As the advent calendar counts down, we have our sights set on these three cities, where a classic European holiday experience—filled with warm drinks, traditional treats, ice-skating rinks, and handcrafted gifts—awaits.
By Bruce Wallin
The following is an excerpt from The Agency Magazine’s Fall/Winter Issue.
Read the full article here.
VIENNA
From the music-filled squares of Salzburg to the snowy streets of Innsbruck, Austria’s Christmas markets are second to none. The annual tradition is taken to extremes in Vienna, which hosts more than 20 markets in season, including one of Europe’s largest and most over-the-top examples.
The Rathausplatz market fills the square in front of Vienna’s city hall with nearly 100 vendor stalls, a carousel, dazzling light displays, and several ice-skating rinks connected by a network of paths lined with food and drink stands. Favored indulgences at the Rathausplatz, as at Vienna’s many other Christmas markets, range from bratwurst and käsespätzle (egg noodles and cheese topped with fried onions) to apple strudel, gooey raclette, and glühwein.
Vienna’s holiday markets also stand out for their variety. Rather than sprawling across a square, the city’s Spittelberg market snakes along narrow cobblestone streets in the arts district. Vienna’s oldest Christmas market, dating to the early 1700s, holds court in Freyung Square, where live music and theater performances add to the festive atmosphere. But perhaps the city’s most striking holiday scene can be found at the Stephansplatz market, where the towering St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Austria’s tallest church) glows with holiday lights and decorations.
Just in time for the festive season, the Mandarin Oriental, Vienna, opened this October in an Art Nouveau building less than five minutes by foot from the spectacle at Stephansplatz. Set within Vienna’s famed Ringstrasse, the hotel is also close to the luxury boutiques along Graben, itself a marvel of festive decorations during the season. The Mandarin Oriental’s holiday offerings include nighttime city tours in a Fiaker carriage and access to classical and choral music performances at St. Stephen’s.
COPENHAGEN
The Danish capital is unique among Christmas market destinations for one primary reason: Tivoli Gardens. The historic amusement park, which opened in 1843 (and inspired Walt Disney as he was dreaming up plans for Disneyland), transforms into a winter wonderland each year from mid-November to early January. The festive, fairytale atmosphere—complete with roller coasters, carousels, live music performances, and other amusement-park attractions—sets a magical tone for the annual market, with its vendor stalls, ice-skating rink, elf train, and more.
Tivoli Gardens is located in the heart of the city, less than 15 minutes by foot from the brand-new 1 Hotel Copenhagen. Opened in September, the 282-room property is a perfect fit in the forward-thinking Copenhagen, with its sleek Nordic design and focus on sustainability. Nature and greenery permeate the experience at the hotel, which includes pocket gardens, wildflower-lined terraces, a living wall, and even a “bee hotel” to house a population of urban pollinators.
In addition to Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s many Christmas market options include the traditional Højbro Plads and a relatively new Hans Christian Andersen–themed market at Nytorv in the town center.
