The Ultimate Guide to Vienna’s Christmas Markets

A Vienna Christmas market visit is one of the most enjoyable and romantic things to do in the Austrian capital. By mid-November, as excitement for the festive season begins to build, the city is transformed into a wonderland of sparkling lights, seasonal ice rinks, wooden huts selling arts and crafts, and choral singing. The aroma of glühwein—mulled and spiced red wine—and sizzling sausages fills the air.

What’s most exciting is that there isn’t just one Christmas market in Vienna; there are several. Each has its own style, whether you’re enchanted by the elegance of Schönbrunn Palace as a backdrop to your Christmas shopping or are looking for the pumping music and rides of the Prater amusement park. So don’t just visit one market; see them all.

Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz

Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz

There’s been a seasonal market as we know it today at Vienna’s City Hall Square, or Rathausplatz, for 50 years. It’s possibly the most famous of Vienna’s Christmas markets, located right in the city center.

The Rathausplatz market today is dominated by a towering conifer. It’s donated each year by a different Austrian province or by Sudtirol, which is part of northern Italy, and decorated with thousands of lights and baubles. A life-sized nativity scene is set up in front of the tree with a trumpeter serenading the crowd from the roof. Don’t miss the Heart Tree, a plane tree that’s festooned every Advent with red, heart-shaped lights.

Ice rink

Things to buy at the market, which is one of the city’s biggest, include glühwein, sausages, and other tasty treats, as well as Christmas confectionery, tree decorations, and handicrafts. A Ferris wheel, an old-fashioned, multi-level carousel, and a “reindeer train” all add to the family fun. There’s a seasonal ice rink in City Hall Park, too, where you can rent skates.

Weihnachtsmarkt Stephansplatz

Glühwein

This market, sprawled across Stephansplatz, with the city’s mighty Gothic St. Stephen’s cathedral as its backdrop, is one of the most traditional. This is pure Vienna: Fiakers, the horse-drawn carriages that you’ll see clattering around the Ringstrasse, gather here, making a wonderful image for photos.

Graben

The cathedral, with its distinctive tiled roof, is floodlit, while the music from Advent concerts drifts on the night air. The big Christmas light displays of Graben and Kärntnerstrasse are a stone’s throw from the market, so you can take in all of these in one outing.

Shop here for snow globes, scented candles, handmade decorations, ceramics, wooden toys, and pretty candleholders. There’s more than a hint of gourmet to the food offerings, which include truffles from Italy, handmade chocolate, and Lebkuchen, iced ginger and cinnamon cookies that you see everywhere in Austria at Christmas.

Weihnachtsdorf, Altes AKH

The Altes AKH is a former hospital, its campus now owned by Vienna’s University. An enchanting Christmas village is set up here every year, with features such as a children’s railway and a vintage carousel. There are curling lanes, too, so you can hone your curling skills while getting in some Christmas shopping.

The vibe here is friendly and romantic, perhaps more family-oriented than some of the bigger, more commercial markets. This is a great place to try Austrian regional cuisine, too, with exhibitors from across Austria’s provinces setting up stalls here.

Lángos

If you smell garlic wafting in the night air, chances are there will be a langos stall nearby. This tasty street food treat originated in Hungary and is a Christmas favorite in Austria; imagine crispy dough slathered with grated cheese, cream, and garlic butter.

Altwiener Christkindlmarkt, Freyung

Altwiener Christkindlmarkt, Freyung

A Christmas market stood on Freyung in one form or another from 1722, although in 1840, its stalls were relocated to Am Hof. But Freyung, a beautiful square in front of the Schottenkirche, still claims to be the city’s oldest market. There are records of a wine market being held here as far back as 1358.

Today, you’ll find a happy mix of Viennese food, drink, and gifts. Look for herbal soaps and mixes, homemade jams, scented candles, silver jewelry, artisan cheese and gins, ceramics, and the usual Christmas decorations.

Kaiserschmarrn

Treat yourself to a glass of Schnapps and a portion of Kaiserschmarrn, shredded pancake pieces scattered with confectioner’s sugar and served with plum jam. If you’re traveling as a family, don’t miss the daily puppet shows.

Weihnachtsmarkt Am Hof

The grand Am Hof square in the city center, close to Freyung, has been a setting for entertainment and tournaments since the time of the Romans. Mozart gave his first public performance in the Palais Collalto in 1762.

In the beginning, this was the location of a fish market, which expanded in the 15th century to baked goods, fruits, and vegetables. The fish market was moved in 1768, and Am Hof remained a produce market. The Christmas theme was introduced in 1842.

Christmas decorations

There are two elements to the Am Hof market. The Kunsthandwerkmarkt features around 20 stalls selling arts and crafts, from original paintings to wood carvings. The remainder of the market is where you can pick up honey, jewelry, schnapps, ceramics, and Christmas decorations. Come after 4 pm and let the sound of exquisite choral singing wash over you.

Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn

Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn

This is one of the best Christmas markets in Vienna for sheer beauty and atmosphere. It’s set in the courtyard of the lavish, baroque Schönbrunn Palace, which is dramatically floodlit after dark.

You’ll enter the whole magical scene through a giant star portal, glittering with light, to find some 90 hand-decorated huts selling everything from regional gourmet items to handmade baubles and wooden toys. A giant tree, donated by one of Austria’s provinces, forms the centerpiece.

Christmas decorations

There’s an ice skating rink and curling lanes, as well as a vintage carousel and a Ferris wheel. If you have children in tow, take a look at the kids’ craft hut, where children can learn traditional woodworking skills. Graze your way around the different stalls, snacking on fresh donuts, hot dogs, steaming bowls of soup, and tarte flambée, a thin pastry crust covered in onions, and fromage blanc, originating in Alsace, France.

The Schönbrunn Market stays open until January 6, so earmark this one for a visit if your stay in Vienna extends beyond Christmas.

Weihnachtsdorf, Belvedere

Weihnachtsdorf, Belvedere

You couldn’t ask for a more romantic setting for a Christmas market, or village, as this one is called. The backdrop is the ornate, 18th-century Upper Belvedere Palace in the third district, with a lake that reflects the sparkling lights as dusk settles.

The market is more compact than some of the city center offerings, with around 40 stands. Shop for candles and soaps, traditional wooden toys, woolen clothing, leather bags, ceramics, and artisan chocolate. Pick up Lebkuchen and chocolate-covered fruit to take home as a gift and snack on sizzling sausages, deliciously rich raclette, and roast chestnuts.

Belvedere Palace

Belvedere Palace is famed for its art collection; it’s here that you can gaze at Gustav Klimt’s shimmeringly lovely The Kiss, so try to visit the gallery before heading to the market.

Weihnachtsmarkt Spittelberg

The narrow streets of bohemian Spittelberg, in the seventh district, are the setting for this eco-Christmas market. All the goods here are Fair Trade or locally produced and sustainable. The food is organic and mainly vegetarian or vegan. Would-be stallholders have to apply for a space and demonstrate their eco-credentials before being allowed to exhibit.

Spittelberg is an enchanting neighborhood of Vienna, its streets lined with buildings in the Biedermeier style. The area is packed with cozy bars and coffee shops, and the fact that the market takes place in the streets, rather than in a square, makes it even more enchanting.

Wood carvings

Look for hand-blown glass, wood carvings, fragrant incense, knitwear, vintage fashions, and jewelry in the artsy market here. The food has an international vibe, with stalls selling arancini—cheesy rice balls from Italy—churros from Spain, and pierogi from Poland.

There’s a lively entertainment program that runs alongside the market, including biscuit-baking sessions and puppet shows.

The Prater Rocks, Riesenradplatz

Riesenrad

You’ll find a Christmas market with a difference in the Prater, Vienna’s massive, permanent funfair, with the iconic Wiener Riesenrad wheel at its heart. As well as all the usual fair rides, bouncy castles, trampolines, bumper cars, and a carousel are found here.

There’s a season-long program of live music, from gospel to pop, soul, and rock, as well as DJ sets. Street food from all around the world is on offer at Winterburg, a seasonal outdoor dining area.

Chocolate-covered apples

The stalls here sell handicrafts, Christmas decorations, mulled wine, chocolate-covered fruits, filled baked potatoes, and langos. If you’re still in Vienna on New Year’s Day, the traditional New Year’s Day Concert from the Musikverein is broadcast here on a live relay, shown on a giant LED screen.

Weihnachtsmarkt Türkenschanzpark

The Turkish fountain that forms the centerpiece of this pretty 18th-district park is the focal point of the Christmas market. Because the market takes place in a park, there’s more of a rural feel. A lot of families come here to take advantage of the kids’ craft workshops, the carousel, and the large playground.

Christmas decorations

Look for hand-blown glass, jewelry, Christmas decorations, and delicious treats such as heart-shaped waffles on a stick, Baumstriezel, or chimney cake, served with a big dollop of whipped cream, and a good selection of vegan dishes.

Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens

You’ll have to venture out to the 22nd district across the Danube to reach this combination of a Christmas market and a Christmas exhibition, but it’s worth it for the friendly, laid-back feel. The event takes place in the lush Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens, in and around the glasshouses, where there’s also a magnificent display of flowers.

Christmas decorations

Expect to find organic food and drink, regional specialties, and Christmas tree decorations, festive wreaths, vintage clothing, and gifts. You won’t go hungry here, with everything from sausages and pretzels to pancakes, roasted chestnuts, and Christmas-themed biscuits on sale.

You can pick up some great food gifts, too, from aged cheese to cured hams, honey, homemade jams, vinegars, and Schnapps. Some of the stalls are raising money for charity, giving the market a philanthropic feel.

Read: What Is Vienna Known For?

Art Advent, Karlsplatz

Art Advent, Karlsplatz Photo by
Sandor Somkuti on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

This art-themed market takes place on Karlsplatz, a busy square on the border of the first and fourth districts. Around 90 stalls are set up in front of the baroque Karlskirche, one of the city’s grandest churches, the square strung with fairy lights.

The atmosphere here is very much centered around art and crafts; this is where you’d come to look for one-off pieces created by Austrian artists. It’s also very family-friendly, with a carousel for kids, a petting zoo, and junior art and craft events.

The entertainment is rustic and homespun—expect stilt walkers and barrel organs, for example—which is what adds to the laid-back charm of the market. There’s also a program of live music, from rock and pop to soul. As a bonus, all of the food on offer is organically certified.

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Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz

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