Vienna is worth a visit during every season – also on just plain grey winter days. Whereas elsewhere the streets are filled with wafts of mist and the short winter days seem dull and grey, the centre of Vienna is filled with lights. Already weeks before Christmas the Viennese shopping streets are aglow with golden glitter and sparkles as far as the eye can see. Scattered all over town you can find Vienna’s famous Christmas markets, the so-called “Christkindlmärkte”. At this time of the year the federal capital of Austria really enchants both its tourists and its inhabitants.
Christmas in Vienna
Vienna during Advent season is simply beautiful. The winter cold is fought best with delicious hot punch or mulled wine at one of the numerous Christmas markets. A bag of edible chestnuts rounds off your stroll through the city in a culinary way.
Particularly during the winter months, the federal capital of Austria indeed resembles a shiny jewel. Although it gets dark a lot earlier than during summertime, the beloved traditional Christmas lights of the city illuminate Vienna in the most fantastic way. Thousands of lights as well as lovingly decorated shop windows enchant the strollers, magnificent light garlands hang alongside the well-known “Kärntner Straße”, the “Graben” and the “Kohlmarkt”. But not only in the Viennese city centre the streets and houses are festively decorated.
You can find Christmas markets all over Vienna, as the famous “Adventzauber” at the town Hall square for instance. Such markets are typical for the pre-christmas season in Vienna and they’re simply a must for everyone, who’s spending a city break here. Year after year they seem to cast a spell over even the inhabitants of Vienna.
The “Advent magic at the Viennese town Hall square” is only a 5 minutes walk away from our Hotel Zipser. The Park in Front of the festively illuminated town Hall turns into a magical wonderland at this time of the year. While visiting the biggest Christmas market of Vienna you can find a lot of beautiful little gifts at dozens of market stalls or you can simply enjoy the variety of culinary delicacies. A likewise magical and sentimental Christmas market is placed at the Spittelberg, a revitalized Biedermeier district. Further you can find well-known Christmas markets near the old general hospital, in Front of the Schönbrunn or the Belvedere palace and at the Maria-Theresien square (between the Museum of Art History and the museum of Natural History).
Christmas markets in Vienna
Christmas in Vienna: This means enjoyment and sparkling eyes, a dive into Viennas Christmassy wonderland, pleasant scents, out-of-the-box gift ideas and market atmosphere with a unique local flavour.
Christmas markets, which are just a few minutes’ walk away from the Hotel Zipser, are the following:
Viennese Christkindlmarket at Town hall square
Opening hours
10.11 – 23.12 | daily 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
24.12 – 26.12 | 10:00 am – 06:30 pm
The Viennese Christmas market enchants with romance and nostalgia and with about 100 market stalls, which offer little handmade Christmas gifts, food, sweets and punch of course.
Further information
Rathausplatz, 1010 Wien
Viennese Cristkindlmarket
Old-Viennese Christmas market Freyung
Opening hours
17.11 – 23.12 | 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
At one of the most beautiful places of the city centre, the Old-Viennese Christmas market offers lots of selected goods of craftsmanship, decoration out of glass, traditional cribs and ceramics, and this already since 1772.
Further information
Freyung, 1010 Wien
Old Viennese Chrismas Market
Christmas village at the Maria-Theresa Square
Opening hours
15.11 – 23.12 | Su – Thu 11:00 am – 09:00 pm, Fr & Sa 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
24.12 | 11:00 am – 04:00 pm
25.12 – 26.12 | 11:00 am – 07:00 pm
At the Christmas village between the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History about 64 market stalls invite their visitors to shop goods of traditional craftsmanship and other gifts for their loved ones. To get you into some Christmassy mood, events which showcase typical Austrian brass-Band music, gospel choires and music groups take place every now and then.
Further information
Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Wien
Christmas Village Maria-Theresia Square
Christmas market Am Hof
Opening hours
10.11 – 23.12 | Mon – Thu 11:00 am – 09:00 pm & Fri – Sun & Public Holiday 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
Advent market with Christmassy decorations, jewellery, punch and other delicacies.
Further information
Am Hof, 1010 Wien
Christmas Market Am Hof
Christmas market at Spittelberg
Opening hours
16.11 – 23.12 | Mon – Thu 02:00 pm – 09:00 pm, Fri 02:00 pm – 09:30 pm, Sat 10:00 am – 09:30 pm & Sun & Public Holiday 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
The Spittelberger Christmas market is located in some beautiful Biedermeier alleys. Besides the culinary offerings you can find elevated crafted goods. Especially the kids will be thrilled to see the shows of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus there.
Further information
Spittelberggasse, Schrankgasse, Gutenberggasse, 1070 Wien
Christmas Market Spittlberg
Christmas village at Campus of the University of Vienna
Opening hours
10.11 – 23.12 | Mon – Wed: 02:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Thu – Fri 02:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am – 11:00 pm & Sun 11:00 am – 09:00 pm
During Advent season the beautiful park of the former Viennese general hospital (the old “AKH”) transforms into a sentimental Christmas village with festive sounds and tempting scents. For kids they offer a ride on the nostalgia carousel, a living crib as well as carriage tours with ponies
Further information
Universitätscampus, Alser Straße 4, Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Wien
Christmas Village Campus of the University of Vienna
The following Christmas markets can be reached by public transport:
Christmas village at the Belvedere palace
Opening hours
17.11 – 23.12 | Mon – Fri 11:00 am – 09:00 pm, Sat – Sun & Public Holiday 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
24.12 | 11:00 am – 04:00 pm, 25.12 – 26.12 11:00 am – 07:00 pm
The Christmas market at the romantic parkside of the baroque Belvedere palace offers about 45 festively decorated market stalls with lots of traditional arts, crafts and Christmas decorations. Of course you can also find culinary delicacies like punch and mulled wine variations as well as a variety of local dishes and sweets. For the younger visitors there are also a fun carousel and a kids train to ride.
Further information
Oberes Belvedere, Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien
Christmas Village Belvedere Palace
Christmas market at Schönbrunn palace
Opening hours
18.11 – 23.12 | 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
24.12 | 10:00 am – 04:00 pm
25.12 – 26.12 | 10:00 am – 06:00 pm
Every year from mid November until the End of December the “Court of honour” in Front of the former Hapsburg residency, the Schönbrunn palace, is illuminated by Christmassy lights. In imperial ambience traditional handcrafted goods, like jewellery and Christmas decoration, are being offered. Meanwhile local as well as international choires and brass bands fill the air with Christmassy sounds, whereas kids can participate in special cookie baking courses and games.
Further information
Schönbrunner Schloßstraße, 1130 Wien
Christmas Market Schönbrunn Palace
Arts & crafts at Karlsplatz
Opening hours
24.11 – 23.12 | daily 12:00 noon – 08:00 pm
This market is located directly at the Ressel Park in Front of the St. Charles Cathedral. As the main focus of the market lies on arts and crafts, you can find a lot of craftsmen from all over Central Europe there, who show their unique specimens. Further the craftsmanship of glass, wood, ceramics, leather and jewellery can be admired live at the Christmas market’s many stalls.
Further information
Karlsplatz, 1040 Wien
Art Advent Karlsplatz
