Vienna's Christmas markets are legendary, drawing visitors from all corners of the globe.
========================================================================(Vienna's Christmas markets are legendary, drawing visitors from all corners of the globe.)
(at the Baroque Upper Belvedere palace [shown here], with a small lake in front of it). In the evening, when the sky turns twilight blue and the lights go on, the building and its reflection form one of those breathtaking fairytale visions you see in tourism brochures and Disney films. During Advent, the Christmas market stalls and any water illuminations make this glorious photo opportunity even more impressive.
+ Vienna’s many Christmas markets started opening on November 8th this year and all the main ones are now up and running. They make you believe the world is a better place than news broadcasts and social media might suggest. Such markets feel a bit like being wrapped in a cozy blanket before a roaring fireplace, with a steaming mug of something warm and the company of good friends. (The only downside is they can get busy at peak times.) The 2024 market opened mid-November and continues until December 31st.
+ Most market stalls stock arts and crafts, handcrafted bits and bobs, seasonal decorations, and many things in-between: all to an often remarkably high quality -- usually in historical surroundings that enhance the feeling of tradition. The typical Christmas market has made “culinary temptation” an art form. (Imagine the sugar fairy got loose, made a pact with the chocolate fairy, and then abandoned all reason and accountability.) Common treats include chocolate-covered fruit, roasted & caramelized nuts, Lebkuchen, innumerable pastries, and various varieties of pretzels. (Though you find many savory dishes, too, such as goulash, baked potatoes, etc.)
+ Souvenir punch mugs from the Stephansplatz market: A fine idea for the steaming mug of something warm is Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas punch); the drink comes in dozens of flavors and keeps the chill at bay on a cold winter’s evening. (Non-alcoholic options also exist).) Drinking this punch is not a “tourist thing” at all. Locals regularly meet friends after work for a mug or two around a bar table outside a Christmas market booth or freestanding street stall. The markets serve their punch in collectable mugs, and each market commonly has its own unique mug design. You pay a deposit when you order, so you have the option of simply keeping the mug as a souvenir and losing the deposit.
+ Listen to an advent concert at the Christmas market on the historical Freyung square: (Stephansdom cathedral also hosts concerts) Vienna fills with the sound of concerts in November and December, and not just the regular special performances designed to offer a taste of light classical Viennese music for visitors. Many other venues join in the fun at this time of year.
+ For a particularly resonant ambiance, consider a recital or concert in a church. Your top options around the center include, for example, Stephansdom Cathedral and the Peterskirche, Annakirche, Kapuzinerkirche, and Karlskirche churches. [shown here], with a small lake in front of it). In the evening, when the sky turns twilight blue and the lights go on, the building and its reflection form one of those breathtaking fairytale visions you see in tourism brochures and Disney films. During Advent, the Christmas market stalls and any water illuminations make this glorious photo opportunity even more impressive.
+ Vienna’s many Christmas markets started opening on November 8th this year and all the main ones are now up and running. They make you believe the world is a better place than news broadcasts and social media might suggest. Such markets feel a bit like being wrapped in a cosy blanket before a roaring fireplace, with a steaming mug of something warm and the company of good friends. (The only downside is they can get busy at peak times.) The 2024 market opened mid-November and continues until December 31st.
+ Most market stalls stock arts and crafts, handcrafted bits and bobs, seasonal decorations and many things in-between: all to an often remarkably high quality -- usually in historical surroundings that enhance the feeling of tradition. The typical Christmas market has made “culinary temptation” an art form. (Imagine the sugar fairy got loose, made a pact with the chocolate fairy, and then abandoned all reason and accountability.) Common treats include chocolate-covered fruit, roasted & caramelized nuts, Lebkuchen, innumerable pastries, and various varieties of pretzels. (Though you find many savory dishes, too, such as goulash, baked potatoes, etc.)
+ Souvenir punch mugs from the Stephansplatz market: A fine idea for the steaming mug of something warm is Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas punch); the drink comes in dozens of flavors and keeps the chill at bay on a cold winter’s evening. (Non-alcoholic options also exist).) Drinking this punch is not a “tourist thing” at all. Locals regularly meet friends after work for a mug or two around a bar table outside a Christmas market booth or freestanding street stall. The markets serve their punch in collectible mugs, and each market commonly has its own unique mug design. You pay a deposit when you order, so you have the option of simply keeping the mug as a souvenir and losing the deposit.
+ Listen to an advent concert at the Christmas market on the historical Freyung square: (Stephansdom cathedral also hosts concerts) Vienna fills with the sound of concerts in November and December, and not just the regular special performances designed to offer a taste of light classical Viennese music for visitors. Many other venues join in the fun at this time of year.
+ For a particularly resonant ambiance, consider a recital or concert in a church. Your top options around the center include, for example, Stephansdom Cathedral and the Peterskirche, Annakirche, Kapuzinerkirche, and Karlskirche churches.
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