Salzburg and Vienna: Christmas markets

The hills are alive with the sound of music here in Salzburg Austria. It’s been a long time since I was 16 going on 17 but this town that’s steeped in the Von Trapps, Mozart, good coffee, apple strudel and chocolate is one I very much enjoyed.

Two hours by Flix bus from Munich, we arrived to light snow, a glorious carpet of white and temperatures that tested the thermals. Our small hotel in the Old Town was very comfortable with impeccable service and a restaurant that served up excellent wiener schnitzel (veal please) and Austrian red wine.

Salzburg is home to some fabulous Christmas markets and we spent three days immersing ourselves in some glorious Christmas cheer.

Vienna, Austria’s grand capital was our next port of call. Home to the mighty Hapsburg Empire until the end of WWI, Vienna showcases grandeur and opulence in torrents. In December, it’s well and truly decked out for Christmas and it seems like everyone wants a piece of this vibrant city.

Are these real?’ I asked the Christmas tree seller who laughed at my question. They sure are – so green, so sweet smelling, so perfect.

We liked what we saw in Salzburg and Vienna. There’s a lot here and we only touched the tip of the iceberg during our one week.

I’ve talked up Flix bus in previous posts. It’s a German run company and their services throughout Europe are extensive and efficient. Flix now offers trains and like the buses, can be booked quickly and easily on their user friendly website or app. Of course for any train travel, check out maninseat61.com

Next stop for us is Nurnberg.