Christmas Activities in Vienna
Christmas is upon us yet again and at Vienna Ticket we have set out some interesting activities that you can enjoy during your visit to the city this year. Besides the Christmas markets there are New Year's celebrations that you can book.
Online, December 15, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The Christmas markets of Vienna are especially popular during the advent season and are mainly situated in the larger squares selling food, drink and Christmas items from a host of open-air stalls. The Naschmarkt is one of Vienna's most famous and is located between Karlsplatz and Kettenbrückengasse and can easily be reached by the Metro.
At this time of year is has over a hundred market stalls and restaurants that cater for culinary tastes, from Viennese, Indian and Italian to Vietnamese. It also has a flea market that is open on Saturdays. It is worth a visit, even if you are not interested in buying anything as you can sit outside and watch the colourful world go by.
While on the Naschmarkt, the Tewa offers organic cuisine, the Neni serves Israeli specialties and Lebanese salads and the Orient & Occident has specialist Turkish home cooking. At the Umar it is said that there is the best fish restaurant in the whole of Vienna.
At the Rathausplatz, known for with its superbly designed architecture, you enter a transformed, gleaming world that has more than 150 stands offering Christmas tree decorations and gifts. Nearby in Freyung, at the Viennese Christmas Market, there is a market square where street artists perform for your entertainment and you can buy all sorts of handicrafts and ceramics. You can hear festive music playing mid-afternoon.
At the Kunstkammer there over 2,000 valuable objects, once collected by the emperors and archdukes of Habsburg, which is one of the most important chambers of art in the world. The Habsburg emperors, especially Rudolf II, were ardent collectors of these treasures. At the heart of the collection is Benvenuto Cellini's salt cellar, the Saliera, which dates to the middle of the 16th century.
Many other pieces of art can be found here that have been collected since the Middle Ages, such as carvings, paintings, sculptures, wall hangings, coins and a broad range of curiosities. One of its highlights is the Dragon Bowl made from lapis lazuli. More than 1,000 years of history can be experienced in here, the value of which in this vast collection is immeasurable. It has been restored and renovated over the past ten years.
One of the highlights of Vienna's New Year's celebrations is Le Grand Bal at the Imperial Hofburg Palace. It is set in a spectacular location and you can experience a stunning ball night. Then there is the chance to see in the New Year on a river cruise. The ship has live music and you can enjoy the city's amazing Christmas scenery while firework displays are going off.
It is not necessary to make reservations for the Christmas markets but for events for New Year's celebrations bookings can be made at http://www.viennaticket.com/english/specialevents.html. Prices range from 135 euros to 720 euros.