Today, on December 23, after our morning coffee at 6 AM, we were already on the road to Vienna, Austria. After an hour of waiting at the Nadlac border crossing to enter Hungary, we purchased the necessary vignettes for both Hungary and Austria. During our journey to Vienna, we made a brief stop in the town of Mosonmagyaróvár at Hársfa Étterem to savor traditional Hungarian cuisine—an excellent decision. We continued our drive and managed to reach our accommodation in Vienna by 2:30 PM. After a short rest, we went shopping at the nearest Billa supermarket.
On December 24, 2023, Christmas Eve, Santa Claus was expected to arrive. Before his arrival, we took a leisurely walk to explore the charming sights of Vienna. Our first stop was Katholische Kirche Maria Hietzing (Maria Geburt). Subsequently, we headed towards Großes Palmenhaus Schönbrunn. Taking advantage of the pleasant weather, we ventured further to Schönbrunn Palace. To boost the children’s energy, we climbed up to Gloriette Schönbrunn. For our next visit, passing Tivoli Bridge, we headed towards Wilhelmstraße 64 and treated the kids to McDonald’s for lunch. After a hearty meal and coffee, we continued our journey to Belvedere Palace, Kursalon Hübner, and St. Charles’s Church. After a day of exploring Vienna, we returned to our accommodation with the help of Google Maps and Vienna’s public transportation, reaching our destination quickly. On the way back, we also purchased pizza from Al Pacino Pizzaservice Wien – Lainzer Str. 143, as it was open even at this late hour. Today was a treat for the children, and we managed to expend their energy. Now, all that’s left is to wait for Santa Claus.
Christmas on December 24, 2023, in Vienna was magical. After the morning joy of unwrapping gifts, we ventured out once again. Accustomed to Vienna’s public transportation, we continued our exploration from where we left off at St. Charles’s Church, heading towards the Vienna State Opera—an imposing structure. We visited Kärntner Strasse and proceeded to Rathausplatz, where a Christmas market was organized. The boys wanted to go on the carousel. The next location we visited was Votive Church in Vienna, and from here, for the children’s delight, we headed to Prater. Our first visit was to Madame Tussauds Vienna and the Giant Ferris Wheel, both covered by a bundled ticket. Early on, we roamed the park, offering activities for all ages. While Edu enjoyed the haunted house, Adela was amazed by the carousel. As it was getting late, we decided to head back to our accommodation. However, we had the pleasure of experiencing Vienna at night, which was enchanting. Rathausplatz and the Vienna State Opera, when viewed at night, were truly awe-inspiring.
We arrived at our accommodation close to 10:00 PM, and tomorrow awaits another amazing city to explore.
Thank you, Vienna, Austria, a city full of history.
