Christmas time in Vienna
The Christmas market season in Vienna begins in November. With these Vienna travel tips you will definitely be well prepared for the Advent season. Even though the Christmas season in Vienna hasn't officially started yet, it's all over the place Vienna From mid-November, Christmas sparkle in the city center and especially at the Christmas markets.
One by one, they will be opening their doors starting in the second half of November. We have therefore seized the opportunity and are in winter to Vienna drove to get us in the right mood for the "stade" time of the year.
We like it when the smell of freshly baked Lebkuchen (gingerbread) through the winter air, and when hot apple punch invites you to warm your clammy fingers on your cups. It's nice when it's not just children's eyes that light up when they see the many light decorations that illuminate the streets of Vienna's city center and the huts of the Christmas markets in Vienna. Christmas in Vienna is definitely a great experience!
👉 Tip: Explore Viennese cuisine during Advent
The most beautiful Christmas markets in Vienna 2025
Officially, there are 18 large and permanent Advent markets in Vienna. In addition to these, there are countless smaller and temporarily open Christmas markets spread throughout the entire Vienna metropolitan area. As newcomers to Vienna's pre-Christmas season, however, we'll limit ourselves to a few of the larger markets.
We have a good one and a half days at our disposal, and we already know that we won't be able to see all of the city's Christmas markets. We plan our tour of the Advent markets meticulously, as they differ not only in their offerings but also in their opening hours.
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The Viennese Christmas Market and Viennese Advent Magic on Rathausplatz
Opening hours:
Vienna Christmas Market 2025
November 14.11.2025, 26.12.2025 to December XNUMX, XNUMX inclusive
Ice cream dream at the Christmas market
November 14.11.2025, 06.01.2026 to December XNUMX, XNUMX inclusive
The next morning, we set off after breakfast and board the subway, which departs directly from our hotel. Our first stop is the largest Christmas market in Vienna (and all of Austria), the Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz.
It opens its gates at 10.00:XNUMX a.m. When we arrive at the square a few minutes later, numerous visitors are already strolling among the market stalls. Children are already standing wide-eyed in front of stalls selling chocolates, cookies, and colorful lollipops.
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Culinary specialties – Christmas time in Vienna for connoisseurs
It's the same for us: but we are looking for a specialty that we heard about from a Facebook friend. We are looking for langos, a specialty from Hungary. This is a type of flatbread that is fried and served with garlic. I prefer this to sweets in the early morning and, as always, I'm eager to learn something new.
In fact, when we have the first street of huts behind us and turn the corner into the next, I read on a wooden sign on one of the huts "Langos", which can be bought with or without garlic, or rolled up with or without sausage . We choose the traditional form – with garlic, as it should be – and bite into the hot bread. It's crispy and tastes intensely of garlic. Delicious!
A Christmas market that children also like
We watch children delightedly listening to a group of large plastic puppets swaying to the beat of Christmas carols. Next to them, the youngest children are led around this "orchestra" on ponies. How wonderful Christmas is when you still believe in Santa Claus! The fun the children and mothers are having is contagious, too.
So, in a good mood, we continue strolling through the market, where the white Christkindl Express chugs towards us. However, we prefer to continue strolling past the stalls on foot. Finally, we set off for our next destination, the
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Handicraft market in front of the Karlskirche - fun and cultural enjoyment at Christmas time in Vienna
Opening hours:
24. November - 23. December 2025
daily 12.00 a.m. to 20.00 p.m
We also reach this market directly by subway. We're immediately struck by the different character of this market. While the Christmas market at the town hall is traditional with all the trimmings, here we're in an art-loving environment.
Potters display their coffee cups, teapots, and candle holders, all handcrafted in their own workshops. A clay artist also offers his imaginary animals. Musical instruments are also on offer. We also find handmade jewelry, carvings, woolen hats and scarves, quilts, secondhand clothes, and more.
Children love this market at Christmas time in Vienna
Directly in front of the church, the pool is thickly filled with hay. Children romp around in it and roll around in the high haystacks. Just watching is fun.
At another corner, we find a colorful carousel where parents place their little ones on plastic horses. There are also spinning coffee cups and a colorful dinosaur. Then they wave to their offspring as they leisurely make their rounds. Only one little girl gets scared when she loses sight of her dad. She screams at the top of her lungs until the carousel finally stops. As soon as her father picks her up, she beams again.
In keeping with the alternative character of this Christmas market, there is also a slightly different kind of carousel a little further on. Seating for the children has been made out of scrap metal. There is an old bathtub made of tin as well as a barrel made of metal that has been given wings. Another fun thing is an ancient bicycle that promises a journey back in time.
There is no shortage of stalls with goodies here, just like at the first two Viennese Christmas markets. Here we can also try mulled cider. Sounds interesting, right?
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The Advent market at St. Stephen's Cathedral - Christmas time in Vienna with enjoyment from the surrounding area
Opening hours:
Christmas market at Stephansplatz
Open from 8.11. until 26.12.2025.
Daily from 11:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m.,
on 24.12/11 from 00:16 a.m. to 00:XNUMX p.m.,
25.12. and 26.12. from 11:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m
We then continue our walk through the pedestrian zone to St. Stephen's Cathedral, where you'll find many regional specialties from the wine and fruit regions.
From here we finally take the subway back to our hotel. We rest there for a bit before setting off again in the evening to the most beautiful Christmas market in Vienna.
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One of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Vienna on Spittelberg
Opening hours:
14. November to 23. December 2025
Monday to Friday 14:00 a.m. – 21:30 p.m
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 11:00 p.m. – 21:30 p.m
Maybe it's because we visit in the evening, when the lights are at their best? But I think it's more the romantic alleys with their garlanded entrances.
The windows, behind which Christmas decorations hang, also lend the whole place a cozy feel. In any case, not even the rain bothers us here. Apparently, neither do the many other visitors.
Things are crowded at the Christmas market on Spittelberg. The view of beautiful Biedermeier facades in the light of the lanterns immediately lures us on. Advent calendars wish you a “Merry Christmas”. Colorful ceramic plates, cups and pots tempt you at the stalls afterwards. Finally, potato pancakes with bear punch make us feel good at the Christmas market on Spittelberg.
As we walk through the neighboring streets back to our hotel, the real spirit of Christmas finally blows through the streets. We look through open gates at large poinsettias. In addition, beautiful Christmas trees and windows wrapped in garlands awaken the Christmas spirit. It is almost as if we are experiencing the feeling of Christmas again in this alley, as we already knew it in our childhood.
Christmas time in Vienna – You can find more tips here:
- Vienna Shopping away from the mainstream
- Vienna off the beaten track
- Where Vienna lives sustainably
- The Viennese vineyards on #Vienna Now
- Learn to cook specialties from the Waldviertel in the cooking studio in Vienna
- From the Danube Canal to the Prater in Vienna through the Leopoldstadt
- Viennese coffee house - Where's that?
Travel organization for the Christmas season in Vienna:
Parking at the airport
You can book your parking space at the airport here.
Arrival in Vienna at Christmas time
Compare and book flights here*. (Advertisement) Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss fly to Vienna. It is also possible to travel to Vienna by train. Long-distance buses also go to Vienna.
Rental car at Christmas time in Vienna :
Accommodations during the Christmas season in Vienna:
around the Spittelmarkt (and the Christmas Village)* (Advertisement)
near the Rathausplatz * (Advertisement)
around the Karlsplatz * (Advertisement)
near St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Genussmarkt in Mahlerstraße * (Advertisement)
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Excursions and guided tours during the Christmas season in Vienna (advertisement):
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Here you will also find Advent experiences
Do you also know:
- Vienna travel tips
- Comfortable winter boots
- The perfect warmth for icy days: heated winter jackets
- Packing list winter vacation
- Winter vacation destinations
- The best travel gifts
- Christmas time in Salzburg
- Christmas in Heidelberg
- Christmas in New York City: The most beautiful places at Christmas time
- Canada at Christmas time
- Mountain railways in Kleinwalsertal for hiking and skiing
- Miami in December and January
If your great Tips for the time after Christmas in Vienna you're looking for, you'll find them here as well. Or check out the Blogparade Dhe most beautiful Christmas markets by Thomas Limberg over.
Further Slow Travel Tips is also available here.
Source: Christmas time in Vienna: Research on site at the invitation of Vienna Tourist Board. However, our opinion remains our own.
Text Christmas time in Vienna: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TWO
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TWO
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TWO
Hello Monika and Petar :)
WOW, that's what I'll call an extensive report on the Christmas markets in Vienna: D I think you can not really get any better information. The videos were especially nice, they give a great impression of how it looks locally.
I was once in Vienna and was fascinated and enthusiastic about the cleanliness in all streets (from Berlin one is used to it otherwise ... ^^)
Your article we present today, matching the 4. Advent, on Facebook!
Thanks for this, as always, top researched and at the same time exciting to read report.
Regards
Janina
Dear Janina,
oh, thank you. I am very happy about your praise. That's not even all Christmas markets in Vienna. There is, for example, a Christmas market in Schönbrunn Palace and a whole series of smaller Christmas markets, which are also supposed to be quite beautiful. Vienna is not only worth a visit at Christmas time. We really like the city and have been there since our first visit a few years ago. There is so much to discover.
Best regards,
Monika and Petar
Thank you for this article! :-) Next year I will make the Viennese Christmas Markets too unsafe, this year Switzerland is the first choice!
Oh, I'm curious about your report. There are also some to discover.
I really do not like the completely overcrowded things ... In 5 years in Vienna, for example, I have never been to the Rathausplatz before ...
Sooo overcrowded, we did not find the Christmas market on Rathausplatz. The only one that was really full was the market on Spittelberg. But that was because the streets are very narrow there. Nevertheless, we liked this market best because of its romantic Christmas spirit.
Best regards,
Monika
Dear Monika, dear Petar,
Thank you for participating in my blog parade and these great descriptions. Whenever I thought "Wow, that sounds great!", I kept reading and there was an even better description of a special market. I can already tell that for Vienna you definitely have to plan a little more time to visit the great markets. I would be particularly excited about the gourmet market, the handicraft market in front of the Karlskirche and the market on the Spittelberg.
Greetings and a nice weekend,
Christine
Dear Christine,
What I like about the Viennese Christmas markets is that they are so different. You can spend a few days with it.
LG, Monica
Wow, 18 Christmas markets, that's probably record. I love the atmosphere in the markets during the Advent season, especially when it is getting dark. I would certainly like Vienna, I know that only in the summer.
Yes, Vienna offers a whole lot of Christmas spirit, Antje. However, there are a lot of them that are open only on certain weekends or days or are located in the outskirts. The most important can be found here in the article.
Oh I love Christmas markets, the traditional, not the noisy romp. There seems to be a lot of it in Vienna. Maybe I'll consider that for the next year as a Dezemerber weekend trip :)
Best regards,
Nicole from the travel blog CicoBerlin
Hello nicole,
yes, there are some. If you like traditional Christmas markets, then the market at Rathausplatz, the Christmas village and the market at Spittelberg are for you.
Best regards,
Monika
Thanks for the great overview. I have never been to Vienna, but I also love our German Christmas markets and try to visit as many as possible every year. Soon it will start again, I'm looking forward to it.
Best regards,
Janet
I am glad if you like our overview of the Viennese Christmas Markets, Janet. In Germany, I do not know so many - only in Munich and the surrounding area. : D
Vienna is always worth a visit! I love the fin de siecle charm of the city so much. For a Christmas market visit I would have too :) If I am allowed to warm up in the coffee house in between. :)
There are a few in Vienna, Sascha. Our favorite coffee house is Café Landmann near the Opera.
We are absolute Christmas market fans. It is great to discover the regional specialties and of course to taste. In Vienna we have not been to the Christmas market time, but what is not yet, can still be. Have fun in 2016!
We're looking forward to. I can already smell the gingerbread: D
Vienna is such a beautiful city. A visit there is worthwhile in every season, but if in Advent the markets to gingerbread and mulled wine invite - that has something.
We did the Christmas market last year. The ones mentioned by you were too big and too crowded. Everywhere in the city you will always find small Christmas markets. We personally found much more homely.
Did you also write a blog post about it? He would interest me.
Ever since I saw the film “Before Sunrise”, I've been dreaming of Vienna. Now I'm not a big Christmas fan, but Vienna in December already appeals to me a lot. Are they different from the German Christmas markets? Judging from your article, right?
They are very different in any case and that makes them interesting.