After months of traveling around Europe, we are finally ready to kick off our Christmas season. We have to make our way to Amsterdam by December 13th, so we pulled out a map and made a plan. That plan was to visit a few Christmas markets along our journey west. The Vienna Christmas markets were stop number one on that journey.
We only had two nights to explore this city for the first time. That is no coincidence. We have learned that Austria is not the most budget-friendly country after spending a day in Salzburg. With such a short time and such a big city, we decided to focus just on the markets this time in Vienna. The palace and museums would have to wait until summer return.
The Vienna Christmas Markets We Visited
Wiener Weihnachtstraum
This is the most popular of the Vienna Christmas markets. It’s located near the city center in a large park in front of the city hall. It was a perfect FIRST-EVER Christmas market for us. Our first taste of gluhwein was incredible, and it seemed so perfect to sip on hot drinks while wandering through the many different rows of stalls and snack options. There are over 150 stalls in this market, so it’s hard to get bored.
My favorite part of the market was the ice skating area. Instead of one giant oval where you skate in a circle, this was more like a maze winding through trees and lights. We opted out of the rental skates, but enjoyed doing a little people watching there.
Art Advent Christmas Market
This was our favorite of the Vienna Christmas markets that we visited. Located in Karlsplatz, there are beautiful buildings surrounding the whole market. We got there right when they opened up for the day, so it wasn’t even a little bit busy yet. With snacks and drinks in hand, we explored the stands here.
It was filled with more handicrafts and artists with original items. The other markets have a lot of similar things, but this market was different. We learned that each maker is judged before being allowed to open a stall to verify that the work is original and handmade. All the food and drinks are organic as well, so you get a little different variety.
The other main draw was the animals. We watched the little pigs chase each other around for at least 30 minutes. It felt like we had escaped the city all of a sudden. I think the combination of the emptiness, the animals, and the art made this our favorite of the three.
Weihnachtsmarkt am Spittelberg
Our final stop in our Vienna Christmas market tour was this small market near the city center. It’s tucked into a few alleyways, making it look completely different than the other two. Drinks were the cheapest here, and a few bars and restaurants opened right up to the market so you could grab a table and enjoy.
We were pretty full from our large lunch, but we were able to manage to split a crepe. The food options here were as plentiful as the other markets, even though it was much smaller. The focus here was on the food and drink more than the shopping. We did find some incredible wool sweaters that we stared at for a while before deciding against them.
Final Thoughts on the Vienna Christmas Markets
Vienna is a beautiful place to visit during the holiday season. While many say this is their favorite place to visit Christmas markets, we have found another city we love a little more. If you want a sneak peek at our favorite Christmas market, check out our post on the Christmas market in Cologne, Germany.
Also, if you are there longer than 2 days or more ambitious than us, check out the Belvedere Christmas Market as well.
Pin this for your trip to Vienna to celebrate the holidays.
