12 Reasons To Love Vienna (especially at Christmas time)

1. Christmas markets, Christmas markets, Christmas markets! The one in front of the Rathaus (town hall) takes the cake.

There isn't much you CAN'T buy at a Viennese Christmas market. 

2. Architecture : If there is one word to describe Vienna, it would be "elegant". In our opinion, it would have to be one of the cleanest, best-upkept cities in Europe. The Habsburg architecture is beautiful.

 Belvedere castle, casually placed in the middle of the city.

3. Their university is older than yours (and ours). Founded in 1365, the University of Vienna just celebrated it's 650th anniversary. Notable alumni : Sigmund Freud and Hans Kelsen, to name a couple.

4. St. Stephen's cathedral : A combination of Gothic and Romanesque, it's just all kinds of amazing. It's also the very heart of Vienna. Fun fact : Vivaldi's funeral was held here.

Christmas day mass.

5. Museums : Vienna is so rich in history. The Jewish museum tells about the difficult lives of Jewish people in Vienna throughout the ages, including WW2. 

Censored postcards that never made it to their destination.

6. Ornaments : The Austrian are known for their beautiful handcrafted Christmas ornaments. We would have bought them all, but getting them back to Montreal in one piece sounded like a challenge we weren't up for.

Some are even painted egg shells. It doesn't get much more breakable than that.

7. Snow : Snow in Montreal falls in industrial quantities; it's not as cute as it is cumbersome. The light powder that falls on Vienna, on the other hand, is magical.

Taking in the first snow of the year (it was in January, might we add).

8. It's kind of like walking through a fairy tale. No, but really.

Is this real life?

9. Glühwein : Made with red wine and different mulling spices, it can be served with or without alcohol. It's a Christmas favorite, available pretty much everywhere during the holiday season, including Christmas markets (we told you they sold everything), and here on the rooftop of a fancy hotel : 

Our host, Bianca. We love her. She's also an amazing tour guide.

10. Nightlife : With bars staying open till the weeee hours of the morning, you will likely have one or two (or many) unforgettable nights in Vienna. If you are young, travelling and on a budget, the go-to spot is the Travel Shack. Trust us, it's one heck of a party.

11. Snow globes : The first snow globe patent was issued to an Austrian in the late 1800's. Ever since then, the material used for the "snow" has become a production secret, handed down from generation to generation.

12. Last but absolutely not least : the FOOD. Between the wiener schnitzel, apfelstrudel and käsekrainer (possibly the largest sausage we've ever seen), all you will want to do is eat. And that's pretty much what we spent our time doing.

Kaesespaetzl is possibly one of the most delicious dishes known to humankind. Cheese dumplings with deep-fried onion. Wow, just wow.