Vienna - the perfect winter destination

When I visited Austria’s capital city, it was the height of summer, and not just that, it was in the midst of a summer-long heat-wave in central Europe. It was hot…very hot!

Whilst I really liked Vienna, with its gothic architecture, grandiose buildings, and, of course, the plethora of cafes selling the ‘Kaffee und Kuchen”, I couldn’t help feeling that the true character of this regal city could not fully be appreciated at this time of year – it’s just one of those cities that you immediately imagine at its fairytale best under a covering of snow!

December is therefore an ideal time to visit Vienna – the cafes offer a perfect, cosy shelter from the cold, the Christmas markets fill you with festive spirit, and the horse drawn carriages in the town centre add to the atmosphere even more with a wintery backdrop.

Every year in December, Vienna offers tourists a wealth of entertainment options, including:

• Regular performances at the Winter Riding School in the Hofburg. The Spanish Riding School is a traditional riding school for Lipizzan horses, and is also a centre for classical dressage.

• A temporary ice palace, ice rink, and ice climbing wall in the Museum Quarter, accompanied by a varied program of DJ sounds, readings and all sorts of activities.

• A traditional Christmas Market in City Hall with a giant 12-meter Advent wreath and 150 stalls offering Christmas gifts, tree decorations, sweets and warming drinks.

• The Christmas village on Maria-Theresien-Platz – during Advent more than 60 stands offer traditional, handcrafted wares and original gift ideas. Musical accompaniment is provided by brass bands and gospel choirs.

If your tastes are a little more decadent, and you can coincide your trip with New Year, you could even experience one of Vienna’s most famous attributes first-hand – the fantastic Imperial Ball (Kaiserball) at the Hofburg Palace. The Kaiserball is the traditional opener of the Vienna Ball season, when the historic changing of the guard takes place, performed by the Imperial Guard in the palace’s entrance hall. Cocktails are served whilst the Hofball Orchestra plays and guests are greeted by the likes of Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Josef. Not a cheap event by any means, but certainly a New Year’s Eve that would set quite a precedent for years to come!

More about German courses in Vienna