I'll be in Vienna for a couple of days the beginning of December. Two questions for everyone:

1) How cold will it be? Are we talking the same as NYC in December, or are we taking cold to a whole new level?

2) SHOPPING!!! What sorts of things should I look for in Vienna? Do they have good leather goods (gloves in particular)? And here is a question that I hope isn't considered too stupid - what exactly is a Christmas market? I've never been to one, but see postings about them everywhere. do they have items besides Christmas specific things in there? Want to see if it is worth taking a trip to the Austrian one.

Thank for your help!

Liz

Like everywhere, the weather in Vienna varies. Iwas there two years ago over Christmas and it was snowy, a bit windy and what this Texan would call Bloody Cold. Going earlier in the month will no doubt help.

It certainly won't stop you from doing anything, just bundle up. Drink lots of the warm wine they sell at the Christmas Market and by all means do go to both the market at the Rathaus and Schoennbrunn Palace. There are also some more "local art" type stalls in Spitalfield, the artist's quarter.

Since we were there over the holidays, our shopping was pretty much confined to the markets and to the Naschmarkt so I don't know what the Viennese specialties are for shopping. I know they have great wool socks since I had to buy a couple pairs to keep my feet warm!

Have fun. Vienna is a blast.

The so-called artist's quarter that offwego refers to is Spittelberg (not Spitalfield). It is a 10 minutes walk (walking will keep you warm ) from the Ringstrasse, direction Volkstheater (= People's Theater, opposed to Burgtheater = The Court's Theater). Or take the underground U3 and get off at "Volkstheater", exit "Museumsquartier" (follow the MQ signs).

What is a Christmas market? Take a look at www.christkindlmarkt.at

One Viennese specialty for sure is porcelain. Try Augarten store in the pedestrian district, not too far from St. Stephan's. As for temperature, it will be about like NYC the same time of year--but if you know NYC, you know how much that can vary. Good luck.

Yes, excellent gloves! Every time I'm in Vienna, I pick up a new pair of handschuhes. You will find them sold in many places, but two of my favorites are the little store next to the Kaiserin Elisabeth Hotel and a shop just off the Karntnerstrasse, near the Ambassador Hotel. There is also a very good leather goods (purses, etc.) store near the gloves place--they sell high quality Austrian and German brands like Goldpfeil (sp) as well as French and Italian makes. Vienna also has several very good jewelry stores (the real thing, not fake) and an excellent cookware store on the Graben.
The Steffl department store is worth exploring. If it's snowing, go to the top floor in the late afternoon for a coffee or drink at Sky Bar and watch the snow fall on the rooftops of Vienna.
I love Vienna in the cold, especially if it's snowing.

Barring something very unusual december in vienna will be fairly similar to NYC - perhaps not as windy - since you don;t get that tunnel effect of winds coming up from the rivers. It is not in the same class as Moscow.

Helmut Lang, buy some accessories, and perhaps very classic Hemlut Lang clothes (the sales will soon follow along with next season) and shoes. Be careful as the new season will arrive shortly. December is not a brilliant time of year for buying collections that will soon be last season.

Helmut Lang jeans, however, are always classic - buy those.