Vienna
Vienna Christmas markets 2026: Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn and punch in the palace courtyard
A hundred stalls in front of the city hall, a market in the courtyard of an imperial palace and hot punch beneath the chestnut trees. These are Vienna’s Christmas markets in 2026, with dates, the food to try, the café to warm up in and the hotels within walking distance.
The first thing you notice is the smell. Cinnamon, orange and warm wine from hundreds of mugs, mixed with roasted chestnuts from a little stove on the corner. In front of the illuminated city hall a glowing heart hangs in the trees, and somewhere someone is playing carols on a trumpet. Vienna has celebrated Advent with markets for centuries, and it shows.
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Short answer: Vienna’s Christmas markets in 2026
Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz: 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily 10am to 10pm, until 6.30pm on Christmas Eve.
Eistraum ice rink by the city hall: 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
Schönbrunn: 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on Freyung: 14 November to 23 December 2026.
Belvedere: There is no Christmas market in front of the palace in 2026 because of building works.
All the markets are free to visit. Check the organisers’ sites, such as christkindlmarkt.at and wien.info, before you go.
Stay within walking distance of Rathausplatz
Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design: right behind the market
A design hotel with a wine bar, in the streets behind the city hall. The market is a couple of minutes away on foot.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design
Hotel Sacher Wien: the classic by the opera
The legendary hotel behind the State Opera, with two restaurants and the famous café on the ground floor.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Sacher Wien
Hotel Sacher at night.
Rathausplatz: the big market in front of the city hall
The market in front of the city hall is the city’s largest, with around a hundred stalls, a huge Christmas tree and lights in the trees of the Rathauspark next door. Expect everything from gingerbread hearts and handmade decorations to hot sausages. Beside it, the Eistraum rink lets you skate through the park.
Schönbrunn: a market in the palace courtyard
In front of Schönbrunn Palace the stalls stand in a half-circle on the great courtyard, with the yellow facade as a backdrop. It is calmer than Rathausplatz, and easy to combine with a daytime visit to the palace.
Freyung, Spittelberg and Stephansplatz
The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on Freyung is one of the city’s most traditional markets, focused on crafts and decorations. In the narrow lanes of Spittelberg the stalls crowd between old Biedermeier houses, and it feels more like a neighbourhood than an attraction. By St Stephen’s Cathedral a small market sits at the start of the Graben, where chandeliers of light hang over the street all December.
What to try
Punsch: hot, spiced and often with fruit or rum. In Vienna punch is as common as mulled wine.
Maroni: roasted chestnuts from little stoves on street corners.
Kaiserschmarrn: a fluffy, torn pancake with icing sugar and plum compote.
Baked potatoes and lángos: hot street food to keep you going between stalls.
Schönbrunn, where the market fills the courtyard. Photo: Picolo
A cosy place to warm up afterwards
No Christmas trip to Vienna is complete without an hour in one of the grand coffee houses, where marble tables, newspapers on wooden holders and waiters in white jackets have been part of city life for over a century. Order a melange, Viennese coffee with frothed milk, and a slice of Sachertorte. For dinner, a traditional Beisl, the Viennese take on an inn, serving schnitzel and potato salad is just right after an evening in the cold.
Getting to Vienna
Vienna is around two hours from London by air, and a train from the airport reaches the centre quickly. The markets are within walking distance of each other, and the tram takes you to Schönbrunn.
Tips for a Christmas trip to Vienna
Keep your mug: Many markets charge a deposit on mugs, and plenty of visitors take them home as souvenirs.
Go early or late: Rathausplatz is busiest on weekend evenings.
Book early: Advent weekends fill central hotels quickly.
Frequently asked questions about Vienna Christmas markets
When do Vienna’s Christmas markets open in 2026?
The Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily from 10am to 10pm.
Which Christmas market in Vienna is best?
Rathausplatz is the largest and best known. Schönbrunn has the most beautiful setting, while Spittelberg and Freyung are the most traditional.
Is there a Christmas market at Belvedere in 2026?
No, because of building works in front of the palace there is no Christmas market at Belvedere in 2026.
Where should you stay for the markets?
Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design is right behind Rathausplatz, and Hotel Sacher is centrally located by the opera.