Vienna doesn’t have one Christmas market; it has more than a dozen, and they’re very different. The Vienna Christmas markets 2026 season starts on 6 November and runs, at Schönbrunn, until 6 January 2027. This guide compares the seven that matter most for a weekend, with verified dates and hours, so you can pick the right one for the right hour. It suits couples, families and anyone who wants music and coffeehouses with their mulled wine.
Why go to Vienna for the Christmas markets
Few cities do Advent as completely as Vienna. Markets fill palace courtyards, Baroque squares and old lanes, churches and concert halls run Advent programmes every night, and the coffeehouses are the warmest refuge in Europe. The markets are close together, and most are a walk or a short U-Bahn ride apart, so two days is enough to see five or six of them without rushing.
For the full city route, with the Hofburg, museums and opera, see our Vienna weekend guide. This page is about the markets.
Vienna
Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
Geolina163 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Stephansplatz Christmas village
Chalets gather at the foot of the Gothic cathedral, under its patterned tile roof and soaring south tower, in the very centre of the old town.
One of the earliest to open, from 6 November.
Am Hof
One of the largest squares in the old centre hosts a traditional market of crafts and hearty food, a few minutes from the busier shopping streets.
Food is served until 10pm.
Thomas Ledl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Rathausplatz and the City Hall
Vienna's biggest market spreads out below the neo-Gothic City Hall, with lights strung through the park trees and an ice trail next to the stalls.
Go after dark for the lights.
Geolina163 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Spittelberg
Stalls of handmade crafts line narrow Biedermeier lanes in Neubau, which feels more like a village street party than a city market.
Opens 2pm on weekdays, 11am at weekends.
Thomas Ledl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Art Advent at Karlsplatz
Artists and makers sell their own work in front of the green-domed Karlskirche, with food stalls and the pond in front reflecting the Baroque facade.
Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Upper Belvedere
The K&K market sits in front of the Baroque palace that holds Klimt's The Kiss, so you can pair gold leaf indoors with mulled wine outside.
Runs until 31 December.
C.Stadler/Bwag / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburg summer palace frames the courtyard market, with a tall tree in front of the yellow facade and stalls selling crafts and Christmas decorations.
Open until 6 January, the longest run in town.
Vienna Christmas markets 2026: dates for every market
These are the official 2026 dates and hours from the Vienna Tourist Board.
| Market | 2026 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Schönbrunn Palace | 6 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | Daily 10am–9pm; 24 Dec 10am–4pm; 25 Dec – 6 Jan 10am–7pm |
| Stephansplatz | 6 Nov – 26 Dec | Daily 11am–9pm; 24 Dec 11am–4pm; 25–26 Dec 11am–7pm |
| Rathausplatz | 13 Nov – 26 Dec | Daily 10am–10pm; 24 Dec 10am–6.30pm |
| Am Hof | 13 Nov – 23 Dec | Mon–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri–Sun and holidays 10am–9pm |
| Spittelberg | 13 Nov – 23 Dec | Mon–Fri 2pm–9.30pm; Sat, Sun and holidays 11am–9.30pm |
| Art Advent, Karlsplatz | 13 Nov – 23 Dec | Daily 12pm–8pm; food until 9pm |
| Freyung (Old Viennese market) | 14 Nov – 23 Dec | Daily 10am–9pm |
| Belvedere Palace (K&K) | 20 Nov – 31 Dec | Check the official listing for hours |
Three more are worth knowing: the Christmas Village at Maria-Theresien-Platz (20 November to 26 December), the Winter Market on Riesenradplatz in the Prater (20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027) and the Vienna Ice World on Rathausplatz (13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, closed on 31 December).
Which market for what
Biggest and most famous: Rathausplatz
The Viennese Christmas Market on Rathausplatz is the city’s showpiece, set below the neo-Gothic City Hall with lights hung through the trees of the park. It’s big, it’s busy, and it’s at its best after dark. The Ice World skating trails next door run until 6 January, after the stalls have closed. Café Landtmann, one of Vienna’s grand coffeehouses, faces it across the Ring.
Best for: First-timers, families and the full Christmas-lights effect.
Palace setting: Schönbrunn
The courtyard in front of Schönbrunn Palace holds the longest-running market in town, open until 6 January 2027. It’s calmer than Rathausplatz, with a strong line in crafts and decorations, and it pairs naturally with a palace tour.
Best for: Trips after Christmas, and a morning combined with the palace.
Art and a quieter pace: Belvedere
The K&K Christmas Market sits in front of the Upper Belvedere, the Baroque palace that holds Klimt’s The Kiss. It runs from 20 November to 31 December, so it’s another one that stays open past Christmas.
Best for: Art lovers who want Klimt and mulled wine on the same afternoon.
Crafts in old lanes: Spittelberg
Spittelberg’s market winds through the narrow Biedermeier lanes of Neubau, west of the MuseumsQuartier. Stalls lean towards handmade crafts, and the setting feels more like a neighbourhood party than a city fair. It opens at 2pm on weekdays, so it’s an afternoon and evening stop.
Best for: Gifts, couples and a more local feel.
Makers and organic food: Art Advent at Karlsplatz
In front of the Karlskirche, Art Advent gathers artists and craftspeople selling their own work, with food stalls alongside. It’s the market to visit if you’d like to know who made what you buy.
Best for: Original presents and families with younger children.
Tradition in the old centre: Am Hof and Freyung
Am Hof, one of the largest squares in the Innere Stadt, runs a traditional market with crafts and hearty food served until 10pm. The Old Viennese market on the Freyung, a few minutes away, opens a day later on 14 November and keeps a similarly classic style.
Best for: A quick, traditional stop between sights.
Right in the middle: Stephansplatz
The Christmas Village at Stephansplatz sits at the foot of St Stephen’s Cathedral, opening on 6 November with Schönbrunn. It’s small and central, more a place to pass through than to linger.
Best for: A first mulled wine on arrival and a cathedral visit.
A two-day market plan
Day 1: Start at Schönbrunn when the market opens at 10am, and tour the palace while the courtyard is quiet. After lunch, take the U-Bahn back to the centre for Am Hof and Stephansplatz. Spend the late afternoon in a coffeehouse, then walk to Rathausplatz after dark, when the lights are at their best.
Day 2: Spend the morning at the Upper Belvedere with Klimt, then browse the K&K market outside. Walk to Karlsplatz for Art Advent in the early afternoon. Finish at Spittelberg as it fills up in the evening, and stay for dinner in Neubau or an Advent concert.
Tip: Spittelberg doesn’t open until 2pm on weekdays, so plan it for late afternoon or evening, never for the morning.
Advent concerts
December is a busy month for music in Vienna. The Vienna Tourist Board’s Advent listings for 2026 include:
- Vienna Boys’ Choir at MuTh: Christmas concerts on 4, 5, 6, 21 and 22 December at the choir’s own hall in the Augarten.
- Christmas in Vienna gala, Konzerthaus: 16 and 17 December, with opera soloists and the Vienna Boys’ Choir.
- St Stephen’s Cathedral: The Vienna Symphony Orchestra’s "Viennese Advent" on 16 December, and Advent concerts by the Harmonia Ensemble Wien on Fridays to Sundays from 27 November to 23 December.
- Musikverein: Handel’s Messiah on 19 December, among a run of seasonal concerts.
- Karlskirche: The Christmas Gospel on 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 20 December.
Book concerts well ahead, especially weekend dates.
Coffee and food to try
Café Central is closed for renovation and its reopening date hasn’t been confirmed, so read our Café Central update before you plan around it. Go to Café Landtmann on the Ring, opposite the Rathausplatz market, for marble, chandeliers and Viennese coffee, or to Café Sperl in the 6th district, quieter and more lived-in, with billiard tables and old booths.
At the stalls, look out for:
- Punsch and Glühwein: Fruit punch, often with rum, and mulled wine, served in each market’s own mug.
- Maroni: Roasted chestnuts, sold in paper bags from street ovens.
- Kartoffelpuffer and Langos: Potato fritters and fried flatbread, the standard market lunch.
- Kiachl: Fried yeast dough, with sauerkraut or cranberry jam.
- Vanillekipferl and Lebkuchen: Crescent biscuits and spiced gingerbread to take home.
Tip: Go to Rathausplatz after dark on a weekday. You get the lights without the Friday and Saturday crush.
Getting around
The Innere Stadt is compact, and Stephansplatz, Am Hof, the Freyung and Rathausplatz are all within about 15 minutes’ walk of each other. The U4 runs to Schönbrunn, and the U1 and U3 meet at Stephansplatz. Karlsplatz is a short walk south of the Opera, and the Belvedere is a walk or tram ride beyond.
Getting there: Vienna International Airport is linked to Wien Mitte by the City Airport Train and the S-Bahn. Trains from across Europe arrive at Wien Hauptbahnhof.
Good to know
- Early start: Schönbrunn and Stephansplatz open on 6 November 2026, a week before most of the others.
- After Christmas: Most markets close on 23 or 26 December. Schönbrunn and the Riesenradplatz market run to 6 January 2027, and the Belvedere to 31 December.
- Christmas Eve: Markets that open on 24 December close early, from 4pm at Schönbrunn and Stephansplatz to 6.30pm at Rathausplatz.
- Crowds: Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, especially at Rathausplatz. Weekday mornings are the calmest.
- More markets: Compare Vienna with Budapest in our things to do in Budapest guide, or see our best Christmas markets in Europe and Christmas markets 2026 dates.
FAQ
When do the Vienna Christmas markets open in 2026?
The first markets, at Schönbrunn Palace and Stephansplatz, open on 6 November 2026. The Rathausplatz market and most others open on 13 November, and the Belvedere market on 20 November.
Which Vienna Christmas market is the best?
Rathausplatz is the biggest and best for lights, Schönbrunn has the grandest setting, and Spittelberg is best for crafts. Art Advent at Karlsplatz suits anyone looking for handmade gifts.
Are any Vienna Christmas markets open after Christmas?
Yes. Schönbrunn and the Winter Market on Riesenradplatz run until 6 January 2027, and the Belvedere market until 31 December. Rathausplatz and Stephansplatz close on 26 December.
Is Café Central open?
Café Central closed in March 2026 for a full renovation, and its reopening date hasn’t been confirmed. Café Landtmann and Café Sperl are good alternatives.
How many days do I need for the Vienna Christmas markets?
Two days covers the main markets, a palace and a concert. Add a third day for museums and the rest of the city.
