Take a White Christmas in Vienna

What better day to start a White Christmas holiday in Vienna than on Christmas Day morning?

After alighting from Austrian Airlines Flight #07 check into the stylish boutique hotel Alstadt (only 28 individually decorated rooms and featuring contemporary artworks throughout) close to the museum district, and then make your way to the centre of the city in the emerging morning light.

Don't think about a quick sleep catch-up because you will find that on Christmas Day morning you will have the heart of this wonderful old city virtually to yourself.

The buildings of the Imperial Palace where the Habsburgs lived for six centuries are simply grand as you venture to Kohlmarkt (in days long gone a coal market but now a smart shopping street), to the wide Graben thoroughfare adorned with huge Christmas chandelier lights which lead to the Gothic St Stephen's Cathedral, famous for its multi-coloured tiled roof.

At this time of Christmas Day you could take your pick of the Viennese horse-drawn carriages lined up for the afternoon because everyone who is up and about is inside the cathedral, celebrating Mass.

The sense of discovery is heightened because the streets are virtually empty and the ancient city is sprinkled with snow (although that cannot be guaranteed of course). The jet lag can wait.

In the afternoon, the city streets, alleyways and Stephensplatz outside the cathedral fill with families and couples wandering to a favourite café, the pick of which is Demel café.

Later, back at the hotel, the log fire and tea and cake in the lounge are welcome as you plan the next few days in Vienna.

A must-see is a tour of Schloss Schönbrunn, the palace 20 minutes away by train, which features a yellow baroque exterior and a grandiose rococco interior. (The 180-metre long Orangerie at the palace is the venue for a fun night concert of Mozart and Strauss which is also highly recommended.)

In front of the palace, Christmas Market stalls offer traditional hand-made Christmas gifts, a brass band playing carols, warming gluhwein, coffee and hot food. You are well removed from the Aussie beach and the barbecue!

Wander around the Naschmarkt fruit and veg stalls to find a warm café or bar for a bratwurst lunch, explore Parliament, City Hall, Belvedere Palace, monumental churches and art galleries, visit the Spanish Riding School and stop along the way for coffee and sache torte, a large beer or a glass of wine and then a Mozart and Strauss concert at night.

A Vienna Schnitzel is another must and there are many restaurants bragging they serve the biggest.

To organise a White Christmas in Vienna, a good starting point is the Australian-owned Tempo Holidays which has a wide selection of Vienna hotels and apartments, Mozart 250th anniversary packages, and sightseeing and day tours and they can put you on an Austrian Airlines flight. Contact Tempo Holidays, 03 9646 0277, see agents or www.tempoholidays.com.