Fourfortravel, I had a feeling someone was going to ask me this question. The truth is that it varies, depending on what I am looking for. For crafts, it's Karlskirche. For food, it's Spittelberg and Am Hof. For setting, it's Stephansdom, Schonbrunn, and Palais Niederosterreich. For an Old World feel, it's Bratislava. Overall, though, my favorites would have to be Spittelberg, Schonbrunn, and Palais Niederosterreich, in no particular order.

tripplanner001, Thank you so much for the detailed trip report! We're off to Vienna tomorrow to enjoy the Christmas markets and hope to follow a similar route. To be honest, I was feeling a little overwhelmed at how to string everything together to make the most of seeing the main sights + Christmas markets + remember we are still on vacation! Your trip report has been an immense help. Looking forward to enjoying the magic of the season in Vienna!

Megt, you're welcome. Safe travels and have a grand time. I look forward to hearing about it.

What an excellent TR, lots of really great ideas. Vienna sounds like a fabulous destination in itself, as well as a good base for day tripping.

Adelaidean, thank you. Having visited Vienna now both in summer and in winter, I love the city even more.

Bookmarking. We'll be in Vienna this year for the Christmas Markets and there's lots of good information to guide us here. Thanks.