{"id":35620,"date":"2024-10-03T16:26:57","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T14:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/checkinblog.it\/?p=35620"},"modified":"2025-03-11T17:54:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T16:54:04","slug":"what-to-see-and-do-christmas-markets-in-vienna-austria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/checkinblog.it\/en\/what-to-see-and-do-christmas-markets-in-vienna-austria\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Vienna at Christmas time, the best traditional markets not to be missed"},"content":{"rendered":"

An European capital where to experience the authentic magic of Advent time<\/strong> is undoubtedly Vienna<\/strong>. Here, Christmas markets<\/strong> have been a regular event for years, indeed centuries.<\/p>\n

In fact, as early as 1298<\/strong> Albert I of Habsburg allowed the inhabitants to have a market in December, the “Krippenmarkt<\/em>.” Since then the tradition has been kept alive more than ever, evolving along with society’s new customs and traditions.<\/p>\n

Visiting Vienna during the Christmas season<\/strong> means immersing yourself in a festive atmosphere, with illuminations lighting up the city nights.<\/p>\n

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Guide to Vienna’s Christmas markets<\/span><\/h2>\n

At the time of organizing my trip to the Austrian capital city, what called my attention was to discover that several Christmas markets are set up<\/strong> in Vienna.<\/p>\n

Both in the city center and in the surrounding neighborhoods<\/strong>, including Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace<\/strong>, starting in mid-November<\/strong> the squares and main streets are occupied by typical wooden houses where food, drinks, gifts and handicrafts are sold.<\/p>\n

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Handmade products at one of the stands of Vienna Christmas markets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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How many days are needed and what are the opening hours?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Having two or three days<\/strong> allows you to see several Christmas markets while visiting many attractions and museums across Vienna.<\/p>\n

In my case, I arrived in the city on Wednesday afternoon and left on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

Opening times vary by location<\/strong> but generally speaking markets open around 10 a.m.<\/strong> and close between 9- 10 p.m<\/strong>. Some, especially those located outside the city center, remain closed some weekdays.<\/p>\n

The times with less crowds, and therefore best suited for quieter<\/strong> Christmas shopping<\/strong>, are mornings<\/strong> and early afternoon<\/strong>. After that, as evening falls markets gradually become more crowded.<\/p>\n

The common feature of Vienna’s markets is that there is a lot of eating and drinking<\/strong>. Just to give you an idea: roasted chestnuts, various cookies and sweets, hot dogs, local street food, beer, wine, punch…<\/p>\n

This article is based on the trip made between late November and early December 2023. From year to year there may be some changes, so I suggest taking a look at the website of the Vienna Tourist Board<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a>, from which I took inspiration for organizing my itinerary.<\/p>\n

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Christmas market at the foot of the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel<\/span><\/h3>\n

Firstly I decided to head straight for the Prater Ferris Wheel<\/strong>, the quintessential symbol of the Austrian capital.<\/p>\n

I got on it right at sunset time<\/strong> and, fortunately, buying tickets from home<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a> saved me valuable time by being able to skip the line<\/strong> at the ticket office. The 360-degree view of Vienna<\/strong> is marvelous, making it one of the must-see vantage points<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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View over Vienna from the Prater Giant Ferris Wheel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Christmas market<\/strong> is located in the square<\/strong> that separates the Giant Ferris Wheel and the Madame Tussauds Museum. In addition to food and souvenirs, the area hosts a stage for concerts<\/strong> held Friday through Sunday and the children’s merry-go-round<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Unlike the others, the Prater markets are open until January 6th<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you are looking for a traditional local place where to eat out<\/strong>, I suggest Gasthaus Hansy<\/strong>, located within walking distance of the Praterstern subway station. For more details have a look at this article<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Christmas markets near the Giant Ferris Wheel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Christmas Village in the Stephansplatz<\/span><\/h3>\n

After dinner I returned to the heart of Vienna<\/strong> to enjoy it by night.<\/p>\n

A must-see is St. Stephen’s Cathedral Square<\/strong>, where there are about 40 stalls where you can buy handmade Austrian products<\/strong> (as well as food and hot drinks).<\/p>\n

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Christmas atmosphere around St Stephen Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some of the city’s most beautiful Christmas lights<\/strong> can be seen while walking along the Graben<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This is the famous shopping street<\/strong> that also houses several cafes and restaurants and is dominated in the center by the baroque Plague Column<\/em> (1683-1693).<\/p>\n

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Walking across the Graben<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Wiener Christkindlmarkt in the Rathausplatz<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Vienna Christmas market that I enjoyed the most is the one located in the Rathausplatz<\/strong>, in front of the imposing neo-Gothic building<\/strong> dating back to the second half of the 19th century<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Shopping in the Christmas market in Rathausplatz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have been there in early afternoon and then in the evening<\/strong>, which is the time when the festive atmosphere reaches its peak thanks to the lights<\/strong> and decorations<\/strong> that adorn the square and the gardens around it.<\/p>\n

In addition to the little wooden houses<\/strong> where numerous gifts, local products, street food and the inevitable punches are purchased, visitors have access to an ice skating rink<\/strong>, a merry-go-round for the little ones, the reindeer train<\/strong> and a thematic trail inspired by the nativity scene.<\/p>\n

This is the busiest market<\/strong> but also the one that offers the most attractions for families<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Lights and decorations around Rathausplatz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Village<\/span><\/h3>\n

A ten-minute walk from the Rathausplatz takes you to another of Vienna’s most famous squares<\/strong> that during Advent hosts roughly 70 market stands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Here, the search for Christmas gifts goes hand in hand with culture<\/strong> as Maria-Theresien-Platz connects two museums: the Art History Museum<\/strong> and the Natural History Museum<\/strong>, respectively Kunsthistorisches Museum<\/em> and Naturhistorisches Museum<\/em> in German.<\/p>\n

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Christmas market in Maria-Theresien-Platz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Winter season at the MQ<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cross the street from Maria-Theresien-Platz to reach Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier<\/strong>, one of the largest cultural areas in the world<\/strong> since on a single square there are the:<\/p>\n