From Budapest to Vienna

by - December 23, 2010

Vienna MQ Point


MuseumsQuartier, their slogan is 'Now or Never'.

This place called MQ Point is where culture mets kitsch. There are serious art with an offbeat humor. Many imaginative products other than museum tickets are sold. You can't miss the adorable traditional roly poly dolls. Some called it 'never-fall doll' or even tumbler toys.

The MQ Point is more than just a run-of-the-mill museum shop, it stocks cool design and unconventional gifts including mugs, bags, buttons and T-shirts with fun messages. Every “fashion Friday” the store picks a designer of the month and goes on to market products created by the winner at affordable prices. The result is an exciting cross-section of the Austrian and international design scenes.

MQ-Point
7., Museumsplatz 1 
(main entrance to the Museumsquartier) 
Tel. (+43-1) 523-58-81-1731 
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily 

Being just a short jump from Budapest, it is especially popular to visit it over the weekend, from mid-November through Christmas. The reason is, Vienna's public squares are transformed into Christmas markets with hundreds of booths full of gifts and goodies for visitors to buy.

Each year a traditional Christmas Market transforms City Hall Square into a magical Christmas wonderland.  Sample cookies, savor punch and select gifts at one of the many shopping booths throughout the square. 

Vienna Christmas Market

We were simply strolling and enjoying the amazing Christmas decorations: a giant 40 foot Advent wreath is prominently displayed in the center of the square while the trees in the neighboring Rathauspark twinkle with festive lights!

The Christmas village on Maria-Theresien-Platz is nestled between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Museum of Natural History. More than 60 stands offer traditional, handcrafted wares and original gift ideas. The romantic Christmas Village in the Old General Hospital (Altes AKH) is a popular meeting point during Advent, especially for a younger crowd.

DSC02293

Tradition is the order of the day at the Old Viennese Christmas Market at Freyung. There has been a Christmas market here ever since 1772. Nowadays the stands offer attractive handcrafted pieces, glass decorations, cribs and ceramics. Festive Advent Christmas music rings out on the square from 4 pm.

Wein

It was also a wonderful time spent at the cultural and Christmas market in the Ehrenhof at Schönbrunn Palace where offers of Christmas romance in front of an imperial backdrop. The atmospheric market shows traditional handicrafts, hand-made jewelry and rustic Christmas decorations. There is a diverse children's program and a crib exhibition. The Christmas market in front of the Belvedere is also held in an imperial ambience.

That's Zannnie trying the Waffeln

Waffeln

An alternative Christmas market on Karlsplatz is a more contemplative affair. You're sure to find a Christmas gift or two amongst the wide range of handicrafts on offer. There's also lots to discover in the idyllic little lanes at the Christmas market on Spittelberg.

Vienna Christmas Market
November 13-December 24, 2010
10 am-9.30 pm, Fri & Sat -10 pm
December 24: 10 am-6 pm
City Hall Square, 1st district  

Christmas Village on Maria-Theresien-Platz
November 17-December 24, 2010
11 am-9 pm
December 24: 11 am-3 pm
Maria Theresien-Platz, 1st district 

Christmas Village at the Belvedere Palace
November 19-December 23, 2010
11 am-9 pm
Prinz Eugen-Strasse 27, 3rd district 

Christmas Village at "Altes AKH" (Vienna's former General Hospital)
November 11-December 23, 2010
Mo-Fri 2 pm-10 pm
Sat & Sun 11 am-10 pm
Alserstr./Spitalgasse, Hof 1, 9th district

Old Viennese Christmas Market
November 19-December 23, 2010
10 am-9 pm
Freyung, 1st district

Culture and Christmas Market in front of Schönbrunn Palace
November 20-December 26, 2010
10 am-9 pm
December 24: 10 am-4 pm
December 25-26: 10 am-6 pm
New Year's market December 28-January 2:
daily 10 am-5 pm
Schönbrunn Palace, 13th district

Christmas Market on Karlsplatz
19 November - 23 December 2010
daily from 12 noon - 8 pm
Karlsplatz, 1010 Vienna

Christmas Market on Spittelberg
16 November - 23 December 2010
Mo-Th 3 pm - 9 pm, Fr 3 pm - 9:30 pm
Sa 10 am - 9:30 pm, Su 10 am - 9 pm
Spittelberggasse, Schrankgasse, Gutenberggasse, 1070 Vienna

Winter Market on Riesenradplatz
20 November 2010 - 2 January 2011
Mo-Fr 12 noon - 9 pm
Sa & Su 11 - 9 pm

Christkindltours
Guided tours to Christmas Markets in Vienna

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