart from enjoying yourself and having a great time, you will also get to know the city quite well. Just plan your route ahead of time if you’re staying only one day in Vienna so that you can make the most of your visit and check out the best locations.
And the locations of Vienna Christmas markets are what make the experience so exquisite, in my honest opinion. As you probably know, the city was the center of a big empire in the past, so its every street simply oozes culture and history. Therefore, when you make your way from one market to another, you will be able to enjoy some stunning architecture and get an incredible vibe from the place.
But some Christmas markets in Vienna are simply magical and you shouldn’t miss them for the world: these include the one in front of Schönbrunn Palace, the one in front of the City Hall and the one in front of the Belvedere.
A Fantastic Offer Of Goods
Obviously, the scenery is not the only reason to visit Christmas markets in Vienna – each market in the city will have dozens of stalls selling loads of different things, from handcrafted souvenirs to Glühwein, mulled wine which is one of Austria’s most important Christmas traditions. And as you get a whiff of all those cloves and cinnamon sticks, you are bound to get very hungry very soon, but that can easily be remedied at the stalls, too.
If you’re a foodie, you will want to check out Gutenberggasse street which has a wide range of dishes to offer. Generally speaking, you will find loads of interesting things to eat, but if you want to try some traditional stuff (apart from Glühwein, of course), go for “Maroni” (roasted chestnuts) or Lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies).
Should you want a thorough meal and not just a snack, you are bound to find some kind of sausage around the city, with Bratwurst and Kaisekrainer (sausage filled with cheese) being the most traditional choices, but fried carp is also something closely related to Vienna’s history, although perhaps not as popular anymore. In any case, there is much to taste, and with this kind of offer, you will quickly get into the holiday spirit.
The Main Event Is Christmas Eve
When it comes to Austrian Christmas traditions, the main event is the decoration of the tree, which actually happens on the day before Christmas, usually somewhere in the afternoon. Therefore, if you find yourself in Vienna during that time you will witness the very peak of the festivities. Mind you, the guy in charge of bringing gifts is not necessarily Santa – traditionally, this has been Christkind’s job. Christkind is essentially a depiction of baby Jesus, although in recent years him and Santa have a bit of a rivalry when it comes to delivering presents.
Christmas Eve is also when people give each other gifts and sing carols, so the city streets become full of Christmas spirit and the whole atmosphere is like something straight out of a fairy tale, especially with loads of beautiful lights all around you.
Yes, music is indeed a vital part of Austrian Christmas traditions, and Vienna is a marvelous example of that. Not only does the city host the world-famous “Christmas in Vienna” concert, but you can find bands and choirs performing all over the place. Churches ring with Christmas songs and the same can be said for the city hall which hosts choirs from all over the world. If you can go, do not miss out on this.
Culture plays a very important role in the life of Austrians, so you can also visit some excellent exhibitions in Vienna’s museums. As a matter of fact, museums even have their own Christmas market, which takes place in the Museum Quarter of the city and allows you to enjoy without you having to pay for a ticket, all with live music and plenty of drinks to accompany you. Not bad, huh?
In The End
If you want to visit a city that epitomizes Christmas spirit, then heading to Vienna and exploring all of its Christmas markets is simply the perfect choice. The city has a centuries-long tradition of organizing such events, and the atmosphere you feel is something very special indeed. And since the markets are spread out all over this big city (one of the biggest in the EU, as a matter of fact), you will get to see quite a bit of it if you go on a market crawl.
But not only does the whole city live for Christmas during these six weeks or so, but the immense amount of culture and history that surrounds you on every step is something magical, something you will have a hard time finding anywhere else. Add to that some great food and Austrian mulled wine, and the chilly nights in this magnificent city suddenly get a whole lot cozier, especially when you start mingling with the locals at the markets.
Even if you want to enjoy some high-brow culture, you can do that easily, no matter if you’re looking for a world-class concert or a spectacular exhibition. In short, the city really has something for absolutely everyone, so go ahead and do visit Vienna for Christmas – you won’t be sorry.
About the Author
Anca is the founder and chief editor of One Day Itinerary, a travel blog with loads of advice for travelers who don’t have a lot of time to explore the city they’re visiting. After traveling all over the world, she has learned a variety of different tricks that make every trip safer, more enjoyable and much more cost-efficient.
Further reading
If you look for a bigger overview – check out this post with the best Christmas markets in Europe.
The exact locations and particular features of the markets are described in this post: 5 best Christmas Markets in Vienna
Foodie? Check out the list of food to try in Vienna by a fellow travel blogger.
For other things to do in Vienna I recommend checking this Vienna Guide, made by a solo traveler
As I have mentioned, in my opinion, Germany is the most impressive. This post will show you more information things that you can find in German Christmas Markets
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