A travel reporter has compared Vienna and Copenhagen as Christmas destinations, both reachable by direct flights from Newcastle Airport, and found Copenhagen to be the overall winner despite Vienna's strengths in transport and accommodation.
The Two Cities Compared
Angela Patrone visited both cities to assess their festive appeal. Copenhagen offers gløgg (mulled wine) at Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market, while Vienna features the Schönbrunn Palace Market. Vienna is known for its regal palaces, classical music heritage, museums, elegant streets, and historic coffeehouses. Copenhagen, by contrast, has a practical vibe with vibrant buildings and bike-filled streets.
Scenery and Activities
Both cities are visually stunning. Vienna's architecture, from the State Opera to the Hofburg and St. Stephen's Cathedral, impressed the reporter. Copenhagen's Nyhavn, with its colourful houses and old wooden ships, also stood out. The reporter called the scenery a tie.
For activities, Vienna excels in palaces and museums, with favourites including Belvedere, Schönbrunn, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Copenhagen offered more variety, including Tivoli Gardens (open since 1843, with a vintage wooden roller coaster from 1914), a canal cruise, the Botanisk Have botanical gardens, and easy train access to Malmö, Sweden. Copenhagen won this category.
Getting Around and Food
Vienna was easier to navigate on foot, with most main spots reachable in about 20 minutes, and its public transport is punctual. Copenhagen's centre is walkable but spreads out more, making transport more important. Vienna won this round.
Copenhagen was praised for its brunch culture, including smørrebrød and fresh pastries. Vienna's dining offers apple strudel, Kaiserschmarrn, Wiener Schnitzel, and goulash. Copenhagen took the food category.
Accommodation and Flights
Vienna's hotels offer classic elegance. The reporter stayed at Hotel Rathauspark Wien, a former city palace with rooms from about £140 a night. Copenhagen hotels focus on functional design. Both cities are expensive for hotels, but cheap flights are available. Vienna won on accommodation.
Jet2 flies seasonally from Newcastle to Vienna, while Norwegian Air, easyJet, and Jet2 fly direct from Newcastle to Copenhagen from £44. Overall, the reporter preferred Copenhagen, finding it had more to offer despite Vienna's cultural richness.
