Visiting Austria in November: Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt

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Advisor - Briana Knox
Curated By

Briana Knox

  • Boutique Travel

  • City Travel

  • Vienna

  • History

  • Architecture

  • Local Culture

Advisor - Visiting Austria in November: Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt
Curator’s statement

I visited Vienna for the second time in November 2024 with my parents and sisters. Vienna is a masterpiece unto itself. It's a beautiful city filled with endless things to explore, and it has somehow seamlessly combined the historic with the modern. I describe it as an intellectual city. It's a haven for lovers of culture, art, architecture, history and philosophy. It is wonderful to visit even in winter, in part because of its proximity to fantastic skiing opportunities, and in part because of how it transforms into a magical Christmas wonderland beginning in November! As a fun fact, I learned it's also the city of spies! Book with me to learn more about that fascinating tidbit.

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Where to stay in Vienna

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Things to do in Vienna

Museums

Vienna has no shortage of museums, and all are exceptional.

  • Hofburg Palace was the seat of the Hapsburg imperial family within the heart of the city. It has several rooms on display and a fascinating Sisi Museum dedicated to the Empress Elisabeth. This was my family and I's favorite museum by far.

  • There is also Schonbrunn Palace, which was the Hapsburg imperial residence outside the city. Both are wonderful to explore, but if you only have time for one, I highly recommend Hofburg, especially if you are going in the winter. Schonbrunn has better gardens, but that does not matter in the winter time.

  • The Austrian National Library is another museum worth visiting. It is one of the most beautiful buildings.

  • The Kunsthistorisches Museum is a lavish museum housing art collections and antiquities.

  • And lastly, I would highly recommend visiting the Imperial Treasury. The Hapsburgs were one of the world's most powerful and wealthy ruling families. The treasury provides a window into that lifestyle, including the famed Hapsburg family's crown jewels.

Christmas markets

If you are going in November, you are no doubt hoping to catch some of the famous Viennese Christmas markets. They open on a rolling basis starting in mid-November, so make sure you plan your trip accordingly! There's a central market right at Stephensplatz (This is also the site of St. Stephen's Cathedral. It is worth a walk-through! There is a large market in the courtyard of the palace and another big one located on the square in front of City Hall. There are others, but those are some of the big ones! Going in November helps you beat some of the major crowds that descend upon the city in December to see the Christmas markets.

  • Visit the Naschmarkt: Vienna’s largest and most famous market. It runs for almost a mile and has existed since the 16th century! From fruit and vegetables to seafood, sausages and Viennese specialties, there's a little of everything. It's touristy, but we thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless!

Concerts

Take in a classical concert within the gorgeous baroque atmosphere of St. Peter's Church. The experience is unreal.

Explore the 7th District

This area has a more local feel than the imperial and old city center. Think coffee shops, vintage boutiques and smaller museums.

Enjoy a traditional Viennese coffeehouse

Vienna's coffee-house culture is world famous. It's designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. You could try the iconic Cafe Central as well as some less touristy ones such as Cafe Landtmann. If you really want the full experience, go a bit dressed up!

Day trips

Okay, so I don't technically recommend doing this as a day trip, more of like a 2-3 day add-on to Vienna: Salzburg.

Salzburg is a smaller, mountain-adjacent city about a 3-hour train ride from Vienna. If you're a Sound of Music fan, then you will recognize Salzburg well: it's where the classic movie was filmed!

We all really loved Salzburg as a more laid-back alternative to Vienna. You can also do some really neat excursions, including a tour of the salt mines (Salzburg is translated "salt city") where you can cross over into Germany and see some pretty remarkable historical sites, such as the base of Hitler's bunker and an old Nazi meeting hall.

From Salzburg, you can also take an afternoon trip to the charming lakeside village of Hallstatt. Hallstatt looks like a literal fairy tale village and it's an easy drive from Salzburg. You won't need more than three hours there.

Places to eat & drink in Vienna

  • Artner am Franziskanerplatz: Upscale and inventive traditional Austrian food. An absolutely incredible meal. You will need reservations.

  • Gasthaus zum Holunderstrauch: Charming traditional pub. There was only one other tourist couple in there when we went. It was a very local spot.

  • Dstrikt Steakhouse: Might sound strange, but this steakhouse attached to the Ritz Carlton was unanimously in our top two meals of the trip (behind Artner).

  • Shoyu Ramen: If you get tired of sausage and potatoes (because, let's be honest, there's not a lot of variety in traditional Viennese food). The ramen here was incredible, and you could tell this spot was popular with locals.

  • Fenster Cafe: A funky spot that serves coffee in ice cream cones out of a window.

  • Cafe Demel or Cafe Sacher: Try the famous Sachertorte dessert.

Also, you should try the local food at the Christmas market stalls!

Advisor - Briana Knox

Travel Advisor

Briana Knox

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