Vienna
Vienna ranks amongst the most beautiful capitals in Europe. A city of high culture and great food, it is an alluring and romantic place to visit.
Christmas
Vienna at Christmas is a truly magical place. Here are just a few things you can see and do over the festive season.
Visit one of many Christmas Markets (Christkindlmarkt) wherein huddle hundreds of interesting stalls. The Karlskirche market is one of the better markets to visit.
Roast Chestnuts and drink traditional “Gluvine”
For some history take a day trip along the Danube to the historic Melk Abbey.
Watch the world famous white Lipizzaner horses at the Spanish Riding School.
Visit Schönbrunn Palace on Christmas day. With a Christmas market, tour of the palace, and restaurant to have a hearty Christmas meal.
Useful tip: Christmas eve and Christmas day are public holidays in Vienna, so make dinner plans early as most places are closed.
New Years
Dress up warmly and dance the night away in Vienna’s first district (‘Silvesterpfad’).
At midnight you will hear famous Pummerin (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) strike!
See out the night at various clubs or one of the many pubs at the ‘Gürtel’ or Bermuda triangle
Just before midnight you can watch the official fireworks illuminate the city
Cornwall
If you fancy a relaxing festive season in a beautiful cottage with friends and family, then Cornwall is perfect for you. You can hire a cornish cottage for the week and either relax with a good book and a glass of wine, or you can take to the great outdoors! Cornwall is a wonderful place with many little towns and large open spaces to explore.
Below is a list of cornish musts:
Hire a cornish cottage in a beautiful setting.
Get a map of Cornwall and explore to your hearts content.
Go to Wadebridge and hire a bicycle to do the Camel trail.
Taste the best fish and chips at Rick Steins fish & chip shop in Padstow.
Get blown away at Lands End. Keep an eye open for the Scilly Islands.
Take a sneaky walk on a farm and meet a cow or two.
Find the Maize Maze and discover your inner child.
Party in Newquay.
Find the tallest steeple in Probus, Truro.
Have a cream tea over looking the sea.
Have a traditional Cornish Pasty while walking through a small coastal town.
Go to Fowey and find the kookiest cafe for lunch – Pinky Murphy’s Cafe.
Barbados
Do you think a bit of sun is the way to go this Christmas and New Year? Well, look no further because Barbados is the way forward! With amazing beaches and lovely people it is the place to be. It is a bit expensive once you are there but you get good package deals so look out for them to save some cash. Be sure to do the following between catching the rays:
Hire a Moke car and drive around the island in tourist “style”.
Go to the Fish Fry in Oistins on a Friday night.
Drive to the North of the island and find the highest point in Barbados. The views are spectacular!
Taste the divine Fish Cakes (spicy fish vetkoek) with a Banks Beer at a local pub.
Have a pinacolada cocktail while watching the caribbean sun set.
Drive to Bridgetown for shopping and find the massive Boabab.
Take a catamaran cruise and swim with the turtles.
Laze on Crane Beach sipping a freshly picked coconut.
Spend a day at Mullins Bay Beach and be sure to try the jet-skiing.
Scotland
For those of you, based in the UK, that don’t want to leave the island, Scotland is magical this time of year:
Rent a cottage out in the country, near Inverness
Take a drive to the Isle of Skye.
Sip a single malt whiskey in front of a log fire
Take a hike up Ben Nevis, Scotlands highest mountain, you can do it in one day.
Hire a kayak and brave the icy mountain streams near Spean Bridge
Kiss a hairy coo (cow)!
Buy some proper Scottish macaroon and shortbread!
Be sure to catch Hogmonay in Edinburgh
