Vienna or Prague during Christmas week (Dec 18 - 27)

Just know most markets close 12/23 so the vendors can get home to their families

A few stay open past Xmas- but you'll need to check

Vienna for sure as Vienna has so many markets and the city is so good.

Prague is stunning- but the markets are not traditional- it's mostly food and drink with Chinese imported products

In Vienna ~ don't miss
Rathaus/CityHall Market-esp at night
Maria Theresa Platz Market
St Stephan's Cathedral Market
Art Advent Market/Karlsplatz (local's fav)
Schonbrunn Palace Market (best items)
Spittelberg Market
AmHof Market

Plus - Vienna is full of Cathedrals, Museums, history, palaces, etc.

I am interested in Christmas markets and festivities, music, and food
and drink, shopping, and also seeing a few key sights (art museums
always interest me).

IMO Prague can't compare to Vienna from art museum and shopping perspectives.

Christmas is a family event. In Austria December 25 and 26 are public holidays. I would never travel during that time.

wmt1 ---

Just because you wouldn't, doesn't mean others wouldn't.

Not everyone has a family and many people want to get away during that time because it can be tough. My husband and I are like that - we have NO family, so we like to get away as it is hard to be home during that time.

And many others own business or whatever and that is the only time they can close down and travel.

We are all different and do what we have to.

Hoping for more opinions, but I appreciate all of the comments so far.

Just because you wouldn't (travel during XMAS), doesn't mean others wouldn't.

We have traveled during the Christmas holidays our entire lives, and I have always seen plenty of other "tourists" doing the same, in the US and in Europe and Japan. London and Paris are jammed during the holidays with foreign and domestic tourists, and my main concern is how shut down other cities may be, especially in terms of food - I don't expect museums or other tourist sites to be open, the main reason for my question in the first post was for any indication that Prague or Vienna would be "better" on Dec 24-26 for a tourist to at least find food and drink in a major city (I would not schedule a trip to be in a small town during those days, any more than I would do that in the US). Any additional thoughts on this question are appreciated.

I can't speak to the Xmas part of your question, but I have been to both cities and I would vote for Vienna! I have been to Prague the week after Xmas, for New Years, and it was festive and icy and cold, which I am sure you'll find to be the case in either of these places. But I say Vienna because of the museums and day trip options, musical events etc.

Cath, thank you for your opinion, I am leaning that way and I agree with you I will enjoy Vienna more than Prague...

I also would choose Vienna over Prague. I think its going to be easier to stay busy in Vienna. Then there is the added benefit of a few close by places. Bratislava has markets, in past years there have been events at the Pannonhalma ArchAbbey (too soon to check on this year), Gyor has markets without so many tourists .... WAIT, Gyor? You are almost in Budapest LOL..... Sorry could not resist.

I also would choose Vienna over Prague. I think its going to be easier to stay busy in Vienna. Then there is the added benefit of a few close by places. Bratislava has markets, in past years there have been events at the Pannonhalma ArchAbbey (too soon to check on this year), Gyor has markets without so many tourists .... WAIT, Gyor? You are almost in Budapest LOL..... Sorry could not resist.

Mr E, speaking of Budapest...I am also considering splitting this trip into Vienna and Budapest, in that order...placing me in Budapest from, say, Dec 22 - 27, return flight home from Budapest...in that case, in your opinion will I find plenty to eat and do in Budapest over that XMAS holiday short week, or would I be just as well off to stay in Vienna and environs for the entire trip? I have been to Budapest and loved it, and now that Prague has faded for this trip, I might do the Vienna / Budapest split...

VOROSMARTY TÉR 17 November – 01 January
With 100+ stalls, the largest of the markets in Budapest.
• Monday – Thursday 11.00 - 21.00
• Friday & Saturday 11.00 - 22.00
• Sunday 11.00 - 21.00
• 24. December 10.00 - 14.00
• 25 & 26 December 10.00 -18.00
• 31 December 11.00 - 05.00
• 01. January 11.00 - 17.00

FASHION STREET DEÁK FERENC UTCA 17 November – 01 January

ERZSÉBET TÉR 17 November – 01 January

ST. STEPHEN’S BASILICA 17. November – 01. January
The second largest in Budapest and the one that has been awarded as the best in Europe on four separate occasions. https://dailynewshungary.com/congratulations-this-hungarian-christmas-fair-is-europes-most-beautiful/
• Monday – Thursday 11:00 - 21:00
• Friday & Saturday 11:00 - 23:00
• Sunday 11.00 - 21.00
• December 24 11:00 - 15:00
• 25 & 26 December 10.00 - 20.00
• 31 December Crafts 11:00 - 22.00
• 31 December food & drinks 11.00 - 03.00
• 01 January 11.00 - 18.00

VÁROSHÁZA / CITY HALL PARK24 November – 7 January

MADÁCH TÉR 3 December – 22 December

ÓBUDA, FŐ TÉR 1 December – 23 December
• Monday – Thursday 14.00 - 21.00
• Friday – Sunday 10.00 - 22.00

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR RESTAURANTS (there is more, these are just the ones i checked on)

OPEN 24, 25, 26, 31 DECEMBER
TwentySix https://twentysixbudapest.com/
KOLLÁZS – Brasserie & Bar https://www.kollazs.hu/
Spago by Wolfgang Puck https://spagobudapest.com/en/
Pest - Buda Bistro https://www.pest-buda.com/restaurant-inthe-
buda-castle.html
Christmas Dinner Cruise https://budapestrivercruise.com/budapestchristmas-
cruise

OPEN 25, 26 & 31 DECEMBER
Szeged Vendeglo https://www.szegedvendeglo.hu/
Callas Cafe https://callascafe.hu/
Sir Lancelot https://sirlancelot.hu/
Robinson https://www.robinsonrestaurant.hu/en
Dunacorso Étterem https://www.dunacorso.hu/

A few museums will be open on the 26th
The skating rink in the park is open except the 24th
There are some great self guided tours for architecture and the lights you can do.
The river boat tours are running

Yes, with some planning, plenty to do.

Same is equally true in Vienna, it all comes down to finding the resources to uncover what there is.

Mr E, you are a prince.

Thank you.

Jojo Rabbit, sorry, got a bit long,

Here is a walking tour of the markets.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/
P3e9w6Jcg7Vy3ATz6

also see https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/looking-for-recs-on-a-good-city-to-spend-the-week-before-christmas