The best Weihnachtsmärkte (Christkindlmärkte / Christmas markets) in Vienna (Wien) are at the Rathaus, Maria Theresien Platz, Freyung in the old town center, and at the Baroque Schloss Schönbrunn and Schloss Belvedere. In 2024, most famous Christmas markets in Vienna will be open not only for the Christmas season but until early in the New Year.
Christmas markets in Vienna (Wien) are as popular in the festive season as in the rest of the German-speaking world. The Austrian capital has several markets but the best ones in the old town are within easy walking distance from each other at the Rathausplatz, Maria Theresien Platz, and Freyung. The Baroque palaces Schloss Schönbrunn and Schloss Belvedere in the suburbs of Vienna serve as the beautiful backdrops to two further Viennese Christmas markets. Book hotels in Vienna early for the Christmas holiday period, especially when staying on weekends.
In 2024, several of the Christmas markets will be open on Christmas Day (December 25) but expect hours a bit shorter, especially on December 24. Several markets stay open after Christmas as New Year’s Markets until early in January 2025. These include the new Weihnachtsmarkt at Schloss Schönbrunn and the winter market at the Riesenradplatz at the Prater. For something different, visit the Wien Therme thermal baths and spa — only 15 minutes by U-Bahn from the center and open on Christmas Day.
Visit the Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Rathausplatz, Vienna
Vienna’s largest and best-known Christmas market is the Wiener Chriskindlemarkt und Weihnachtstraum in front of the Neo-Gothic Rathaus (city hall).
The Christmas market in front of Vienna’s Rathaus claims to be the most popular Christmas market in Austria. Annually, around 3 million people visit this market including around half a million foreign tourists. The market has around 150 stands.
The Wiener Christkindlmarkt is child and family-friendly with special events, rides, a large Ferris wheel, and an ice skating rink in addition to the regular Christmas market activities and a large display of nativity scenes.
The Wiener Christkindlmarkt & Adventzauber, Rathausplatz, Vienna, is held from November, 16 to December 26, 2024. Opening hours are daily from 10 am to 9:30 pm (closing at 7 pm on the 24th).
Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) between the Museums in Vienna
Only a short stroll from the Rathausplatz is the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Town) at Maria Theresien Platz. This Christmas market is beautifully located between Vienna’s magnificent Kunst- (Art) and Naturhistorischen (Natural History) Museums. Across the Ring is the magnificent Imperial Armory, the World Museum with Moctezuma’s feather headdress from Mexico.
In 2024, the Weihnachtsdorf am Maria-Theresien-Platz is open from November 13 to December 31, 2024. This Christmas market is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm; closing at 4 pm on Christmas Eve. On Christmas and Boxing Days (December 25 and 26) the market is open from 11 am to 7 pm.
Visit the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt at Freyung, Vienna
The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (Old Vienna Christmas market) is also in the old town, not far from the Rathaus. This market usually has puppet performances for children in the morning and further music performances in the late afternoon or early evenings.
The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt at Freyung, Vienna, is held from November 15 to December 23, 2024. The market is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm.
Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) at Schloss Belvedere Palace, Vienna, 2024
Just outside the old town area of Vienna, but still very easy to reach on public transportation or even on foot from the town center, is the Weihnachtsdorf in the gardens of Schloss Belvedere. Schloss Belvedere is a magnificent Baroque palace and the art museum inside is the home of amongst others Gustav Klimt’s Kiss.
In 2024, the Weihnachtsdorf at Schloss Belvedere is open from November 15 to December 31, 2024, from 11 am to 9 pm (10 am on weekends).
Weihnachtsmarkt at Schloss Schönbrunn in Wien
It is worth taking the short tram or U-Bahn train ride to Schloss Schönbrunn Palace to visit the Christmas market in the magnificent setting in the Ehrenhof in front of the imperial palace and favorite residence of Maria Theresa and many other Habsburg rulers.
The Weihnachstmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn sells mostly Austrian products and has an extensive cultural program as part of the market. Wednesday is especially for families with many performances and activities aimed at children staged throughout the day. On all other days, special activities and workshops are also available for children.
The Christmas market at Schloss Schönbrunn Palace is not only open every day from 8 November 2024 to 6 January 2025. The market is mostly open daily from 10:00 to 21:00 but closes at 16:00 on the 24th, and is only open until 19:00 from 25 December onwards.
Note: The Weihnachstmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn is under new management from 2024. Old websites and links only state that the Kultur- & Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn closed after 30 years without indicating that new Advent markets is functioning at the palace.
More Christmas Market Fun in Vienna in 2024
Sightseeing day cruises on the Danube from Vienna are possible during winter with many special dinner and event cruises scheduled during the Advent and Christmas market holiday season.
Classica and Christmas music remain very popular in Vienna with tickets for the top orchestras and Advent concerts selling out fast in the Christmas period. It is usually possible to get tickets for concerts in the Kursalon where many a Strauss waltz was first performed and a New Year’s Eve concert on the 31st — expect a lot of Strauss and Mozart.
Further popular concerts around Christmas and New Year’s include performances at Schloss Schönbrunn and at St Peter’s Church.
Vienna’s top cafés are popular year-round and always worth visiting too.
Most cities in Austria have Christmas markets during the Advent period and Christmas holidays while smaller towns and ski resorts usually have markets only during certain weekends or days prior to Christmas. A White Christmas in fairly rare in Vienna but common in ski resorts in the Austrian Alps.
