Christkindlmarkt (advent market) in front of the town hall of Vienna
Visiting Vienna in December is a way to recapture the feelings and impressions of Christmas I felt as a child. In December darkness falls quite early, but the sparkling lights and magical objects of the Christkindlmarkts and throughout Vienna itself made my eyes widen in excitement and my heart glow in anticipation. December offers the pleasure of coming into a warm Viennese coffee house from chilly outdoors to order an elegant pastry or a delicious Apfelstrudel with one of the many coffee selections offered. Vienna is quite serious about coffee.
It’s so easy to get about the city from the Hotel de France, located right on the Ringstrasse. You can walk so easily to all the places in Vienna’s first district—or, if you get cold—hop on the streetcar that goes in both directions around the Ring. One shop well worth a visit is The British Bookshop at Weiburggasse 24; it has a wide range of English language books.
Vienna streets lined in Christmas lighting.
Vienna is truly a city of music from Hayden’s elegant quartets to Straus’s lovely waltzes. Mozart is very much present in Vienna—you cannot escape his music or his life story. This Christmas in Vienna program offers one an opportunity to explore and experience Vienna’s fine art and architecture.
This trip offers a full experience of the romance of Vienna and the celebration of Christmas.
Susan Parry
Secretary Treasurer,
Academic Travel Abroad
