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 glitter in the city center and especially at the Christmas markets. One of them opens its doors one by one from 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 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!
Officially there are 18 large and permanent Advent markets in Vienna. These are also joined by countless small and short-term Christmas markets that are available throughout the entire Vienna city region. However, as newcomers to the Viennese pre-Christmas season, we limit ourselves to looking at some of the larger markets. We have a good day and a half to do this, and we already know that we won't be able to see all of the city's Christmas markets. We plan our tour through the Advent markets meticulously, as they differ not only in their offerings, but also in their opening times.
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The Christmas village on the Maria-Theresien-Platz in the Museumsquartier
Opening hours
15.11. – 23.12.2023
Sun.-Thurs.: 11:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m
Fri.-Sat.: 11:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m
24.12.2023
11:00 am - 16:00 pm
25.12. – 26.12.2023
11:00 am - 19:00 pm
27.12. – 30.12.2023
11:00 am - 19:00 pm
31.12.2023
11:00 am - 18:00 pm
We stay in the center of the biggest Christmas markets in the very chic Lifestyle Hotel Sans Souci in Burggasse and on the day of our arrival in Vienna we visit the Christmas village at Maria Theresien Platz, which we can reach in a few minutes on foot from our hotel. We walk past the stands under the eyes of Empress Maria Theresa. There we admire ornate glass balls and brightly colored candle holders. The scents of Christmas spices mix in apple punch or Mulled wine. Freshly baked muffins, gingerbread or cookies make our mouths water.
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The Viennese Christmas Market and Viennese Advent Magic on Rathausplatz
Opening hours:
10. November to 26. December 2023
Market stalls and rides
Friday, November 10th to Tuesday, December 26th, 2023
Open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 22.00 p.m
Sunday, December 24th from 10.00 a.m. to 18.30:XNUMX p.m
Ice cream dream at the Vienna Christmas market
Friday, November 10, 2023 to Sunday, January 7, 2024
Open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 22.00 p.m
Sunday, December 24, 2023 from 10.00 a.m. to 18.30:XNUMX p.m
Closed Sunday, December 31, 2023
Children's hut
Friday, November 10th to Tuesday, December 26th, 2023
Monday to Friday from 14.00 p.m. to 18.00 p.m
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 11.00 a.m. to 18.00 p.m
Tipptopp dental theater in the children's hut:
Every Monday from November 13th to December 18th from 16.30:18.00 p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m
The next morning we leave after breakfast and get on the subway, which starts right in front of our hotel. Our first destination is the largest Christmas market in Vienna (and all of Austria), the Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz. It opens its doors at 10.00 a.m., and when we get to the square a few minutes later, numerous visitors are already walking around between the market stalls. Children stand wide-eyed in front of stands where chocolates, cookies or colorful lollipops whet their appetite.
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 enjoy listening to a group of large plastic dolls move to the beat of Christmas carols. The youngest ones are led around this “orchestra” on ponies. How nice is Christmas when you still believe in Santa Claus! However, the fun that children and mothers have also infects us. Therefore, in a good mood, we continue to stroll through the market, where the white Christkindl-Express trundles towards us. However, we prefer to continue strolling past the stalls on foot. Finally we leave 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 to 23. December 2023
daily from 12.00 p.m. to 20.00 p.m., catering until 21.00 p.m
We can also reach this market directly by subway. We immediately notice the different character of this market. While the Christmas market at the town hall is traditional with everything that goes with it, here we are in an art-loving environment. Potters exhibit their own coffee cups, teapots and candle holders. Next to it, a sound artist offers his fantasy animals for sale. There are also musical instruments. We also find homemade jewelry, carvings, wool hats and scarves, quilts, second-hand clothes and more.
Children love this market at Christmas time in Vienna
The basin directly in front of the church was filled thickly with hay. Children run around in it and roll around in high haystacks. Just watching is fun. On another corner we also find a colorful carousel where parents put their little ones on plastic horses. There are also coffee cups. that spin, or a colorful dinosaur. Then they wave to their offspring as they leisurely make their rounds. Only a little one gets scared when she loses sight of her dad. She screams at the top of her lungs until the carousel finally comes to a stop. As soon as her father takes her in his arms, she beams all over her face 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?
And subsequently? That
Concert with Vivaldi's Four Seasons in the Karlskirche
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Gourmet Advent market on Mahlerstrasse - that's what Christmas is all about in Vienna
Opening hours:
The gourmet market at the opera will not take place in 2023 due to renovation work in the market area. However, it will reopen in 2024.
A stallholder tempted us to try his cheese with truffles. “You don’t need money. It's Christmas after all! It just costs.” Who can resist such words, especially when the cheeses look as good as his. "Stop! Stop! “You have to try the Pecorino too,” he stops us when we want to go further. With great ceremony he finally sliced some hard cheese into our hands.
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The Advent market at St. Stephen's Cathedral - Christmas time in Vienna with enjoyment from the surrounding area
Opening hours:
10. November to 26. December 2023
Stephansplatz/forecourt Stephansdom Direction Churhausgasse
Daily 11:21 a.m. – XNUMX:XNUMX p.m
December 24.12th: 11 a.m. – 16 p.m
December 25th and 26.12th: 11 a.m. – 19 p.m
We then continue our walk through the pedestrian zone to St. Stephen's Cathedral. There are many regional specialties from the wine and fruit regions here.
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:
16.11.2023 – 23.12.2023
- Monday to Thursday 14:00 p.m. to 21:00 p.m
- Friday 14: 00 to 21: 30 clock
- Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 21:30 p.m.
- Sundays & public holidays 10:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m
Maybe it's because we visit in the evening when the light decorations are at their best? But I think it's more the romantic alleys with their gate entrances decorated with garlands. The windows, behind which there are Christmas decorations, also give the whole thing a homely character. In any case, not even the rain bothers us here. Apparently neither did 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*. Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss will follow 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 *
near St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Genussmarkt in Mahlerstraße *
Excursions and guided tours at Christmas time in Vienna:
You can also find tips for the Christmas season here
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
- 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 If you're looking for one, you'll find it here too. There are also tips for other markets in the blog parade I love Christmas market from Janina. Or look at the blog parade Dhe most beautiful Christmas markets by Thomas Limberg over.
Other 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.