Christmas Day In Vienna 2024 – Dinner, Events and Activities

Christmas in Vienna takes you from picturesque seasonal markets, atmospheric concerts and fine dining experiences to ice-skating and ethereal midnight masses. Here is a compilation of what you can do on Christmas Eve (24th December) and Christmas Day (25th December) in Vienna. Especially with restaurants I recommend early bookings.

1. Go for Delightful Christmas Dining Options

Although many eateries close on this Eve, there are a few nice restaurants open during the festive season. For example, restaurant Anna Sacher at Hotel Sacher, Restaurant Plachutta at Wollzeile and Walfischgasse in the city centre, Brasserie at The Guesthouse Vienna on central Albertinaplatz, and restaurant Das Bootshaus on the Old Danube. Moreover, to give you a head start and to make your day, here are my top places. Most of them serve an exclusive Christmas Eve dinner menu.

1. Anna Sacher at Hotel Sacher

Located within the iconic Hotel Sacher, Anna Sacher offers a luxurious dining experience in a classic Viennese setting. Clearly the hotel is a top address for a European city break, and a member of Leading Hotels of the World. The restaurant’s elegant decor, featuring chandeliers and deep red furnishings, provides a festive and sophisticated ambiance perfect for a Christmas celebration. Known for its high-quality Austrian cuisine, Anna Sacher’s Christmas Eve menu showcases seasonal dishes that include specialties like goose or fish, crafted with attention to detail and a refined twist.

Location: opposite the Vienna State Opera at the start of main shopping boulevard Kärntner Straße

Anna Sacher at Hotel Sacher - Christmas in Vienna

2. Brasserie at The Guest house Vienna

Just a few steps away from the Vienna State Opera, the Brasserie at The Guesthouse Vienna combines modern design with a cosy yet vibrant atmosphere. The brasserie’s Christmas menu features a creative selection of traditional Austrian dishes alongside international favourites, making it a delightful choice for those who appreciate both innovation and tradition. Its central location makes it an ideal spot to experience Vienna’s festive charm.

Location: Behind Vienna State Opera and the Albertina Museum, Vienna’s city centre.

Brasserie at The Guest house Vienna - Christmas In Vienna

3. Das Bootshaus on the Old Danube

For a Christmas Eve dinner with a view, Das Bootshaus offers a unique waterside experience along the serene Old Danube. This restaurant exudes a relaxed and rustic vibe, with a charming decor that enhances the warmth of the holiday season. Known for its fresh, hearty Austrian dishes, Das Bootshaus serves a holiday menu that includes specialties like CHANTERELLE MUSHROOM and RISOTTO and BOOTSHAUS PAELLA B. Perfect for a cosy, family-friendly meal in a tranquil setting.

Location:  An der unteren Alten Donau 61, A-1220 Wien

Das Bootshaus on the Old Danube - Christmas In Vienna

4. Plachutta Vienna

Plachutta is renowned for its classic Austrian cuisine, particularly the famous Tafelspitz (boiled beef), a Viennese specialty. With several locations in the city centre, including Wollzeile and Walfischgasse, Plachutta offers a warm and welcoming setting for a festive meal. Expect a Christmas menu filled with hearty Austrian classics, meticulously prepared and served with an elegant touch. For a full review, you can check Plachutta’s profile.

Locations: Austria, Vienna

Plachutta Vienna - Christmas In Vienna

5. Thell (Formerly Motto)

Once known as Motto, Thell brings a fresh take on dining in Vienna’s Margareten neighbourhood. The restaurant has reinvented itself with a focus on modern Viennese cuisine, combining the traditional with the innovative. Its Christmas offerings reflect this style, with a holiday menu that celebrates Austrian ingredients through creative preparations and bold flavours. With a stylish, intimate interior and warm ambiance, Thell is perfect for a cosy Christmas dinner. For more about Thell, read the full review

Location: Schönbrunner Straße 30, 1050 Vienna

Thell Formerly Motto - Christmas In Vienna

6. Meissl & Schadn

Meissl & Schadn specializes in traditional Austrian cuisine with an emphasis on the iconic Wiener Schnitzel. Known for its classic Viennese charm, this restaurant is perfect for a Christmas meal that highlights beloved Austrian flavours in a refined yet welcoming setting. The elegant interior features a mix of rich wood and brass, giving it a warm and festive ambiance ideal for a holiday gathering.

During this festive season, Meissl & Schadn offers a special holiday menu with seasonal dishes like roast goose, creamy pumpkin soup, and festive desserts like Kaiserschmarrn or Apfelstrudel, all made with top-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Alongside their signature schnitzel, these specialties showcase the finest of Viennese holiday traditions.

Location: Schubertring, 10-12, 1010, Vienna 

Opening Hours: Mon–Sun, 12:00 – 11:30 PM

Meissl & Schadn - Christmas In Vienna

Actually, before you head off for dinner you can add some extra sparkle to the day: for example by doing a culinary horse carriage ride with champagne, fine sandwiches and petit fours. Or you keep it for this Day.

Ready to explore the REAL insider tips for Christmas Eve and Day? Just where you’d expect Viennese locals to celebrate, you can get bookings at fabulous places from my personal black book! Find out more in Vienna Travel Planning.

For a bespoke Christmas itinerary and more local insider tips find out more in Vienna Travel Planning.

Actually, before you head off for dinner you can add some extra sparkle to the day: for example by doing a culinary horse carriage ride with champagne, fine sandwiches and petit fours. Or you keep it for this Day.

Ready to explore the REAL insider tips for Christmas Eve and Day? Just where you’d expect Viennese locals to celebrate, you can get bookings at fabulous places from my personal black book! Find out more in Vienna Travel Planning.

Actually, before you head off for dinner you can add some extra sparkle to the day: for example by doing a culinary horse carriage ride with champagne, fine sandwiches and petit fours. Or you keep it for this Day.

Ready to explore the REAL insider tips for Christmas Eve and Day? Just where you’d expect Viennese locals to celebrate, you can get bookings at fabulous places from my personal black book! Find out more in Vienna Travel Planning.

Actually, before you head off for dinner you can add some extra sparkle to the day: for example by doing a culinary horse carriage ride with champagne, fine sandwiches and petit fours. Or you keep it for this Day.

Ready to explore the REAL insider tips for Christmas Eve and Day? Just where you’d expect Viennese locals to celebrate, you can get bookings at fabulous places from my personal black book! Find out more in Vienna Travel Planning.

2. Attend Christmas Concerts in Vienna

On the 25th and 26th December a festive concert will take place at an atmospheric church in the centre. If you arrive around the 18th and 19th December, you may even make it to the Christmas in Vienna concert with the Vienna Boys Choir.

On even more dates around Christmas, a couple of really gifted musicians will use Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi and others to wrap a baroque church into blissful sound clouds. If you are not into a church mass, then consider this magnificent trumpet concert on Christmas Eve. Other top concerts around the christmas are:

1. Wisconsin Chamber Choir

The Wisconsin Chamber Choir is known for their remarkable vocal harmonies and diverse musical selections. It brings the essence of an authentic choir performance to this season. Their Christmas concerts typically feature an uplifting program, including sacred and secular holiday music, with pieces from classical composers and modern arrangements. Although the choir is based in Wisconsin, their music resonates internationally, capturing the warmth and joy of the holiday season in an elegant, community-centered performance.

Wisconsin Chamber Choir

2. Candlelight Christmas Concerts

Set in intimate, candle-lit venues, the Candlelight Concerts offer a unique twist on traditional holiday music. Featuring strings and pianists who perform holiday favourites from The Nutcracker, Silent Night, and O Holy Night to modern holiday classics, these concerts create a cosy yet enchanting atmosphere. The beauty of candlelight adds a magical ambiance, making this a perfect experience for music lovers of all ages.

Candlelight Christmas Concert

3. Christmas Concert at Haus der Industrie

Set in the grand festival hall of the Haus der Industrie, the Vienna Royal Orchestra offers an evening filled with classical masterpieces that capture the holiday spirit. With dancers from the Vienna State Opera, singers of international repute, and an ambiance that reflects the imperial tradition of Vienna, this concert provides a truly regal experience for this Eve.

  • Date: 25th December 2024
  • Time: 4:30 pm
  • Venue: Haus der Industrie, Vienna
  • Prices: Imperial: €114 | Gold: €79 | Silver: €69 | Bronze: €59
Christmas Concert at Haus der Industrie

4. Christmas in Vienna Gala at Konzerthaus - See

The annual Christmas in Vienna gala concert is a holiday highlight. It brings together the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Boys Choir, and the Wiener Singakademie for a heartwarming evening of Christmas music. Held in the beautiful Konzerthaus, this concert showcases a selection of carols and classical pieces, performed by some of the most celebrated musicians and choirs in Austria. 

  • Date: 20 December, 2024
  • Venue: Konzerthaus, Vienna
Christmas in Vienna Gala at Konzerthaus

5. Christmas Concerts at St. Stephen's Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral offers a series of concerts in one of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks. The stunning Gothic architecture and incredible acoustics of the cathedral make these concerts especially memorable, featuring traditional carols, classical compositions, and sacred music. These concerts are an ideal choice for anyone looking to experience the solemn beauty of music in a historic and reverent setting.

Venue: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna

Ticket Information and Dates: Multiple dates available; check the website for specific concert times.

Christmas Concerts at St. Stephen's Cathedral

3. Go For Most Atmospheric Christmas Masses

Traditionally, many Viennese visit the traditional Mass (Christmette) at 11.00 pm or midnight of the 24th December. Besides hearing the Christmas gospel children’s and adult choirs sing traditional Christmas songs, such as Silent Night, Holy Night. Most masses take around one hour. To give you an idea, check this list of churches that offer the most atmospheric midnight masses in the Vienna city center and central neighbourhoods:

4. Visit the Vienna Christmas Market

A visit to Vienna Christmas Markets, especially Salzburg Christmas market and the one at Rathausplatz is a must for anyone to experience the magic of an Austrian Christmas. Rathaus christmas market is the city’s most iconic holiday fair. With its towering Christmas tree, rows of festively decorated stalls, and endless lights twinkling against the grand Neo-Gothic Rathaus (City Hall), this market captures the essence of the season like no other.

Over 150 stalls line the square, offering an irresistible mix of artisanal crafts, holiday decorations, unique Christmas gifts, handmade ornaments, wooden toys, and candles. Additionally, the smell of freshly baked gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, and cinnamon-scented mulled wine fills the air. Be sure to try traditional Austrian food like Maroni (roasted chestnuts), Erdäpfelpuffer (roasted potatoes), and the famous Viennese Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas punch), a warming treat with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

  • Location: Rathausplatz, Vienna
  • Dates: 15 November to 26th December 
  • Opening Hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.
  • Admission: Free 

comprehensive trip plan 

Need a comprehensive trip plan for your Christmas holiday in Vienna and surroundings? Find out more in  Vienna Travel Planning

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