December
2024.
ELEVATOR refurbishment and NEW boilers
From 13 January until 3 February 2025, we will only open our hotel doors to craftsmen: Our elevator will be renovated, and our heating system will be completely renewed! Both – for EVEN greater well-being at Hotel AUSTRIA! Please keep your fingers crossed that everything goes well - as is already well planned. From 3 February, we LOOK FORWARD TO seeing the ENTHUSIASM on your faces!
Winter in Vienna
Vienna is a very special experience in wintertime. A stroll through the city is a good way to browse for gifts. The Christmas markets are particularly inviting: there you can discover everything from culinary specialities to handicrafts.
From mid-November, the most beautiful squares in Vienna will be transformed into magical Christmas markets. Tradition-conscious people will get their money's worth at the Vienna Christmas Market on the Town Hall Square, at the Old Vienna Christmas Market on the Freyung or at the Christmas Market on Stephansplatz.
Lovers of handicrafts should pay a visit to the Christmas markets on Karlsplatz or Spittelberg. The Christmas markets in front of Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace offer a unique imperial flair. Action is offered at the winter market at the Riesenradplatz (Ferris wheel square). Every Christmas market has its own unique charm and special offers, so that even children do not get bored. They all have one thing in common: Sweet temptations and culinary specialities are everywhere. And while strolling through the Christmas markets, you will certainly find one or the other gift. In addition to the scent of punch, biscuits and roasted almonds, there is music in the air throughout the Christmas season.
Christmas spirit in Vienna – this includes classical Advent concerts, festive church concerts, rousing gospel evenings and shows. A lively start to the new year, at the turn of the year, people celebrate and dance all over Vienna. At midnight, the people of Vienna and their visitors dance into the New Year to the sounds of the Pummerin, the famous bell in St. Stephen's Cathedral, under the open sky. The ringing of the Pummerin on New Year's Eve is even broadcast on radio and TV, followed by Johann Strauss famous Danube waltz.
On 1 January, the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert will be broadcast live from the Musikverein in many locations, with millions of viewers in over 90 countries watching the event on TV.
Dancing in the ballroom and on ice, after New Year's Eve, dancing continues at the Viennese balls. And ice dancing is not neglected in the city either. With numerous ice rinks, Vienna is a dream for ice skaters. The most famous and largest is the Viennese Ice Dream on the Rathausplatz. You can warm up in the cosy Viennese coffee houses. Or in one of Vienna's more than 100 museums, where world-class collections can be seen.
Let us introduce you to more of our TEAM members!
Ms Alina | Housekeeping
Ms Alina has been living in Austria for 10 years and is the mother of 2 adult children. She has already familiarised herself with our hotel and feels really comfortable with us. Her hobbies include painting, reading, walking and dancing. We look forward to welcoming her as a new member.
Mr Milatovic | In-house maintenance
Mr Milatovic is the father of 2 daughters. Originally, he trained as a carpenter. With his craftsmanship and extensive experience, he is an indispensable part of our team. We look forward to welcoming him as a new member.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS and CHRISTMAS COOKIES!
First – Mr RICHARD spent many hours on top of his ladder to mount our STRING OF LIGHTS to either side of the HOTEL ENTRANCE and decorate our entrance windows.
And then – our ladies picked up their cooking spoons, kneaded the dough and for hours, they made DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS COOKIES! Ms VEHIDA, Ms KHOON, Ms SLAVICA, Ms SONJA, Ms HORVATH and many others! On 24 December, EACH of our GUESTS will receive a greeting with HOMEMADE Hotel AUSTRIA CHRISTMAS COOKIES!!
Current and upcoming EVENTS in Vienna in Winter 2024
Interested in music, theater, the opera, museums, and exhibitions?
We’ll be happy to keep you informed about all the dates / schedules and perhaps even let you in on a few secrets too…
Vienna’s most attractive Christmas markets
From mid-November until Christmas, Vienna's most beautiful squares are transformed into magical Christmas markets. The aroma of Christmas baking, hot punch and toasted almonds wafts through the air. The Old City and shopping streets are decorated with festive lights that spread the Christmas cheer in Vienna.
Viennese Christmas Market on City Hall Square
November 15 – December 26, 2024
Daily 10.00 am – 10.00 pm
December 24, 10.00 am – 6.30 pm
Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna
www.christkindlmarkt.at
Vienna Ice World at the Christmas Market:
November 15, 2024 – January 6, 2025, daily from 10.00 am – 10.00 pm
December 24, 10.00 am – 6.30 pm; December 31, closed
Christmas Village on Maria-Theresien-Platz
November 13 – December 26, 2024
Su-Th 11.00 am – 9.00 pm, Fr & Sa 11.00 am – 10.00 pm
December 24, 11.00 am – 4.00 pm
December 25+26, 11.00 am – 7.00 pm
Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna
www.weihnachtsdorf.at
New Year Market:
12.27.-12.31.2024
11.00 am - 7.00 pm, 12.31. 11.00 am - 6.00 pm
Christmas Village on the University Campus
November 15 – December 23, 2024
Mo-We 2.00 pm – 10.00 pm, Th-Fr 2.00 pm – 11.00 pm
Sa 11.00 am – 11.00 pm, Su 11.00 am – 8.00 pm
Alserstrasse/Spitalgasse, Hof 1, 1090 Vienna
www.weihnachtsdorf.at
Old Viennese Christmas Market on Freyung
November 15 – December 23, 2024
Daily from 10.00 am – 9.00 pm
Freyung, 1010 Vienna
www.altwiener-markt.at
Christmas Market Am Hof
November 15 – December 23, 2024
Mo-Th 11.00 am – 9.00 pm, Fr-Su & hols. 10.00 am – 9.00 pm, food until 10.00 pm
Am Hof, 1010 Vienna
www.weihnachtsmarkt-hof.at
Christmas Market Schloss Schönbrunn
November 8, 2024 – January 6, 2025
Daily from 10.00 am – 9.00 pm
December 24, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, December 25 - January 6, 10.00 am – 7.00 pm
Schönbrunn Palace, 1130 Vienna
www.weihnachtsmarkt-schoenbrunn.at
Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace
November 15 – December 26, 2024
Mon – Fri: 11am – 2pm; Sat, Sun & public holidays: 10am – 2pm
12.24: 11am – 4pm
12.26: 11am – 7pm
Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien
www.weihnachtsdorf.at
New Year Market:
December 27 – 31, 2024
11am – 7pm; 12.31: 11am – 6pm
Advent at the Liechtenstein Garden Palace
November 14 – December 22, 2024
Mon – Fri: 2pm – 9pm; Sat, Sun & public holidays: 11am – 9pm
Fürstengasse 1, 1090 Wien
www.adventimgartenpalais.at
Art Advent – Art & Crafts on Karlsplatz
November 15 – December 23, 2024
Daily from 12.00 noon – 8.00 pm, food until 9.00 pm
Karlsplatz, 1040 Vienna
www.artadvent.at
Christmas Market on Spittelberg
November 16 – December 23, 2024
Mo-Fr 2.00 pm – 9.30 pm,
Sa, Su & hols. 11.00 am – 9.30 pm
Spittelberggasse, Stiftgasse, Schrankgasse, Gutenberggasse, 1070 Vienna
www.spittelberg.at
Christmas Market on Stephansplatz
November 8 – December 26, 2024
Daily from 11.00 am – 9.00 pm
December 24, 11.00 am – 4.00 pm, December 25+26, 11.00 am – 7.00 pm
Stephansplatz, 1010 Vienna
www.weihnachtsdorf.at
Winter Market on Riesenradplatz
November 16, 2024 – January 6, 2025
Mon – Fri: 12 pm – 10 pm
Sat, Sun & public holidays 11am – 10pm
12.24. 10am – 5pm, 12.31. 12pm – 2pm
Riesenradplatz, 1020 Wien
www.wintermarkt.at
Christmas market in Türkenschanzpark
November 15. – December 23, 2024
Mon – Fri 3pm – 10pm; Sat, Sun & public holidays: 12pm – 10pm
Türkenschanzpark, 1180 Wien
www.weihnachtimpark.at
Christmas exhibition at the Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens
November 14 - December 22, 2024
Thurs-Sun 10am-10pm
Quadenstraße 15, 1220 Wien
Advent program for children
The advent season means family time! To shorten the long wait for the holiday of holidays, there is all sorts for children to experience in Vienna: a visit to an Advent market, ice skating, Poldi's Christmas craft workshop at Schönbrunn Palace, or a concert that gets you in the mood for Christmas. Advent, Advent, a little song is playing …
In the run-up to Christmas, a visit with the family to one of Vienna’s many Christmas markets is a long-standing tradition – especially the Viennese Christmas Market on Rathausplatz. Children will be wide-eyed at the sight of the wares and treats offered by the 100 or so market booths. A stone’s throw from the 12-meter-high hand-painted carousel is the Viennese Christmas Market with market stalls that offer products tailored specifically to its youngest visitors. Kids’ punch and hot chocolate will also be served there in smaller cups at child-sized bar tables.
The Children’s Hut at the Viennese Christmas Market is a magical attraction that will set every child’s spirits soaring. There are fun and creative activities every day: children can create works of art from paper and wood, such as Christmas trees, snowmen and wooden pendants, in 150 square meters of supervised space. There are special programs at the weekends, including visits from Father Christmas and the Christ Child! (Mon – Fri: 2 – 6 pm; Sat, Sun and public holidays: 11 am – 6 pm)
The Rathauspark is full of attractions, from the reindeer train and nostalgic Giant Ferris Wheel to the oversized XL Advent calendar and the Herzerlbaum, mistletoe pavilion and nativity scene trail. Children can enjoy their first experience of ice skating free of charge on the 150 m² children’s ice rink (skating aids and skates can be hired at the venue). Grown-up ice skaters can get their fill along romantic fairytale paths across the Rathauspark at the Ice Dream at the Christmas Market (overall skating area: 3.000 m²).
The Viennese Christmas Market is open daily from November 15 to December 26, 2024 (10 am – 10 pm; on December 24 until 6:30 pm).
Other Advent markets with attractions for children
A visit to an Advent market is sure to enchant families – here is a selection of where you can find special attractions for children:
Art Advent on Karlsplatz presents handicrafts and demonstration workshops, and the children can also look forward to an extensive daily offering: the straw landscape, the Draisinen Express, the lost property carousel, barrel organ music from Werkelmann, supervised creative handicrafts in the Star Workshop in the big yurt at the pond area (daily 3.00 pm - 7.00 pm) and storytellers in the Sky Tent (Thu-Sun 3.00 pm). (November 15 – December 23, 2024)
The Prater organizes a winter market on Riesenradplatz. The kids explore the Prater together with the adults – such as on adventure rides on board the winter train, high-flying rides on the chair-o-plane, and at the autodrome. A round on the Giant Ferris Wheel is unforgettable for everyone. Don’t miss the family-friendly Perchtenlauf – a lighthearted event to chase away evil spirits at the end of year! There is music to appeal to everyone: predominantly local artists perform live concerts ranging from gospel to pop every Wednesday to Sunday. The beer garden at Luftburg – Kolarik becomes the “Winterburg” winter market and will be open daily from 12 noon to 8 pm, with a dedicated stop for the winter train. There guests can enjoy organic snacks, free bouncy castles, an outdoor playground and boccia courts. (16.11.2024 - 6.1.2025)
At the Advent market in the Remise Transport Museum, the children’s craft room (upcycling of Wiener Linien products), the vintage streetcar, a curling rink and concerts in the historic setting of Wiener Linien’s Tramway Museum will help pass the time spent waiting for Christmas to come around. Don’t forget to drop in and see the Weihnachtskasperl puppet show (December 7 and 14, 2024) and Father Christmas (December 6, 2024). (11.29. – 12.15.2024, Fri – Sun)
The Christmas-themed Josefinenalm lodge is located right in the middle of the Christmas Village on the University Campus in the Altes AKH. A children’s program with a magician, Punch and Judy show and Christmas workshop will be held there every Saturday and Sunday. (November 15 – December 23, 2024)
At the small but beautiful Advent Market at the Gartenpalais Liechtenstein, there is a historic horse carousel next to the huge playground. (November 15 – December 23, 2024)
The Christmas fair in the Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens features a Christmas market with around 50 huts and children’s crafts in addition to the show in the large greenhouse. (November 14 – December 22, 2024)
Christmas at Schönbrunn Palace
The Christmas Market Schloss Schönbrunn appeals to children and families by offering a wide range of activities: children can use the innovative Glice ice rink (a synthetic ice rink) free of charge, and there is also a dedicated children’s skating rink, curling rinks, a carousel, a Ferris wheel and a craft workshop. (November 8 – January 6, 2025)
Poldi the Palace Ghost has come up with a number of activities in the Schloss Schönbrunn Children’s Museum: the “Christmas Stories from Schönbrunn” themed tour recalls balls and sleigh rides from the history of the imperial family, as well as everyday life at court (November 16 – December 15, 2024: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; daily from December 21, 2024 – January 6, 2025. Reservations recommended). There is also a winter puzzle challenge, a snowman-themed puzzle game and Poldi’s craft workshop (please book a timeslot in advance for crafting). Santa Claus will drop by on December 6, and a hand puppet performance of “Poldi’s Christmas Story” will take place on December 24 in addition to the main Christmas program.
Puppet shows
At the Lilarum, Vienna’s largest children’s theater, Christmas puppet shows will fascinate even the youngest children from the age of three with the story of Christmas in the Winter Forest. Famous theater performers, such as Elisabeth Prohaska and Götz Kauffmann, lend their voices to the various characters. (December 3 – 19, 2024)
The Apfelbaum Fairy Tale Stage presents Die Heilige Nacht (The Holy Night), based on a story by Selma Lagerlöf. (December 14 – 24, 2024)
Shepherd’s carols and children’s opera
In December, the Vienna Boys’ Choir will give their Christmas performance, Gute Hirten 2024, in their concert hall MuTh. (December 7 – 10, 2024)
Opera specially for families: at the Peterskirche (Church of St. Peter), downstairs in the bright, comfortably heated crypt. The Christmas Witch flies to the music of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. In the Italian Christmas story, Befana the witch arrives too late for the birth of baby Jesus. She comes across the Three Wise Men, who are just setting off on their journey home. (December 21-26, 2024)
Advent concerts, theater, musicals
Family highlights at the Stadtsaal are the concert Wenn es Winter wird (When winter comes) with Mai Cocopelli (December 7 & 8, 2024) and an afternoon with Marko Simsa. He and the Kokosbusserl Band invite everyone to rummage deep in the treasure chest of Christmas songs (December 21, 2024).
The popular children’s songwriter Bernhard Fibich will delight audiences with Christmas-themed interactive concerts at the House of Music (December 6, 14, 20, 22 & 23, 2024) and Kabarett Niedermair (November 29, December 18 & 19, 2024).
There is even more going on at the Kabarett Niedermair: Schneck & Co will be performing their program Herr Holle hört Weihnachten (December 22, 2024) and a Christmas concert (December 23, 2024). Winter stories & Christmas carols for audiences aged 5 and over will be performed by the Danube Pirates from Asagan (December 20, 2024). And on St. Nicholas Day (December 6), Brennholz.Rocks will ignite a firework display of rock music at an interactive concert for the whole family.
New Year's Eve in Vienna
At the change of year, people party across Vienna, especially on the New Year's Eve Trail in Vienna city center. The air resounds everywhere to three-four time and people dance into the new year to the Blue Danube Waltz. Johann Strauss 2025 will commence with music on the Rathausplatz. Join us as we celebrate life, the Waltz King Johann Strauss and the New Year.
Vienna is a city of pleasure. That becomes especially clear on New Year's Eve, when the whole city celebrates. High spirits abound at gala dinners, in concert halls, at the opera or in chic bars.
Vienna New Year's Eve Trail
A highlight on December 31 is the Vienna New Year's Eve Trail. From 2.00 pm in the afternoon to 2.00 am the following morning, top entertainment is guaranteed by the New Year's Eve Trail in Vienna city center. Along the New Year's Eve Trail, dozens of gastronomes serve punch, sparkling wine, and culinary specialties. Numerous areas provide entertainment with show programs, waltzes, rock, pop, disco, blues, funk, soul, and DJ lines. The New Year's Eve Trail runs from Freyung via Am Hof square, Graben, Stephansplatz, and Kärntner Strasse to Neuer Markt. The classical area on Graben is a popular fixture. Vienna's dance schools offer crash waltz dancing courses here during the afternoon and transform Graben into an idyllic open-air ballroom.
The opening bars of Johann Strauss 2025
The Strauss anniversary year 2025 will officially get underway on New Year’s Eve with the “Countdown Strauss” music project on Rathausplatz. In 2025, a series of events will be held in Vienna to celebrate the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss, who created an integral part of the Austrian New Year’s Eve tradition in the form of the Danube Waltz. People from a variety of backgrounds are fine-tuning their musical skills in anticipation of the participative musical project “Countdown Strauss” and will then perform together as a 100-piece super band on Rathausplatz as part of the New Year’s Eve trail. The project is being led by star percussionist Martin Grubinger.
At midnight, visitors to the New Year's Eve Trail dance into the new year to the sounds of the Blue Danube Waltz and the Pummerin, the famous bell in St. Stephen's Cathedral. It so happens that the Pummerin only rings on special occasions. One of them is the change of year. The ringing of the Pummerin on New Year's Eve is even broadcast on radio and TV, followed by Johann Strauss's famous Blue Danube Waltz.
The party happens with free admission at a total of eight locations - not only in the city center, but also at Rathausplatz and Riesenradplatz in the Prater. Instead of fireworks, there will be an opulent laser show synchronized with the Danube Waltz.
Please note that rockets and firecrackers (from category F2) are prohibited throughout Vienna.
"Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss is performed in traditional style at the Vienna State Opera on New Year's Eve. And on New Year's Day, all of Vienna watches the traditional TV broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert while enjoying a morning "hangover cure" brunch. The New Year's Concert will be broadcast live from the Musikverein to Stephansplatz and the Prater at Riesenradplatz on 1.1.2024 from 11.15 am. Some Viennese hotels also broadcast the event live at a cozy brunch
Vienna New Year's Eve Trail
December 31, 2024
2.00 pm - 2.00 am
wienersilvesterpfad.at