Norbert

We enjoy walking cities and Christmas markets and maybe even a few snowflakes. Which city might we enjoy better. What might we expect weather wise in both locations? Thank you for any suggestions.

nytraveler

Both places will be chilly - with some rain probable and a little sleet/snow possible. Days will be slightly shorter in Copenhagen since it's farther north.

Can't comment on Christmas markets you would need to google that.

Both cities have plenty to see/do for what I assume is a fairly short vacation, with plenty to do indoors, and great neighborhoods to explore and nearby day trips for clear days.

Christina

I don't know about Copenhagen, but there are plenty of Vienna Christmas markets, and they usually start around mid-November, so you should be fine. There is a real big one at the plaza in front of the Rathaus (city hall), see

http://www.christkindlmarkt.at/

amenadeo

I am currently living in Vienna and can say that the markets are truly beautiful.

There's the big one in front of the Rathaus that Christina. There are many more, including the Spittelberg one - which some say, and I agree, is the most beautiful - and the one on Maria-Theresien-Platz - the garden between the Art History and Natural History museums.

In addition to Christina's link, check out this one: http://www.wien.info/en/shopping-win...istmas-markets

Also, there's a bazaar at the UN, with booths featuring handicrafts, and cuisine, from 80 countries. It happens to be Thanksgiving weekend, and it's free admission. More here: http://unwg.unvienna.org/

And keep in mind there will be concerts going on as well, if that appeals to you. In addition to organ concerts at the Peterskirche, which happen year-round (3pm on weekdays, 8pm weekends), you may want to check out venues like the Musikverein or the Konzerthaus.

For events, Falter is a good source: http://www.falter.at/was-laeuft/events (In case you don't speak German, on the left, where it says "Was" you can refine your search by type of event and further down, where it says "Wann" you'll notice the option "Ab" with two empty boxes, for you to enter the dates in DD/MM/YYYY format). There's also this one: http://events.wien.info/en/

As for weather, we had very little snow last year. It should be mostly rainy. And gray.

fourfortravel

I can echo amenadeo's post, and add that in Vienna it really pays to do your Christmasmarkt homework; otherwise it is too easy to be lulled into monotony. There is, of course, the "big" WienerChristkindlmarkt at Rathaus: commercial and touristy, but so merry and bright that you can't help but feel holiday cheer.

For other markets, the setting is more enjoyable than the actual market offerings (Schloss Schönbrun and Schloss Belvedere come to mind, especially at night); while the reverse is true for the AltWiener Christmasmarkt and markets like the ones at Karlsplatz and Am Hof, all of which offer beautiful handcrafted items and a variety of excellent food but without a palace backdrop.

The Spittelberg Adventmarkt combines artsy and handcrafted items in the tiny lanes of the Spittelberg area, trimmed with pretty Biedermeier architecture. The lanes of Spittelberg are narrow and become crowded easily, something to keep in mind. There is now a small market in front of Stephansdom, as well.

The UN Bazaar is a spectacle unto itself, and occurs on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend in Vienna this year. My advice, should you wish to attend, is to arrive early, and to bring your patience (and an appetite and the pocket cash to match). By late morning the lines to sample the amazing fare can be unappetizing, and the crush of shoppers in the international market can be overwhelming. That said, the bazaar is a delightful diversion from the usual tourist routine in the city.

Who knows what the weather will be; expect rain and plan to layer. And of course, stay warm with a mug of glühwein!

Odin

There are Christmas markets at the Tivoli gardens, Nyhavn and Christiania in Copenhagen (check dates for Christiania). Scandinavia does Christmas very well. There is a German Christmas market with magic entertainment, an HC Andersen christmas market, another one at Halmtorvet and others in places like Roskilde and Copenhagen suburbs.

http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copen...mas-copenhagen

The Tuborg Christmas beer is really good.

Dukey1

IMO, in terms of MAJOR architecture and museums, Copenhagen cannot even BEGIN to equal Vienna but since you don't seem particularly interested in that sort of thing I guess it's a tossup.