Christmas in Austria

Hello all,

We (a couple) are currently looking at our Christmas holiday and are planning to take a train from London to our Christmas destination. We are currently trying to decide between Switzerland and Austria to spend Christmas and then spend time skiing.

One thought was to spend Christmas in Vienna or Innsbruck or Salzburg and then head somewhere for a number of days for skiing. But I would love some feedback from others. Is Vienna a good place to spend Christmas? When do the Christmas markets run until? If so, can you recommend a nice hotel where we can get that Christmas feel? (Preferrably in a decent price range.) We have Marriott points and either the Vienna Marriott or Imperial Riding School Renaissance are options. Would that be a good one?

Are there other cities/towns that would be a better recommendation?

Also, for the week between Christmas and New Year%26#39;s, are there recommended ski resorts with great skiing, potentially inexpensive lodgings for a group (we might be having friends join up after Christmas) and a good chance of snow in late December?

I have just asked a lot I know. Any help would be great. Thank you in advance!

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Pre-Christmas time is wonderful in Vienna, but expect calm days after the 24th of December, when people spend time with their families and/or leave the city for a vacation (some Austrian prefer Thailand..)

The Marriott Vienna is perfectly located at the ring street with easy access to public transportation. Post-Christmas time can sometimes be dull if the weather brings just clouds instead of snow. Don%26#39;t expect snow in Vienna!

I would probably combine Vienna and Salzburg, but no idea where to spend the Christmas Eve. There are christmas masses everywhere, you could join the one in St. Stephan%26#39;s cathedral at midnight (!!). That would be memorable!

If you wanna ski, you need to make your arrangements very soon as the reasonable accomodations run out very quickly.

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At Christmas time there is always a risk of having not too much snow down in the vallies, so I would choose either a resort located higher in the mountains or one with a glacier nearby:

Obertauern

Zell am See

Ischgl

Arlberg area

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Long ago my wife and I spent a week at Christmas in Salzburg. It was wonderful In addition to the beautiful city we made visits to the Salzkammergut lake district (covered in snow and hoary frost)and the Danube valley including St. Florian%26#39;s Abbey, and attended a church service in the village where silent night was written. We stayed on in the village to overrun the local Gasthaus. Great stuff.

It was a German tour and included the hotel with breakfast and supper. The supper was a fixed menu, no choice. That was fine until Christmas Eve when they served %26quot;traditional%26quot; boiled carp. There was no place else to eat without a reservation. On the good side, it taught us to keep healthy snacks in our room when we traveled.

Regards, Gary

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Vienna is a great place to spend Chrismas !

Of course I have some prejudice.

But I just finished contact with friends from the USA who are planning a trip here during this time. This planning conversation reminded me of this posting.

Vienna

Numerous Christmas markets

Including major ones at the Rathaus - City HALL

www.christkindlmarkt.at

Schönbrunn Palace

www.weihnachtsmarkt.co.at

Most important about this market - not just interesting things but also open December 25 and December 26 ( 10:00 - 18:00 )

Most all markets close early on the 24th.

Most here celebrate the event on the evening of the 24th with a gala dinner with family.

But for tourists enough restarants are open to isure good dining.

for list of restaurants that are open and other info

www.info.wien.at

I would only pick a smaller and more friendly Church - in city center The Schottenkirchen on Freyung-

The Michaeler Kirche on Michaelerplatz - both easy to reach and a good atmosphere to celebrate the events.

For accomodations-

The Kaiserin Elisabeth and Romischer Kaiser both offer a Vienna atmosphere in the very city center.

info here on Trip Advisor.

The Marriott never a favorite of mine- seems like everyother marriott of the world. Close the door to your room and you could be anywhere- nothing special-

The Riding school - a little out of the city center but nicer in my opinion.

Salzburg is also very nice but most say in 1-2 days most everything is seen. But Vienna , being bigger offers much more to do regarding varied sightseeing, music venues , varied shopping and just wandering about - finding small streets, antiques, etc.

Still an easy trip for skiing.

I would really recommend Obertauern- just 1 hour plus south of Salzburg- and 4 hours from Vienna.

high enough to provide good snow - with a good choice of accomodations- and easy lift access from most every place to a nice ski circus.

Book early as this is a very busy time.

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