Vienna over Thanksgiving Giving weekend was the perfect holiday.  The city is easy to get around and they're already well into celebrating the upcoming Christmas season.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Me Christmas market-ing"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="IMG_1300" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6413923073/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6413923073_099dc7a2d5_b.jpg" alt="IMG_1300" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

There are a slew of little (some not so little) markets that get set-up all over the city. These are the Christmas Markets. Basically there are four things that one can do there. First, drink mulled wine outside. Second, buy things for Christmas. Third, eat German food. Four, have fun doing some combination of 1-3.<!--more-->

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Shopping at the Rathaus Christmas market"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Shopping at the Rathaus Christmas market" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6419183471/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6419183471_5883652c49_b.jpg" alt="Shopping at the Rathaus Christmas market" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

Over a single long weekend we went to seven different Christmas markets. This may have been overkill but when in Vienna at Christmas time, a girl has got to do these things.

Some of the markets are better than others but really I think it just depend what you're looking for.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Rathaus dressed up for Christmas"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Rathaus dressed up for Christmas" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6419197563/"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6419197563_3ebda6bd49_b.jpg" alt="Rathaus dressed up for Christmas" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

I think my favorite market was at the Schönbrunn palace. The palace is a lovely backdrop for a very traditional market with lots of Christmas ornaments, homemade treats like jam and schnaps, live caroling and plenty of good wine and food. I bought some of my favorite gifts there.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Schönbrunn at Night"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Schönbrunn" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6413954639/"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6225/6413954639_2f2349c8e1_b.jpg" alt="Schönbrunn" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

My second favorite is the Spittelberg market. It's tucked away on a few streets in a lovely neighborhood but the kinds of gifts at this market ranged from interesting handmade things to mass-produced toys and hats. But if what you are looking for is atmosphere and you want to wander the streets with a mug of wine and do some window shopping, you really can't go wrong here.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="614" caption="Altwiener Christkindlmarkt at night"]<a class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Large" title="Altwiener Christkindlmarkt at night" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6419131507/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6419131507_e6857b2a21_b.jpg" alt="Altwiener Christkindlmarkt at night" width="614" height="410" /></a>[/caption]

The Rathaus on the other hand is a crowded mass of humanity with too many people to safely drink wine without the imminent threat of spilling. And this was problematic because my major goal of the weekend was not spill any mulled wine on my new coat. I think that you go to the Rathaus because it's beautiful at night. Likewise, I think that you go for the people, for the crowds--to confirm that you're having a good time and you're having the full Christmas market experience.

Now, I've got to get myself to the Christmas market that has just opened in Sofia!!

Oh and if you want to see more pictures from Vienna, I <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/" target="_blank">uploaded a ton to flickr</a>.