Hello Everyone,
I also posted this under Germany but got only one response so I am trying under Austria too.
We are planning to go to either Vienna or Munich for Christmas. We want to visit the Christmas markets, of course, but also want to spend Christmas with our family in a place that feels "Christmasy" and celebratory with our three adult children, ages 23, 21 and 18. If you could please weigh in on which you'd prefer given our wishes and demographic it would be much appreciated!
Well I like Vienna so much more than I like Munich, so I would vote for Vienna. The old town seems so regal and all reports of the Xmas decorations and lights paint magical pictures. Going to the Xmas markets there is on my bucket list, and I believe the markets continue past Xmas.
However, I'd recommend checking what shuts down in each area from Dec 24-26.
Perhaps watch some u-tube videos of the markets in each location and see which area speaks to you. Also, on Facebook, many of the Xmas markets have pages you can follow and join, as folks are actively planning their 2024 trips.
Have a great time.
My wife, adult daughter and I spent this past Christmas and the three days before it in Vienna. We also spent three nights in Munich and several other places as we did a self guided tour of Christmas markets in Europe. We have also visited Vienna on a previous pre-Christmas trip- we liked its Christmasy atmosphere so much the first time that we decided to make it our culminating stop this time. To my mind, its wealth of things to see and do year round- museums, concerts, cafes etc- combined with its multitude of Christmas markets makes Vienna my choice for the top city in Europe to spend a week or so at Christmas. That being said, we also loved Munich’s Christmas vibe. There were some really wonderful markets there too. But I think Munich has (slightly) less to offer besides the markets. One advantage Munich does have is its proximity by train to other fascinating cities with great Christmas markets. We day tripped to Nuremberg, and spent a night in Salzburg, which can also be done as a day trip from Munich. The single day Bavaria pass makes train really affordable for a family of five and includes both of these cities (even though Salzburg is not in Bavaria). One last point: if you are looking to stay in an apartment as a family, Munich seems to be far more restrictive in terms of vacation rentals than Vienna is. Happy holidays!
If you want a German Christmas then Munich. Besides Munich there ares so many other places you can easily hop a train and visit in Germany.
If you want something with a little broader cultural appeal then Vienna as Bratislava and Budapest are next door. I always choose options that broaden my horizon, but thats just me.
There is always concern expressed here about things closed 24, 25, 26 Decembeber. Maybe that true in some places. Ive only spent Christmas day in London, Rome, Budapest, Lviv and was never an issue. But does require some advance research, or maybe a reservation. Go and enjoy.
For a chance of snow and relatively easy public transport to other cities and markets it is München. Just about every Bavarian city will have a Chritmas tree thru Three Kings Day 6 Janurary. 26 December is a holday too the second Chtistmas Holiday. Good chance for a party evening on the town on the 24th. Quiet on the 25th and a Goose Mittagessen on the 26th.
Thank you all for your responses. It sounds like either place is a win.
We got our share of December snow this year as well
https://1drv.ms/i/s!Ai7Zk-szxfTJi7ZGazeBRMx3zHno9A
This video was done in the winter. But alas, no snow. https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared
very pretty
The snow photo was on Andrassy ut, across from the Opera House. I live about 200m from the photo point and snapped the photo on the way home one evening.
We've only been to Munich in the summer, but Vienna at Christmas was absolutely magical. There were plenty of indoor activities around town as well, and several Christmas markets. Gorgeous decorations in the center of town (walkable, not too touristy). Also, as Mr E says, Budapest is only a few hours away. On our trip we spent a few days in Vienna and took a bus to spend a few days in Budapest. What an incredible Christmas that was!
Super helpful! Really appreciate all your insights.
Vienna, hands down. In 2015 I spent a few nights in Munich at Christmas and ten nights in Vienna. The main market in the Rathausplatz in Munich even in the afternoon was wall to wall people. (I got separated from my daughter-in-law and it took 20 minutes for us to find one another; tip--don't wear a black coat.) The middle ages market was ok but Esslingen is better.
It is magical just walking around Vienna at Christmas. You will feel as Christmassy as you need. There is so much to do; the markets are then bonuses sprinkled here and there. We enjoyed a lot of musical performances: the Vienna Choir Boys, the Musikverein, the Staatsoper, Oper an der Wien. Even if you are not an opera fan, give the Staatsoper a try. The operas are done traditionally, and they usually do a few crowd pleasers at Christmas. It's really special, more so than the opera in Munich. Winter is the music season in Vienna, and Vienna is music. Also in Vienna be sure to head out to the Grinzig area to visit a Heuriger.
Vienna made it on the top 5, Munich didn't make the top 20 on this evaluation. And everything I have heard is good about the Vienna markets. This thread has convinced me to go this year. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanneshurvell/2022/12/08/europes-best-christmas-markets-for-2022-number-one-is-budapest/?sh=661ff9613535
Conde Nast picked Vienna too and omitted Munich. https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-christmas-markets-in-europe
Hi Bistoa, Thank you for your suggestions. We have decided on Vienna! Could you tell me where to buy opera tickets? And do you need to buy them in advance. We aren't big fans but as they say, when in Rome....
Also wanted to ask all of you where to eat on Christmas Eve/ Day. The front desk at the hotel we booked hasn't been that helpful. They recommended a bunch of restaurants but they are all close for Christmas!
Opera tickets are purchased from the Opera itself - https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/calendar-tickets/calendar/. You can buy your tickets in advance or wait in line for standing room tickets on the day of the performance.
As for restaurants, I think that was covered in your other post? As I mentioned there, the Vienna tourist board will publish a list of restaurants open on Christmas Eve, but hotels are probably your best bet. On Christmas Day, most will be open as normal. Eating out on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is very unusual for Austrians, so you'll be eating with fellow tourists, FYI.
For restaurants, never too early to start see what looks interesting. I've spent Christmas day in a number of European cities and finding a good restaurant has never been hard. Thats more myth than reality:
Use Open Table app about 2 months prior. You will find many that are open.
And here are some lists:
https://austrianadaptation.com/blog/where-to-have-christmas-dinner-in-vienna
https://www.thefork.com/restaurants/vienna-c597321/christmas-t2307
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Restaurants+Open+Christmas&find_loc=Vienna%2C+Wien
Dont assume that if they are open on the 25th that they are open on the 24th or the 26th. Many will open just one of the three days. But there is going to be enough to cover each evening. Who you will be dining with is imaterial. The meal and the event is important. Enjoy the trip.
Thank you both. You've been really helpful!
I would personally choose Vienna. There are many things to do in the pedestrian mall areas. The streets are decorated with amazing lights. There are pockets of Christmas Markets on little side streets. There is a fabulous high end gourmet grocery store to buy food or snacks for the hotel room. Julius Meinl am Graben. Vienna is more high end if you are looking for more upscale but not snobby. It seems the crowds are more evenly dispersed around the Stephanplatz, too.
Edit: Another idea for the family is to go Ice Skating at the Vienna City hall--it is quite the gathering place for young people and I think your kids would have fun there with other young people. There is also a Christmas market there--but I found it to be full of stuff made in China, not authentic Bavarian/Austrian goods. You can easily rent skates and skate along the frozen pathways that are created.
Munich is also great. We were there for Christmas markets (RS tour Munich to Vienna). The Marienplatz is jammed with people. You literally cannot move on a Saturday. You will just be shuffling among the masses. We enjoyed Munich too. But visiting it in September when we were there for Oktoberfest, the Marienplatz area reminded me of Powell street in San Francisco.
As another mentioned, you can take an easy day trip to Bratislava from Vienna for a change of venue and an entirely different experience. We did a day trip to Bratislava and it was very fun and interesting being a former Iron Curtain country. It too has a really neat Christmas Market in its main square.
No matter where you decide, get dinner reservations in advance! We lucked out in Munich, but not in Vienna when we were on our own for dinner.
Hello, I am a bit late getting back to this as I am somewhat new to posting.
I am not an expert, but I bought all of my tickets for opera and etc. directly from the source (i.e. Staatsoper, Oper an der Wien, Musikverein Jeunesse--rehearsal for an impossible-to-get concert.) At that time, all of the websites were in German, which made it a little tricky. Fortunately I am reasonably capable in German, because the online English translations didn't always make sense. The Staatsoper advance sales made me a little nervous. You sort of describe what you want, and buy them, and then later they send you a notice of what you've got, and you can take it or leave it. It did work out, and I got exactly what I wanted. For Zauberflöte on Christmas Day, I think we must have gotten the last three tickets available--separate seats up in the nosebleeds. I purchased tickets in October.
We ate our special dinner out on Christmas Eve. We got our reservation in mid-November for Gasthaus zur Oper/Plachutta. Lovely, delicious, very traditional. They even used Zalto wine glasses, which really elevated the wine experience.
On Christmas Day, we took it easy and ate food we had bought at a Heuriger a couple of days earlier, then went to the opera.
The whole visit to Vienna was magical.
Thank you both for your responses. Especially appreciate recommendations!
