Christmas in Vienna: A Journey That Felt Like a Fairytale
Useful Sources & References
A few official sources for the places and Christmas markets mentioned in this article:
- Vienna Tourist Board – Vienna Christmas Markets
- Schönbrunn Palace – Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace
- Vienna Tourist Board – Christmas & New Year's Eve in Vienna
- Vienna Tourist Board – Vienna Christmas Markets Guide
Some cities you visit, and some others stay with you long after you leave. Vienna was one of those cities.
A few days before the year came to an end, my wife and I found ourselves in a city that seemed to have stepped straight out of the pages of an old fairytale. From the moment we came out of the metro and saw the first beautifully decorated streets, we knew this trip was going to be different.
It wasn't just the thousands of lights. It wasn't just the Christmas markets. It was that feeling that the city was living at its own pace: slower, more elegant and somehow more beautiful.
A Trip That Didn't Cost as Much as You Might Think
When I say that you don't necessarily need to spend a fortune to travel, many people find it hard to believe. We flew directly from Thessaloniki with Ryanair and paid approximately €70 return per person.
If you're looking for hotel options for your trip, you can check hotels in Vienna on Expedia to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Just two hours later, we found ourselves in one of Europe's most beautiful capitals. The journey was quick and easy, and Vienna immediately felt accessible.
The First Impression
I always say that the first impression of a city is the one that stays with you. In Vienna, it wasn't a famous landmark. It was the smells: hot wine, cinnamon, roasted chestnuts, sausages and music.
There was music everywhere. I felt as if every street had its own soundtrack.
I Don't Only Remember the Sights
Yes, we visited Schönbrunn Palace, saw St. Stephen's Cathedral up close, walked outside the Vienna State Opera and wandered through the narrow streets of the historic centre. But if you ask me today what I remember most, I won't mention these places first.
I remember those moments when we walked without a map or a destination, looking at shop windows and listening to street musicians.
That's when I realised that the best trips aren't necessarily the ones that follow a programme to the letter. They are the ones that leave room for the unexpected.
The Christmas Markets
If there is one reason to visit Vienna in December, it is the Christmas markets. From Rathausplatz and Maria-Theresien-Platz to Schönbrunn and Stephansplatz, Vienna's festive markets transform historic squares into magical winter settings. [1]
We didn't go there simply to buy souvenirs. We went to experience the atmosphere: to drink warm Punsch in the cold, taste local flavours and watch people from all over the world smile like children. [3]
The Christmas markets are one of the defining experiences of Advent in Vienna, with traditional crafts, food, warm drinks and beautifully decorated historic surroundings. [1]
And somewhere along the way, we realised that the magic of Christmas isn't really found in the presents. It's found in the moments.
The Food
I get to know every country through its food first. So, of course, I couldn't leave Vienna without trying an authentic Wiener Schnitzel and the famous Sachertorte.
And almost every evening walk ended with a warm glass of Punsch in our hands.
If You Asked Me...
Is it worth it? Without a second thought.
Not only because Vienna has impressive palaces, museums and historic buildings, but because it makes you slow down. It makes you walk without rushing, enjoy a simple moment and actually feel the place you are visiting.
Until the Next Journey...
As we were returning to Greece, I looked through the airplane window at the lights of Vienna disappearing below us.
I thought about how strange travelling is. You go to an unfamiliar place for only a few days, and somehow a small piece of it stays inside you forever.
Vienna was the most beautiful way to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one.
"Until the next journey..."
Keep discovering, keep dreaming and keep filling your luggage with experiences.