Last updated: 22 October 2026
Vienna's main Christmas market, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz, runs from Friday 13 November to Saturday 26 December 2026, daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Schönbrunn Palace opens first, on 6 November, and stays open until 6 January 2027; Belvedere runs to 31 December. Most of the smaller markets, Spittelberg, Karlsplatz, Freyung and Am Hof, close on 23 December. Every date below is from the Vienna Tourist Board's own list.
2026 dates and hours at a glance
| Market | 2026 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Rathausplatz | 13 November to 26 December | Daily 10 am to 10 pm; 24 December until 6:30 pm |
| Schönbrunn Palace | 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 | Daily 10 am to 9 pm; 24 December until 4 pm; 25 December to 6 January 10 am to 7 pm |
| Belvedere Palace (K&K Weihnachtsmarkt) | 20 November to 31 December | Mon to Fri 11 am to 9 pm; weekends and holidays 10 am to 9 pm; 24 and 31 December 11 am to 5 pm |
| Spittelberg | 13 November to 23 December | Mon to Fri 2 pm to 9:30 pm; weekends and holidays 11 am to 9:30 pm |
| Maria-Theresien-Platz | 20 November to 26 December | Mon to Fri 11 am to 4 pm, as listed; weekends and holidays 10 am to 9 pm |
| Art Advent, Karlsplatz | 13 November to 23 December | Daily noon to 8 pm; food and drink until 9 pm |
| Altwiener Christkindlmarkt, Freyung | 14 November to 23 December | Daily 10 am to 9 pm |
| Am Hof | 13 November to 23 December | Mon to Thu 11 am to 9 pm; Fri to Sun and holidays 10 am to 9 pm |
| Stephansplatz | 6 November to 26 December | Daily 11 am to 9 pm; 24 December until 4 pm |
Source: wien.info, the Vienna Tourist Board, checked 22 October 2026. Tuesday 8 December is a public holiday in Austria, so holiday hours apply that day.
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Rathausplatz: the Wiener Christkindlmarkt
The biggest and best known of Vienna's markets fills the square in front of the neo-Gothic City Hall, with the trees of the Rathauspark strung with lights. It runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily from 10 am to 10 pm, and until 6:30 pm on Christmas Eve. The Eistraum skating rink next to it opens the same day and runs until 6 January 2027, closed on 31 December (wien.info).
Getting there. U2 to Rathaus, or any tram along the Ring to the Rathausplatz stops. When to go: weekday mornings and early afternoons. On weekend evenings the square is at its fullest.
Schönbrunn and Belvedere: the palace markets
- Schönbrunn Palace holds its market in the main courtyard from 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 10 am to 9 pm, so it is the one to choose for a trip between Christmas and Epiphany. U4 to Schönbrunn.
- Belvedere Palace has the K&K Weihnachtsmarkt in front of the Upper Belvedere from 20 November to 31 December 2026, with the palace and its pond as the backdrop. Tram D stops at Schloss Belvedere.
Spittelberg, Karlsplatz and the old town markets
- Spittelberg: stalls spread through the narrow lanes of the Biedermeier quarter behind the MuseumsQuartier, with crafts and many local, organic and fair-trade products. Weekdays it opens only at 2 pm. U2 to Museumsquartier or U3 to Volkstheater.
- Art Advent at Karlsplatz: crafts, art installations, workshops, a children's program and live bands in front of the Karlskirche, with all-organic food and drink, according to the tourist board. U1, U2 or U4 to Karlsplatz.
- Maria-Theresien-Platz: about 70 stalls between the Art History and Natural History museums. The tourist board lists weekday hours of 11 am to 4 pm, short for a market, so check the organizer's site before an evening visit.
- Freyung and Am Hof: two small markets on neighboring squares in the old town, a few minutes' walk from each other.
Getting in from Vienna Airport (VIE)
From Vienna Airport's own pages, checked 22 October 2026:
| Option | To | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| S7 suburban train | Wien Mitte (U3, U4) | 25 minutes, every 30 minutes | From 4.10 euros, including onward travel on Vienna's public transport network |
| ÖBB Railjet | Wien Hauptbahnhof (U1) | 15 minutes, every 30 minutes | Same fare from 4.10 euros |
| City Airport Train (CAT) | Wien Mitte, non-stop | 21 minutes | 14.90 euros one way, 24.90 euros return |
The airport says the CAT is temporarily operating with coaches rather than trains (CAT page), so for a train the S7 or the Railjet is the choice, and also the cheaper one.
Getting around: Wiener Linien
Vienna's metro, trams and buses run on one ticket. Wiener Linien's fares from 1 January 2026 are 3 euros for a single trip bought digitally (3.20 euros on paper) and 9.70 euros for a 24-hour ticket digitally (10.20 euros on paper); the 48-hour and 72-hour tickets were dropped, and Wiener Linien points visitors to the 24-hour and 7-day tickets instead (Wiener Linien fare sheet). Most markets are within walking distance of each other in the old town; Schönbrunn is the one you will need the U4 for.
Market tips
- Mug deposit. Punch and mulled wine come in a market mug with a deposit. Return it to a stall of the same market for the money back, or keep it. Each market has its own design.
- Cash. Austria uses the euro. Many stalls take cards, but keep some cash for the small ones.
- After Christmas. Only Schönbrunn (to 6 January), Belvedere (to 31 December), Rathausplatz, Stephansplatz and Maria-Theresien-Platz (to 26 December) are open after 24 December.
Will my phone work in Vienna?
Yes, any recent phone works on Austrian networks. What changes is the bill.
From the US: Verizon's TravelPass and AT&T's International Day Pass cost $12 a day per line in Austria; T-Mobile's Experience plans include a few gigabytes. See Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
From the UK, check before you buy anything. Austria is in the EU, and many UK plans include it: giffgaff, iD Mobile and SMARTY include EU roaming within their fair-use limits. EE, Vodafone and Three charge a daily fee on most plans taken out in recent years. If your plan includes Vienna, use it.
If you are paying by the day, a travel eSIM is cheaper. Prices from our catalogue on 22 October 2026, data only:
- A city break or a week: 1.5 GB a day for 7 days, $11.99
- Vienna plus Prague, Budapest or Germany over two weeks: 1.5 GB a day for 15 days, $19.99
- Heavy use: unlimited for 7 days, $19.99
Your own number stays on for calls and texts, and the days start when the eSIM first connects in a covered country. Install it at home, before you fly: iPhone or Android. Coming on a Danube river cruise? The same plan covers Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary; see using your phone on a cruise.
Going on to Prague or Germany? See Prague Christmas market 2026 and the best Christmas markets in Germany.
FAQ
When is the Vienna Christmas market in 2026?
The Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily 10 am to 10 pm, and until 6:30 pm on 24 December, according to the Vienna Tourist Board. Schönbrunn runs from 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
What are the Vienna Christmas market opening hours?
Rathausplatz is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, Schönbrunn from 10 am to 9 pm, Belvedere from 11 am (10 am at weekends) to 9 pm, and Spittelberg from 2 pm on weekdays and 11 am at weekends until 9:30 pm.
Which Vienna Christmas markets are open after Christmas?
Schönbrunn stays open until 6 January 2027 and Belvedere until 31 December. Rathausplatz, Stephansplatz and Maria-Theresien-Platz close on 26 December. Spittelberg, Karlsplatz, Freyung and Am Hof close on 23 December.
What is the best Christmas market in Vienna?
For first-timers, Rathausplatz for the scale and the lights, then Schönbrunn for the palace setting. Spittelberg is the favorite for crafts in narrow old lanes, and Art Advent at Karlsplatz for art and organic food.
How do I get from Vienna airport to the Christmas markets?
Take the S7 to Wien Mitte (25 minutes) or the Railjet to Wien Hauptbahnhof (15 minutes), from 4.10 euros including onward public transport, then the U-Bahn: U2 to Rathaus for the Rathausplatz market. The City Airport Train is running with coaches for now, at 14.90 euros one way.
Will my UK phone work in Vienna without roaming charges?
On many UK plans, yes: giffgaff, iD Mobile and SMARTY include EU roaming within their limits, and Austria is in the EU. EE, Vodafone and Three charge a daily fee on most recent plans. Check your plan before you go.
Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against wien.info (Vienna Tourist Board), viennaairport.com, the Wiener Linien 2026 fare sheet, the US and UK carriers' terms as summarized in our carrier guides, and our own catalogue. Hours can change: check the market's own site before you go.