Vienna Christmas Markets 2026: Dates, Opening Hours, Ice Skating and Tips for Every Market

Is there a city that does Christmas markets better than Vienna? With more than a dozen markets in front of palaces, churches and the City Hall, it is hard to beat. Years ago we cycled from Salzburg to Budapest, and on the way we stopped for some sightseeing in Vienna. I remember the colourful Hundertwasser House and the Danube cycle path out of the city. Back then I wrote that I would love to return to Austria at Christmas, because it looks even more magical. So I've researched the 2026 markets in detail for you, and for us.

Dates and opening times checked on official sites in November 2026.

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Quick answer

• The big one: the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily 10 am–10 pm. On Christmas Eve it closes at 6:30 pm.
• Open the longest: Schönbrunn Palace (6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027) and the Winter Market at Riesenradplatz in the Prater (20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027).
• Ice skating: Ice Dream at the Christmas Market on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. It is closed on 31 December.
• Most charming small markets: Spittelberg, Am Hof and Freyung. All three close on 23 December.
• Getting there by train: Eurostar to Amsterdam, then ÖBB's Nightjet sleeper, which runs daily from Amsterdam to Vienna.

Dates at a glance

Sources: the Vienna Tourist Board and the Wiener Christkindlmarkt website.

The best Christmas markets in Vienna

Rathausplatz: the Wiener Christkindlmarkt

This is the most famous Christmas market in Vienna. It fills the square in front of the neo-Gothic City Hall, with the lit-up trees of the Rathauspark all around. It is big, bright and busy.

Families will love it. There is a two-tier carousel with horses and coaches, a reindeer train through the Rathauspark and a nostalgic Ferris wheel. The park also has 17 stations where children learn through play, including a gingerbread bakery game. You can pick up a free Christmas quiz sheet opposite the Tree of Hearts, and kids can post their wishes in the Christmas tree postbox.

I was pleased to read about the accessibility: accessible Eurokey toilets, tables and cash machines that wheelchair users can reach, and Braille on the new punch cups.

Schönbrunn Palace

The market in the courtyard of Schönbrunn Palace is one of the earliest to open and one of the last to close. It runs from 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, so it is a good choice if you visit between Christmas and New Year. It also has a skating rink and curling rinks. You can combine it with a winter walk in the palace gardens up to the Gloriette for a view over the city.

Belvedere Palace

The K&K Christmas Market sits in front of the Upper Belvedere, with the palace reflected in the pond. It stays open until New Year's Eve, which is quite rare.

Spittelberg

Spittelberg is my favourite on paper. The stalls fill the narrow cobbled lanes of an old Biedermeier quarter, just behind the MuseumsQuartier. It is known for handmade crafts, so it is a good place to find a gift that isn't mass-produced. On weekdays it only opens at 2 pm, so plan an afternoon or evening visit.

Am Hof and Freyung

These two old-town squares are only a few minutes' walk apart. The Old Viennese Christmas Market on the Freyung has a traditional feel, and Am Hof serves food until 10 pm. Both close on 23 December.

Karlsplatz: Art Advent

Art Advent is set up in front of the beautiful Karlskirche. As the name suggests, it focuses on art and craft, so it feels different from the bigger markets. It opens at 12 noon every day.

More markets worth a look

• Maria-Theresien-Platz: a Christmas Village between the Art History and Natural History museums.
• Stephansplatz: a small Christmas Village right next to St Stephen's Cathedral. It opens on 6 November 2026.
• Riesenradplatz (Prater): the Winter Market under the giant Ferris wheel. On New Year's Eve it stays open until 2 am.
• University of Vienna Campus: a Christmas Village with two curling lanes.

Programme highlights

• Ice skating on Rathausplatz: Ice Dream at the Christmas Market runs from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 10 am–10 pm. There is also a 110 m² children's ice rink in the Rathauspark, with free helmets and free adjustable double blades for small feet (sizes 21–25). Skate hire needs a deposit or a photo ID. Book online for a 10% discount. After the market closes, the big Viennese Ice Dream returns from 22 January to 7 March 2027.
• Advent singing at City Hall: choirs sing in the festive ballroom of City Hall on the four Advent weekends, Friday to Sunday, 3:30–7 pm. The organisers say the 2026 programme will be published in November.

What to eat, drink and buy

Austrian food has lots in common with Hungarian food, so I always feel at home with it. Read my post about Austrian food to try on your ski holiday for more dishes. At the markets, look out for these:

• Punsch: a hot fruity punch, often with rum. Vienna is more of a punch city than a Glühwein (mulled wine) city, although you will find both.
• Kinderpunsch: the alcohol-free version for children and drivers.
• Maroni: roasted chestnuts in a paper bag, perfect for cold hands.
• Bratwurst and Käsekrainer: grilled sausages, the second one filled with little pieces of cheese.
• Langos: deep-fried bread with garlic, sour cream and cheese. As a Hungarian, I can confirm it is our lángos, and it is just as good in Vienna.
• Lebkuchen and Vanillekipferl: gingerbread and crescent-shaped vanilla biscuits.

The Häferl (mug) deposit: hot drinks come in a ceramic mug, and you pay a deposit on top of your first drink. You get it back when you return the mug, or you can keep it as a souvenir. Most markets have their own design. The organisers had not published the 2026 deposit amount when I checked, so look at the price board on the stall. Using the mugs is also a nice way to avoid single-use cups.

What to buy: hand-blown glass baubles, wooden toys, beeswax candles, felt slippers, nativity figures and local honey. You can find stalls of craftspeople and artists especially at Spittelberg and Art Advent.

Things to do around the markets

• Hundertwasser House: one of the sights we saw on our cycling trip. Its wavy, colourful walls look great in winter light too. Read the story of that trip in 820 km on two wheels.
• A walk to the Gloriette: climb through the Schönbrunn gardens to the Gloriette for a view over Vienna, then reward yourself at the palace market.
• Combine with Budapest: Vienna and Budapest are linked by direct railjet trains in under 3 hours. See my local's guide to Budapest Christmas markets 2026.
• Salzburg and the Alps: for snowy mountain markets, read our guide to Salzburg, Innsbruck and Wolfgangsee Advent markets.

Practical tips

Getting there from the UK

By train: this is the greener option, and the journey becomes part of the holiday. Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Amsterdam, then ÖBB's Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna. The Nightjet runs daily on this route. The Man in Seat 61 lists an example with Eurostar leaving London at 11:04, the Nightjet leaving Amsterdam at 19:00 and arriving in Vienna at 09:18 the next morning. Check the current timetable before you book. Read more in our guide to train travel to Europe from the UK and in Christmas market breaks by train from the UK.

By plane: there are direct flights from London to Vienna. From the airport, trains run into the city.

Getting around: the Rathausplatz market is next to the U2 station Rathaus. Trams 1, 71 and D stop at Rathausplatz/Burgtheater, and the U3 stops at Volkstheater. Most of the old-town markets are within walking distance of each other.

Best time to visit

Weekends and evenings, especially Friday and Saturday nights, are the busiest. If you want to walk around easily with kids, go on a weekday morning. Rathausplatz, Freyung and Schönbrunn all open at 10 am. For the full atmosphere with the lights on, come back after dark. In December it gets dark at around 4 pm.

Cash, toilets, pushchairs and dogs

• Cash or card: card payment varies from stall to stall, so carry some euros in coins for small purchases and the mug deposit. The Rathausplatz market has cash machines.
• Toilets: Rathausplatz has accessible toilets with Eurokey access. At the smaller markets, use cafés and restaurants nearby.
• Pushchairs: the big squares are flat, but they get very crowded in the evenings. Spittelberg's narrow lanes are hard with a pushchair at busy times. If your little one is still in a buggy, keep them warm! The Out n About footmuff we use with our Nipper pushchair is a must in cold weather.
• Dogs: the markets are open-air, but the crowds and hot drinks make them stressful for dogs. I'd leave yours at home or visit on a quiet weekday.

Budget for a weekend

Every market is free to walk around, so your main costs are travel, two nights' accommodation, food and drinks. Book the Nightjet early, as couchettes can sell out before Christmas. Stay outside the 1st district and use public transport. And have a hearty market lunch, like langos or a sausage, instead of a restaurant dinner every night.

Entry rules

Austria is in the Schengen area. UK travellers now register their fingerprints and photo under the EU's Entry/Exit System. ETIAS has not started yet. Read our guide to EES and ETIAS for UK travellers.

FAQ

When do the Vienna Christmas markets open in 2026?

The first ones, at Schönbrunn Palace and Stephansplatz, open on 6 November 2026. The main market on Rathausplatz opens on 13 November 2026, along with Am Hof, Spittelberg and Karlsplatz.

Are the Vienna Christmas markets open after Christmas?

Some of them are. Schönbrunn and the Riesenradplatz Winter Market stay open until 6 January 2027, and Belvedere until 31 December 2026. Rathausplatz closes on 26 December, but the ice rink there stays open until 6 January 2027 (closed on 31 December).

What time do the markets close on Christmas Eve?

Rathausplatz closes at 6:30 pm on 24 December 2026. Schönbrunn, Stephansplatz, Maria-Theresien-Platz and Schwarzenbergplatz close at 4 pm, and Belvedere and Riesenradplatz at 5 pm. Spittelberg, Am Hof, Freyung and Karlsplatz are already closed by then (last day 23 December).

Do you have to pay to enter the Vienna Christmas markets?

No, they are free to walk around. You only pay for what you eat, drink and buy, plus a deposit on your mug. The ice rink on Rathausplatz needs a ticket.

Have you been to the Vienna Christmas markets? Which one was your favourite? Let me know in the comments!