BudapestZIN

This place called MQ Point is where culture mets kitsch. There are serious art with an offbeat humor. Many imaginative products other than museum tickets are sold. You can't miss the adorable traditional roly poly dolls. Some called it 'never-fall doll' or even tumbler toys.

The MQ Point is more than just a run-of-the-mill museum shop, it stocks cool design and unconventional gifts including mugs, bags, buttons and T-shirts with fun messages. Every “fashion Friday” the store picks a designer of the month and goes on to market products created by the winner at affordable prices. The result is an exciting cross-section of the Austrian and international design scenes.

Being just a short jump from Budapest, it is especially popular to visit it over the weekend, from mid-November through Christmas. The reason is, Vienna's public squares are transformed into Christmas markets with hundreds of booths full of gifts and goodies for visitors to buy.

Each year a traditional Christmas Market transforms City Hall Square into a magical Christmas wonderland.  Sample cookies, savor punch and select gifts at one of the many shopping booths throughout the square. 

We were simply strolling and enjoying the amazing Christmas decorations: a giant 40 foot Advent wreath is prominently displayed in the center of the square while the trees in the neighboring Rathauspark twinkle with festive lights!

The Christmas village on Maria-Theresien-Platz is nestled between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Museum of Natural History. More than 60 stands offer traditional, handcrafted wares and original gift ideas. The romantic Christmas Village in the Old General Hospital (Altes AKH) is a popular meeting point during Advent, especially for a younger crowd.

Tradition is the order of the day at the Old Viennese Christmas Market at Freyung. There has been a Christmas market here ever since 1772. Nowadays the stands offer attractive handcrafted pieces, glass decorations, cribs and ceramics. Festive Advent Christmas music rings out on the square from 4 pm.

It was also a wonderful time spent at the cultural and Christmas market in the Ehrenhof at Schönbrunn Palace where offers of Christmas romance in front of an imperial backdrop. The atmospheric market shows traditional handicrafts, hand-made jewelry and rustic Christmas decorations. There is a diverse children's program and a crib exhibition. The Christmas market in front of the Belvedere is also held in an imperial ambience.