Vienna
Catching an early morning Austrian Airlines flight to Vienna, mid-December, for this Australian to experience one of the experiences Europe does best – Christmas markets! Even the most sun loving Australians must visit Europe in winter at least once in their lives, if for nothing else, the white Christmas experience.
Accommodation
Our accommodation was great, Hotel Stefanie (which I liked for obvious reasons); we had a history lesson from the attentive staff about Princess Stefanie and how this is the oldest hotel in Vienna. Although the hotel still has the appeal of its 400-year age, the modern amenities made for a comfortable stay. The fascinating history should have drawn us in, however, it was the inclusive sparkling wine with breakfast daily that truly won us over.
Christmas Markets
We didn’t waste any time getting to the first of many Christmas markets with our first stop being Maria-Theresien Platz, large public square at the museum of modern arts. The markets were as beautiful as you can imagine. A huge range of gorgeous Christmas decorations, gifts and presents, food and drink. We had cheese filled Viennese hot dogs with hot coconut cider, then banana, chocolate waffles for dessert.
There were a handful of large, well know Christmas markets, as well as many lesser know, local ones scattered about the city. Met with some friends of ours for lunch the next day where we tried the famous Austrian Wiener Schnitzel, along with more hot berry cider which had quickly become our favourite beverage. That evening we visited more markets at Rathauspark, where Christmas lights covered every tree making the park stunning at night and quite the place for loved up couples to flock too. My friend and I moved on to the markets just outside Schonbrunn Palace where we had soup in bread bowls, hot cider (yes, again) and hot pancakes while browsing the beautiful stalls and the hand crafted gifts.
Oldest Ferris Wheel in the world
Another sparkling wine breakfast, which in hindsight probably gave us the confidence to ride the oldest Ferris Wheel in the world- Vienna Riesenrad, built in 1897, having to be repaired after being damaged during the Second World War. It was an incredible experience, although quite a misty day so not the views that could be seen had it been clear. We visited the Vienna Zoo the same day and caught the last bus back to Belvedere Palace- the highlight of our Vienna journey. We were not sure if the breathtaking palace was real, or we were in a fairytale. The palace was lit up brightly, reflecting on the water surrounding, with golden stars arising from this water. Enjoyed a baileys hot chocolate before finding delicious Japanese for dinner which several people had suggested we try! For our final day in Austria’s capital city, we went shopping before our British Airways flight out of Flughafen Wien Airport back to England, having one last local drink, Gosser- an Austrian beer before we flew home to much warmer London.
My tips-
- Dress warmly, it was much colder than I expected.
- Enjoy a Viennese coffee – Vienna is known for its Kaffeehaus culture.
- Experience a classical concert – the buildings they are held in are worth the tickets alone.
If you would like any more information on Vienna, or if Christmas in Europe is on your bucket list, please get in touch with Bee Inspired Travel to talk about booking your own unforgettable adventure. Contact: admin@beeinspiredtravel.com.au
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