Vienna Christmas Market With My Mum
Vienna actually has about 10 Christmas markets but there is no need to visit them all, as it can get a bit ‘samie’. Our favourite was the Christkindlmark at Rahausplatz, this is the biggest and set against the backdrop of the town hall, a beautiful setting. This one was particularly good for families with a large carousel, a ferris wheel, ice skating, a children’s programme and loads of gorgeous food and gift options. Its really pretty at night too.
Stephansplatz is a must visit too, this is in the centre of the city and home to the main Cathedral. The Christmas market is much smaller and more food focused but well worth a visit, particularly at night. There are wonderful views of the city from the cathedral tower, which you take a small lift up to from within the cathedral. We enjoyed a taste of the famous Kaiserschmarrn from Demel, located just opposite the cathedral, you can order from the takeaway window, but there is also a seating area with heaters and blankets, and the queue was actually much faster than for the takeaway.
The other highlight for us was Schoenbrunn Palace, it was a short taxi from the city centre, and you can visit the museums and the market. Again, there are great family activities and there is a children’s museum here too (you don’t need to pay the main palace entrance). The opulence of the Austrian Hapsburg Court needs to be seen to be believed.
Vienna is such a beautiful city to wander around, so take the time to just explore. My favourite non market stop was the Austrian National Library, it's incredibly beautiful inside and well worth the €10 admission fee. If you enjoy classical music, there are a wide selection of performances you can choose from. We opted for an hour-long performance in an old church and it was the perfect for us - but again book in advance, especially if you want to go to any of the famous performances, as these book out months in advance.
I am a big fan of dessert and baked treats, so Vienna really was the perfect city for me. December is very busy in Vienna so you need to book in advance for the most popular cafes – and I mean months in advance! We ate in Palmenhaus, Café Sachar, Café Central and Gerstner Café. Cafe Sachar was my favourite, we booked for breakfast and it’s just as well, the public queue took over an hour, which in the December cold is not fun! The famous Sachar torte lived up to its reputations, you can even bring a slice or a full cake home.
We stayed in Hotel Motto a cool boutique hotel located just off the main shopping street of Mariahilfer Strasse. We walked everywhere but you can easily use the metro or buses, I love walking around cities, but we did clock up at least 20,000 steps a day – necessary to work off all the cakes!
Vienna is not the cheapest market city but it’s certainly one of the most beautiful, but you need to book ahead for better value and plan ahead for the main cafes, otherwise people can queue for 1-2 hours to get in.
Are you ready to book your Christmas market adventure and want some more tips on maximising your time in Vienna? Get in touch today.