The Naschmarkt
All week it’s a fantastic food market and on Saturdays, a flea market as well… Enjoy the photos!
Jan 132013
Dec 252012
Onto the last of the Christmas market reviews – at least for this year. If you want to go back and see all the reviews, just klick the Tag Christmas Market.
The Altes AKH is the campus of the University of Vienna. The university is spread out all over the city, but this building complex is maybe one of the bigger ones. During the semester it is full of students. In the middle is a big square where you can find shops, restaurants, bars… and around Christmas, a market. The clientele is mostly the same students who spend the time after and in-between lectures huddled around mulled wine. It is located in Vienna’s 9th district, only a short walk away from the main university.
Here you can get a wide array of market weirdnesses. From the Christmas roundabout and the ponchos to tons of mulled wine and hand crafted items. If you go only to this market, you might find many interesting things. You should try one of the sweet “Snowballs” (Schneebälle) as well, but they can also be found at the Belvedere. This market belongs to the same crowd as the one at the Belvedere and the Maria Theresien Platz. When you go to those three, some of the stalls and items will look familiar. Because this market isn’t in the city center, you will not just come across it if you don’t study or live nearby or go there specifically. The Altes AKH is a nice enough market which might drown a bit in the masses of markets if you visit many. Just because it’s nice but not special.
Website: Weihnachtsdorf Altes AKH
More Photos at: Flickr
Christmas Markets auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Dec 242012
For someone who grew up in a region with proper mountain, calling the Spittelberg a Berg (mountain) would be quite the understatement. Nevertheless, the Christmas market on the Spittelberg was maybe one of the first that didn’t just sell glitter and decoration for the christmas tree. Whenever I think of it, I think of that one stall that sells a ton of chocolate and hot-chocolate bars in many different flavours which dissolve in hot milk and not of the less-christmasy alternative looking South American ponchos in bright colours. But the latter is maybe more normal for that particular Christmas market. Don’t be mistaken, the market and the tiny shops that stay open around it, don’t just offer alternative things to get. In that corner of Vienna, a lifestyle called BoBo “Bohemian Bourgeois” has evolved, which might be conceived hipster, but really it is a crowd of young people who make decent money but at the same time spend that money on organic and local products as well as crafts. It gets obvious when you see what seems at first glance like a whacky oriental furniture shop selling a 4000€ side table.
The Christmas market isn’t much different. Some people go there after shopping on one of Vienna’s biggest shopping streets, the Mariahilfer Straße, but there are mostly locals who go there after work for a drink. It is worth the detour and no matter if you were out Christmas shopping – or watching people stressed out whilst they were shopping – you might need some punch afterwards.
Like most Christmas markets, the food part is fantastic. On the Spittelberg Christmas market I can warmly recommend the stall from the Suppengalerie, which serve fantastic soups! If you need something (much) more substantial, the restaurant Centimeter is right in the middle of it. Be sure you are REALLY hungry if you go to eat there.
Another nifty thing at the Christmas market is that a lot of small stores are open during also outside their usual hours including Sundays which is almost unheard of in Vienna. There is a massive chocolate shop and a lot of smaller gift shops you can visit if it gets too cold outside.
Website: Christmas Market Spittelberg
More Photos at: Flickr
Christmas Markets auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Dec 232012
Outside the city center, in Vienna’s 19th district, can be found the Türkenschanzpark which hosts a Christmas market in December. Before I go into reviewing the market, a few words on the park. I really like the Türkenschanzpark and have spent a bit of time there in autumn as well and it’s really nice for lengthy walks. The park is rather large in size and also hilly. There are ponds with ducks and an old tower.
The Christmas market might not be worth a trip on its on, but the park is. If you are out for a winterly walk in the Türkenschanzpark and you need a warm drink, it’s a great opportunity. Or if you need a new South American poncho. Most stalls aren’t terribly noteworthy and the merry go round is weird. Why any kid would want to go round in fast circles when its winterly cold outside is unclear to me. There is also one of those lit-up Santas that doesn’t really spread the Christmas spirit.
One can just hope that over the years the Christmas market in the Türkenschanzpark will adapt to the beautiful district around it.
Also noteworthy, the website. All you need to know. http://www.weihnachtimpark.at
More Photos at: Flickr
Christmas Markets auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
Dec 222012
In Vienna’s hills, outside the Schloss Wilhelminenberg, can be found a small Christmas market. The castle is now a hotel and is reachable by bus and (probably easier on weekends) by car. Even though it might be only a small market, it has also an ice skating rink with a fantastic view over the city. There are only about a dozen stalls, which are neither particularly special nor weird. As always, there is mulled wine and punch which you might need after skating around for a while.
What the random South American stall was doing there – and they seem to have to appear in all Christmas Markets – I don’t know. Mick was happy, because he got a new instrument there.
Website: Hotel Schloss Wilhelminenberg
More Photos at: Flickr
Christmas Markets auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen
