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Ultimate Guide to Vienna Christmas Markets 2023

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Vienna is an amazing city to visit in winter. Especially because the Christmas world is an integral part of Vienna’s culture and a must-see attraction for travelers. 
This city hosts some of the best Christmas markets in Austria and even in Europe!
Let me show you an easy guide to Vienna Christmas markets. With all the updated info you need for your next advent season trip
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Picture of Wiener Rathaus in Vienna at Christmas
Vienna Christmas markets can be absolutely amazing!
Stalls at Vienna Christmas markets
It’s not all about Christmas decoration but also about the delicious food

Vienna For Christmas: What Should You Expect?

Christmas in Vienna is a serious business.
The Viennese have an age-old tradition. Exploring an advent market and then heading to the nearest bar to chat and warm up.

If you’re planning to enjoy a fairytale Christmas in Europe, then Austria is probably the place you should go to!

Vienna Christmas Markets have been part of the Viennese festive season since 1294, and have always been carried out in a very traditional way.

The main attractions are usually the traditionally decorated wooden stalls.
It’s where you can buy all sorts of different goods.
From honey cakes to nutcrackers, from mulled wine to pieces of beautifully handcrafted wooden furniture.

Yet Vienna for Christmas is much more than that.
Expect special exhibitions, concerts and theatrical events taking place at various locations in the city during the holidays!

A good thing to know is that many of Vienna Christmas markets also have free Wi-Fi. Which is great because you’re going to need your phone a lot to use the public transport.

Christmas tram in Vienna (Austria)
Vienna at Christmas is super easy to explore!

Renting a car in Vienna won’t be necessary. In fact you can explore the whole city by bus, train, tram or subway.
This is how you can visit Vienna for the holidays on a budget, without having to worry about parking or fines!

The cheapest way to go is getting a Vienna City Card. Which includes unlimited rides in Vienna and lots of discounts on restaurants and activities.
Click here to buy the Vienna City Card for less and save even more!

Our Christmas markets guide wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t share a super interesting tip.
From Vienna you can also easily reach Bratislava by train.
The train trip only lasts a little bit more than 1 hour and it’s super cheap!

Tickets start at €11 and can be bought at the train station or online.

So if you’re planning to stay in Vienna, know you can also easily reach other Christmas markets in Europe.
Without breaking the bank!

Adding Slovakia to your European holiday itinerary means you can plan a very special day trip from Vienna.
Visit Bratislava Christmas market during the day and then hop on the train to get back to your hotel in Vienna.
It’s that easy!

Vienna City Hall Christmas Market
Most of the fun is at night because you’ll see all the Christmas lights

How to get to Vienna from Bratislava by train

Are you planning a trip to Slovakia but you also want to experience the Christmas markets in Vienna 2023?
No problem, it’s super easy!

From the Bratislava train station, every hour you can hop on a train to Vienna. Tickets cost about 11€-14€ per person, which is about 12$-15$ on average.
There are discounts for children too!

The ride lasts more or less 1:10 hour and you will be able to buy your tickets at the train station.
I’ve found a lot of stores selling train tickets online, but they always add expensive fees to the final price, so we decided to go straight to the station and risk it.

Guess what?
We found out that there’s absolutely no need to book in advance.

There are so many trains departing from Bratislava to Vienna that even if one is full, you can just wait for the next one. Save your money, you’ll need it to go on a shopping spree in at Vienna Christmas markets!

Christmas themed coffee cups in Vienna
Eating and drinking in Vienna in winter is a way to get warm!

How to get to Vienna from Bratislava by boat

Train is not the only option if you plan to go from Bratislava winter market to Vienna.
River cruises can be cheap, if you know where to book them.

Getting to Bratislava from Vienna on a river cruise should take 70-80 minutes.
Booking well in advance is one way to save a lot of money.

While you can also buy a ticket at the port, it’s not a good idea.
Tickets will be overpriced and they tend to sell fast, especially in December.
Both Vienna and Bratislava are super popular in Europe because of their Christmas markets!

A great way to save money is to book a full day trip from Vienna to Bratislava.
It includes a guided tour of Bratislava with a local, transport, hotel pick-up and of course a river cruise on the Danube.
Click to check out rates and availability.

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2023 Update

Vienna’s Christmas Markets were cancelled for 2021, due to the fact that Austria was undergoing a lockdown.

As of August 2023, however, some of the dates have already been confirmed.
It seems there will be Christmas Markets in Austria in 2023!

Most of them will be open from November 11 to December 26.
The perfect time to plan some seasonal Christmas shopping!

All the confirmed dates have been added next to each Vienna Christmas market.
Keep reading for more info!

Shopping in Vienna in December
Christmas in Vienna can be cold: pack accordingly!

Winter in Vienna: Will it Snow?

Vienna in winter is cold and quite often snowy.

We visited in early December, which shouldn’t be that cold, according to the info we found online.
Well, it snowed for the whole trip! We explored at -4° C and we still had a lot of fun!

Vienna is one of the snowy places where you can get a fairytale European holiday.
All you need to do is to pack the right clothes for a winter trip.

While -4°C can sound brutal, we kept ourselves warm by eating krapfens or Vienna sausages.
If the cold got too much for us to handle, it was the perfect excuse.

What for?
To go to Hotel Sacher and order a huge slice of Sachertorte!

Remember: food and drink can usually save the day, no matter what.

The most important things you should pack for this trip are:

Christmas decorations at Vienna Christmas Markets
Make sure you pack the hand-made Christmas decorations in your carry-on

When Should You plan this Christmas tour of Vienna?

From the third week of November until Christmas (keep reading for all the 2023 updated dates) the most beautiful spots in Vienna turn into something out of a fairytale.

The Christmas markets season is Europe is absolutely breathtaking! Vienna, in particular, turns into something straight out of a dream.

The nights shine with Christmas lights and candles. The air is filled with the delicious scent of gingerbread, cinnamon and mulled wine.

Generally speaking, me and Al prefer to visit the Wien Christmas Markets by the end of November or early December.
That’s when they’re not too crowded (yet) and hotels in Vienna are less expensive.

One of the stalls at Vienna Christmas markets selling edible decorations
A few stalls even sell edible decorations: how cool is that?

How Many Christmas Markets will You Find in Vienna?

The present day markets date back to 1294.
In Vienna over 20 official advent markets sell a vast array of seasonal gifts and Christmas treats.

There are also other “non-official” advent markets in the city center and in the outskirts. 
While they aren’t among the popular Christmas markets you read about everywhere, they’re still impressive. 
And often less expensive!

Vienna is a city full of history, monuments and art. Add this to the Christmas markets business and you’ll understand why it’s one of the most visited European cities during the holidays!  

Unless you have at least 3 or 4 days, I suggest you add just a couple of the biggest Vienna Christmas markets to your itinerary.

That way you will be able to enjoy the festive lights, a Christmas concert, all the cute shops and the seasonal treats without having to run from one part of the city to the other.

Important Reminder: Vienna in December can be quite crowded so you must take that into account!

Let me show you our favorite Christmas markets in Vienna that you can visit from the end of November to the end of December: all the dates have been updated to 2023!

Rathausplatz in Vienna at December
The Viennese Christmas Market is one of the traditional Christmas spots – and it has a large Christmas tree too!

Rathausplatz Christmas Market

This is the Christmas market in front of the Vienna City Hall that you’ve basically seen in every holiday picture from Austria.
A giant Christmas tree makes this place Instagram-perfect!

You just can’t miss it if you want to get into the spirit of Christmas in Vienna.
All it took us to get there from our hotel was a metro ride to the Rathausplatz.

Full disclosure: it’s possibly our favorite traditional Christmas market in Europe!

The Vienna City Hall backdrop is unique, especially when it’s all lit up. Inside the City Hall, on the ground floor, there’s also a huge kids area, where they can learn how to bake Christmas cookies and how to make candles.

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays international choirs sing Christmas carols: the entrance is free. Here we found a lot of Christmas presents for our girlfriends and… well for everyone who is absolutely in love with the Viennese Christmas!

This Wien Christmas market is open from November 11 to December 23, 2023.

Opening hours: Sun-Thu 10am – 9.30pm, Fri and Sat 10am – 10pm; 7th December 10am – 10pm, 24th December 10am – 6pm, 25th and 26th December 11am – 9.30pm.
Yes: it should be open on Christmas day unless there are any last minute issues!

Closest hotels:

Belvedere Palace in Vienna in winter
Belvedere Palace is one of our favorite places in Vienna in December!

Christmas Village Belvedere Palace

This is another popular spot among tourists and locals. The Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace takes place in front of the Belvedere Museum, a beautiful Baroque palace, where you can find the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt‘s paintings.

To get there the easiest option is to hop on a tram, line D to Schloss Belvedere or 18/O to Quartier Belvedere.

At the Belvedere Palace Christmas market you will find over 40 stalls selling elaborate ornaments, handcrafted goods and Christmas treats. The entrance is free.

This Christmas market is open from November 17 to December 26, 2023.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 11am – 9pm; Saturday – Sunday 10am – 9pm; 24th December 11am – 4pm; 25th – 26th December 11am – 7pm.

Closest hotels:

Caramelized nuts and more at Vienna Christmas markets
Caramelized nuts and chocolate treats are just about everywhere

Maria-Theresien Platz Christmas Market

Located between the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Art, this Christmas market in Vienna takes place at Maria Theresa Square (“Maria Theresien Platz“).

It’s easy to get here using either the metro (U2 to Museumsquartier), a tram (to Dr. Karl Renner Ring) or a bus (Dr. Karl Renner Ring) according to where you are in Vienna.

This time the background is Imperial, as the Museum of Modern Art is located in the former Imperial stables. At the center of the square there’s a pretty large statue depicting Empress Maria Theresa.

This Christmas market is open from November 15 to December 26, 2023.

Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday 11am – 9pm; Friday & Saturday 11am -10pm; 24th December 11am – 4pm; 25th – 26th December 11am – 7pm.

Closest hotels:

Christmas lights in Vienna in December
Eating at Vienna Christmas Markets can be pretty cheap

Altes AKH Christmas Market

The location of this Christmas market is peculiar and honestly I didn’t know what to expect. One of the quirkiest Vienna Chirstmas markets is in fact located inside the former General Hospital.

While at first it felt a bit weird to visit a Christmas market held in a former hospital, you’ll soon get used to it.
The Christmas Village in the Former General Hospital is one of the favorite Christmas markets by the locals.

The atmosphere is in fact very traditional and it doesn’t fail to impress. The stalls are finely designed and decorated, all lit up and even more beautiful when it snows.
The easier way to get here through public transport is by rail (to Lange Gasse) or bus (to Skodagasse).

This Christmas market is open from November 10 to December 23, 2023.

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 3 pm – 10 pm; Wednesday, Saturday, holidays 12am – 10pm; Sunday 12am – 9pm.

Closest hotels:

Christmas decorations in Vienna in December
Glass Christmas ornaments are absolutely beautiful but also pretty fragile!

Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market

This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in Vienna, with approximately 60 stalls selling handicrafts and Christmas gifts, including handmade Christmas decorations.

You can find this market in front of Schönbrunn Palace, former Imperial Summer residence and one of the most important buildings in Austria. Many stalls here sell local delicacies and the air is filled with the delicious scent of mulled wine.

In front of the Schönbrunn Palace there’s a huge Christmas tree. International choirs sing Christmas carols during the holidays: enjoy a free show and make sure you take lots of beautiful pictures!

This Christmas market is open from November 18 to December 26, 2023.

Opening hours: Daily 10am – 6pm.

Closest hotels:

Christmas lights in December in Vienna
The cold weather might kill your battery: bring a power bank!

Spittelberg Christmas Market

In the last few years this Christmas market has gotten pretty big: it houses 100 stalls, making it the largest one in Vienna.

This is also the Christmas market in Vienna where you can find international artists who sell arts and crafts from all around the world.

It seems that in the last 25 years this Christmas market has attracted about 500.000 visitors every year and it can be particularly crowded.
If you don’t want to spend the day pushing your way through the crowds, it would be wise to get there early in the morning.

This Christmas market is open from November 16 to December 23, 2023.

Opening hours: Mondays – Thursdays 2pm – 9pm; Fridays 2pm – 9.30pm; Saturdays 10am – 9.30pm; Sundays and holidays 10am – 9pm.

Closest hotels:

Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher in Vienna
You can’t leave Vienna without tasting Sachertorte!

What to Eat in Vienna For The Holidays

There are certain things you can’t avoid while spending a day in Vienna during the holidays.
Like eating all the Vienna Christmas market food!

Of course I’m not only speaking of a slice of the original Sachertorte at the Hotel Sacher, in front of the Vienna State Opera. Or the delicious bratwursts and Vienna sausages that you can eat hot in a long bun.

Vienna offers in fact many dishes that you can only eat during the Christmas period. Their most traditional dish is a fried carp, which is usually served during the Christmas eve dinner.

Some families also love to eat a meat fondue.
It’s a dish that the locals eat for hours: the perfect excuse to sit down with the family. Laughter, good food and small talk are the staples of the Christmas eve dinner.

While exploring the Vienna Christmas markets you will find slices of Lebkuchen, which is similar to gingerbread, and Stollen, a fruit bread covered in powdered sugar.

The Weihnachtskekse, Christmas cookies baked in all shapes and often decorated, and the Spekulatius, typical spicy cookies, are especially popular among children.

Everywhere in Vienna you will find the Maronistand that sell roasted chestnuts and delicious slices of roast potatoes with a pinch of salt and pepper (be careful, they can be addictive!). 

Pin it for later!

Travelling Dany – Danila Caputo

Danila Caputo is a bilingual travel writer living in between Naples and the Amalfi Coast (Italy), graduating from the University of Naples Suor Orsola Benincasa in Foreign Languages and Literature. She travels and works with her husband Aldo, photographer and videographer. Their blog chronicles their adventures around the world, their love for the USA (where they have family), Italian/European culture and tips on how to be responsible travelers. You can find out more about their latest trips and their life on Youtube, Instagram and Facebook.

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22 Comments

  1. I think i am already taken away by your pictures. The whole place looks so festive and i will go crazy seeing all that in real. Its good that they are there almost for a month to give you enough window to shop and enjoy.

  2. Abigail Sinsona says:

    Wow the idea of talking about Christmas markets gives me butterflies! I love Christmas – it is my favorite season. I enjoy going to Christmas markets too. These Christmas markets look so inviting!

    1. Same here! I love Christmas and it’s my favorite time of the year! I’m already thinking of decorations… and it’s September 😀

  3. Wow so beautiful and nice. That makes me wanna go to Vienna again.

  4. Now I know why you asked. It looks lovely.. I definitely gotta get this in my plans sometime soon!

  5. mark wyld says:

    Looks amazing but then again Vienna is an amazing city. I would love to attend the Christmas market we were lucky enough to go to Prague Christmas market last year. I am sure some hot winter wine would be amazing while looking at the crafts.

    1. I think the snow and the Christmas carrols, the mulled wine and the spices make the atmosphere even more beautiful! How were the Prague markets? I still haven’t made it there and I’m wondering if they’re worth the trip?

  6. Vienna is so beautiful. And during Christmas it becomes magical! I wanna go during Dec!

  7. Sarah Ebner says:

    I don’t think there’s anywhere like Vienna, and at Christmas it’s even more gorgeous than usual. I love the Christmas markets there, the mulled wine (as we call it in the UK!) and all the stalls. This is a great guide – it’s made me realise I need to go back and see all of them at once!

  8. Long Nguyen says:

    Wow! those are so tempting Chrismas markets, and it seems all of them are great together. I have read back and forth but could not choose which ones are the best if we only have one day here. However, they will be in my list for the trip to Vienna. Thanks

  9. The markets start from the third week of November? oh that is really good! It not only gives you enough time to do your shopping but also time to actually enjoy the markets and eat lots of gingerbread !

  10. Mariagrazia Lettieri says:

    Adoro i mercatini di Natale, e questi sono anche un buon motivo di organizzare un viaggio last minute, ma almeno io quest'anno passi ?

  11. La Crusia says:

    Che belli che sono i mercatini di Natale, questo poi lo hai descritto veramente in maniera dettagliata! Mi hai fatto venire voglia di andarci!

  12. Adoro i mercatini di Natale, creano un'atmosfera perfetta! In più questi sarebbero un'ottima occasione per un viaggio ?

  13. Che meraviglia! Mi piace molto leggere i tupi articoli e prendere parte al tuo viaggio! Adoro i mercatini di Natale e ogni anno non possa fare a meno di visitarli a Trento ❤ complimenti anche per le foto, sono bellissime!

  14. Marta Assi says:

    Che bello! Io adoro i mercatini di natale ma purtroppo non riesco mai a visitarli perché lavoro ?