A Long Weekend in Vienna: Exploring the City’s Magical Christmas Markets with Confidence

Vienna’s Christmas markets had been on my bucket list for many years. There’s something so nostalgic and romantic about them, don’t you think, a charm that feels both magical and timeless. When my husband surprised me with flights for my birthday, I was beyond excited.

Knowing how much I love researching a place myself, he kindly left the rest of the arrangements to me, he’s a wise man. Vienna has a choice of beautiful Christmas markets, each one unique in its atmosphere and setting across the city. When you add to that the grand palaces, world-class museums, concert halls and opera houses, traditional Viennese coffee houses, elegant restaurants, and boutique shops, it quickly became clear that a weekend in Vienna would need a little planning, enough to experience it all, while still leaving time to simply pause and soak it in.

Vienna has an abundance of excellent hotels, though choosing one can feel a little overwhelming when you’ve never visited before, especially when you’re trying to balance location, quality, and budget. We wanted to stay somewhere that allowed us to walk to most places and use public transport when needed.

There are several ways to travel from the airport into the city, local train, bus, or taxi are all good options, with the bus and train often being the most affordable. My philosophy is always to keep things simple but comfortable, so we opted for the City Airport Train (CAT) (www.cityairporttrain.com). You can’t miss the bright green signs when you arrive. It’s a 16-minute, non-stop journey from the airport to the centre, the trains are clean, efficient, and run every 30 minutes. It does cost more than the local train or bus, but we felt it was worth it for the ease and convenience.

From Wien Mitte station, you can take the underground, tram, or bus to your hotel. We stayed at The Artist Boutique Hotel (www.artist-hotel.at) in Vienna’s 8th district, tucked just behind City Hall. The hotel is lovely and comfortable and ideal for female travellers or couples. The location was ideal and within walking distance of most of the Christmas markets, the MuseumsQuartier (MQ), the Hofburg Palace and transport links.

Vienna has hosted a festive market since the 1600s, originally known as the Thomas Market, named after the apostle Thomas. It later became the St Nicholas and Christmas Market, moving to various locations before settling in Am Hof Square in 1842, where it was renamed the Christkindlmarkt. So the Chriskindlmarkt has been part of Vienna’s story for over 180 years.

Just a short stroll from our hotel was the Viennese Christmas Market at City Hall Rathausplatz, considered one of the largest in Europe. Vienna’s architecture is magnificent, and the City Hall is no exception, forming a spectacular backdrop, especially as darkness falls and the lights begin to glow.

The market itself is a feast for the senses,  traditional food stalls, 75% organic or from local producers, fill the air with the scent of roast chestnuts and spiced punch; twinkling lights illuminate rows of wooden chalets selling Christmas decorations, toys, and crafts. Some are charmingly kitsch, others beautifully artisanal.

Surrounding the square, the Rathauspark becomes a wonderland of colour, with light displays, carousels and ferris wheel. The Heart Tree, lit with 200 red hearts, is one of its most enchanting sights, every half hour from dusk, a floating heart rises into the air, symbolising love.

Since 1959, the large Christmas tree has been gifted by a different Austrian province or the South Tyrol, Italy. In front of it, local trumpet ensembles perform from a rooftop nativity stage, adding to the old-world atmosphere.

There is a central ice rink if you are visiting during the Christmas market. f you happen to be in Vienna between 22 January and 8 March 2026, the Rathausplatz is transformed into a huge  winter wonderland known as the Viennese Ice Dream. With one of the biggest ice rinks in Europe at its heart.  There are four large rinks linked by romantic paths through the trees, a curling rink and viewing platform.

Rathausplatz is magical, but it can get very busy in the evenings. Visit at dusk or later at night to enjoy the lights without the crowds. The IVIE app from the Vienna Tourist Board is a great tool, as it shows real-time visitor levels at key attractions, so you can plan your day respectfully and calmly.

A short walk from Rathausplatz is The Light of Creation, a 30-minute immersive light show inside the Votivkirche Church,  an extraordinary mix of theatrical lighting and music in an impressive setting.

Just a 20 minute walk from our hotel, the Spittelberg Christmas Market became one of our favourites. The narrow cobbled streets and Biedermeier-era houses make this market feel intimate, romantic, and steeped in history. Its stalls are locally and regionally produced, with a focus on sustainability, you will find handicrafts, organic produce, and excellent vegetarian and vegan options.

The Spittelberg district itself has a creative, slightly bohemian charm, filled with galleries, artisan shops, and small theatres. It’s the kind of place where you wander slowly, discovering hidden courtyards and hidden gems.

We stumbled across the Collina am Berg, a fantastic contemporary restaurant tucked within the market. Its menu focuses on sustainably sourced game and local ingredients, so it’s perhaps not ideal for vegetarians, but it’s cosy, atmospheric, and a little bit special, the sort of place you remember long after leaving.

Beyond Spittelberg lies the MuseumsQuartier (MQ), one of the largest cultural complexes in the world. Once the Imperial stables, it now houses the Leopold Museum, the Mumok (Museum of Modern Art), and a vibrant mix of modern galleries, cafés, and creative spaces. The open courtyards are pedestrianised and relaxed and the area around the MQ has a good selection of shops and restaurants.

Opposite the MQ are the Natural History Museum and the Art History Museum, two of Vienna’s most impressive buildings. In previous years, the museums have hosted the Christmas Village on Maria-Theresien-Platz, which is sadly taking a break due to construction works nearby but is expected to return in 2027.

Crossing the Ringstrasse boulevard, which is a circular road around Vienna City, you walk under the Castle Gate or Burgtor which leads to the impressive Hofburg complex and onto the Heldenplatz or heroes square. Here you will see the imposing Neue Burg wing of the palace.  The square is surrounded by iconic buildings and offers stunning views across the beautiful Volksgarten Park, towards Rathausplatz and City Hall.

The Voksgarten also leads to the Burgtheater, Austria’s most famous theatre. If you feel the need for a coffee stop or lunch when near the Burgtheater, the historic Cafe Landtmann, dating back to 1873, is just next door, famous for Landtmann’s original Guglhupf cake.  A distinctive ring shaped, sweet cake, often presented in the most beautiful round hat shaped box.

The Hofburg complex is vast, with endless places to explore, including the Sisi Museum & Imperial Apartments and the Spanish Riding School, home to the famous Lipizzaner horses. If you don’t find time to attend one of the performances, the stable tours are really interesting. The entrance to both the Sisi Museum and Spanish Riding School can be accessed from the Michaelerplatz square and found under the large copper dome in the Michaelertor gate.

In the Michaelerplatz square you should not fail to spot the Fiaker horse-drawn carriages waiting nearby, a true reminder that you are in Vienna. A short 20-minute ride usually costs around €60, but agree the price before you begin.  There are several pick up and drop off stops around the city.

Leaving Michaelerplatz behind you and as you wander towards St Stephen’s Cathedral, the heart of Vienna, you will pass along Kohlmarkt, a beautiful street lined with luxury boutiques and glowing Christmas lights. Here you will find Demel Vienna Café, dating back to 1786, known for its apple strudel and the Kaiserschmarrn (fluffy shredded pancake) is delicious. Most Cafes serve breakfast and savoury lunch dishes, not just sweets and pastries but the Demel Cafe shop is worth a visit, even if you decide not eat.

Kohlmarkt leads to Graben, another grand shopping street where the chandelier style lights seem to shimmer endlessly. It’s a must-see, elegant, sparkling, and festive in the most sophisticated way. At the end of Graben, you will arrive at Stephansplatz, where 40 market stalls wrap around the base of the soaring 136-metre-high cathedral.

The Stephansplatz Christmas Market feels quite small and cosy, with beautiful ornaments, candles, and steaming mugs of mulled wine. There are several food options, but you may want to enjoy a hearty soup served in a hollowed-out bread bowl, it’s so nourishing and warming.  It can become quite lively in the evening but the Cathedral looks spectacular lit up at night.

To the rear of Cathedral is another horse and carriage ride pick up and drop off point.

A short stroll from Stephansplatz brings you to the Old Viennese Christmas Market on Freyung, set in a charming square beside the Schottenstift Abbey. With around 45 stalls, Freyung hosted one of the original Viennese market and still feels authentic and intimate, with handmade crafts, traditional foods, the hot chocolate stand donates to a local charity each year.

Just a few minutes away is the Am Hof Christmas Market, slightly larger and more food-focused, with quality craft stalls arranged beautifully around The Mariensaule (Marian Column). The Am Hof is popular for locals in the evening and has a jolly, yet relaxed feel.

The historic Café Central,  is nearby, offering a different kind of Vienna magic. Opened in 1876, it once drew thinkers and artists like Sigmund Freud. It has an elegance to it with vaulted ceilings and chandeliers. It is popular and the queues can be long, but we found that they moved quickly and both the food and service were good during our visit.

The world renowned Vienna State Opera House is stunningly beautiful, the foyer is worth seeing in itself, and the central ring chandelier in the auditorium is breathtaking. If you can’t fit in a performance during your visit, the 40 minute guided tours are an excellent alternative.

Nearby, you will find the Albertina Museum and the luxury Hotel Sacher, visited by heads of state and celebrities, Hotel Sacher is the home of the world-famous chocolate Sacher-Torte, created in 1832 for Prince Metternich by a 16-year-old apprentice.

A little further on, Art Advent on Karlsplatz is not only Artsy but also organic and sustainable. Many of the artisan stall holders belong to a creative collective called Davina Art whose ethos is to create high quality, unique crafts and are committed to ecological and sustainable practices. Food offerings cater for vegetarian and vegan and are organic.  The Christmas market has a more boho feel to it and I particularly loved the varied range of quality crafts.  Many of the artisans were happy to showcase their skills and chat through their creative process. A lovely relaxed and quite different Christmas market, to the larger and more traditional ones.

Just outside the centre of the city, two of Vienna’s Palaces host Christmas markets and can easily reached by tram, bus, or underground.

Belvedere Palace has an upper and lower palace. The Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace is located in front of the upper palace which creates an impressive Baroque backdrop.  The Belvedere Palace is now a museum and art gallery and holds collections which include Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.  The Christmas Village is popular with families and has a large selection of traditional Austrian foods. I would imagine it would come into its own in the evening but we visited during the day and didn’t feel it had quite the same charm as some of the other Christmas markets.

Schönbrunn Palace, once the Habsburgs’ summer residence and feels truly regal. The Christmas market only began in 2024 and is growing quickly. Set in the Palace courtyard,  with 90 stalls, a carousel, an ice and curling rink, and a towering Christmas tree. In 2025, there will also be a new 90 metre high nativity and light display, a Golden Christmas Lindt Chocolate Experience, and a live music programme.

You can take a tour of the palace followed by a concert from the Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra in the Orangery, where Mozart once performed and as Vienna is celebrating the 200th birthday a Johann Strauss, it might be an extra special year to take in a concert. If you love to watch pastry-making in action, don’t miss the Gerstner Imperial and Royal Court Confectioners Show, demonstrating the art of creating traditional apple strudel.

The Christmas market is quite a spectacle and feels quite elegant and enchanting. We loved the simple white lights and welcoming Star portal at the entrance, so magical. The Schonbrunn Christmas market is popular with families and can get quite busy.

Finally, there is of course the Prater Amusement park with its giant ferris wheel which transforms into the Winter Market from late November with music, events and Christmas market and amusements.  Fun to see but also gets very busy in the evening.

Our long weekend in Vienna just wasn’t long enough. You could spend all weekend exploring the Christmas markets by day and night, as they each create their own unique feel but there is so much more to see and experience, particularly the elegant coffee houses, galleries, and festive concerts.

Vienna can get busy during the festive period, but with a little preparation, it’s easy to explore calmly and respectfully. Public transport is efficient, clean and affordable, and much of the city is walkable.

Whether you’re travelling solo, with friends, or with loved ones, Vienna’s Christmas markets are easy to navigate and I hope this brief insight has given you the confidence and inspiration to visit soon - I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Christmas Market Dates 2025

Viennese Christmas Market on City Hall Rathausplatz Nov 14 to Dec 26 2025 & Vienna Ice World at Christmas Market Nov 14 to Jan 6 2026

St Stephen’s Square, Stephanplatz Christmas Market Nov 8 to 26 Dec 23 2025

Christmas Village Belvedere Palace 14 Nov to 31 Dec 2025

Old Viennese Christmas Market on Freyung and Am Hof Christmas Market Nov 14 to Dec 23 2025

Christmas Market Schloss Schonbrunn Nov 6 to Jan 6 2026

Art Advent - Karlsplatz Nov 21 to Dec 23 2025

Christmas Market on Spittelberg Nov 14 to Dec 23 2025

Winter Market Riesenradplatz Prater Nov 21 to Jan 6 2026

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