Best Christmas Markets in Vienna, Austria You Need to Visit!
Vienna is always amongst the best cities to visit for Christmas markets, and for good reason. It is home to enough markets to fill all your Christmas market needs for a full two to three days without stopping. Here are the best Christmas markets in Vienna and everything you need to know about visiting them!
- Vienna Christmas Markets: Summary with Map
- Christmas Market at Rathausplatz (Wiener Chrstindlmarkt)
- Christmas Village at Maria-Theresian Square
- Christmas Market at Am Hof Square
- Christmas Market at Freyung Square (Altwiener Christkindlmarkt)
- Spittelberg Christmas Market
- Christmas Market at Stephensplatz
- Arts and Crafts Market at Karlsplatz (Art Advent Market)
- Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market
- Belvedere Palace Christmas Market
- Market at Reisenradplatz aka Wintermarkt at Prater
- Other Notable Markets
- Tips for Visiting the Best Vienna Christmas Markets
- Christmas Express Tour
- Guided Christmas Market Tour
- How Many Days Do You Need to Visit Them all?
- Final Thoughts on the Best Christmas Markets in Vienna
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Vienna Christmas Markets: Summary with Map
Again, there are SEVERAL Christmas markets in Vienna, and, if we are being real honest, many of the markets offer the same things. Same Glühwein, similar crafts (many the exact same), similar food options. So, if you find you don’t have time to visit ALL of the markets, you will still get to experience a lot of what the Viennese markets have to offer! Here are the most notable markets in Vienna:
- Christmas Market at Rathousplaz (city hall)
- Maria-Theresian Square Christmas market
- Spittleberg Christmas market
- Christmas market at Freyung Square
- Christmas market at Am Hof Square
- Arts and crafts market at Karlsplatz
- Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market
- Belvedere Palace Christmas market
- Market at Reisenradplatz aka Wintermarkt at Prater
- Market at University of Vienna
- Hirschstetten Advent Market
Christmas Market at Rathausplatz (Wiener Chrstindlmarkt)
This market is the biggest and most popular market in Vienna and will likely make every “best Christmas markets in Vienna” list. The beautiful city hall makes for a gorgeous backdrop, made even better by the giant Christmas tree and nativity scene sitting in front of it.
At the Rathausplaz market you will also find a unique ice skating course (not rink), a carousel, ferris wheel and other kid-friendly rides and activities. This market also has a great selection of stalls that offer good food, crafts, ornaments, and Christmas punch!
This market. is worth visiting during the day, but you definitely need to visit at night for the light displays!
- Dates: November 15th through December 26th, 2024
- Time: 10am to 10pm
Christmas Village at Maria-Theresian Square
This market is located at Maria-Theresian Square, just about a 10 minute walk from the market at Rathousplatz. Though smaller than the Rathausplatz, it still is one of the bigger markets in Vienna. No kids rides or skating rinks are located here, but they offer a good amount of stalls with various Christmas crafts, drinks and food. They also have one of the cutest Christmas mugs 🥰
Unlike the market at the Christmas market at Rathausplatz, this market doesn’t have a lot of lights to look at at night, so visiting during the day can suffice.
- Dates: November 13th through December 26th, 2024
- Times: 11am to 9pm
Christmas Market at Am Hof Square
The market at Am Hof square is one of the smaller markets in Vienna, but I personally liked visiting some of the smaller markets. Am Hof market is known for its meat selection and has two different Christmas punch vendors (meaning two different mug options!) It also has a unique champagne bar, so if you are a champagne person and are getting tired of the glühwein, this could be your place!
- Dates: November 15th through December 23rd, 2024
- Times: 11am to 9pm
Christmas Market at Freyung Square (Altwiener Christkindlmarkt)
The market at Freyung Square, also known as Altwiener Christkindlemarkt, is one of Vienna’s oldest Christmas markets, dating back to the 1700’s! It is located just down the road from Am Hof market, so you can visit the two together very easily.
It is also a smaller Viennese Christmas market, but it is unique in that it offers live music at various times. I recommend visiting at a time when the music is playing! Click here for a schedule of events at Altwiener Christkindlemarkt)
- Dates: November 15th through December 23rd, 2024
- Times: 10am to 9pm
Spittelberg Christmas Market
Spittelberg Christmas market is a small market located in Spittelberg neighborhood and consists of stalls lined up and down the streets of the neighborhood (rather than an open square like many of the markets. The 2024 market is organized as an eco-event with emphasis on sustainability and climate change awareness.
Though this is one of the smaller markets in Vienna, we found this market to have a nice, local feel and a more relaxed hangout spot compared to some of the more popular markets.
- Dates: November 16th through December 23rd, 2024
- Times: 2pm to 9:30pm Monday-Friday and 11am to 9:30 pm Saturday and Sunday
Christmas Market at Stephensplatz
The market at Stephensplatz is one of the most centrally-located markets and has one of the prettiest backdrops as St. Stephen’s Cathedral towers behind. This market consists of stalls that wrap around the cathedral.
Most stalls are similar to those of Rathausplatz and there are no rides or activities offered. However, it is worth stopping by due to the beautiful cathedral standing behind it. (Plus if you go to see the beautiful lights along Graben street, you will run right into Stephensplatz).
- Dates: November 8th through December 26th, 2024
- Times: 11am to 9pm
Arts and Crafts Market at Karlsplatz (Art Advent Market)
This was one of the most surprising markets of Vienna for me. For some reason, I thought it would be smaller like Am Hof and Freyung Square markets, but it isn’t! It is quite large and is unique in that it is known as more of an arts and crafts market.
You will find that the crafts here seem more original and diverse compared to the other markets and can often even see the people at work making the crafts.
It also helps that it has the beautiful Baroque Karlskirche church standing behind it!
- Dates: November 15th through December 23rd, 2024
- Times: 12pm to 8pm
Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market
The newly designed Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace is one of the best Christmas markets in Vienna for activity and entertainment. Not only does it have a beautiful backdrop of Schönbrunn Palace, but it also offers a skating rink, curling, carousel (x2!), a ferris wheel and crafting for kids to maximize kid-friendly entertainment.
We visited during the day and during the night, and I will say this market really comes to life at night with the palace backlit behind the giant Christmas tree! The curling was also not going on during the day, so it was cool to watch it at night!
- Dates: November 8th through January 6th, 2025
- Times: 10am to 9pm
Belvedere Palace Christmas Market
Belvedere Palace Christmas market is similar to that of the Schönbrunn market in that it offers a beautiful palace backdrop. However, Belvedere doesn’t have quite as much activity entertainment of that at Schönbrunn Palace.
In full transparency, we didn’t make it to this market on our trip to Vienna. We opted to do a couple of day trips and decided to go to Schönbrunn Palace instead. However, if you have more than two days to explore, Belvedere Palace will be worth visiting!
- Dates: November 15th through December 26th, 2024
- Times: 11am to 9pm
Market at Reisenradplatz aka Wintermarkt at Prater
This market is located at the amusement park in north Vienna. During the holidays, it turns into a magical winter market! You can experience culinary delights in conjunction with live concerts Wednesday through Sunday, a chain carousel, large ferris wheel and other fun rides!
We opted out of this market due to time and wanting to put our time toward the markets that weren’t in the amusement park. However, again, if you have at least three days in Vienna designated for markets OR if you or your kids love amusement parks, this could be a great option for you!
- Dates: November 16, 2024 through January 6, 2025
- Times: 12pm to 10pm
Other Notable Markets
- University of Vienna Christmas market aka Altes AKH
- This market is located on the campus of the University of Vienna at Spitalgasse 2
- Like the other markets, it boasts stalls with food and crafts and also offers ice skating
- Dates: November 15th, 2024 through December 23rd, 2024
- Hirschstetten Advent Market
- This market is at a Botanical garden about a 30 minute train ride from Vienna’s city center, on the other side of the Danube River
- If you are looking for a market that is a bit out of the city, this can be a good option.
- Dates: November 17th, 2024 through December 23rd, 2024, Thursday-Sunday 10am to 8pm
Tips for Visiting the Best Vienna Christmas Markets
- Have cash. Though many of the stalls (especially the food stalls) take cards, several of the smaller, craft stalls require cash only payments.
- Have a bag. Each market has its own unique mug, and if you plan to collect the mugs be prepared to carry them around while you are exploring!
- You don’t HAVE to buy the mugs. When you purchase your Glühwhein or other punches, you can return the mug to get part of your money back.
- If you keep the mug, you can just pay for refills throughout the market!
- The best foods are those cooked in front of you, which may seem to be obvious. But you will notice various pretzels and pastries along the markets that look good, but if they are sitting on display they aren’t fresh and aren’t worth it.
- Remember that the sun sets around 4:30 pm during December, so make sure to see and do your daytime activities early.
- Christmas market hopping requires a lot of walking and while there are a lot of stand-up tables, there aren’t a lot of places to sit to enjoy your food and drinks
- If you are nervous about the walking and standing, there is a “Christmas Express” train that you can take for about 15 euros that takes you from market to market
- If you don’t have time to visit ALL of the Christmas markets (because there are a lot!), don’t sweat it. As I mentioned, most of the markets sell similar food and crafts and you will still be able to grasp the magic of a Vienna Christmas!
Christmas Express Tour
If you are nervous about the walking and standing involved in seeing the Vienna Christmas markets, you can opt to take a “Christmas Express” train that will take you to see the best Christmas markets in Vienna.
- Price: 15 euros
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Highlights:
- Departs from the Kunsthistorisches Museum every hour
- KNOW: You do NOT get on and off the train during the tour
Book a tour with the Christmas Express
Guided Christmas Market Tour
If you are a guided tour fan, there is an option to take a guided tour of some of the Vienna Christmas markets. The tour will give you a little more insight into the history of the markets and will visit 4 of the most popular Christmas markets.
- Price: 85 euros
- Duration: 2-3 hours
- Highlights: 4 different Christmas markets
- Includes: drink and food tasting
How Many Days Do You Need to Visit Them all?
If you want to catch them ALL, you need to have at least 3 days in Vienna. Especially because you will likely want to see some of the markets during the day AND at night because you just get a different feel at the markets from day to night. Especially if this if your first time in Vienna, as you will want to spend some time seeing other parts of Vienna that aren’t directly Christmas-related.
- We only used 2 days to explore the markets while in Vienna (and did day trips the other days), and missed out on a couple of the markets.
Final Thoughts on the Best Christmas Markets in Vienna
Vienna is one of the top places to visit for Christmas markets, and for good reason! It has a wide selection of markets, great for all ages and interests, has great lights throughout the city making even your walks between markets magical!
Enjoy your Christmas trip to Vienna!
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