Rick Rodgers’ Christmas in Austria

Written By Claudia Royston

About this trip

In this carefully curated tour, Rick Rodgers, author of the bestselling cookbooks CHRISTMAS 101 and KAFFEEHAUS, personally guides you to his very favorite spots for Christmas cheer in the Austrian style. 

Special foods (from seasonal lebkuchen to savory snacks) and unique gift shopping await the traveler in entrancing.

Advent markets in both vibrant city and charming rustic locales.  Add a generous helping of art and music (not to mention warming drinks, spiked or not), and you have the perfect recipe for a pre-holiday trip. Throughout your journey, don’t forget to collect each market’s specially decorated mug as a memento. 

 
 

DATES & PRICES
December 1-10, 2025

Cost:
$4,990 per person (sharing)
$5,490 per person (single)

Sample Itinerary

Day 1:

Upon arrival in beautiful Vienna, perhaps the ultimate European capital for savoring the holiday season, check into the centrally located Hotel Indigo Naschmarkt.  Tonight we’ll enjoy a dinner at a nearby local favorite restaurant. 

Day 2:

Today is the day to soak up some of Vienna’s most iconic sights in its famed Inner City, with some of the best markets literally cheek-to-jowl.  We begin at Stephansdom (St. Steven’s Cathedral), lovingly refurbished after WW2, and location of a lovely market.  You’ll see the golden “Plague Column” and be tempted by the area’s upscale shops.  Am Hof square is home to its Weichnachtsmarkt (Christmas Eve Market), with lovely artisan goods and delicious snacks.  Settle in for an Austrian lunch at Das Schwarzen Kameel, (The Black Camel) one of the city’s oldest restaurants.  Then we’re off to the pocket-sized Altwiener Christkindllmarket (Old Vienna Christmas Market) in the Freyrung.  A sunset stroll brings us to the Rathaus (City Hall), perhaps the most stunning market, with festively lighted stalls surrounded by enormous Christmas trees, and kids of ages on the carousel and skating in its ice rink. 

Day 3:

Explore Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and the adjacent market in Maria-Theresia Platz.  Enjoy lunch at one of the most beautiful cafes in the world, the Cupola in the museum’s heart.  You next have free time for a few hours to explore the museum or its sister across the square, the Natural History Museum.  We start the evening at Karlsplatz, home to one of the largest markets, capping with a performance of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” inside of Karlskirche (St. Charles’ Church), one of the most glorious baroque buildings in the world. 

Day 4:

After breakfast, we’ll visit the Leopold Museum in the center of Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier. During a private guided tour, we’ll see the most eminent Egon Schiele collection and major works by Gustav Klimt, including his beautiful square-shaped landscape paintings. After lunch we’ll visit some markets of Vienna’s “Outer” neighborhoods, like Spittleberg, named after the Vienna public Hospital which had fields and vineyards in this part of the city from 1525. The vineyards paid for patient care. During the siege of Vienna in 1683 the Spittelberg was of great strategic importance because of its elevated location, and the early Baroque buildings were razed. After 1695, the district was rebuilt in a grid-shaped plan . Today it is a lively, multicultural district, one of the city’s quaintest, with cosy restaurants, small shops and studios.

Day 5:

Today, we begin our exploration of the Salzkammergut region, the location of some of Austria’s most captivating villages, with local traditions galore, and never more so than before Christmas. After a scenic bus ride, we will arrive in Bad Ischl, summer home to the Imperial Court, which will be our base. There we will see their indoor market and experience the unique Krampusaulf, where St. Nicholas and his demon minions’ parade through town, perhaps spanking those of you who have been naughty (and hand out candy for the rest). A local dinner will be had at our inn, the Goldener Ochs. Advent is the most atmospheric time in Upper Austria, where customs are writ large. Here you will find all the events of the Advent season: St. Martin's festivals, Advent markets, Krampus parades, nativity scene exhibitions, Advent blowing, Advent carol singing.... everything at a glance

Day 6:

An exploration of local villages awaits today. Our first stop is St. Wolfgang and its market. We board a ferry to cross the lake to St. Gilgen, where another entrancing market with handmade goods will tempt us with its wares. We will return to Bad Ischl for an afternoon at leisure to explore its shops (or purchase more goods at the market). Enjoy your choice of dinner venues.

Day 7:

This morning, after check-out, we’ll make our way to Salzburg. Our first stop will be a cooking class, or rather baking class. We’ll learn how to prepare traditional Austrian Christmas cookies and apple strudel. We will be guided by our experienced chef and take part in all the stages of preparation from marinating the apples to stretching out the pastry and rolling them up together. Afterwards, we’ll go to the market in the cathedral square, before taking a tour of the old town. There will be free time before heading to dinner at Salzburg Castle wit The evening will combine music and dinner at a Salzburg venue.

Day 8:

Today begins with a very special visit to the Silent Night Chapel which  commemorates where the ultimate Christmas carol was created and first performed in December of 1818.. The Silent Night museum is located on the site of the original St. Nicholas Church where it was first sung and tells the story of how Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber created the famous carol. After visiting the market there, we'll enjoy lunch at the Hotel Sacher in the city center. Our lunch will lead inexorably to their famous dessert, Sachertorte. Rick will explain how it got its name (and the controversy surrounding it) and how it's made. Afterwards enjoy some free time to enjoy more of the town. 

Day 9:

Returning to Vienna, we will stop at at Wenschitz Chocolate Factory (Pralinewelt), where you will make room in your luggage for sweet stocking stuffers and more. Our final stop before the hotel is the Advent Market at Garten Palace Liechtenstein is a hidden gem among Vienna’s Christmas markets. Located in the Liechtenstein Garden Palace, the second most significant Baroque building in Vienna, this market offers a charming alternative to the city’s busier holiday attractions. Then to the Vienna’s Palais Liechtenstein Garden market for any last-minute purchases and another example of a Viennese Palace market. We end our evening together at a farewell dinner.

Day 10:

This morning, after check out, say goodbye to your new friends and to Austria as you head to the airport for your flight home. Merry Christmas!

Claudia Royston
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New Zealand November 1-15, 2025