Vienna Christmas Markets

From mid-November, Vienna's squares, palace courtyards and parks fill with Christmas markets. The largest and best known is the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz, in front of City Hall (the Rathaus), organised by stadt wien marketing. Around it, the Rathauspark is lit up, with a children's area, a nostalgic Ferris wheel and the Eistraum ice rink.

The City of Vienna is careful about the market's history. It says the idea that the Christmas market goes back more than 700 years does not hold up, because the city rights of 1296 did not include a Christmas fair. Chronicles from 1626 record stalls selling baked goods and gingerbread on the Graben, and a St Nicholas and Christmas market was mentioned on the Freyung in 1764. The market moved several times, and in 1975 it arrived on Rathausplatz as a temporary solution, and it is still held there.

This season

The 2026 Christkindlmarkt runs from 13 November to 26 December, daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (10:00 to 18:30 on 24 December). The Vienna Tourist Board lists more than a dozen other markets, including Schönbrunn Palace (6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027), the K&K market at Belvedere Palace (20 November to 31 December 2026), and Spittelberg and Art Advent on Karlsplatz (both 13 November to 23 December 2026).

• The Herzerlbaum: a tree in front of City Hall hung with around 200 glowing hearts, with a light show on the hour from nightfall.
• Eistraum ice rink: more than 3,000 m² of ice and 300 m of skating paths through the Rathauspark, open 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 (closed 31 December).
• Music: the 44th International Advent Singing brings more than 85 choirs over the four Advent weekends (Friday to Sunday, 15:30–19:00), and brass players perform from 27 November to 23 December 2026 at 19:00 and 20:00.
• For children: a 12-metre double-deck carousel, a reindeer train through the park and a 150 m² children's ice rink that is free to use.
• Other official markets: Schönbrunn Palace (6 November 2026 – 6 January 2027), Belvedere Palace (20 November – 31 December 2026), Spittelberg, Art Advent on Karlsplatz and the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on the Freyung (14 November – 23 December 2026).

• Innere Stadt (1st district): Rathausplatz, the Freyung, Am Hof and Stephansplatz markets are all within walking distance.
• Josefstadt and Neubau (8th and 7th districts): just behind City Hall, close to the Spittelberg market, and on the U2 and U3.
• Landstraße, around Wien Mitte (3rd district): the terminus of the City Airport Train service and near the Belvedere market.
• Around Wien Hauptbahnhof: ÖBB long-distance trains run from here to the airport, and the station is near the Belvedere.

Fly into Vienna International Airport (VIE) at Schwechat. From the UK, British Airways flies direct between London Heathrow and Vienna up to four times a day, according to the airport. Other UK routes change by season, so check the airport's departures board and route news for your dates.

Airport to the centre this winter: the S-Bahn main line through the city (the Stammstrecke) is closed between Praterstern and Wien Hauptbahnhof from 7 September 2026 to the end of October 2027. During the closure:

• The City Airport Train (CAT) runs as premium coaches between the airport (Terminal 3 bus station) and Wien Mitte/Landstraße. It expects to keep this up until 31 October 2027. The first coach leaves the airport at 06:10 and the last at 23:37.
• ÖBB long-distance trains run between Wien Hauptbahnhof and the airport.
• The S7 runs only between the airport and Wien St. Marx.

On market days: for Rathausplatz, take the U2 to Rathaus or the U3 to Volkstheater (Ring exit). Trams 1, 71 and D stop at Rathausplatz/Burgtheater, and tram 2 at Parlament. Wiener Linien runs extra U-Bahn and tram services during the S-Bahn closure.

See our Vienna guide. If you are combining markets, see our pages on the Kraków Christmas Market and the Budapest Christmas markets.

Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights.

The Christmas markets are in public squares, parks and palace courtyards, and there is no entry ticket for the Wiener Christkindlmarkt. You pay for food, drink and gifts at the stalls. The Eistraum ice rink is paid. Its price list is on the organiser's skating page. The 150 m² children's ice rink is free.

Drinks come in the market's Punschhäferl mug, which for 2026 has “Wiener Christkindlmarkt” in Braille. The organiser doesn't publish the mug deposit amount.

• Dates differ by market: Rathausplatz closes on 26 December 2026, but several markets, including Spittelberg, Art Advent and the Freyung, close on 23 December. Schönbrunn and the Riesenradplatz Wintermarkt stay open to 6 January 2027.
• Christmas Eve: Rathausplatz closes at 18:30 on 24 December 2026, and Schönbrunn at 16:00.
• Timing: the Herzerlbaum light show runs on the hour from nightfall, so come after dark to see it.
• Cold: the markets are outdoors in November and December, so wear warm layers, a hat, gloves and comfortable shoes.
• Money: Austria uses the euro. The organiser says the cash machines at the market are accessible to wheelchair users.
• Local food: the Vienna Tourist Board describes the markets as smelling of hot punch (Punsch) and roasted almonds, along with Christmas baking.

The Wiener Christkindlmarkt says it has accessible toilets that use the Eurokey, and that its tables and cash machines are easy for wheelchair users to use. Its posters and information boards use large, high-contrast type and simple language, and the 2026 Punschhäferl mug has “Wiener Christkindlmarkt” in Braille. For anything else, use the organiser's contact page before you travel.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Austria (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.