Dear customers,
As every year, the Advent season immerses Vienna in a very special atmosphere: festively decorated shop windows, bright Christmas lights in the streets and convivial get-togethers at the punch stands. Vienna’s Advent markets are very popular and are definitely worth a visit, especially at dusk when the atmosphere is magical. Advent concerts musically shorten the time until the holidays.
Museums
Vienna is also currently attracting visitors with top-class exhibitions. The Chagall exhibition in the Albertina, which presents a grandiose and extensive compilation of his works, is particularly recommended. Also in the Albertina and not to be missed is the exhibition of charcoal drawings by Robert Longo.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum offers an excellent Rembrandt and Hoogstraaten exhibition and is generally an absolute tip from us. Amoako Boafo, a contemporary artist from Ghana, invites you to marvel at the Lower Belvedere. Inspired by Klimt and Egon Schiele, his paintings are fascinating; in the Upper Belvedere, some of his works can be seen right next to Klimt masterpieces.
Gifts
If you are still looking for gifts for Christmas and would like to give something from Vienna (or Austria), you might find what you are looking for at one of our favorite stores (recommendations by conviction). Consches, SBIN and Lena Hoschek offer particularly beautiful fashion. Hats can be found at Mühlbauer, and original Viennese snow globes are available at Österreichische Werkstätten. We prefer to buy chocolate from Altmann & Kühne or the Viennese chocolate king Leschanz. For local products, especially wine, we recommend a visit to Haas&Haas Wein Wein&Feinkost, where you can browse to your heart’s content.
For all those who like to give books as gifts, I can recommend my own “Green Places of Happiness in Vienna”. 80 parks, gardens and green courtyards are already whetting the appetite for spring and discovery walks in Vienna. Just leafing through the book is a mental journey through green Vienna and warms the heart. Local booksellers will be pleased to receive your order, and of course it is also available on Amazon.
Concerts
We recommend the following concerts for an atmospheric musical start to the Advent season:
Advent concerts in St. Stephen’s Cathedral: experience festive chamber music and the most beautiful Advent songs, masterfully interpreted by the Harmonia Ensemble Vienna.
Trumpet magic during Advent in St. Anne’s Church: enjoy festive trumpet sounds and classical works in the baroque atmosphere of St. Anne’s Church.
We look forward to seeing you again on a guided tour in Vienna!
Wishing you a wonderful Advent season
Martha Tretter and the artemezzo team