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Vienna, Salzburg or Munich - where to go in December?

84 replies

DreadingItBadly · 08/11/2021 16:27

Posting for traffic, please forgive me.

Choosing a destination for a 4-5 day trip before Christmas. The idea is either Vienna or Salzburg+Munich. Travelling with 2 teens (14 and 18).

If you have been to any of the above, any advice/recommendations please?

OP posts:
rorylouis · 08/11/2021 18:13

Salzburg hands down. It is fabulous and so beautiful at Christmas

ColinTheKoala · 08/11/2021 18:17

They are all lovely. But Munich may have the most to offer teens.

On the vaccine point - are your vaccines all relatively recent? I believe that Austria (and Croatia) had introduced rules that if your second vaccine was more than x days old it didn't count anymore.

Tulipomania · 08/11/2021 18:18

Munich and Salzburg are both lovely and will be beautiful in December and very Christmassy.

I haven't visited Vienna, but obviously it will have more of a big city feel than Salzburg.

Cafe Tomaselli in Salzburg is a must-visit!

Tulipomania · 08/11/2021 18:19

If your DC are boys, then Munich has the BMW museum and Allianz football stadium which might make a nice change from baroque churches and Christmas markets ...

Doesabear · 08/11/2021 18:19

I've only been to Munich of those but love it so much, especially at Christmas. Plenty of culture, amazing shopping and food, super clean, efficient transport system. Maybe more cosmopolitan than the Austrian cities..? Wish I could go right now!

citytocountry · 08/11/2021 18:20

I know all of these cities well as own property over there. I would chose Salzburg + Munich. Salzburg is beautiful, the train journey through the Tyrol is beautiful in its own right and Munich is one of my favourite cities - the market is fabulous.

However, I am also doubtful single vaxxed teen can go. My 12 + 14 are also single vaxxed + recovered and we have not been able to get appropriate certification sorted for a family visit despite status as property owners.

gingerscot · 08/11/2021 18:29

I’m already booked for Munich and planning a day trip by train to Salzburg! Can’t wait. Love a Christmas market.

MartyHart · 08/11/2021 18:29

Vienna has loads of stuff to do. If they like art they will enjoy the Secession and the Klimt exhibition at the Belvedere. Great shops, fabulous patisserie.
Salzburg is postcard pretty and has lots of cozy places to eat (Stieglkeller is my favourite) and gorgeous mountain scenery.
Munich looks nice but it's not exciting.

MartyHart · 08/11/2021 18:29

For teenagers I mean

MrzClaus · 08/11/2021 18:36

Salzburg is lovely, but Vienna was a bit more magical for us! Absolutely loved it, amazing city.

EileenGC · 08/11/2021 18:39

@Tulipomania

If your DC are boys, then Munich has the BMW museum and Allianz football stadium which might make a nice change from baroque churches and Christmas markets ...
Ignore the very beginning of this comment OP - they’re great ideas but out of my teenage sibling group, only me and my sister would actually be interested in those. We’re the motorsport and football crazy fans in the family, and we are most definitely not boys (nor am I a teenager but the rest are).
PurbeckStone · 08/11/2021 18:42

I know Vienna quite well, have been to Salzburg several times and Munich is home for me. In any normal year, all three are a good choice around Christmas (although Munich is nicer in summer or autumn, IMO), but things just won't be the same due to Covid.

Infections and hospital admissons have exploded here in Bavaria and we're back to mandatory FFP2 / N95 masks in all shops, museums, on any public transport and in restaurants and theatres when not at your table / in your seat. Not great if you're out and about all day and unlikely to change until after Christmas. I don't see a complete lockdown on the cards, but stricter rules seem a very real possibility within the next few weeks.

The Christmas markets will apparently be spread out over larger areas of the city this year to avoid large crowds forming. Also less stalls allowed to sell alcohol. This may or may not take away form the atmosphere somewhat. Some of the (especially lovely) smaller Christmas markets near Munich have been cancelled altogether.

I live in a very central location with lots of bars and restaurants and a busy nightlife. While clubs were finally allowed to re-open about 6 weeks ago and lots of people are going out, it definitely doesn't feel like we're back to normal. I've noticed reduced opening hours in many restaurants and there's generally still less on offer in terms of concerts, exhibitions, theatre, sightseeing stuff, etc. Many things you could normally do spontaneously require pre-booking now. A lot of entertainment stuff also seems to sell out weeks in advance due to reduced capacity.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but unfortunately I have agree with CupcakeTowers...probably better to wait until next year.

Tulipomania · 08/11/2021 18:47

EileenGC apologies for my rather sexist assumptions!

KrakowDawn · 08/11/2021 18:50

I am currently looking at these too!
I wanted to take DD somewhere German speaking before her GCSE, but Germany seems to be completely out as she's 15 so only had one dose of vaccine.
We've been to Vienna previously and loved it, though not at Christmas.

RuleOfCat · 08/11/2021 18:55

In a non-Corona era I'd say that while all three have that cutesy vibe, Salzburg has the edge in terms of small-town Alpine fair-tale cuteness while Munich and Vienna are pretty much tied for first-class culture and history.
But given the 7 day/100000 rate in both countries right now, I think things are going to get a lot tougher in the next few months. Sure, if you can prove a past infection in the last six months it counts as vaccinated, but will the average restaurant or museum accept proof of that from the UK? I already live in Germany and even I wouldn't plan a trip to one of those three cities in December, too risky. I've no idea how safe the markets are going to be in practice, but I won't want to go to any that aren't at least 3G, and 2G would be better.

Fernando072020 · 08/11/2021 18:59

I live in Munich and been to all three. I love all three but with teens, I'd say Munich or Vienna. Salzburg might be a bit boring for them

mumofone2019 · 08/11/2021 19:01

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn at the poster's request due to privacy concerns.

AliceAldridge · 08/11/2021 19:02

I'd go for Munich at Christmas. Lovely Christmas markets.

Bluedabadeeba · 08/11/2021 19:13

Vienna without a doubt. Spittleberg market was my favourite when I lived there. The markets are amazing and it's such a lovely city, you can walk across the centre in less than 30m. But also very well connected transport wise in case of heavy snow. Just take thermals and VERY good thick and waterproof boots!

user1497787065 · 08/11/2021 19:24

I would be choosing Salzburg too.

DreadingItBadly · 08/11/2021 19:36

A big thank-you to everyone for your views. We are going ahead with the booking but will make sure that the tickets are changeable. Hope things don't get worse and the trip happens.

OP posts:
DreadingItBadly · 08/11/2021 19:37

And, whatever we go for this time, it looks like we are going back to the option 2, for a long weekend. DD is doing her German GCSE so it will be all for language practice of course!

OP posts:
Thedutchessofhastings · 08/11/2021 19:44

Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone know how you can prove ‘recovered’ for a child? Would an email from NHS confirming positive PCR be sufficient?

Elderflower14 · 08/11/2021 19:56

Meant to say in my post. When I was on my way back by train to Vienna airport (got a taxi to the hotel) I missed the stop. Three stops down I found the guard. He barked "PASSPORT!!" at me.. I showed him... "NEXT STOP YOU OFF!!" I got out as he demanded.. It was in the middle of the country... I was petrified. There was one bungalow one side. Lots of tractors rumbling past. I had to cross the track to a single concrete building with a man sitting in there. He helped me get my ticket back out. I sat there for almost an hour convinced I was going to miss my train. I surrealy imagined Alfred Hitchcock walking round the corner and sitting in the waiting area! I was hugely relieved to see the train coming and I got back to the airport with an hour to spare!!

tallduckandhandsome · 08/11/2021 20:00

I would go to Vienna. I imagine it will be picture postcard pretty in December. I have been to Salzburg and remember wishing I was in Vienna. Same as how Bruges is a poor man’s Venice 🤣 joke. Munich I imagine is the same as most German cities.