Christmas time: Traditional Advent markets in Vienna

The Christmas season brings the Christmas decoration back to the city of Vienna every November. And with the Christmas decoration and the many lights that flood the city center and the shopping streets in Vienna, the Christmas markets are back. The Christmas markets are also a magnet for numerous tourists every year.

Craftsmanship and hot alcoholic drinks

The offer on the Christmas markets in Vienna is varied. Most of the stalls, however, focus on traditional craftsmanship or on the serving of alcoholic hot drinks or food. Popular as drinks of course are the punch and the mulled wine. For children or guests who still need to drive a car or just do not want to drink alcohol, there is also appropriate children's punch at all Christmas markets. This is made without alcohol. Mostyl there is fruit juice used for children's punch. The preparation of mulled wine is very simple. It is taken either white or red wine. You add spices. Usual are spices such as cinnamon or lemon peel. And then the drink is heated.

Advent markets, Christmas markets in Vienna

Here we are trying to briefly introduce the most important Christmas markets and Advent markets that are open every year in Vienna. There are smaller and larger »Christkindl Markets« (Literally "Christmas Child", means Jesus) both in the city center and in the outer districts.

Wiener Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz, 1st District

Probably one of the most visited Christmas markets in all of Vienna is the Christmas Market on Rathausplatz. When the weather is fine, there are several thousand guests every day who visit Rathausplatz. The Christmas Market on Rathausplatz takes place every year between Burgtheater and Rathaus. Not only the extremely extensive range of over 150 market stalls but also the ambience in front of the wonderfully lit city hall are convincing.

• Optimal accessibility: subway line "U2", station city hall, tram lines at the ring, station Burgtheater
• Entertainment: Great fun factor, huge excitement

Opening hours 2017

• First day of the Christmas market: November 17
• Last day of the Christmas market: December 26
• Monday: 10:00 - 21:30
• Tuesday: 10:00 - 21:30
• Wednesday: 10:00 - 21:30
• Thursday: 10:00 - 21:30
• Friday: 10:00 - 22:00
• Saturday: 10:00 - 22:00
• Sunday: 10:00 - 21:30
• December 24: 10:00 - 17:00
• Admission free

Christmas market St. Stephens Place, 1st District

The most central Christmas market in Vienna is far from being the largest Christmas market. Along the side of St. Stephen's Cathedral are the stalls of the Christmas market. Stephansplatz (Literally »Stephens Place«) can be reached via the underground stops of the underground lines U1 and U3. All other travel options except walking, you should not consider. During the Christmas season there is virtually no chance of parking in the very center of Vienna.

The focus of the Advent market on Stephansplatz in Vienna is the arts and crafts, while wood carvings, glass art and Christmas tree decorations are offered. Of course there is also a culinary offer and drinks at the Christmas market on Stephansplatz. The Christmas market Stephansplatz is certainly one of the quieter Christmas markets in Vienna.

• Optimal accessibility: subway lines "U1", "U3", Station Stephansplatz
• Entertainment: quiet, relaxed
• Website: www.weihnachtsmarkt-stephansplatz.at

Opening hours 2017

• First day of the Christmas market: November 17
• Last day of the Christmas market: December 26
• Monday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Tuesday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Wednesday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Thursday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Friday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Saturday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Sunday: 11:00 - 21:00
• December 24: 11:00 - 16:00
• December 25: 11:00 - 19:00
• December 26: 11:00 - 19:00
• Admission free

Christmas market »Am Hof«, 1st District

The Christmas Market »Am Hof« in the first district of Vienna is also very well attended. The offer is mixed between crafts, carvings but also gastronomy colorful. The Christmas market on the farm offers above-average variety in the culinary field, especially because butchers operate some market stalls. The Christmas market »Am Hof« is also known for the »Hot Schilcher«, the hot version of a wine variety from Styria. It does not have to be drunk out of the cup, as is the case with punch and mulled wine. Hot Schilcher is properly served in the correct wine glass.

• Optimal accessibility: subway line "U3", station Herrengasse
• Entertainment: Great fun, a lot of excitement
• Website: www.weihnachtsmarkt-hof.at

Opening hours 2017

• First day of the Christmas market: November 17
• Last day of the Christmas market: December 23
• Monday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Tuesday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Wednesday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Thursday: 11:00 - 21:00
• Friday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Saturday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Sunday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Gastronomy: Daily until 10 pm
• Admission free
• Dogs allowed

Old Viennese Christmas Market, 1st District

The »Altwiener Christkindlmarkt« (Literally »Old Viennese Christmas Market«) is a mid-size Christmas market. There are mainly traditional craftsmanship and of course cuisine offered. The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt is on the Freyung in Vienna in the first district.

• Optimal accessibility: subway line "U3", station Herrengasse, "U2", station Schottentor
• Entertainment: quiet, relaxed

Culture and Christmas Market Schönbrunn Palace, 13th District

Around 80 market stalls are set up in front of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna every year for the cultural and Christmas market. The Weihanchtsmakrt has a large area. This does not make you feel restricted at the Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace when many visitors come. The market has an exclusive range, which is offered in the tastefully decorated market stalls. At the Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace, free Wi-Fi is also available to visitors.

• Optimal accessibility: subway line "U4", station Schönbrunn or station Hietzing, tram line 60 or 10, bus line 10A.
• Entertainment: quiet, relaxed
• Website: www.weihnachtsmarkt.co.at

Opening hours 2017

• First day of the Christmas market: November 18
• Last day of the Christmas market: December 26
• Monday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Tuesday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Wednesday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Thursday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Friday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Saturday: 10:00 - 21:00
• Sunday: 10:00 - 21:00
• December 24: 10:00 - 16:00
• December 25: 10:00 - 18:00
• December 26: 10:00 - 18:00
• Admission free
• Dogs: Forbidden

Food & drink: Checks by the governmental market office

Incidentally, the quality of food at the Christmas markets in Vienna is also controlled by the Vienna Market Office by the Viennese government every year. These inspections include every single market stall with gastronomic offer every year. This has also mean that there are hardly any complaints in Vienna about hygiene or food quality on the Advent and Christmas markets.