Top Vienna Highlights
These are the places I love most at this time of year: Seasonal gems, quiet corners, and underrated experiences only locals know. We update this Section every Month with new Top Highlights.
Vienna Highlight
This Month with all the Christmas Vibes and New Years Eve we have some beautiful spots to show.
Some work to Christmas, some don´t.
Christmas Garden at Schloss Neugebäude
This lesser-known light installation transforms the historic palace ruins into a glowing winter dreamscape. Wandering through its illuminated pathways feels intimate and almost mystical, far removed from the overwhelming energy of Vienna’s major Christmas markets.
Wintery calm around Türkenschanzpark’s ponds
This sprawling park turns into a soft, moody landscape in winter, with light fog drifting across the ponds and the sound of frozen leaves crunching underfoot. It’s a favourite winter escape for locals who want nature, calm, and a touch of seasonal magic.
A Winter Walk at the Steinhofgründe
The Steinhofgründe is one of Vienna’s most magical winter escapes — a wide, open nature reserve where frosty grass, rolling hills, and scattered oak trees create an almost cinematic landscape.
In December, the air is crisp, dogs run freely across the fields, and locals walk slowly along the gentle slopes with thermos cups of tea.
Böhmischer Prater (the old‑school amusement park / fairground)
Step off the main streets and you’ll find this quirky, slightly gritty amusement park, far from Vienna’s polished tourist spots. In December, the old rides stand silent, paint faded, lights flickering in the winter air. The carousel spins slowly, the smell of roasted almonds drifts through the cold, and wandering past empty booths, you’ll sense the nostalgia of countless local visitors over the years. It’s offbeat, atmospheric, and quietly magical — a side of Vienna most guides never mention.