Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is one of the European cities with the finest sense of New Year’s spirit. The city’s sparkling streets, massive decorations, and Christmas markets permeate us with the spirit of the New Year.
If you are planning to visit Vienna during Christmas, 3 days on average will be enough for this trip. As you plan your trip, I would like to remind you that the winter in Vienna is very harsh. it is possible to see minus degrees a lot in the winter months. Remember to take your thermal underwear and, if possible, your ski clothes to protect yourself from the bitter cold.
Apart from the street decorations, various Christmas markets are set up in the city at Christmas time. There will be explanatory maps on the internet where you can see the markets. The most famous of these markets is the ‘Wiener Weihnachtstraum Christkindlmarkt’ set up in front of the town hall. There are amusement parks with fun competitions, ice skating, merry-go-rounds, carousels, Ferris wheels, and stands where you can buy hot dogs while you drink mulled wine, or get delicious desserts and chocolates. You can buy gorgeous, handmade Christmas tree decorations or shop for Viennese souvenirs for your loved ones. If you are lucky, you might even see the first snow of the year while enjoying the Christmas spirit. 🙂 This market will take a full day of your trip.
I would highly recommend visiting the Belvedere Palace when you visit Vienna. The Belvedere Palace was built by the architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt on the commission of Prince Eugen of Savoy between 1668 and 1745. Consisting of two parts, the Upper and Lower Belvedere Palace, the baroque structures are connected by an extensive and spectacular garden. The buildings on Landstrasse, now used as the Austrian Belverede Gallery, also house significant historical paintings. Inside the gallery, you can also view Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss (Lovers 1908), a work that has become synonymous with Vienna. You will be seeing this painting in a lot of souvenir shops later on.
After exploring the Belvedere and exhausting all your energy, I would like to invite you to have prime rib at a great rib place. Salm Brau, which has been located since 1516 at the rear exit of the Belvedere Palace, is a restaurant famous for its specialty beers and ribs.
Don’t forget to make a reservation at the Vienna State Opera when planning your trip to Vienna. I strongly recommend you to have the experience of going to the opera once in Vienna, a city renowned in Europe for its art history.
You can visit St. Peter’s Church in the city square on another day. Characterized by its Baroque style, the church is the oldest in Vienna. Afterward, I would like to refer you to one of the most famous places for the indispensable thing to eat when you come to Vienna, namely Schnitzel. Figlmuller is Vienna’s oldest and most famous schnitzel restaurant. You should certainly make a reservation before going here. The oldest one is located on the bottom floor of an inn, in a pair of shops opposite each other. The other one, with its more contemporary style, is located in a building right next to the inn. If you go there spontaneously, it is almost impossible to find a table. There is an incredible queue in front of the restaurant at any given time. But the delicious flavors will be waiting for you inside.
A Vienna vacation is usually a full 3-day sightseeing tour as I mentioned at the beginning of this article. However, you can extend your vacation for a day or two and visit other European cities by train on a daily basis. You can book a ticket to Prague or Bratislava at very affordable prices. You can purchase tickets from various train companies and add them to your itinerary while planning your vacation.
I think the Vienna holiday will be an ideal trip at Christmas time. I am sure you won’t regret it 🙂 Have a good new year in advance…
