14 Christmas Markets in Vienna You’ll Love
The Christmas markets in Vienna are some of the best in Europe, in fact, many people visit Austria in the winter just for its Weihnachtsmärkte. Vienna is a beautiful city, full of Baroque, Gothic, and modern architecture, grand palaces, huge museums, formal gardens and parks, wonderful large boulevards, pedestrian-only streets, and narrow alleyways.
We spent a month in Vienna with our kids, combining Christmas markets with holiday concerts, a trip to the ballet, and of course all the magical other things to do in Vienna, from palaces to historic cafes.
We loved celebrating the holidays here and found it an easy place to jump right into the Christmas spirit.
You can visit this amazing capital year-round, but unlike many European destinations that start to close down as the weather turns cold, Vienna starts to come alive! This is one of the things we love about Vienna.
Vienna is full of Christmas cheer- you’ll find pedestrian walkways covered in lights, stands of treats and snacks, mugs of hot mulled wine, and lots of live performances around town. If you’re lucky you may get a dusting of snow to add to the festive spirit.
There are quite a few Christmas markets within the city center and many others just outside that are well worth a visit, such as the Prater, Schönbrunn, and Belvedere. We’ll cover 14 different markets and what to expect from each, as well as some tips for enjoying the markets, and even some recommended day trips to nearby markets.
Which is the best Vienna Christmas Market? That depends on whether you’re looking for great shopping, incredible Christmas lights with an ornate palace as a backdrop, or a boisterous atmosphere.
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Best Christmas Market Tour
in Vienna
Learn about Austrian Christmas Traditions on a Walking Tour
A Guide to Christmas Markets in Vienna
Vienna Christmas Markets are truly magical experiences that ring in the holiday spirit. There are delicious treats, warm drinks, and often large groups of cheerful visitors. We created a separate guide to the best food and drink at the markets.
Crowds can get shoulder-to-shoulder at some markets, so come prepared with a bit of patience. Even at markets with a more open-plan design, there can be lines for drinks and popular food vendors.
These markets are great for last-minute Christmas shopping, but most people visit to socialize and enjoy the lights, the performances, and the holiday food stalls.
Be sure to check out our best tips for visiting Vienna’s Christmas Markets.
1. Spittelberg Christmas Market
❄️ Family Favorite: Best Shopping, Most Unique Gifts
This is one of our favorite Weihnachtsmärkte in Vienna. Set amongst the narrow streets and historic townhouses of Spittelberggasse, Gutenberggasse, Stiftgasse, and Schrankgasse, you will find popup shops, as well as year-round specialty stores filled with art, goods, crafts, chocolate, candies, clothing, and more.
We found the goods on sale here to be more artisan and unique than at many of the larger markets. There are also upscale stores along the streets in this neighborhood, so keep an eye on them as well. We popped into Schokov for gourmet chocolates that Santa may have snuck into our family’s treat-filled shoes on Christmas.
These Christmas markets are spread across central Vienna, and you can walk between many of them; for others, you’ll need to take public transportation. Don’t worry, Vienna is an incredibly safe city, even at night. It has a great, easy-to-use transit system that will have you zipping around town in no time. For details, check out our full guide on how to get around Vienna.
This market is one of the more narrow markets, which is why people love it- the old town atmosphere, but it can also translate into tight crowds. This market is bigger than it first appears. Make sure to explore the surrounding streets, or you’ll miss parts of it.
Grab a mug of hot mulled wine and explore the stalls and stores. Take your empty mug to the next stand for a refill, or return it and get a refund for the mug. Love the mug you got? Take it with you as a souvenir!
Spittelberggasse, Schrankgasse, Gutenberggasse, 1070 Wien, Austria
www.spittelberg.at
2. Museumsquartier Christmas Market
❄️ Less Traditional, Modern & Hip
Just around the corner from the Spittleberg Christmas Market, you’ll find the MQ, or Museumsquartier which hosts its own market. This is a very different vibe- here you’ll find laser light shows, and DJs spinning into the evening, ending at 11 pm.
Come back during the day to visit the fabulous museums here, and don’t miss the MQ Point shop, which is the best museum shop we found in Vienna.
MuseumsQuartier Wien, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Wien, Austria
www.mqw.at
2025 Note: This market is not open this year due to renovations
3. Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market
❄️ Family Favorite: Best Museum/Market Combo
Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburg family and is now a museum. This is a huge complex that includes the palace itself (make sure to take a tour) and even a zoo.
The Schönbrunn Christmas Market, or Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn, is located in the entry courtyard of the Schönbrunn Palace, about 12 minutes outside of the Vienna city center by car or 25 minutes on public transportation. While this market is farther out, this is a great market to browse at the end of the day, after exploring the Schloss Schönbrunn Museum, the Imperial Carriage Museum, and our kids’ favorite (we went twice!), the Children’s Museum Schönbrunn Palace.
There are also holiday events here, including a kids’ craft hut. When you arrive, check the activity board in front of the hut and check about reserving a spot. They often have large groups of schoolchildren coming in, so you will need to check ahead. Our kids had a fantastic time crafting marzipan snowmen. There is a small charge for each activity, generally around 5€.
With lots of stalls from arts and crafts, to jewelry and holiday gifts, to food and drink, this is one of the larger markets. They also advertise having gifts that are only available here- I assume with the palace name, though I didn’t specifically note any.
There is also a robust schedule of performances and live music. The large Christmas tree, all the lights, and the Schönbrunn Palace as a backdrop make this a great place to get into the holiday mood! This market also stays open through the new year and transitions from Christmas to New Year’s Market.
Visiting Schönbrunn Palace is one of our favorite things to do in Vienna in December. This palace is just magical and has an amazing children’s museum.
Schönbrunn Palace, 1130 Wien, Austria
https://www.weihnachtsmarkt-schoenbrunn.at/en
4. Christmas Village Altes AKH
❄️ Local Feel, Great for Families with Young Kids
This Weihnachtsdorf Altes AKH is on the campus of the Universität Wien. It’s fantastic for younger kids, with a small railway, a carousel, and lots of craftspeople demonstrating their trades. This narrow market is a bit off the beaten track, and you’ll find more food than other gifts here.
Alserstrasse/Spitalgasse, Hof 1, 1090 Wien, Austria
www.weihnachtsdorf.at/en
5. Weihnachtsmarkt am Hof
❄️ Small, High Quality Products
The Wiehnachtsmarkt am Hof is a small market in a ritzy part of town, which showcases high-quality gifts. There is a section of Kunsthandwerkmarkt, where everything is truly handmade. We actually spent quite a bit of time here on New Year’s Eve, where they had a great live band. This square is where the wine market was held as far back as the 14th century. Am Hof, 1010 Wien, Austria
www.weihnachtsmarkt-hof.at
6. Michaelerplatz Christmas Market
❄️ Small Market, Best for Treats
This is a small setup of a few stands on the circle just outside the Hofburg Wein. This is a very convenient location- when you are exiting the Sisi Museum or are finishing a visit to the Spanish Riding Stable, you’ll find yourself here. If you’ve just gotten some slices of delicious cake to-go at Demel, you’ll also find yourself here.
We stopped here at least twice to warm up with some delicious treats at the stands. We highly recommend the Stanglkropfn mit Apfel- warm puff pastry on a stick, interspersed with slices of baked apple.
Michaelerplatz, 1010 Vienna, Austria
www.kuk-weihnachtsmarkt.at
2025 Note: This market is not open this year
7. Traditional Christmas Market at the Freyung
❄️ Best for Traditional Charm
This Altwiener Christkindlmarkt is one oldest and most traditional Christmas markets in Vienna. While smaller than many of the other markets, this one focuses on decorations and has wonderful craft demonstrations and live music.
This market is also a great alternative if you are looking for foodie gifts, like chutneys, sauces, mustards, and schnapps. Tucked up against an old Scottish church, the market has a great events program of live music, kids’ shows, and demonstrations that run through November and December and peak with its New Year’s Eve party.
Freyung, 1010 Wien, Austria
altwiener-markt.at/de/christmas
8. Rathausplatz Christmas Market
❄️ Most Popular, Most Lights, and Most Crowded (but we love the ice rink)
Called Wiener Weihnachtstraum, or Christmas World, this is one of the most popular Christmas markets. It is sometimes also called the “Viennese Dream Christmas Market”. This market takes place in the park in front of the Vienna Rathaus, or City Hall. The Rathaus is a magnificent building; its tower, which can be seen from much of the city, is an icon of Vienna.
There are lots of holiday lights and installations of holiday decorations, including a large outdoor skating rink that winds around the trees. There is a small carousel for the kids, and the Rathaus is lit up at night for a great atmosphere.
This market has more of a “Christmas theme park” feel, and less “old-town village” traditional feel. This market in particular has made an effort in the last few years to showcase less souvenir kitsch and more sustainable products. You’ll hear traditional Christmas tunes and find a huge variety of food stalls.
Centrally located in front of the Rathaus, and with ice skating available for all ages, this is one of the most popular Christmas markets. As a result, it is often crowded. This is one of the larger Holiday Markets, but it only runs until Christmas. The ice rinks stay open until the larger rink is opened in mid-January.
Rathausplatz, 1010 Wien, Austria
www.christkindlmarkt.at/en/
9. Advent Genussmarkt bei der Oper
❄️ Small, Great for a Warm-up Snack
This is a small market with mostly food stalls. This is a great place to stop and grab a snack on your way into the larger pedestrian mall, as you head from the tram toward Stephansplatz.
Across from the Vienna State Opera House on the Kärntner Straße side, you will find an alley, all wonderfully decorated with lights. You’ll see vendors hand-frying sticks of spiral-cut potato chips, roasting chestnuts, and grilling sausages, and lots of sweets. We stopped here for a delicious Austrian take on fried dough called Langos.
Mahlerstraße 61010 Wien, Austria
www.adventgenussmarkt.at
2025 Note: This market is not open this year
10. Stephansplatz Christmas Market
❄️ Small but Central, Great for Socializing with Friends
Stephansplatz is the square around St. Stephans Church in the middle of the main pedestrian walkway in central Vienna. This makes it a very popular meeting point and landmark in this shopping corridor.
The Christmas Market at Stephansplatz is one of the smaller markets on our list. However, given its central location, it is a great place to wander through at the end of your day and relax. This market is located on the south side of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and wraps around the backside. Here you will find mostly artisan booths, as well as mulled wine and a few food booths.
Stephansplatz 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
https://www.weihnachtsdorf.at/en/
11. Christmas Village at the Maria Theresien Platz
❄️ Large Market, Convenient to Sightseeing Locations
This is one of the larger Christmas markets and is in a very convenient location if you’re making the tourist rounds. It’s located in the plaza between the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Art, both of which are worth visiting.
Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Wien, Austria
2025 Note: This market is not open this year
12. Art Advent Market by the Karlskirche
❄️ Handmade Goods, Organic Food
The Christkindlmarkt am Karlsplatz requires that all vendors make their own merchandise, so you’ll find some of the best gifts here. As a bonus, all the food and drinks sold here are organic.
Karlsplatz, 1040 Wien, Austria
divinaart.at
13. Belvedere Palace Christmas Market
❄️ Family Favorite: Best Palace Atmosphere, Less Crowded
The Belvedere Night Market, or Weihnachtsdorf Schloss Belvedere, set between Schloss Belvedere and the Große Bassin (the pond just to the south), is a wonderful place to meet friends, warm up after an afternoon of exploring the palace and grounds, or just get into the holiday spirit.
The Belvedere Palace Christmas Market is located in front of the Upper Belvedere Museum, famous for its collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, and its beautiful gardens. It is located south of the city center but is easy to reach by tram, train, or Uber.
We stayed in Fasanviertel, a neighborhood in Landstraße next to the Belvedere, and just walked over. You can enter where Karolinengasse ends at Prinz-Eugen-Straße, or walk from the train station at Wien Quartier Belvedere Bahnhof, across the street, and enter the Belvedere Gardens.
This market is smaller than some but has a good mix of food, drink, and crafts, and the pond is lit up at night, making for lovely strolls. It has an open plan and is less crowded than many of the other Christmas markets in Vienna, part of the reason it is one of our favorites.
Prinz Eugen-Strasse 27, 1030 Wien, Austria
https://www.weihnachtsdorf.at/en/
14. Prater Christmas Market
❄️ Family Fair Atmosphere
Called the Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz, this Christmas market is at the Prater, a large park famous for its giant enclosed Ferris Wheel built in 1897. Entrance to this amusement park is free, and then you’ll pay for each ride or attraction that you visit. This market features all the traditional foods and tons of Christmas lights.
The largest Ferris Wheel in Austria, a ride in one of the cars is a great way to get views over the city and is comfortable in all weather since the cars are closed to the elements. Ferris Wheel tickets are 13€ for adults, 5€ for kids.
This market features live music at 7 pm Wednesday through Sunday and is open until January 8th, one of the very few that stay open into the New Year.
Riesenradplatz, 1020 Wien, Austria
www.wintermarkt.at
When Do Vienna Christmas Markets Open?
While each market has its own opening and closing dates each season, they are generally open from mid-November until December 23rd. Some markets will transform into New Year’s Markets, which are generally smaller than the Christmas markets, and remain open until January 1st.
If you are traveling to Vienna to spend time at the Christmas markets, assume all the markets will be open by November 20th, and plan to visit them prior to Christmas Eve.
Most markets are open from around 11 am until 9 pm. If you are looking to buy things, the afternoons are great, as there tend to be fewer crowds at this time. But it is not until it gets dark and the lights come on that things really become magical.
Keep in mind that it gets dark around 4:30 in Vienna in December, so that gives you plenty of time to enjoy the Christmas lights at the evening markets while attempting to stay warm with your hot mug of punch.
What to Buy at a Vienna Christmas Market
There is a variety of gifts and souvenirs available at each Vienna Christmas market. You’ll find a lot of jewelry options, as well as Christmas ornaments in all sorts of materials from blown glass to laser-cut wood. Ceramics stalls tend to have everything from teacups to ceramic angels. You’ll find woven headbands, scarves, and other textiles.
You will also find a lot of souvenir items marked with the Vienna name, from ornaments to snow globes. In the more traditional markets, you’ll find small wooden houses and traditional nativity pieces. At the more artistic markets, you’ll find more blown glass, candle holders, and knit and leather pieces. You’ll also see a fair amount of edible gifts like jams or chocolates as well.
We had our eyes out for a special nutcracker to take home and were surprised to not find these among the Christmas market stalls.
Should I Visit All the Vienna Christmas Markets?
There is really no reason to visit all the Vienna Christmas Markets. Choose the ones that complement your other plans around the city, and enjoy them. There is no prize for visiting them all, and you’ll start to find that many have the same goods for sale, and you will have personal favorites based on either the atmosphere or the food available.
If you’re interested in seeing more of the city, consider taking a historical walking tour. From food tours to WWII tours, there’s something for every interest in this complex city.
Take a Christmas Market Tour
A Christmas tour of Vienna not only will take you to several Christmas markets in one evening, but you will also learn about Austrian Christmas traditions and local specialties. This is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, especially at the beginning of your trip, when you can make note of places to return to.
Vienna Christmas Market Group Tour
🌟 Rating: 4 1/2 Stars ⏳ 3 Hours ✅ 4 Markets, Drinks 🔎 Check Rates
This group tour of Vienna’s Christmas markets includes four lovely Christmas markets which are quite different. You’ll start at Mariahilfer Kirche, then visit Spittleberg market, then the MuseumQuartier market, and then end in the Christmas Village at the Maria Theresien Platz. As you move around the markets you’ll hear about Austrian Christmas traditions, and how locals celebrate the season.
“We were able to see some of the markets that were more intimate with organic food and drinks from local merchants. Also were given information about the city’s history and current day-to-day practices. A great way to start our vacation!”
ingrid_S (Read more reviews)
Drinks and snacks are included in this tour, so you’ll be sure to taste some of the most traditional foods at these markets. This tour has a maximum of 20 travelers, guests must be 18 or older for alcoholic drinks (non-alcoholic are also available).
Book Now: Vienna Christmas Market Group Tour
Private Vienna Christmas Market Walking Tour
🌟 Rating: 5 Stars ⏳ 2 1/2 Hours ✅ Private, 3+ Markets 🔎 Check Rates
On the private tour, you’ll get some of the history of Vienna as you walk through the Old Town while learning about Christmas traditions and visiting Christmas markets. You’ll start at the Art Mart at Karlskirche, pass along the Graben where you’ll see St. Stephens, see the Hofburg, and visit the most traditional Christmas Market at Freyung.
“She informed us of the history of the Christmas Markets and the traditions of Vienna. We enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend Bridgette and the tour to everyone.”
jason_D (Read more reviews)
You’ll end your tour at the Rathausplatz, the largest of the Christmas markets, where you can continue to explore on your own. Because this is a private tour, it can be customized to your interests.
Book Now: Private Vienna Christmas Market Walking Tour
A walking tour is a great way to learn about Vienna and see all the amazing Hofburg sights. We rounded up all the best Vienna walking tours for any time of year.
Enjoy a Day Trip to Nearby Austrian Christmas Markets
Vienna is a central location for holiday spirit- but you may also enjoy getting out to smaller towns in Austria where you can visit their Christmas markets.
Here you’ll find more of a small village Christmas atmosphere which makes for a great day out, especially in these picturesque towns where you are likely to see snow!
Christmas Tour to Hallstatt and Salzburg
🌟 Rating: 5 Stars ⏳ 12 Hours ✅ Three Towns, Private Tour 🔎 Check Rates
On this tour, you’ll start with the 4-hour drive to the lakeside town of Hallstatt. The tower of this town is often featured as the iconic Austrian village, with mountains rising behind. Here you will have a short walking tour, visit Christmas markets, and enjoy lunch.
After lunch, you’ll continue on to St. Gilgen, located on Lake Wolfgang, which is also known as Mozart Village. While Mozart never visited here, his mother was born here, and his grandfather worked here.
“Great trip, beautiful places, and amazing couple who run the tour! I would redo this tour again without hesitation and use the same couple. It was perfect.”
marleny_s (Read more reviews)
Your final stop on this tour is the beautiful town of Salzburg, known as the home of Mozart, and where many of the scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed. The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt is known as one of the best in Austria.
Book Now: Christmas Tour to Hallstatt and Salzburg
Christmas Tour to Graz
🌟 Unrated ⏳ 10 Hours ✅ Private, 5+ Markets 🔎 Check Rates
This Christmas tour visits Graz, Austria, an often overlooked city with a well-preserved city center that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only 2 1/2 hours drive from Vienna, you’ll have a walking tour of Graz.
Along with visiting 5 to 7 Christmas markets in Graz, you’ll stop in a traditional Brötchenbar (sandwich shop), and then take the Schloßbergbahn, a funicular rail car, up to the famous clock at the top, with wonderful views of the city.
Book Now: Christmas Tour to Graz
There are so many easy day trips from Vienna- we highly recommend a day to visit Bratislava, and Budapest, and a day (or two) to walk around Salzburg.
There You Have It
With so many wonderful Christmas markets in Vienna- choose a few to visit and enjoy all the delicious food and warm mugs of Glühwien, while finishing up your Christmas shopping (and perhaps picking up a gift or two for yourself).
We’ve covered the highlights of each market so you can decide which markets are best for you, and which foods to look for when you visit.
Don’t forget to take a Christmas Market Tour to learn about Austrian culture while trying a few local specialties. Visiting a Vienna Christmas market is such a fun part of the holiday- even if it’s cold out, you’ll be filled with Christmas spirit in no time!
Curious about Christmas in Vienna? We have a guide to the local Christmas traditions and how to celebrate yourself in this beautiful city.
Don’t miss our favorite things to do in Vienna in December. We also have a guide to getting around, details about safety, and a list of our favorite walking tours.
