Hi All,
My wife and I have booked our airfare to Vienna for the Christmas holiday. We land December 23rd and return home on the 29th.
Does anyone have suggestions for:
We are just now beginning to build our itinerary and any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks
Reasonably priced lodging for this period.
Relations of my wife stayed at this place about a year ago and liked it very much (for two people only):
https://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g190454-d6879815-Sunny_Apartment_near_City_Center-Vienna.html
Awarded with a "Certificate of Excellence" since then.
Recommendations on restaurants. Especially for the 24th as I have read many places close on this day.
That depends how much you are willing to spend. The posh places offer special Christmas dinners, above average prices, though.
If you prefer a hotel to a b&b or apartment, I can highly recommend the Classic Hotel Wien. I stayed there for 4 nights in 2014 and loved it. Rates were reasonable ($80/night for single, $120/night for a double, breakfast extra), I just checked dates in December and rates were the same. Well located a couple of blocks from the Metro stop and actually walking distance to city center if you're a walker, restaurants and small grocery in the immediate vicinity. Very nice rooms, wonderful staff, highly rated on booking.com and TA. I have recommended it several times on this forum and have had people stay there on my recommendation and loved it also.
We stayed there last Autumn based on Nancy's advice . It's a winner, and we are going back this October , absolutely loved the place
Just get on booking.com to get a feel for what hotels/apartments are available that week and at what price levels.
You want to be as close as possible to the center. Do not stay near train stations.
I plugged in your dates on booking.com. My suggestions:
Motel One Staatsoper (budget hotel, excellent location, 640 Euro for 6 nights ) has rooms.
Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen has rooms (my parents stayed there, room was large and very nice, huge bathroom, 518 Euro for 6 nights).
25Hours Hotel has rooms (689 Euro for 6 nights, best rooftop bar in the city, great location and near to the best Christmas market in town, Spittelberg).
K+K Hotel Maria Theresa has rooms for 761 Euro for 6 nights (location in excellent near Museumsquartier and Spittelberg, especially for markets, I've stayed in other locations of this small chain and they're all good)
Ruby Sophie Hotel is available (very cool hotel converted from a historic theater, trendy and good location for 590 Euro for 6 nights)
Regarding restaurants, there will be a list published by the city later with the ones open on the 24th. Best to make reservations well in advance.
Christmas Markets will begin to shut down early afternoon on the 24th, so you'll want to hit the ground running. Shops will be closed from 24th (a Sunday) - 26th, including groceries. As Schonbrunn and Rathaus markets will re-open on the 27th, go to those after Christmas. I'd be sure to visit the Spittelberg and Karlsplatz markets (best ones) as soon as you arrive as they won't reopen.
Day trips in the winter are hard, especially during holidays when many things are closed. I'd stick to larger cities where you can duck in somewhere and get warm. Bratislava would be the most obvious option. Brno is also worth exploring.
Since you're there during the Christmas market season, I would definitely plan day trips to Bratislava and Salzburg. There will be crowds, but should be fun if the markets are of any interest to you. Salzburg especially has plenty to do on a day trip in addition to or instead of the market.
Hi Everyone....Thank you all very much for your input and assistance. I will beginning researching these things soon.
As a follow up. I think I saw that The Nutcracker is being performed on the 23rd and 28th. Is it difficult to get tickets for this?
Emily- Do you know when the restaurant list is published and do you have any recommendations? We are staying at the Hotel Savoyen. Thanks!
The restaurant list is published most likely at the beginning of December.
As Emily stated the K & K Maria Theresa is a very good hotel in an excellent location,I have stayed there as well as K & K Palais in Vienna.
Mike
As a follow up. I think I saw that The Nutcracker is being performed on the 23rd and 28th. Is it difficult to get tickets for this?
don't wait til you get there buy them online now;
a million other people probably have the same idea
