London, Munich, Vienna: How to November

Due to the pandemic, the 2020 festive season was everything but festive. However, at the moment 2021 is looking better. That’s why travellers can once again enjoy some of the events that were paused last year..

One such event is the ice rink at London’s Natural History Museum. After last year’s break, it is back and has already opened its doors! A great way to have some open-air fun with friends in a gorgeous surrounding. This year, visiting the ice rink is essential, as it will be the last chance to skate next to the museum. After 16 years of skating fun, the space will be transformed into a biodiversity hub as part of the museum’s Urban Nature Project.

Don't worry, London has many more places to slide and glide: ice rink at Canary Wharf (already open), Alexandra Palace (open), Somerset House (from Nov., 17th), Queen's House (from Nov., 18th), Hampton Court Palace (from Nov., 19th) and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (from Nov., 19th). All these places are easily reached via public transportation from our London City Hostel!

Music & Lights in Munich

The renowned Tollwood Festival in Munich takes place twice a year and its winter edition is anything but a regular Christmas market. From November, 24th, onwards, you can dive into a fantasy world with lights, music, arts and great food.

Fire and light elements characterise this year’s winter festival, as you will see in the light paintings, 12-metre high firebird sculpture and the large-scale fire theatre! All this creates a special atmosphere on the festival grounds.

New this winter is a Magical Forest - a wintery, festive area with a 12-metre-high Christmas tree made of glitter balls at its centre. Also new are four curling rinks that, in keeping with the Tollwood philosophy, do not require electricity or water and promise a fun seasonal experience.

Photo: Bernd Wackerbauer

The certified organic Tollwood catering invites you on a culinary journey around the world – from Indian street food to fragrant tajines. Generally, the festival focuses on sustainability and also showcases an environmental action site.

Theresienwiese is a 12 minutes subway ride (U4 or U5) from our Wombat's City Hostel München "Hauptbahnhof".

Vienna: Laid Back & Half Outdoor ... We are back in lockdown. Stay safe!

<s>It's one of Vienna's cosiest and most fun Christmas markets: opening its booths on November, 13th, the Campus market Altes AKH is located on the patio of the city's former general hospital. It offers all the Viennese classics: a beautiful setting, ice curling lanes and plenty of food and drink stalls. </s>

<s>The Christmas village Alter AKH is very popular among younger guests, not only because it's part of the Vienna University campus, but also because it is the perfect place to start with a sundowner drink before smoothly sliding into the evening and exploring some of the bars on the areal in the area of the surrounding city center.</s>

<s>On the way home to our City Hostel Vienna "Naschmarkt" you should visit the MQ Wintergarten (already open). This is the fancier, artsier version of a Christmas market. This year, spectacular light projections illuminate the main courtyard. </s>

Budapest? Please see our guest contribution here!

PS: Our womBARs in Vienna and Munich have been reopened with fantastic new offerings and some lively Halloween parties. ;-) Welcome back, party peeps!