In a December morning before Christmas in 2017 I was drinking my coffee at Café Demel, where it smells phenomenal (Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Wien). The Christmas atmosphere compliments the charm of the city. It was unexpectedly lovely, but I’ll take it.

Photo credit: demel.com

The pastries shop Demel and the café upstairs represents the quintessential Viennese style. Just as with Cafe Central, is recommend to go just to experience this place. I just loved the details of the walls, the velvet drapes and the beautiful chairs and the chandeliers. Next to me two men in suits were speaking French and Bach was playing in the background.

Time to order at Café Demel. An elegant waiter came, I remember I spoke in German and he answers in English. Oh, Vienna! I took a “kleiner Frühstück“ and a “Großer Brauner” (small breakfast and a double espresso with cream).

Christmas in Vienna

I am one of those persons that loves Christmas very much and visits markets every year. The Christmas Markets in Austria are my favorite from all the markets I ever saw.

Why?

1. The Christmas atmosphere compliments the charm of the city. Walking on the Viennese streets in the center, I saw decorations & many lights. As well, one could hear music everywhere. Mostly classical music, but I remember Christmas songs, blues and jazz notes. Quite magical.

Looking for concert locations or Christmas and New Year’s Eve musical events in Vienna? Besides classical concert halls, there are plenty other beautiful venues, especially palaces or churches, as are Schönbrunn Orangery or St. Stephen’s Cathedral or Peter’s Church, but also Mozarthaus and Musikverein.

2. Culture. I recommend a culture break at Albertina Museum, Kunsthistorisches Museum or a night date at the Vienna State Opera for ballet or opera. Plus, I could have spend an entire day at MuseumQuartier.

After visiting symbol of Vienna, Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Stephansplatz, plus Graben area and Kärtnerstrasse shopping street, we continue on the Viennese Ring. Here I walked from Albertinaplatz and Burggarten to Volksgarten, through Heldenplatz until Hofburg Imperial Palace.

3. Locations locations. I loved the Christmas market in front of Hofburg Palace, the ones at Schönbrunn Palace, at Belvedere and in front of St Stephen’s Cathedral in Stephansplatz. There was celebration everywhere. And snow.

The market Christkindlmarkt in Rathausplatz in front of the town hall is my favorite in Vienna. On weekends evenings, you can listen international choirs singing carols while having a mug of Christmas punch and a plate of the local dessert kaiserschmarrn.

4. Coffee and martipan. Wien has a coffee culture. You can expect a line at the famous coffee shops and marzipan everywhere. Café Demel, but as well Café Central, Café Francaise, Café Mozart, Café Sacher.. or Café Aida. All the senses are activated – sound of music, taste, smell, the views!

Walking on the streets and seeing the beautiful buildings, the way people were dressed and were behaving I remember I had a thought exactly at Hofburg. What if I could borrow from the beauty around me? What if I could steal from the elegance for myself. Maybe I did in a way, I hope.

Merry Christmas!