Vienna is becoming one of Europe’s most popular Christmas destinations. They have over 20 different Christmas markets in the Vienna. And the Christmas lights spread throughout the city, including the chandeliers lining Graben make Vienna feel so festive. The highlight for me was seeing the moving heart fly in front of the beautifully lit Rathaus at the main market in Rathausplatz. I love hearts, and it was so awe-inspiring to see!
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Top Christmas Markets in Vienna:
1) Rathausplatz: Best for the magical Moving Heart
2) Stephanplatz – in the heart of the city!
3) Schonbrunn Palace: the prettiest of them all!
4) Maria-Theresien-Platz: Has the cutest Christmas mugs
5) Weihnachtsmarkt am Hof: for the foodies!
How long do you need in Vienna during Christmas?
I’d say you need a minimum of 3 days to properly explore Vienna during the Christmas season. There are over 20 markets, and outside of Christmas, there’s a lot to see and do. I loved visiting the gorgeous palaces and libraries and getting a glimpse of the amazing coffee scene in Vienna. We stayed for 3 days, and it was a good amount of time for us. If you have more time, you could do 4 days and not get bored.
3 Day Vienna Christmas Itinerary
Vienna Christmas Itinerary Day 1
8:30 am – Breakfast at Cafe Landtmann
What I love about Vienna is the coffee culture. There are so many unique cafes, and Austrians love their coffee. I started the day with Breakfast at Cafe Landtmann. The hot chocolates in Vienna are another level. They are made with rich, real milk chocolate. We also tried the eggs Benedict and the traditional Kaiserschmarrn. This is a must-try! It is a sweet pancake with apple sauce, cranberries, and raisins.
10 am – Shop at the Rathausplatz Christmas Market
The Rathausplatz (Christkindlmarkt) opens at 10am. This will be the most peaceful time to walk around the market and really do some nice shopping without fighting crowds. It’s not far from Cafe Landtmann too. But I’d recommend coming back again in the evening to see the market at night. It’s a whole different experience with the lights on.
11:30 am – Pass by the pretty streets full of decor
Now you’ll want to take a stroll through Vienna’s pretty streets. Head down towards the city center – you’ll pass beautifully decorated streets like Graben and Kärntner Strasse.
12:30 pm – Stephansplatz Christmas Market
Stephansplatz Christmas Market is right in the city center – it’s a small market but nice to capture with St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the backdrop. Plus, there are gorgeous chandeliers lining Graben Street. You can ride the escalator up at Stephansplatz Underground Station which has the prettiest view of the chandeliers as you get to the top.
Be sure to visit the nearby Lindt store to pick up one of their adorable chocolate teddy bears — they’re all the rage on Instagram right now, haha!
2 pm – Lunch at Figlmüller
You don’t want to miss having the best and largest schnitzel in Vienna! Figlmüller is one of the most famous places in Vienna to try Schnitzel, and I really loved mine. Be sure to make a reservation ahead to avoid the giant queue outside to eat here.
4:30 pm – Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market
The Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market is set within one of the most beautiful spots in Vienna. It’s located right between two grand museums: the Art History Museum and the Natural History Museum. In fact, so many of the Christmas Markets in Vienna have stunning buildings in the backdrop like this! Another one, for instance, is Schonbrunn Palace!
The market has around 70 cozy wooden stalls filled with everything from handmade ornaments to Austrian treats like Kaiserschmarrn, Glühwein, and roasted chestnuts (so good on a cold night!). The whole square lights up after dark, and the vibe is just magical, especially with the beautiful museum buildings glowing behind you.
Plus, this market has the CUTEST mugs out of any of the Christmas Markets in Vienna I visited. Each market has a different mug, and you get one with your drink.
💡 Pro-tip: The mulled wine and mug cost me €10, and if you don’t want to keep the mug, you can return it for €5 back. This is the case for most Christmas Markets in Europe, and they don’t always tell you that you can get money back for returning the mug.
We kept this mug because it was our favorite! Wondering how people get that cute shot with the Christmas market mug and Lindt teddy bear? Here’s the trick: keep a pretty mug from a market like Maria-Theresien-Platz and pop into the nearby Lindt store to grab your bear!
6:30 pm – See the Moving Heart at the Rathausplatz Christmas Market
I’m not going to lie, the reason I wanted to come to Vienna during Christmas was to see this magical moving heart go by Vienna’s City Hall, Rathaus. Every 30 minutes in the market square, the heart is released from a tower and travels on a cable to a tree full of hearts hanging. The last show is around 9 pm, and the first is at dusk. There’s also a little twinkling music sound as the heart travels, it’s so magical!
At the market, I’d recommend getting some dinner. Some traditional market food to try includes baked potatoes, bread in soup bowls, sausages, and so much more!
Vienna Christmas Itinerary Day 2
9 am – Brunch at Palmenhaus
Start the day in Vienna at Palmenhaus for breakfast. This greenhouse café right in the middle of Burggarten and feels like you’re dining inside a botanical garden. The space is filled with tall palms, huge windows, and all the natural light. I ordered a fresh orange juice and the large breakfast with Parma ham. Ironically, it wasn’t actually that large to set the expectation (as seen in the photo above). Nonetheless, it was a cute place to start the morning with a light breakfast.
10:30 am – Hofburg Palace & Michaelerplatz
Right outside of the breakfast spot, Palmenhaus, you will find a pretty view of Hofburg Palace. I didn’t go inside, but admired it from here. However, it looks stunning inside from the pictures I’ve seen. So if time allows, do go! I’d recommend booking skip-the-line-tickets.
Also, not far away is Michaelerplatz, one of Vienna’s most iconic squares! Located right near the palace entrance, you’ll spot horse-drawn carriages, Roman ruins under glass, and stunning views of the palace dome.
12 pm – Austrian National Library
The Austrian National Library is one of those jaw-dropping places. The interiors are full of ornate frescoes, and there are walls of books.
It began in the 14th century as the Imperial Court Library for the Habsburg rulers. Its famous Baroque State Hall was built in the 1720s to showcase the empire’s power and love of knowledge. Over time, it grew into one of Europe’s largest libraries, housing millions of rare books, maps, and manuscripts.
I bought my tickets upon entry, so no need to pre-book.
1 pm – Sacher Cafe
Now you will want to head over to Sacher Cafe. This is where they have the famous Original Sachertorte — a chocolate cake layered with apricot jam and chocolate glaze. It’s a must-try when you’re in Vienna! The cafe itself is charming, with a classic Viennese atmosphere. It’s quite a busy place, so be sure to plan accordingly because there can be wait times during peak hours. To avoid that, you can visit in the morning when the cafe opens or reserve a table ahead.
After, we popped into the Sacher Hotel which is connected to Sacher Cafe. This luxurious hotel is decked in Christmas decor. If you have the extra money, I’d recommend a stay here as it’s so pretty!
2:30 pm Bow Building & Festive Tree Display
Just around the corner from Sacher Cafe, you will find my favorite little building in Vienna. It has a huge bow hanging on it and I loved matching my bow in my hair to it. You can find the exact location to the Christmas bow building in Vienna here.
This is a VERY busy corner with foot traffic so if you want a photo like this, then have lots of patience or go super early in the morning like I did!
Just a few buildings over, there’s another cute Christmas Display in Vienna. That’s at Gerstner! You will find a Christmas Tree display here so it’s another one of those instagrammable spots in Vienna for Christmas.
3 pm – Ferstel Passage
Ferstel Passage is a beautiful 19th-century arcade with restored glass ceilings and intricate architecture. During Christmas, there’s a Christmas tree and twinkling lights. Plus, it’s such a cozy spot for a drink. There are a few little restaurants and shops lined in the passage. Stop for a drink here, or if you aren’t sick of cafes yet, you can go to the famous Cafe Central. It might be a spot to relax for a bit from the day before heading to another Christmas market.
6 pm – Weihnachtsmarkt am Hof
Ok, if you’re a foodie like me, you will LOVE this Christmas Market. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, I’d say. I feel most people head to the other markets in this post and skip this one unknowingly. The food here was so good! I am still thinking about the cheesy potato raclette I had, among other delicious things. Don’t miss this one!
Vienna Christmas Itinerary Day 3
10 am – Schonbrunn Palace Visit
Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is one of Austria’s most iconic historical landmarks and a must-visit during your 3 days in Vienna. It is a bit further out of the city center, but absolutely worth the visit.
It’s a former imperial summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty and is built in Baroque style architecture. The palace features over 1,400 rooms, gardens, and breathtaking interiors.
I’d recommend the Grand Tour, which is the most comprehensive option—it includes access to 40 imperial rooms, compared to the more basic Imperial Tour (22 rooms). It’s well worth the extra cost.
Tickets for the Grand Tour currently are around €32 per adult, and it’s best to book in advance to secure your preferred time slot. The tour also includes an audio guide (or app) and access to key highlights like the Mirror Room and the Great Gallery.
12 pm – Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market
Outside Schönbrunn Palace, during the festive season, you’ll find one of my favorite Christmas markets in Vienna. It’s set against the beautiful Baroque backdrop of the palace itself.
I loved this market because I could pair it with a visit inside the palace, and the market was really nice. It was large with multiple shopping stalls and food selections. While you’re there, don’t miss trying the bratwurst with mustard – delicious!
One highlight I highly recommend is taking a ride on the Ferris wheel—it offers incredible views over the palace grounds and the market, especially magical at sunset or when the market is lit up at night. It was well worth the €5.
3 pm – Belvedere Palace Christmas Market
Another gorgeous setting. Even if you skip going inside, the market here is lovely and photogenic. Around 40–50 artisan stalls make it a bit smaller and intimate than the other markets.
6 pm – Dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile
Have dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile. You have to try their soups, as it’s a traditional Austrian meal and delicious. The broth is full of meat and veggies. You can pair it with an Ottakringer beer.
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🏰 Christmas Guide to Rothenburg, Germany
🏘️ The Charming Town of Eguisheim, France
🎅🏼 Christmas Markets in Alsace, France
🎡 Best Christmas Decorations in London
