As a kid, Easter was always my favorite holiday. Perhaps it's because I used to love the challenge of Easter egg hunts (they were so much more exhilarating than simply walking downstairs and finding presents under a tree), or maybe it's because I've always had a thing for pastels. Regardless, I still get pretty excited about Easter as an adult.
Aside from the excessive chocolate, an excuse to brunch all day, and shamelessly drenching myself in preppy pastels, some of my most memorable trips with my mom have been during my Easter breaks - also known as Semana Santa here in Spain.
Last year we ventured to Prague and Vienna over Semana Santa, and everything about our trip was truly magical. Since Easter is just around the corner again, I find myself getting incredibly nostalgic about our trip to Central Europe. (I also really miss my mom. Hi mom! Come visit me again!)
While I have yet to see a real European Christmas market (because let's be real: Madrid's pathetic excuse for a Christmas market in Plaza Mayor does not count), I have seen enough darling European Easter markets to last a lifetime. Prague's Easter markets in Old Town Square surely captivated me, but Vienna's whimsical markets truly made me feel like a kid again.
While taking in the sprightly colors, intoxicating scents of pretzels and pastries, and picturesque toys and decorations, I felt the same exhilaration as I did when I was Easter egg hunting as a child. (Except this time, I didn't steal all the eggs from the other kids. What can I say, I'm an only child.)
Wandering through the Easter markets of Vienna is one of my fondest memories of last year's trip to Central Europe with my mom. While all other Easters will likely pale in comparison, I can't help but smile every time I think of our adventures together.
This year, there are several different Easter markets scattered throughout Vienna. While my favorite is the Ostermarkt at Schönbrunn Palace, the city's other picturesque markets are definitely worth visiting as well.
2015 Easter Markets in Vienna:
March 21st - April 6th
Schönbrunner Schlossstraße, 1130 Wien
March 20th - April 6th
Am Hof, 1010 Wien
March 20th - April 6th
Freyung, 1010 Wein
April 5th
Prater, 1020 Wien
I'm the opposite - I've been to many a European Christmas market, but never an Easter market! (And I admittedly didn't really realize they were a thing until reading your post!) They look lovely - all of your egg photos are gorgeous! And I love your perfect spring outfit :-) I would love to go to an Easter market one day!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the markets were wonderful last year! I was in Vienna on Easter two years ago which was the coldest, windiest Easter I've ever experienced in my life... it rain/snowed and the poor people working at the stalls were shivering. But with better weather, it makes for a wonderful Easter weekend getaway!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a sucker for the word market. I will pretty much anything and everything including the food! I wish Italy had an easter market (all though my spring budget is probably better without it!).
ReplyDeleteWow this is BEAUTIFUL! I'd love to visit a Vienna market some time-- it looks so bright and festive!
ReplyDeleteExactly, I never knew they existed until I went to Prague last Easter! Sometimes Europe is filled with the most lovely surprises, don't you think? :)
ReplyDeleteOh no, that sounds miserable! I probably wouldn't have thought they were very charming if I had seen them in bad weather. Thankfully, we really lucked out! However, earlier that week we got hailed on at one of the Easter markets in Prague. I feel cold just thinking about it!
ReplyDeleteSame here! Markets are my favorite places to visit when I travel. I'm shamelessly obsessed! Do you have any favorites in Italy?
ReplyDeleteIt was even more stunning in person! Overall, it was a really magical experience :)
ReplyDeleteMe neither, until I went to Prague and Vienna! Now I just gotta step up my European Christmas market game :) I bet your family's Scandinavian decorations are lovely!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. I have never seen such beautiful and dedicated painted Easter eggs!!! I spy ones with a little brown bunny <3!! I didn't know Easter was this huge of a deal in Europe! I would love to be there one year!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'd love to see these!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I'm putting together a collaboration post right now about Easter around the world, so let me know if you'd like to contribute a post about Vienna (or anywhere!) for it!
I had no idea that Easter markets were a thing! I can't say I'm surprised as Vienna pretty much just kills it with the markets! This looks absolutely magical and how special that you were able to share it with your mom! Miss you chica!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have never visited an Easter market, #ShameOnMe! but I love your pictures and would love to goo!
ReplyDeleteTalk about eye candy! I'd love to visit Vienna at Easter!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! I didn't even know Easter markets were a thing! I've never been too crazy about Easter (aside from the hunts as a kid) but I would love to check out one of these markets one day.
ReplyDeleteYes! In Sardinia there is a place called San Panteleo http://wp.me/p4xG0Y-dq (post I.did) that's market is the way every market in Italy should be. I'm still dreaming of plates I founded there.
ReplyDeleteI love the eggs in all your photos! I visited Austria once and collected a whole slew to bring back as gifts for others. They are all just so unique and fun! I would love to go to a full out Easter market! Looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know Easter markets existed! All the eggs are so pretty, I'd probably end up buying all of them. I notice they have little loops, like a Christmas ornament would have. Are they hung up on a tree?
ReplyDeleteMarkets in Vienna are incredible - I love all the colors in your photos!
ReplyDeleteomg this is wonderful! If this is the Easter market, I can't imagine what the CHRISTMAS market must be like.....I'm smiling just thinking about it! This looks so precious though...the colors, the sunshine, the puppets! How fun!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea it was so big either! What a pleasant surprise though. It makes me want to visit a European Christmas market that much more!!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so cool! I wish I had time to - I'm going to the Canaries on Friday and have a million things to do before then! But I can't wait to read the series!
ReplyDeleteThey really do, don't they! Did you go to the Naschmarkt too? Amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely magical! I'm sure it's even more stunning at Christmastime too!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know they existed before visiting Prague and Vienna! But they were certainly a charming surprise :) I can't recommend the experience enough!
ReplyDeleteI didn't either until visiting Prague and Vienna! Such a fun surprise. The colors, smells and people-watching were unparalleled :)
ReplyDeleteI can understand, I definitely had to restrain myself when shopping for souvenirs there! Everything was just too darling.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cat! And I couldn't agree more - Vienna's markets are some of the best I've found :)
ReplyDeleteIt took some serious restraint not to buy all of them! I'm not sure where you are supposed to hang them though. Maybe a stand of some sort? Knowing the Austrians, I'm sure they invented something super efficient that I'm just not aware of yet. Haha.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Now I want to visit Vienna in December that much more!! I'm sure it's twice as epic.
ReplyDeleteHuh, I didn't know Easter markets were a thing either - how cool! Love your pretty photographs :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any in hamburg, or Kaiserslautern for that matter.
ReplyDeleteOK, I have to number off what's happening here.
ReplyDelete1) I HAD NO IDEA THERE WERE EASTER MARKETS. ANYWHERE. Definitely haven't seen them in Paris.
2) DYING to go to Vienna. Now I have to go to Vienna over Easter someday.
3) Madrid's Christmas markets are a bit thin, you're spot on with that.
4) You can rock pastels anytime you want with an outfit like that! :)
5) Excellent rainbow photos, as always!
Like a bunch of others have said, I totally didn't realize Easter markets were a thing! I've always wanted to go to Europe at Christmas to see the Christmas markets, but this sounds so fun too. Love how colorful your photos are!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos as usual, and Easter markets sound awesome!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - especially the first. I didn't realise that easter markets were a thing either, I would totally go to one!
ReplyDeleteNo worries -- enjoy your trip! The post is now live, by the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura! The Easter markets in Prague were also really cool, so I definitely recommend hitting these places up around Easter sometime in the future :) And I imagine that the cities that hold Easter markets are A LOT warmer in April than in December! (But I still really want to see the Christmas markets too!)
ReplyDeleteThank you Andrea!
ReplyDeleteThanks Holly :) I'd love to go back to an Easter market again someday! Although now I'm that much more curious about European Christmas markets!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Would love to go to Germany for Christmas
ReplyDeleteSo bummed that I'm missing all the Easter markets! I head to Vienna in 2 weekends :(
ReplyDeleteOh no, you're just missing them! But thankfully Vienna is magical no matter the time of year :) I really miss it there!
ReplyDelete