MareW

Trip would roughly be November 24 or 25 to December 3 or 4. I know it's going to be cold, but we're from the northeast. We've been to Paris several times in April and May, and are about to cancel the trip we had planned there in April due to work issues. It's probably our favorite city.

We've been to Austria but not Vienna. However, we were planning to do a longer Prague/Vienna trip in the next 18 months or so. I don't know if our dates would be too early for many Christmas decorations or festivities. If so, I'd probably stick with Paris.

Given the time of year and the lack of time to do much planning, which would you choose?

AlessandraZoe

I'm going to recommend Vienna, which is rather contrary to my normal inclinations.

I am a "Paris person" and I love Paris in the winter. It was our automatic city of choice for the Millenium celebration. What's more, Vienna was just "OK" in my book when we visited in the summer; I could not wait to get back to Paris.

However, I have ALWAYS wanted to see Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. Just take a look at this link, and you'll see why I'm certainly pushing you towards the big "V":
http://www.vienna4u.at/christmasmarket.html

annhig

Definitely go for Vienna! i love Paris too, but as the Christmas markets will be on, it's a great opportunity.

also, there are other places that you can link with Prague if you decide that you've had enough of Vienna.

StuDudley

Paris has several Christmas markets also!!

We got bored with Vienna after 2 days - not enought stuff to do. We loved Prague.

We're returning to Paris in 2 1/2 weeks for our third visit during Christmas. Here is something I kinda posted after our '09 visit. Scroll down for some pics.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-was-paris.cfm

Stu Dudley

Cowboy1968

You will be right on time for the Christmas decorations and events. 1st Sunday of Advent will be November 27, and from this weekend on you can expect everything to switch into "Christmas mode", i.e. concerts, christmas markets (which start even the weekend before, not just the big one at city hall), street decorations and so on.
http://www.wien.info/en/shopping-win...istmas-markets

The Museums Quarter (MQ) is a great spot for colder days, or a "Kaffeehaus crawl" through the many coffee houses, or a stroll through Schönbrunn palace and the park (another nice Christmas market in front of the palace).

To "heat up" again, a trip to the impressive thermal baths & spa could be an idea
http://www.wien.info/en/vienna-for/sports/therme-wien

Michel_Paris

Also being a Paris person...I will too recommend Vienna. I visited twice, both mes in summer. I very much enjoyed the downtown area inside the Ringstrasse. Plenty of museums, the Hogburg, St stephen's,etc.. and then maybe Schonbrunn.

My last trip I combined Vienna with a rental and drove around the country. Maybe do two locations..Salzburg?

Auatria to me is a little underrated.

danon

I have seen Christmas markets only on tv. What is the
great attraction? One can spend only so much time looking at Christmas decorations.
Paris offers tons to do if the weather is bad. The stores and the streets are decorated...
Unless you are planning on day trips from Vienna ( maybe some skiing?), I would go to Paris.

lincasanova

if you like opera, concerts or ballet.. VIENNA hands down.

The christmas market and lights will be worth it.

joannay

I must say Paris. I think the weather may be better, or at least warmer. For instance, right now it's about 10 degrees (F) warmer in Paris. All things considered, that would make a difference to me given all the walking I like to do. But then if there's a question, for me Paris is always the answer.

AlessandraZoe

And by the way, I also want to see Budapest. My kid, who has gotten to see Paris (where she's living right now), Vienna, Prague, Czesky Krumlov, etc all with us has informed me Budapest is the bomb and that I have missed out big time. So if you got bored in Vienna (and again, winter is the BIG time in Vienna because of all the concerts and so on too), you could in six hours be whisked up to Budapest via the Danube on the hydrofoil.

But I'd STILL do Vienna at this time juncture.

AlessandraZoe

Darn--Hydrofoil closes first week of October.

AlessandraZoe

But it's still under 3 hours by train:
http://czech-transport.com/index.php?id=576

MareW

You folks have given me a lot to think about! Thanks so much for your input and links. I haven't gotten through all of them yet (I'm stuck on dial-up) but I will!

lincasanova

If you can do an open jaw, even easier and time saving, include Budapest if you have a week between the two.. should be great. More if possible. Yes, Budapest is fan-tas-tic.

lincasanova

The train between the two costs only 19E-25E sometimes

lincasanova

some tips from one of my trips to both places, Vienna and Budapest.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-revisited.cfm

nytraveler

I wold choose Paris at any time of year - just way more to see and do. Paris is a clear A while Vienna is a B minus. (Interesting, have been several times and would go back again - but not Paris.)

amyb

I'm going to choose Paris too. I've been to Paris 8 or 9 times now and Vienna twice. I thought I'd "seen" Paris until I saw its Christmas markets last year and the gorgeous lights up the Champs Elysees. If you haven't been there then yet, and you can confirm the markets are on that early, definitely pick Paris. You'll see it like you've never seen it before!

gracejoan3

I'm well known as a Paris regular, but have also been to Vienna and loved it!! Beautiful! This time of the year will be spectacular...Do the Vienna Boy's Choir the Lippizans..so much..beautiful!!

a bientot...

Joan

WillTravel

I'd choose Vienna. I just like it better. I did not run out of things to do, and can't see running out of things to do in less than a month. Paris does have more, I suppose, but both have far more than you can reasonably do, particularly if day trips are considered.