This post (likely) contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associates links, and I may receive a small commission if you click one. This is at no extra cost to you.
Vienna is a fantastic city break, no matter what the time of year. But in December, it is an incredibly magical and festive place. Nothing will put you in the festive spirit more than a visit to the Christmas Markets in Vienna.. With Christmas music playing, twinkling lights everywhere, Glühwein at every corner and more Christmas trees than you would believe possible, you can’t fail to get into the Christmas spirit in this historic city.
I have put together this guide to give you all you need to know about the Christmas Markets in Vienna.
When to visit the Christmas Markets in Vienna
Date: The main Christmas Markets in Vienna open around the 17th of November, and by the 24th of November (roughly, as the date will vary each year), they are all open. But personally, I think it was lovely to go in December. I try not to celebrate Christmas until December (I get too excited otherwise), and so it was the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit.
Day: If you go on the weekend, it is going to be busy, and I mean very busy! It does add the charm and the buzz, but be prepared for a bit of hustle and a wait for food and drink. If you go on a Monday, they are much quieter.
Time: The markets open around 11 am, which is when they are going to be quietest. But if you want to see them in all their twinkly glory, I would recommend visiting at dusk through to darkness. The markets are then open until either 9 pm or 10 pm.
2025 Vienna Christmas Market Dates
The markets all have slightly varied opening dates in 2025:
- Christkindlmarkt (Rathausplatz): Opens 14th November and closes 26th December.
- Schönbrunn Palace: One of the first to open on 6th November, and closes on 6th January 2026. Making it the longest run.
- Belvedere Palace: Opens 14th November and closes 31st December.
- Stephansplatz: Opens November 8th and closes on 26th December.
- Art Advent (Karlsplatz): Opens 21st November and closes 23rd December.
Tips for visiting the Christmas Markets in Vienna
What to wear
Make sure to wrap up. It can be incredibly cold in Vienna in December, and often with snow on the ground. And while absolutely beautiful, it is, however, chilly. When you are visiting the Christmas markets in Vienna, you are bound to be outside for long periods of time. So bring layers!
Don’t overpack
With the best will in the world, you won’t be able to leave the Christmas Markets in Vienna without a souvenir and mug or two. Even if you are travelling with hand luggage only, make sure to leave space in your bag! After all, you are going to be wearing a coat every day, so you don’t need to bring too many changes of outfits.
Do you need a card or cash?
At most stalls in the Christmas markets in Vienna, you can pay with either card or cash. However, some stallholders have their own rules. It is worth having some cash with you, as some of the stalls might be cash only or have a minimum spend on card.
Glühwein
One of the staples of European Christmas Markets – Glühwein! It is very hard to miss the stalls dotted around each of the markets. They are usually found at the entrance, but you will find more as you wander around. Each of the markets has its own style of Glühwein mug. I loved this idea. Basically, you pay for your Glühwein (usually around €3.50) and then also pay a deposit for your mug, around €3. If you don’t want to keep the mug, you can return it to any of the stalls in that market and get your deposit back. If you do want to keep it, then you have yourself a great souvenir.
As the markets each have their own style of mug, you can return them to any of the stalls in that market, but not at other markets. The trickiest part is that I ended up wanting to keep far too many of them! I loved the fact that it means there isn’t any plastic or additional waste, but that the mugs were reused! Or taken home, in my case.
Arrive hungry
With so much choice for food, you want to make sure you have room for it all! All the walking around means you burn it off, so definitely time to indulge. Washed down with some Glühwein, of course.
Which Markets to visit
Visit as many as you can: Each of the markets has its own vibe and wares. You will see a lot of the same items being sold at multiple markets, and I was pleased to see they were all the same price. But each has its own feel. It was lovely to visit as many as we could and decide which was the favourite.
There are 12 Christmas markets in Vienna. During our long weekend, we made it to 7 of them, some of them twice! Each is unique and has its own feel and setting. Some I preferred to others, but really, that is just personal preference, so as I said before, make sure you visit as many as you can!
Top Tip: If you want to get your bearings of all the markets before diving into them, I would suggest booking a tour, such as this one: Vienna Christmas Markets Tour
An overview of the Christmas Markets in Vienna
Christkindlmarkt (Rathausplatz)
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 14th November – 26th December
Times: 10 am to 10 pm (but closes at 6.30 pm on December 24th)
Around 96 booths
Definitely the place to start. The most famous, most popular and the busiest. But what a setting! I would definitely recommend visiting at dusk and waiting for the sun to set. The market definitely has the most festive spirit when the lights are twinkling in all their glory.
There are hundreds of stalls selling everything you could imagine. Toys, decorations, baking supplies, candles, notebooks, and so much more. There are also lots of food options, so take your time and make sure you choose wisely!
It is going to be busy; there was a lot of hustle and bustle and a bit of shoving, particularly when trying to get served glühwein. But the crowds did definitely add to the atmosphere.
Christmas Market on Maria-Theresein-Platz
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Not opening in 2025, due to construction work
I wandered upon this market by chance, and it was actually one of my favourites. It was again getting dark as we arrived, and it had so much charm. It isn’t anywhere as big as Rathaus, so very easy to walk around and see all the stalls, which offer handicrafts and original gift ideas.
This square is in the museum quarter, so if you want to take in a museum or two, this market ties in nicely!
Belvedere
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 14th November – 31st December
Times: 11 am to 9 pm (but closes at 4 pm on December 24th, and 7 pm on December 25th & 26th)
Around 42 booths
It sits just in front of the Upper Belvedere Palace, which provides the most stunning backdrop. The market itself is a little smaller and quieter than some of the others, but has a good selection of jewellery, chocolate and soaps among other things.
Christmas Market on Stephansplatz
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 8th November – 26th December
Times: 11 am to 9 pm (but closes at 4 pm on December 24th, and 7 pm on December 25th & 26th)
Around 40 booths
Around 40 stalls are set beneath the shadow of the beautiful St Stephen’s Cathedral. And with the huge Christmas tree around the entrance, it is definitely one of the most dramatic.
This beautiful market has stalls that curve around the edge of the cathedral, with shops on the other side. It made wandering around very easy and means you can cover all the stalls logically.
Spittelberg
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 14th November – 23rd December
Times: 10 am to 9.30 pm (Mon – Fri), 11 am – 9.30 pm (Sat – Sun and public holidays)
Around 122 booths
This market isn’t set in a large open space; instead, the stalls can be found filling the narrow streets and small courtyards. A lot of the buildings here date back to the 1800s, and the whole area was due to be demolished. But activists and politicians objected, and now the area is filled with bars, restaurants and shops. Because of the layout, this market has a cosy feel.
Altwiener Christkindlmarket on the Freyung
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 14th November – 26th December
Times: 10 am to 9 pm
Around 57 booths
One of the oldest markets in Vienna. It features a lot of traditional items to buy and a lovely stall in the middle that sells the most beautiful decorations.
They also have a small stage and a schedule of what is being played during Advent. It feels very traditional as you wander along the cobbled streets.
This market is very busy on the weekend, but it can be much quieter during the week.
Weihnachtsdorf Campus Universität Wien
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 14th November – 23rd December
Times: 2 pm to 10 pm (Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs), 2 pm to 11 pm (Fri), 11 am to 11 pm (Sat), 11am to 9 pm (Sun)
Closes at 8pm on December 23rd
Around 44 booths
A little further out of the centre of Vienna, giving it a more local feel. Found surrounded by university buildings, in a park-style layout. It is known for its traditional Austrian food, and has more food stalls and fewer souvenirs. You will often find locals heading here in the evening.
Weihnachtsmarkt Am Hof
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 14th November – 23rd December
Times: 11 am to 9 pm (Mon – Thurs), 10 am to 9 pm (Fri – Sun and public holidays)
Around 76 booths
A short hop away from Altwiener on the Freyung, so two Christmas markets in Vienna for the price of one! Located in one of the oldest squares in Vienna.
This market again has lots of handcrafted items for sale. Lots of wooden items, toys, bowls, trinkets, as well as clothes and, of course, decorations.
There was a very lively atmosphere, and it did feel more local than touristy. There are also lots of food stalls, so make sure you arrive hungry!
K.U.K Christmas Market on Michaelerplatz
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
TBC, it skipped 2023 and 2024
This is a very small collection of stalls in front of the Hofburg. They are all white, so against such a stunning backdrop drop it makes for incredibly picturesque scenes.
It mainly features wares from Austrian manufacturers and includes sweet treats, pewter figures and of course, many Christmas decorations.
This market is worth a quick wander if you are going to see the Hofburg.
Christmas and New Year’s Market at Schloß Schönbrunn
2025 Christmas Market opening times:
Dates: 6th November – 6th January 2026
Times: 11 am to 9 pm (Mon – Thurs), 10 am to 9 pm (Fri – Sun and public holidays)
Around 99 booths
A gorgeous location for a Christmas market in front of the palace. It doesn’t close until the New Year, making this the longest-running of the Christmas Markets in Vienna. Take the U4 train out of Vienna to get to Schönbrunn Palace.
What could be a more magnificent setting for a Christmas market than a palace? This was definitely one of my favourites. Because it is quite spread out, it definitely didn’t feel as crowded.
Take your time in this market browsing all the stalls, drinking hot chocolate and trying food. The food stalls are predominantly located in round stalls in the centre of the market. Make sure you try the potatoes with cheese and bacon. So tasty!
Other Winter things to do in Vienna
While of course, if you are visiting Vienna in December, your main focus will be visiting the Christmas markets in Vienna. There are, however, a few other activities are worth a visit.
St Stephen’s Cathedral
Free to enter, this Gothic-looking cathedral is incredibly impressive. There are tours you can book onto to make the most of what you are seeing. I decided not, however and just enjoyed taking in the lofty heights and stained glass. Be warned, though, it is busy!
The best thing to do is head up to the roof. For €6 you can take a lift up the north tower. The lift is very small, so be warned if you don’t like confined spaces! But when you get to the top, the views are incredible. Make sure you check out the beautiful tiles on the roof of the cathedral and the enormous bell.
Eat Sacher torte
You can’t come to the birthplace of the famous Sacher torte and not try some. It originated from the Sacher Hotel, so if you want the original, head here.
But there are so many places to stop and have a slice. It feels very indulgently perfect to warm up with a huge piece and a delicious hot chocolate!
Schönbrunn Palace
If you fancy learning a bit more about the Austrian Monarchy, then have a walk around the beautiful rooms of the Summer Palace. The rooms are all restored across various monarchs over the years.
The timelines and who’s who are a little confusing, but it is a beautiful palace to wander around. Be warned as well, despite the timed ticket, it is very crowded. The walkways through the rooms aren’t large, and you share them with some guided tour groups. After you’ve taken your time inside, don’t miss taking a walk around the lovely gardens. And then to the Christmas market, of course!
Hofburg
The Winter Palace of the royals and right in the heart of Vienna. Even if you decide not to head inside, you can walk through the impressive grounds.
Where to stay in Vienna
With the Christmas Markets in Vienna blowing up over the past few years, hotels book up incredibly quickly and are increasingly expensive. If you want to stay close to the markets, you could be looking at around €565 – €790 for three nights.
Luckily, Vienna has an excellent transport system so look for hotels along Vienna’s Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station) or along the U-Bahn (subway) lines that lead directly to the market squares (like the U2 or U3).
HOTELS IN JUST OUTSIDE VIENNA CENTRE:
Budget: Wombat’s City Hostel Vienna Naschmarkt – Great location to access the markets.
Mid-range: Austria Trend Parkhotel Schonbrunn – Elegant, former guest house of Emperor Franz Joseph, perfect for that market.
Luxury: Hotel Sacher Wien – For iconic and traditional luxury, home of the famous Sacher Torte.
Have you ever been to Vienna or a Christmas Market? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
Looking for more winter-inspired travel? Check out these posts:
Useful travel tools and links
To help you plan your trip, here are some of my favourite useful travel tools and links I use on a daily basis to travel:
- Hostelworld: The place to book hostels and cheaper accommodation. Perfect for backpacking trips. With 24 hour cancellation options, and easy to manage from your account.
- Booking.com: One of the largest places to search for hotels around the world. Often with free cancellation options.
- Hotels.com: Also a fantastic place to source hotels, and they offer a loyalty programme.
- Expedia: Another option for hotels as well as a great place to search for flights, car hire and more.
- Skyscanner: The best place to search for flights to find the best rates.
- GetYourGuide: Easy access to book a wide range of curated tours, activities, and experiences around the world.
- Viator: A great place to search for group tours and day trips. Part of the TripAdvisor brand.
- KnowRoaming: eSIMs are a game changer for travel. Purchase before you go and be connected as soon as you land. KnowRoaming eSIM plans keep you and your devices seamlessly connected in 200+ international destinations.
- G Adventures: The ‘go to’ for all group travel tour adventures. Perfect for solo travellers.
- Amazon: Link to my storefront with ALL the useful gadgets and items I couldn’t travel without.
Like this post? Please pin for later!
Discover more from Where Charlie Wanders
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Oh my gosh you’re killing me here! This has always been a dream of mine and your photos are so amazing that I just want to buy plane tickets this very second!
I would encourage you too! I absolutely adore Christmas and this was all my festive dreams rolled into one. My first Christmas market. And definitely won’t be my last. Thank you!!
We went to the Christmas Markets in Vienna at the end of November and they are as amazing as you say. We had to restrict ourselves to just one mug each as we ended up buying lots of gifts and food to take home and ran out of bag space!
They were so lovely and festive! Packing for the way home was quite an art, it was like a giant game of tetris. Luckily I managed to get everything in. And even more luckily nothing broke!
I loved Christmas markets in Vienna and the idea to use real mugs for mulled wine is just brilliant. I also have a mug from there. It was just too pretty not to keep. Yours is really festive.
I just couldn’t resist bringing them home! They were so special. So pleased it was my first experience of Christmas markets. Can’t wait for more
Vienna is the queen of Christmas markets in my opinion.
Then I am definitely pleased it was where I started! Although I hope others don’t disappoint
Each is different, but they all have their own charm, so I am sure you won’t be disappointed.
Hi Charlie my daughter was on a contiki trip this year and got the Santa mug as a group fun thing but hers got broken.
We live in Australia do you know where I may purchase one on line.
It’s from the Maria Theresien Platz market .
Thanks annmaree
I bought mine in the market, so I am not sure where else you would be able to get one. Have you had a look on ebay?