Vienna Christmas Market 2024 Guide and Map

Vienna Christmas Market 2024. Vienna is synonymous with Christmas markets. Each year Vienna and various local associations host more than a dozen Vienna Christmas markets with Christmas trees, mulled wine, traditional food, and arts and crafts stalls. In addition, some of them boast live bands and gospel choirs, ice curling rinks, and even fire dances and an Alpine log cabin.
To find out where and when the best christmas markets in vienna are on, what exactly they offer and guided market tours use my up-to-date Christmas market guide 2024 and map for my home city.

1. Iconic and Grand Christmas Markets

Vienna’s iconic Christmas markets are renowned for their grandeur and historic settings. These markets are a must-see for their spectacular decorations, unique atmospheres, and stunning backdrops. 

a. Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz

Vienna Christmas Market 2024. Officially one of Europe's most spectacular Christmas markets, the Wiener Weihnachtstraum (Vienna Christmas Dream) spreads loads of charms. Located between neogothic City Hall and famous Burgtheater, each of the almost 155 wooden huts offers a piece of seasonal magic: from sparkling Christmas baubles to hand crafted toys, jewelry, decorations, food, drink, traditional Buchteln, Baumkuchen, Spätzle and other seasonal specialties.
Dating back to the 1600s when it was first known as the Thomas Market, this rathaus christmas market has evolved into a magical festive wonderland while preserving its authentic Christmas spirit. Over 100 booths showcase handicrafts, decorations, and toys crafted by local artisans, making it a lively hub of holiday cheer. A central feature each year is the magnificent Christmas tree, donated by a different Austrian municipality since 1959, creating a stunning backdrop for visitors.
Find out more about rathaus vienna christmas market in Christkindlmarkt Rathausplatz.

b. Schonbrunn Christmas Market

Not only popular with tourists, the Schönbrunner Weihnachtsmarkt has ranked top as the Vienneses' favourite Christmas market. In 2024, the market stalls will be grouped differently to form a village character for the first time. And there will be more family fun, from an ice rink and ice curling lanes to a merry-go-round, a choo choo train and a traditional arts-and-crafts workshop.
Other than that, the hand-made Tyrolean nativity scene, Austrian traditional crafts and the Christmas gifts by Schönbrunn's own limited edition are something to watch out for. Foodwise, that market serves fabulous warm dishes, from 'Bauerngröstl' (hearty type of hash) and cheese raclette to sweet Kaiserschmarren. If Schönbrunn Palace is on your sightseeing list, plan a comfortable extra hour to visit the market.

• Dates: 8th November 2024 to 6th January 2025 (Christmas Market and New Year's Market)
• Opening Times: 8th Nov to 23rd December 10.00 am to 9.00 pm; 24th December 10.00 am to 4.00 pm; 25th December to 6th January 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.
• Location: In front of Schönbrunn Palace's main entrance.

c. Christmas Village and New Year's Market at Maria-Theresien-Platz

2. Traditional and Artistic Markets

Vienna Christmas Market 2024. For a taste of old Vienna, the city’s traditional and artistic Christmas markets focus on handcrafted goods, regional foods, and a more intimate atmosphere. 

a. Christmas Market at Freyung

Originally created to counter the - now gone - plastic dreams and hullaballoo of Rathausplatz market, the small Altwiener Weihnachtsmarkt focuses in particular on traditional Christmas scenery. Framed by baroque town palaces like Palais Harrach and Palais Daun-Kinsky and the baroque Church of the Scottish Order (Schottenkirche), the market buzzes with crafts stalls, mulled wine and punch in various flavors, regular crafts shows, and traditional live music.
Whether on your own or during a Christmas markets tour, take the opportunity to roam the stalls offering gingerbread, roast chestnuts, hand painted vintage signs, fashion jewellery, handmade regional wooden toys and beeswax candles. On some late afternoons you can listen to regional advent choirs or a Viennese bugle band performing on a small stage.
If you like to try regional snacks visit the farmers' market on Fridays and Saturdays on the other side of the street.

• Dates: 15th November to 23rd December 2024
• Opening Times: daily 10.00 am to 9.00 pm
• Location: Freyung square, 1010 Vienna.

 

b. Christmas Market Am Hof

Located between Freyung Christmas market and the pedestrian area of Kohlmarkt and Graben the Weihnachtsmarkt at elegant Am Hof square presents a natural stop. By all means, reserve some space in your bags and tummies if you love handwoven wool products, frankincense, artisan honey and hearty Austrian snacks. This market's speciality is definitely the Zirbenpunsch, a punch made of fragrant Swiss pine. As for music, expect regular live gospel choirs as well as local hits from Radio Wien, which sponsors the market and runs a charity show each Thursday.

• Dates: 15th November to 23rd December 2024
• Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 11.00 am to 9.00 pm, Friday to Sunday and public holiday 10.00 am to 9.00 pm,
• Location: Am Hof square, 1010 Vienna

3. Royal and Scenic Markets

Vienna’s royal and scenic Christmas markets offer elegance and beauty against some of the city’s most breathtaking landmarks. They are:

a. Christmas market at Stephansplatz

Although on central St. Stephen's square right in front of Stephansdom (cathedral), the Weihnachtsmarkt am Stephansplatz takes back a gear from noisy shows and busy events. Much like at Belvedere Palace, the wooden stalls follow a simple elegant design concept with beautiful lighting. Most of the arts and crafts offered, from organic scented candles to ceramic angels, are made or enhanced in Austria. Even the spicy punches come in elegant and less sugary flavors. Bottomline, this is a pretty good place to celebrate after visiting Stephansdom or attending one of the advent concerts there.

• Dates: 8th November to 26th December 2024
• Opening Times: until 23rd December 11.00 am to 9.00 pm; 24th December 11.00 am to 4.00 pm; 25th and 26th December 11.00 am to 7.00 pm
• Location: in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)

b. Christmas Village and Belvedere Christmas Market

What a backdrop: Even though not blessed with a massive Christmas tree, the illuminated baroque façade of Belvedere Vienna Palace provides a majestic flair to Weihnachtsdorf Schloss Belvedere. Even in the palace's large fountain pool a dozen Christmas stars sparkle away dark nights. First and foremost, expect arts and crafts stalls offering great quality products, from glass and ceramics to fine leather ware. Officially, the Christmas market ends on the 26th December but immediately morphs into a New Year's market packed with good luck horse shoes, little chimney sweeps and other lucky charms. Definitely do spend some time at this market when visiting the Belvedere and Austrian National Gallery.

• Dates: 15th November to 31st December 2024;
• Opening Times: Monday to Friday 11.00 am to 9.00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10.00 am to 9.00 pm; 24th December: 11.00 am to 4.00 pm; 26th to 30th December 11.00 am to 7.00 pm; 31st December 11.00 am to 6.00 pm; CLOSED on 25th December (tbc)
• Location: Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, 1030 Vienna

4. Alternative Markets

Vienna’s alternative Christmas markets modernise the traditional concept and bring creative vibes and a fun, modern atmosphere. Here are the most famous:

a. Christmas Market at Spittelberg

If you have a hang of contemporary arts and crafts add this market in the arty district of Neubau to your bucket list. Specifically it covers amazing handmade seasonal gifts.  You will find everything there from felt bags and eccentric woollen hats to creative jewellery, ceramics, glass and wax creations. What is more, you will capture the area's charming Biedermeier townhouses and cobblestoned streets when they look their most enchanting.
The Spittelberg Christmas Market Vienna  is a symbol of Vienna’s urban renewal success story. Once at risk of demolition in the 1980s, Spittelberg was saved by activists and politicians, transforming it into a lively neighborhood with eclectic bars, restaurants, and shops. Now, during the holiday season, Spittelberg Vienna Christmas Market embellishes the main Biedermeier alley Spittelberggasse, offering a cosy, bohemian charm different from Vienna’s larger markets. Stalls filled with artisan crafts and seasonal treats  integrate seamlessly with the surrounding galleries and bustling bars, creating a warm, festive ambiance. This market is open from 16 November to 23 December.

• Dates: 16th November to 23rd December 2024
• Opening Times: Monday to Thursday, 2.00 pm to 9.00 pm; Friday 2.00 pm to 9.30 pm; Saturday 10.00 am to 9.30 pm; Sunday and public holiday 10.00 am to 9.00 pm
• Location: Spittelberggasse, 1070 Vienna

b. Funky Christmas at MQ

Welcome to the contemporary side of Vienna's outdoor winter parties. Unlike at other local Christmas fairs, architects took care of designing slick winter installations after chasing off reindeers and angels. To kick off the season, dozens of lights beam and project magical winter worlds across Wintergarten. Once a week the Hofmusik (Court Music) series presents live artists, from soul and pop to electronic tunes. Since the museum complex' various restaurants and cafés set up shop outside you can enjoy mulled wine, gingerbread and hot chestnuts while joining in some ice curling fun or driving remote control cars across a race track.

• Location: Museumsquartier (opposite Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of Natural History)
• Dates: 11th November to late December 2024 (TBC)
• Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays 4.00 pm to 11.00 pm, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 1.00 pm to 11.00 pm;

c. Christmas Village at Altes AKH

By all means make sure you visit this Vienna Christmas market 2024. Located on the compound of the Former General Hospital this market scores top on atmosphere and infrastructure. On top of dozens of stalls offering artisan Christmas decoration, mulled wine, punch, chestnuts and other snacks, you can do ice curling and warm yourself up at the spacious Alpine log cabin Josefinenalm. At certain times, you can watch local craftsmen make candles. Starting from the end of November expect some lovely live music performances of advent tunes and Christmas carols.

• Dates: 15th November to 23rd December 2024
• Opening Times: Mon to Wed 2.00 pm to 10.00 pm, Thursday and Friday 2.00 pm to 11.00 pm; Saturday 11.00 am to 11.00 pm; Sunday 11.00 am to 8.00 pm
• Location: Alser Strasse / corner of Spitalgasse, Court 1; 1080 Vienna

d. Arts & Crafts Christmas Market at Karlsplatz

In a similar way to the markets at Altes AKH at Spittelberg, the Vienna Christmas market 2024 at Karlsplatz dedicates itself to arts and crafts.. Going beyond the usual mulled wine and inexpensive decorative gifts this market lets you look over the shoulders of potters, felt makers, wood turners and fabric printers (subject to programme). Children will find a natural ‘soft play’ in bundles of straw, and can regularly take place in candle making workshops. Remarkably for a Christmas market, this one even caters to your healthy eating habits: All products offered come with an organic food certificate. If you travel with children and want to take some time off for strolling around the market, you can leave them safely with a well trained team to do Christmas arts and crafts.

• Dates: 15th November to 23rd December 2024
• Opening Times: Daily 12 PM to 8.00 PM; arts and crafts childcare program at the large yurt daily from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm at the Sternenwerkstatt
• Location: Karlsplatz, 1010 Vienna
  

5. Neighbourhood Market At Türkenschanzpark

The Neighbourhood Market at Türkenschanzpark in Vienna’s 18th district is an enchanting Christmas market nestled in a lush, scenic park setting. Perfect for a festive winter stroll, it combines the charm of arts and crafts stalls with a warm, rural flair. You can indulge in culinary delights ranging from Austrian classics and vegan dishes to sweet treats like Baumstriezel and heart-shaped waffles. Children especially will enjoy the daily carousel rides, the large playground, and interactive giant soap bubble shows by Dr. Bubbles.

The market also hosts live performances, featuring everything from traditional hunting horn ensembles to Gypsy Jazz, adding a lively soundtrack to the festivities. Dogs are warmly welcomed and even treated to their own “dog punch” station, ensuring no family member is left out. For added comfort, a heated restroom and a nearby barrier-free facility are available.

• Date: November 15 to December 23, 2024
• Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays 12 p.m. - 10 p.m (Food & Drink ); Monday - Friday 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. (Handicrafts & Stalls)
• Location: Türkenschanz park, 1180 Vienna (entrance at Peter Jordan Straße - corner of Dänenstraße)

Program Highlights:

• Giant Soap Bubble Shows: Nov 17, Dec 1, Dec 15
• Children's Book Readings: Selected Saturdays at 3 p.m. & 4 p.m.
• Live Music: Gypsy Jazz, hunting horn groups, and more throughout the season

With 20+ Christmas markets spreading across Vienna how will you cover your favourites during your stay? A digital itinerary can blend your top choices with your preferred sightseeing and cultural program. Find out more about Vienna Unwrapped's trip planning services.

Christmas Markets Tour

If you are short on time you can do both Christmas market hopping and sightseeing in one go. Besides, the tour groups are quite small and the local guide loves sharing Austrian Christmas traditions. Find out more.

Vienna Christmas Market Map

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