Vienna at Christmas time
November 2024
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Austrian capital shows its most enchanting side. The windows of the luxury boutiques are glamorously decorated, the luxury hotels delight with atmospheric lighting and the many cafés and restaurants serve seasonal specialties and opulent holiday menus. In short: Advent in Vienna is a wonderful time not to be missed!
In our exclusive travel guide, we reveal the best addresses in the city and provide an overview of the most beautiful Christmas markets – from traditional to modern. Because the cold months in Vienna’s city center invite you to dream and linger, whether on a winter walk, a cup of “Melange” in one of the historic coffee houses, or on an unforgettable horse-drawn carriage ride.
Where to stay
Stay in style: Vienna’s most magnificent hotels
You don’t want to miss out on the comfort of a five-star hotel, especially on a city break. After all, amenities such as a spa, spacious rooms and first-class service are standard in such luxurious hotels. In these accommodations you can spend the night in Austria’s capital in style:
Hotel Sacher
In the traditional hotel steeped in history Sacher glistens and sparkles particularly beautifully during Advent. Fortify yourself on a cold winter’s day with a hot chocolate in the Café Sacher or round off the day with a drink in the festively decorated lobby. Guests can also enjoy delicious menus in the two restaurants Red bar and Green Bar.
Tradition and elegance
In addition to its luxurious rooms and suites, the five-star hotel also offers soothing beauty treatments in the hotel’s own spa.
Hotel Sacher – www.sacher.com
Amauris
As soon as the first snow falls like powdered sugar over the roof of the Viennese luxury boutique hotel The Amauris Vienna – Relais & Châteaux the winter atmosphere in the hotel’s own Schanigarten promises Austrian coziness. Atmospheric live music, stylish designer furniture and cozy fur blankets create an inviting ambience.
Guests can relax in the luxurious The Amauris Spa before spending the evening at the gourmet restaurant Glasswing by Alexandru Simon to round off the evening with culinary delights.
The Amauris – www.theamauris.com
Rosewood Vienna
Around the corner from the famous St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the exclusive Hotel Rosewood Vienna. In dem neoklassizistischen Gebäude aus dem 19. Jahrhundert wohnte sogar einst Wiens Super-Star Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!
Service at its best: personalized pillows
Fine fabrics, bespoke furniture and contemporary art create a cosmopolitan flair and imperial glamor. Guests bathe in free-standing bathtubs and sleep on wonderfully comfortable king-size beds – VIP guests even receive a personalized pillowcase!
But at the Rosewood Vienna you not only dream well, you also relax wonderfully thanks to the two-storey Asaya Spa. Also recommended: The rooftop bar and the hotel brasserie New sovereignty. Beide Outlets give thanks to panoramic windows, the view of wintry Vienna and its surrounding magnificent historical buildings is unobstructed.
Rosewood Vienna – www.rosewoodhotels.com
Ritz-Carlton Vienna
The Ritz-Carlton Vienna spoils its guests in the run-up to Christmas and during the holidays with numerous exclusive and delicious program items. For example, the luxurious Christmas Suite at Hotel 2024 will enchant guests for the first time with its own Christmas tree and lovingly decorated details.
And from mid-November, the Atmosphere Rooftop Bar is transformed into a cozy, sparkling winter terrace and invites you to enjoy traditional Austrian delicacies and raclette with Swiss cheese as well as punch and mulled wine. Dine in comfort in heated gondolas – naturally with the best view of the festively illuminated city.
Ritz-Carlton Vienna – www.ritzcarlton.com
Where to go?
Atmospheric Christmas markets in Vienna
Whether shopping for Christmas tree baubles, marveling at handmade nativity figures or simply drinking a glass of warming mulled wine: Christmas markets are simply part of Advent and are a wonderful way to get in the mood for the upcoming festive season.
Belvedere Palace Christmas Village
The Christmas village in the Belvedere Palace. Dieser Markt beeindruckt mit seiner Barockkulisse, edlen Verkaufsständen und einem bunten Rahmenprogramm – von musikalischen Auftritten von Chören bis hin zum Nostalgie-Karussell.
Belvedere Palace Christmas Village – www.weihnachtsdorf.at
Schönbrunn Palace Culture and Christmas Market
The culture and Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace is similarly magnificent. Schönbrunn Palace. Er entfaltet seine Magie besonders gut, wenn es dunkel ist und die Lichter den Abendhimmel beleuchten. 2024 wird dafür erstmals der gesamte Ehrenhof des Schlosses in eine winterliche Weihnachtswelt verwandelt mit über 90 Ständen und neuer Architektur.
Schönbrunn Palace Culture and Christmas Market – www.schoenbrunn.at
Christmas market with a green focus
Advent market
Spittelberg
If you value sustainable products and organic food, the Advent market on the Spittelberg is in good hands. It has been held as a sustainable eco-event since 2023 and offers local and fairly produced goods as well as a great children’s program in the form of an Advent cinema.
Advent market Spittelberg – www.spittelberg.at
Art Advent Market Karlsplatz
There are plenty of fairy lights and cultural highlights at the ecologically sustainable Art Advent Market on Vienna’s Karlsplatz in front of the imposing church of the same name. In addition to a certified organic food offer, visitors can expect exquisite handicrafts that are perfect as Christmas gifts, live music and performances to amaze, laugh and dance to.
Art Advent Market Karlsplatz – www.divinaart.at
The best addresses in Vienna for coffee and brunch
Anyone traveling to Vienna should also get to know the local coffee house culture. It’s about more than the caffeinated hot drink, it’s about an attitude to life. Here are the most beautiful places where Melange, Buchteln and living history come together in the most elegant way:
Café Central
Since 1876, this Viennese coffee house in Palais Ferstel on Herrenstrasse has been synonymous with excellent coffee and an elegant Venetian-style ambience. Take a seat, choose a sweet treat from the excellent patisserie and enjoy the pleasant piano music. In addition to local desserts, the traditional Café Central also offers delicious hearty classics of Viennese cuisine such as Tafelspitz and Schnitzel.
Café Central – www.cafecentral.wien
Café Demel
The artistically designed shop windows and display cases are the trademark of the former imperial and royal court confectioner Demel. Founded in 1786, Demel’s pastries and confectionery even appealed to Empress Elisabeth. Today, visitors can order not only chocolates and cakes but also savory dishes such as fried chicken or goulash. Charming: even after 200 years, only female staff, the so-called Demelinerinnen, sell and serve at Demel.
Café Demel – www.demel.com
Enjoy Sacher cake with a view of the State Opera House
The world-famous Sacher Torte is a must-try during a trip to Vienna in the noble hotel of the same name! On the cozy second floor of the Café Sacher visitors can take a seat on velvety sofas or in inviting séparées with an impressive view of the Vienna State Opera and enjoy the chocolatey, fruity dessert.
Café Sacher – www.sacher.com
Champagne brunch at the Hotel Imperial
On selected Sundays between October and January, the luxury hotel Imperial The hotel invites guests to a glittering champagne brunch under the chandeliers every year. Sparkling moments await late risers, romantics and gourmets in the bar of the luxury hotel – be sure to book in advance!
Imperial Bar at the Hotel Imperial – www.imperial-bar.at
Strudel and sparkling wine in the Advent season
Brunch at Palais Todesco
The Gerstner Café-Restaurant of the farm bakery of the same name welcomes guests every Sunday in the magnificent Beletage rooms of Palais Todesco with a glass of Schlumberger sparkling wine. With a view of the State Opera, a delicious buffet is served and Advent is celebrated with the hotel’s delicious strudels, cakes and desserts.
Café Gerstner – www.gerstner.at
It’s tea time
Hotels with afternoon tea in Vienna
In addition to Vienna’s traditional coffee houses, the city delights – especially during the Advent season! – with an exquisite range of afternoon tea events. Sweet and savory snacks and a cup of hot tea, along with a glass of sparkling champagne, promise enjoyable moments.
Hotel Bristol
A great culinary tip not only during the pre-Christmas period: afternoon tea at the elegant Bristol Hotel. Every year from September to February, guests can sample a fine selection of delicacies such as mini sandwiches, savory snacks, scones with clotted cream and homemade jam as well as sweet creations from the hotel’s own patisserie by the open fire in the cozy Bristol Lounge.
Hotel Bristol – www.bristol-lounge.at
Where scones meet champagne
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna
Also in the listed Hansen Palace of the Anantara Hotel in the heart of Vienna, guests can also enjoy an afternoon tea with many delicacies in a small format – from mini apple strudel and classic scones to puff pastry brioche and beef tartare.
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna – www.anantara.com
Where to eat?
Top 3 restaurant recommendations in Vienna
From rustic pubs to luxurious fine dining establishments: Vienna has a diverse gastronomic scene, both regional and international! Which classics of Austrian cuisine and modern concepts you shouldn’t miss:
Black camel
The Black Camel is the oldest trendy restaurant in Vienna and serves home-style cooking, known above all for its schnitzel. Seating is on the first floor, but the bar on the ground floor is the real hotspot. This is where the famous sandwiches and rolls are served. The friendly host Peter Friese is the good soul of the establishment.
Black Camel – www.kameel.at
Steirereck
Who in the restaurant Steirereck who has booked a table can look forward to a culinary journey in a class of its own. Owner and head chef Heinz Reitbauer presents contemporary Austrian cuisine at the highest level using local produce. His skills have been awarded two Michelin stars and five Gault Millau toques. In addition, the Steirereck on place 22 of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants!
Steirereck – www.steirereck.at
Star cuisine in an imperial ambience
From Tuesday to Saturday evening the restaurant Palais Coburg opens its doors to gourmets. Head chef Silvio Nickol serves gourmet culture at the highest level, awarded two stars by the Michelin Guide. Treasures from the world-famous wine cellar are also served (awarded “Best Wine List in the World” in 2014 and 2017).
Silvio Nickol – www.palais-coburg.com
Where to drink?
Elegant bars in Vienna
The city’s many bars offer a cozy and luxurious setting to round off a day in Vienna. Whether by candlelight or under chandeliers, with a glass of champagne or a cocktail in your hand: our Travel Guide for Vienna presents the best addresses in the city:
Blue bar
The legendary Blue Bar in the Hotel Sacher sets new standards for sophisticated savoir-vivre in the heart of Vienna. Enjoy a sophisticated aperitif before dinner or relax with a fruity long drink in the stylish ambience. The room features dark blue brocade walls, exquisite crystal chandeliers and wonderfully comfortable sofas.
Hotel Sacher – www.sacher.com
Barfly's Club
Authentic, chic and urban: Barfly’s Bar, established in 1990 Barfly’s Bar with American Flavor promises Great Gatsby flair and fabulous drinks. While Frank Sinatra plays from the speakers, you can order one of the whiskey rarities and take a seat in the velvet armchairs.
Barfly’s Bar – www.barflys.at
Above the rooftops of Vienna: a visit to the highest bar in the city
57 Lounge
A visit to the 57 Lounge brings with it many superlatives. The fastest lift in Austria takes you up to the highest building in the country, where the luxury hotel Melia to the 57th floor on the northern bank of the Danube in just a few seconds. Once at the top, visitors can expect a spectacular 360-degree view of Vienna – from the Prater to the Hofreitschule – thanks to floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. The bar menu is exclusive, the service is friendly and DJs regularly play live music.
57 Lounge – www.melia.com
What to see?
What to see? Experience Vienna: 6 sightseeing highlights
What would a travel guide to Vienna be without mentioning the most beautiful buildings and most valuable cultural assets to be discovered in the Austrian metropolis? Here are our recommendations for a varied vacation during the Advent season.
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world. Built in 1869 according to the plans of architects August Siccard von Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll, the opera house on the Ring offers performances of music and theater at the highest level on around 300 days a year. The highlight is certainly the Vienna Opera Ball!
All waltzes, please!
Tip: During a 40-minute guided tour of the historic building, you can learn exciting information and catch a glimpse of the grand staircase and state rooms.
Vienna State Opera – www.wiener-staatsoper.at
Spanish Riding School
The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the only place in the world where the classical horsemanship of the High School has been preserved and maintained unchanged from the Renaissance to the present day. The excellent performances of the Lipizzaner horses can be seen during gala performances – in what is probably the most beautiful riding hall in the world, built by baroque architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach.
Did you know? Since December 2015, the equestrian arts of the Spanish Riding School have also been a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Spanish Riding School – www.srs.at
Imperial Palace
This imperial sight is one of the largest palace complexes in the world. Once home to the imperial family, the palace now houses the Imperial Palace some of the most visited museums and collections in Vienna. First and foremost the Sissi Museum and the Imperial Treasury. But the Hofburg is also home to the Austrian National Library and the Albertina with masterpieces of classical modernism.
Recreation in nature
Green oasis: The Volksgarten, Burggarten and Maria-Theresien-Platz are nearby and offer plenty of parking spaces to relax.
Hofburg – www.hofburg.com
Schönbrunn Palace
The sight par excellence in Vienna is certainly the stately Schönbrunn Palace. Schönbrunn Palaceformerly the summer residence of the Habsburgs. A tour through the originally furnished imperial state rooms and living quarters gives visitors an ideal impression of how Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) once resided. The outdoor area also features a maze and a labyrinth.
Listening to the music of Mozart and Strauss
Good to know: Every day in the halls of Schönbrunn Palace also host festive concerts at Christmas and New Year’s Eve. www.palaceconcertsvienna.com
Schönbrunn Palace – www.schoenbrunn.at
Museum of Art History Vienna
The Kunsthistorisches Museum, or KHM for short, was built near the Hofburg in the late 19th century to house the imperial family’s extensive art collections. To this day, visitors can admire important paintings and the world’s largest Bruegel collection in the four-storey building.
Old masters in a magnificent setting
Not to be missed: The current Rembrandt exhibition, which can be seen until January 12, 2025. The KHM is even open on Saturdays until 21:00 for the duration of the exhibition!
Kunsthistorisches Museum – www.khm.at
Danube cruise
The Danube is not only Vienna’s local recreation area in the hot summer months, but also provides magical moments in winter. Boat trips on the river are particularly romantic when the many lights of the city are reflected in the water. In addition to cruises lasting several hours with an audio guide and optional dinner, aperitif or afternoon tea, a river cruise lasting several days, for example to Budapest or Bratislava, is also worthwhile.
Pure luxury: Thanks to the butler service and spa area on board the German shipping company Riverside Cruises, you can travel along the Danube in particular comfort.
Danube trip – www.riverside-cruises.com
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