Ein Frohes Neues Jahr in Vienna?

December 29, 2014 5:13 AM

What should I do and see (and eat!!) in Vienna? I'm here through next Monday 5 January, and would especially appreciate seasonal suggestions. (There are some great previous asks which have some great suggestions, but not much that focuses on the holiday season.) Vielen Dank!
posted by susiswimmer to Travel & Transportation around Vienna, Austria (7 answers total)

Best answer: Go to the Opera!
posted by gemutlichkeit at 8:06 AM on December 29, 2014

Vienna's unique cafe culture feels particularly festive and appropriate during the holidays. An odd but pleasing combination of 70s era architectural class (irony-free!), serious wait staff, brightly lit enormous high-ceilinged palaces, and a good conversational partner or a good book, and I'll be stuck for hours.

My favorite example of this is Cafe Prückel, a treat for the eyes.
posted by tempythethird at 8:43 AM on December 29, 2014

Best answer: And this was such an obvious suggestion, I forgot it. Super touristy but regardless don't miss a stroll down the Graben, the absolute apogee of Christmasy lighting.
posted by tempythethird at 10:00 AM on December 29, 2014

Best answer: New Year's Eve (Silvester) is a big deal in Vienna. There are fireworks throughout the city. Your best bet (unless you brought a tux and are willing to drop some big Euros) is to make your way along the New Year's Trail. It's a series of stages that winds from the Prater, up the Graben, the Hofsburg, and the Freyung, ending at the Rathaus. Don't forget your Glucksschwein!

Once New Year's is over, most of the seasonal stuff ends abruptly. The MuseumsQuartier keep their Christmas party tents up until Epiphany. There's also a neat Mammoth Ice Mummy exhibit currently going on at the Natural History Museum.
posted by chrisulonic at 4:40 PM on December 29, 2014 [1 favorite]

Food: we loved the pub atmosphere. Each one serves weiner schnitzel in a distinct and yummy way. Look also for "bier garten"s. Enjoy
posted by leslievictoria at 5:29 PM on December 29, 2014

Best answer: Great suggestions by chrisulonic. Do the New Years Trail as suggested above. It is fun regardless if you are a tourist or a local. Try being at Heldenplatz at midnight on the 31st - usually less swamped than Stefansplatz (St Stephen's Cathedral). But still incredibly packed with people.

And definitely go to Museums Quartier.

Try Figlmüllers for the Wiener Schnitzel, it is touristy but fun.

If you tire of Schnitzel, try Tafelspitz (boiled beef). The best is Plachutta I like the one near the opera house best. But don't bother if you are vegetarian, the specialise in meat.

If you can post the area code of where you are staying (or memail me) I can give you more specific tips.
posted by 15L06 at 3:42 PM on December 30, 2014

Response by poster: Thank you to all! I had a lovely time, and especially loved the New Year's Trail atmosphere - of all the places I have spent New Year's, this is so far my favorite.

I also loved Die Fledermaus, cafes, Plachutta (amazing - I tried the one by the Opera House), the natural history museum and the Leopold.

Not mentioned above, but I also liked: Schonbrunn Palace and the Imperial Treasury.

A note on the Spanish Horse Riding School for those with allergies to hay and or horses: benadryl and tissues are a must! (Or maybe this just isn't for you.)
posted by susiswimmer at 5:43 AM on January 5, 2015