A Vienna, capital of Austria, December is a month of eager anticipation. Advent is synonymous with markets, walks along the festive streets of the Innere Stadt, the historic center; concerts in the streets and squares, stops at kiosks distributing Glugwein, the hot and spiced red wine, and indulgent stops at irresistible cafés, where sweets and specialties of the Habsburg tradition prevail.
Christkindlmarkt
The Vienna Christmas Market has a tradition that spans seven centuries. Since 1975, the “Christkindlmarkt” has been located at the “Rathausplatz,” in a special setting. In front of the Vienna City Hall, amidst the famous park of the same name, 140 booths offer everything you need for an unforgettable day and for the Christmas holidays.
Christmas and Culture Market at Schönbrunn Palace
This year’s edition of the Christmas and Culture Market at Schönbrunn Palace takes place once again, set against the baroque backdrop of the palace.
The offer from about 60 exhibitors is more diverse than ever and ranges from ornaments for the Christmas tree made of wood, straw, felt, glass, and stone, to ceramic products, tin toys, artisanal wrought iron, and hand-carved nativity scenes. You will also find nostalgic paper cuttings, wood fretwork, Klosterarbeiten (miniature floral works made entirely by hand), and intricate skill games.
Freshly prepared local delicacies and specialties based on punch ensure visitors’ physical well-being.
The basic program includes guided tours of the market entitled “Christmas at Schönbrunn” and Advent concerts at Schönbrunn on the stage in front of the Christmas tree.
We offer our young guests the chance to participate in an interactive Christmas game, Poldi’s Christmas workshop, as part of the “Experience Schönbrunn Palace” program, where children can bake cookies in the courtyard oven of the Café Ristorante Residenz.
Craftsmanship and art meet at the Christmas Village on Maria-Theresien-Platz between the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Natural History Museum. During the Advent season, the square hosts more than 60 stands with traditional handicrafts and original gift ideas, while the Museum of Fine Arts hosts an exhibition dedicated to winter in painting, featuring works from the Middle Ages to modern times.
Also set in an art-focused environment is the Christmas market in front of the Belvedere Palace, where you can admire Klimt’s paintings in an exhibition that opens the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the author of “The Kiss.”
Traditional Christmas Market – Freyung
The traditional Christmas Market opens its doors. On one of the most beautiful squares in the heart of Vienna, you will find exquisite handcrafted items, typical Christmas specialties and also a wide cultural programme.
The Old Vienna Christmas Market on Freyung square in the historic centre boasts a very long tradition. A Christmas market was already held here in 1772, and today you can buy artistic crafts, glass decorations, traditional nativity scenes and ceramics. The Schönborn palace, a splendid eighteenth-century building recently restored, overlooks Freyung square and houses the Moya, Museum of Young Art.
In the late afternoon, musicians will present their Christmas songs, drawing you into that typical Advent atmosphere on this enchanting and illuminated square, surrounded by the famous “Viennese Palace”, the “Austria Fountain” and the “Schottenkirche” church. Moreover, a wide variety of gastronomic specialties worth tasting awaits you.
The Spittelberg market, nestled along the narrow streets of this Biedermeier-style district, popular especially for jewelry, ceramics, and handicrafts. And if you still feel like browsing stalls in the company of a fragrant and warm punch, you can drop by the Christmas Village on Maria-Theresien-Platz square, between the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum, or the Advent Market, in front of Belvedere Castle.
In addition to streets and squares, traditional signs of Advent are also found in homes, where, punctually, every week, one of the four red candles is lit, symbolising the approaching holidays.
Vienna on New Year’s Eve
Besides Christmas, Vienna is also irresistible on December 31st, when it transforms its historic center into a huge outdoor party, with a real New Year’s Eve Route, which, from the town hall square, winds through the most characteristic alleys, offering stalls with delicious snacks, and shows featuring various musical genres, from rock to operetta.
On December 31st, there are also those who do not give up a ride on a Danube boat; the Kaiserball, the sumptuous ball in the halls of the Emperor’s Palace; galas organized by the town hall and the most prestigious hotels, and a toast on the prestigious Majestic Imperator, a historic train luxuriously set up.
Meanwhile, the State Opera offers the notes of Johann Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus.” Finally, a pleasant awakening on the first of January, when Viennese and tourists can dedicate themselves to the Katerfrühstück, the so-called “cat’s breakfast” or hangover breakfast, in one of the many cafés or in the square in front of the town hall, where, in front of a giant screen, it is possible to follow the famous New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic.
Other Christmas markets in Vienna
Advent Magic in Vienna and Christmas Market in Rathausplatz
16.11 – 26.12.2018
www.weihnachtstraum.at
Christmas Village in Maria-Theresien-Platz
21.11. – 26.12.2018
www.weihnachtsdorf.at
Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace
from 23.11. – 2./12.2018
www.weihnachtsdorf.at
Christmas Village of the Altes AKH
17.11. – 23.12.2018
www.weihnachtsdorf.at
Old Viennese Christmas Market
23.11. – 23.12.2018
www.altwiener-markt.at
Am Hof Advent Market
16.11. – 23.12.2018
www.weihnachtsmarkt-hof.at
Culture and Christmas Market and New Year’s Market at Schönbrunn Palace
24.11. – 26.12.2018
27.12.2018 – 06.01.2019
www.weihnachtsmarkt.co.at
Art Advent – Art and craft in Karlsplatz
23.11. – 23.12.2018
www.artadvent.at
Christmas Market at Spittelberg
15.11. – 23.12..2018
www.spittelberg.at
Winter Market at the Ferris wheel square
17.11. – 06.12.2018
www.wintermarkt.at/wintermarkt
Christmas Market at Stephansplatz
16.11. – 26.12.2018
www.weihnachtsmarkt.at
K.u.K. Christmas Market
16.11. – 01.01.2019
www.kuk-weihnachtsmarkt.at
