In Vienna, Christmas markets go hand-in-hand with the winter season. The Austrian capital sees its many public areas play host to stalls and distributors peddling all method of heat treats and artisanal crafts which are positive to get anybody—whether or not native or traveler—into the vacation spirit. Although there are numerous iconic Christmas markets in Europe—starting from close by Germany all the best way over to the United Kingdom—Vienna’s Christmas markets are particular for his or her venues, set towards the sorts of glittering imperial palaces and grand squares that you simply’ll solely discover in Austria. The market season in Vienna can also be comparatively lengthy, with some operating from early November all the best way to January, making town—one in every of our Best Places to Go in Europe for 2025—a powerful Christmas destination.
The difficult factor is that there are such a lot of Vienna Christmas markets that it may be overwhelming to determine which of them to go to. Listed here are our seven suggestions for the markets to see, after they’re open, in addition to the place to remain close by. (Although it’s essential to say that Vienna is a really accessible metropolis and most of those Christmas markets are within the Innere Stadt, the historic outdated city of Vienna the place many historic landmarks and plazas are positioned close to the most luxurious hotel options within the metropolis.)
No, it’s not actually a “rat home”—rathaus means “metropolis corridor” in German, and this festive Christmas market sits the adjoining sq. (that’s the German platz, a recurring theme on this record). The constructing, constructed within the late nineteenth century in a putting Gothic Revival model, provides a grand backdrop to this twinkling market that sells clothes, crafts, and confectionaries. If you’re feeling peckish, search for a wide range of snacks like roasted chestnuts, Viennese sausages, and potato pancakes. As for points of interest, you’ll discover right here an ice skating rink, a Ferris wheel, and the Bussiplatz (informally, “the kissing spot”) the place tokens of affection and heartfelt needs could be left beneath a heart-shaped tree.
Dates: November 15 – December 26
Deal with: Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna
The place to remain close by: Radisson Blu Style Hotel, Vienna (a 10-minute stroll away)
One of the in style vacationer websites in Vienna is St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a 14th-century church completed within the Romanesque and Gothic model and well-known for its steep, multicolored roof adorned with about 230,000 glazed tiles that depict the coats of arms of Vienna and Austria; and a double-headed eagle, the image of the historic Habsburg royal household. As such, the Christmas market in entrance of St. Stephen’s is equally conventional, with Austrian arts, crafts, and delicacies out there amongst its roughly 40 cubicles that line Stephansplatz. When you’ve had your fill, step into St. Stephen’s to catch one in every of their common Christmas concert events, the place ticket gross sales go to the conservation of town’s most essential spiritual landmark.
