One of the most beautiful places to visit at Christmas time is none other than Vienna. It is a land where splendid palaces and gardens surround the city and the magic of Christmas is united with the streets through the markets. Vienna’s Christmas markets have been enchanting visitors for centuries.
Crafts are a special element among the stops, and visitors can enjoy them while sampling the local cuisine and discovering the stories that lie within the older buildings. When you go back eight centuries, the Viennese could already enjoy the markets in December, since then they have changed, in terms of size and number of stalls, but their essence remains intact. Stroll through the streets and gardens, visit the museums or have a coffee in the Gloriette to enjoy the views of Vienna. All in all, it’s a perfect itinerary for a four-day trip to Austria, from its palaces to its highest mountains..
Graben, Vienna’s main street, is ready to welcome the last month of the year. Illuminating its streets with a chandelier aesthetic. © WienTourismus/Christian Stemper
There is so much to discover in Vienna, that visitors can tour the city in comfort with Monica Fokkelman, a Spanish-, Portuguese- and German-speaking guide, who prepares all kinds of tailor-made tours on request: monica.fokkelman@chello.at. Sif you prefer to go it alone, the mobile app Ivie will help you discover all that Vienna has to offer in an easy way.
Visiting five of the must-visit Christmas markets
- Spittelberg’s charming market place
All along Spittelberg and Guttenberstrasse in the Biedermeier (7th district), one of the most artisanal markets in the city is located in the pedestrianised streets. The SpittelbergChristmas market offers traditional recipes, sweets of all kinds, hot drinks or organic and vegan liquors. This year they want to work even harder to bring an environmental benefit. Producing more local products, recycling and maintaining sustainability.
The Spittelberg market is renowned for its fine craftsmanship.
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 14.00h to 21.00h. Friday from 14.00h to 21.30h. Saturday from 10.00h to 21.30h. Sunday and holidays from 10.00h to 21.00h.
Date: 11 November to 23 December 2022.
- Art Advent Market
Ahead of the Karlskirche church is a more unusual market, Art Advent, as everything they offer is art. Moreover, they take care to certify that all the gastronomy on offer is organic, while the products are entirely handmade. For the latter, on market days the artisans show how they have been making each item manufactured through demonstration workshops. Live music, street theatre or a ride on the carousel are some of the things that everyone can enjoy.
The Art Advent market in front of the Karlskirche. Many of the craftsmen showing live how they make their delicacies.
Hours: From 18 November to 23 December from 12.00h to 20.00h.
- Belvedere Market
Under the motto The Taste of Vienna, the Belvedere Market is perched in front of the elegant Belvedere Palace. In keeping with the baroque design of the palace, stalls and lights accompany it, offering delicate craftsmanship. Although the market is one of the smallest of the well-known markets, the decorations shine on their own. The small stalls are set up in the back part of the palace, where the large garden next to the pond welcomes visitors. In addition, the products on offer are always of high quality; scented candles, ceramics or Christmas motifs. Christmas music, and products such as punch and mulled wine are not lacking, and the little ones can enjoy the typical little train.
The market in front of the Belvedere Palace enchants any visitor who wants to enter it. The vast grounds where the stars float on the lake and you can observe the beauty of a royal residence © WienTourismus/Christian Stemper
Hours: From 18 November to 23 December : Monday to Friday from 11.00h to 21.00h. Saturday and Sunday from 10.00h to 21.00h. 24th December: From 11.00h to 16.00h. 25th and 26th December from 11.00h to 19.00h.
- Altwiener Christkindlmarkt
On Freyungplatz, Vienna’s old town, the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt offers gastronomic delights and handicrafts for young and old alike. Every week the artisans show their skills using different materials andchildren can enjoy activities such as puppet shows or storytelling..
Altwiener Christmas Market © WienTourismus/Christian Stemper
Opening hours: From 18 November to 23 December from 10.00h to 21.00h.
- Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz
On Rathausplatz square is one of Europe’s largest markets. Sheltered by Vienna’s town hall and the Burgtheater, the Christmas tree rises into the sky, illuminating the market’s 100 stallsChristkindlmarkt where it becomes a walkway to buy Christmas decorations..
The Christmas market on Rathausplatz, one of the largest and most beautiful. Illuminating trees and buildings with millions of lights. © WienTourismus/Julius Hirtzberger
On one of its sides, the ice rink invites skating lovers, while the sound of Christmas carols and Christmas stories accompany the last days of the year. Accompanying the experience with typical food of the area, as well as the ponche and mulled wine.
Hours: From 10.00h to 21.30h on 19 November to 23 December 2022. From 10.00h to 18.30h on 24 December until 26 December 2022.
Vienna’s 5 must-visit traditional cafes
- Cafe Schwarzenberg
As the December chill permeates the streets, and as you wander around buildings and open-air markets, a stop fora coffee break is a welcome energy booster. The Café Schwarzenberg is Vienna’s oldest coffee house, opened by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1865. Its interior, although renovated, still has elements that recall back to ancient times. While you can enjoy concerts, readings and art, the traditional coffees, teas and delicious cakes delight the palate. In addition to Viennese coffees, the menu also includes international coffees; Turkish, Irish, Dutch and other coffees.
Kärntner Ring 17, 1010 Wien
The elegant interior invites you to relax in a peaceful atmosphere, enjoying desserts such as Sacher tart.
- Café Landtmann
Like the Café Schwarzenberg, the Café Landtmann has been one of the most legendary cafés since 1873. Located on the Ringstrasse next to the Burgtheater (imperial theatre), it was opened in the year of the Universal Exhibition, surrounded by emblematic buildings such as the city hall and the university, and was frequented by politicians and artists. Its 1920s setting reveals the café’s long history, with next year being a special date, as it will be celebrating 150 years. Among its delicacies are the traditional homemade Apfelstrudel (apple pie), small chestnut cakes or Kipferl brioche.
Universitätsring 4, 1010 Vienna
Café Landtmann with its classic interior, following the essence of bygone times.
- Sperl Cafe
Another of the oldest and most traditional Viennese coffee houses is Sperl Cafe, founded in 1880, being a meeting point where musicians, architects or artists enjoyed coffee. It brought together the Viennese culture of the time, in the same way that Els Quatre gats, in Barcelona, brought together figures such as Santiago Rusiñol, Gaudí and Pablo Picasso. One of its most special products is the pastel Sperl, which originated in that period when artists and intellectuals met to discuss. A mixture of milk chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, almonds and some other element that nobody can know. To enjoy it, you must go to the cafeteria. Its interior does not lose the essence of the 19th century atmosphere, and on Sundays, from 3.30pm, you can enjoy the delicacies on the menu to the sound of the live piano.
Gumpendorfer Straße 11
It is considered the classic Viennese café. 19th century interior, billiard tables and a wide range of newspapers.
- Café Hawelka
Ending the Viennese coffee passion, the Café Hawelka is still one of the most famous coffee houses, a place where writers and artists frequent for their coffees and sweet delicacies to connect with their work. Today, the third generation of the Hawelka family is taking over the reins that Josefine and Leopold started in 1939.
Cosy interior in Café Hawelka
The Viennese coffee or the Apfelstrudel (apple pie) are still highly recommended products, as are the buchteln sweets, as they are still reminiscent of their origins. As well as its atmosphere, maintaining the spirit of the last century, you will find lots ofnewspapers and books to browse through while enjoying a cosy place.
Buchteln, sweet pastries originating from Austrian and Hungarian cuisine.
They are traditionally filled with powidl or lekvar, fruit jams such as plum, peach and others. At Café Hawelka the recipe they follow is family and secret, as it is very special.
Dorotheergasse 6,
Walks through the streets of Vienna
- Vienna, the city of music
The imperial city of Vienna is ideal for classical music lovers, the heritage of famous composers is present throughout the city. One of the capital’s most representative venues is the Vienna PhilharmonicVienna Philharmonic. For 80 years the musicians have been playing every January 1st, celebrating the beginning of the new year. They are known worldwide through their art of classical music, touring cities and accompanying music lovers on summer nights.
Musikvereinspl. 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
Once inside the spectacular building, the Vienna Philharmonic conducts the emotions of the audience through its music.
There is no shortage of exhibitions in the Austrian capital. Leaving the Philharmonie behind, walking through the streets towards the city centre, on 12 October the German artist Susanne Rottenbacher opened In Love With Tomorrow in the impressive flagship store of Swarovski Kristallwelten Store. Under the inspiration of nature, collecting the four elements; water, earth, fire and air, the aim of the exhibition is to raise awareness to keep our environment alive.
Thousands of LED lights illuminate the Swarovski jewellery shop windows through Rottenbacher’s art.
The installation has been created through LED lights and 2.5 million Swarovski crystals, giving light with elegance, giving life to the crystals themselves, plus if you want to relax, on the first floor you can have a glass of champagne at the Moët & Chandon bar. You can book a guided tour to learn about the history of Swarovski or a workshop to make a key ring by booking at: reservations.kristallweten@swarovski.com or ask for an English-speaking guide .
Monday to Friday from 9:00 – 19:00 | Saturday from 9:00 – 18:00 Sunday closed.
Kärntner Strasse 24, 1010 Vienna
Concept Store Song
One of the most unique shops is located at Praterstrasse at number 11-13. Behind its shop window, Song is a curious shop with a peculiar vintage decoration where fashion coexists with luxury brands such as Balenciaga along with accessories and furniture.
Song’s showcase displays elegance and exquisiteness enticing you to discover more about art and fashion.
Eight years after its opening and its success in the centre of Vienna, in 2006 they decided to move to a larger location where they could offer furniture. This way, travellers looking for independent fashion and unique rarities just have to walk through the doors.
Praterstraße 11-13
Workshop traditional Viennese Christmas biscuits
But tasting and enjoying gastronomic delights is not only centred in restaurants. For cooking and dessert lovers, you can also take advantage of different workshops to learn how to make vanillekipferl, the vanilla crescent biscuits. From Vollpension, they offer a 3-hour baking course to learn how to make the typical Christmas biscuits in the area. The company encourages people over 60 years of age by hiring them if they are unemployed. At this age it is more difficult to find a job and they may be socially excluded.
Making the dough for the vanilla biscuits, while the pupils follow the steps.
Our grandmothers and grandfathers, those people who have special hands to cook the best recipes in the kitchen. And at Vollpension they highlight their importance, taking into account elderly people who wish to take baking classes. In this way, they are the ones who act as teachers in the cooking workshops. In addition to Christmas biscuits, there are all kinds of pastries to learn, including almond croissants or Sacher cake.
Each course of 3 hours is priced at 120€ per person, bookable through their official website.
Schleifmühlgasse 16, Vienna
Tasting Viennese gastronomy
There is nothing better than enjoying the best gastronomy to recover and rest after enjoying an itinerary full of visits. Top-of-the-range products combined with a very special decoration and location.
- Labstelle
Regional food is presented in Labstelle, with products originating from organic farming. They seek sustainability in the products they offer in their dishes, as well as waste management and reuse. A whole set to give the highest quality to customers, and maintain the environmental wellbeing. The restaurant has breakfast menu until dinner, enjoying on Saturdays with various Austrian cheeses and regional ham to start the day until tasting their best dinners. The latter can be ordered from the à la carte menu or the special menu they have, being awarded with three Gault Millau 2022 hats.
Labstelle’s dishes include delicacies such as salmon tartare, spinach dumplings or grilled trout.
Hours:Monday to Friday from 11.30h to 24.00h. Saturday from 10.00h to 24.00h
Address: Lugeck, 6, Vienna, Austria
- Restaurant Ludwing Van
While the presence of Mozart resides in the museum created from his home, the composer Ludwig van Beethoven is also present in Vienna through the restaurant Ludwing Van. The cultural manager, Oliver Jauk, discovered the building where Beethoven resided while working on his Ninth Symphony, and it was impossible to miss a place with history. The culinary offer includes a menu and a tasting menu, bringing traditional flavours through innovative techniques.
Its elegant interior is a reminder that the building has a long history behind it.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 18.00h to 24.00h
Address: Laimgrubengasse 22, Vienna, Austria
- Restaurant Neue Hoheit Brasserie
The sophisticated Neue Hoheit Brasserie opens its doors to gastronomy lovers who want to taste dishes from Austria in a cosmopolitan way. Its space has large windows and balconies offering views of the sky and emblematic buildings. It has an open kitchen, a wine gallery and a private room called the Garden Room, with a secret garden.
Private room in the Neue Hoeit restaurant with views of the city and a private garden.
Its gastronomic offer includes dishes such as marinated tuna accompanied by sesame and soya, as well as duck fillet. Enjoying traditional flavours that never cease to revolutionize
The Neue Hoeit restaurant is a privileged place with a wonderful view of the city.
Orning hours: Monday to Sunday noon from 12.00h to 14.30h. Dinner from 18.00h to 22.30h.
Address: Tuchlauben 4, Vienna, Austria
- Restaurant Amador
The German chef, Juan Amador, with Spanish roots and three Michelin stars, together with his partner Winzer Fritz Wieninger decided to open their restaurant inside a wine cellar. The Restaurant Amador, overlooking the wine barrels, local products are a main element, although Mediterranean and Asian flavours are also present. In addition, the roots of its origin are highlighted on the menu, with tapas such as omelette, prawns from Huelva or Galician-style octopus.
Caviar and prawns are recurring items on the restaurant’s menu.
Hours:Wednesday to Friday from 18.30h to 24.00h. Saturday from 12.00h to 15.00h and from 19.00h to 24.00h.
Address: Grinzinger Str. 86, Vienna, Austria
- Pramerl & The Wolf
Traditional Viennese food is interpreted in a modern way at Pramerl & The Wolf, offering it without a menu, as seasonal products rule the offer. The aim of the restaurant is to prepare dishes with regional and sustainable food, as it is important to remain connected to nature. In the same way, the wine is another element that accompanies the dishes, looking forsmall artisans who extract the natural potential of the grape.
The restaurant Pramerl & The Wolf is looking forward to welcoming all visitors who want to taste the natural products that the season has to offer. And for this time of the year, very Christmassy meals.
Hours:Wednesday and Thursday from 19.00h to 24.00h. Friday and Saturday from 18.00h to 24.00h.
Address: Pramergasse 21, Vienna, Austria
The Leo Grand boutique hotel where the heritage of the hotel is in the rooms
The presence of royalty, and Leopold I in particular, is felt at the new luxury boutique hotel The Leo Grand. Owned by a Viennese family, the centuries-old building directly overlooks St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the heart of the city. With its baroque style, the hotel has 76 rooms where visitors are accommodated thanks to the magnificent facilities. One of its most beautiful rooms, The Leopold Suite, has two floors, and from the top you can enjoy the magnificent Cathedral thanks to the large windows.
The exterior of The Leo Grand, in keeping with the appearance of the elegance and elegance of the historic building.
The DOTS restaurant reigns supreme in the gastronomy offered at the hotel. The DOTS restaurant combines avant-garde Asian cuisine with French and Viennese influences. Set up next to the inner courtyard, guests will be enchanted in the two private dining rooms. The extensive menu features fresh and organic produce, including The Beach Bowl made with banana, passion fruit, kiwi and cocoa granolas. As well as Japanese food such as makiroll, sashimi and sushi.
In each of the rooms you will find luxurious designs and qualities. Arches and headboards with ancient symbolism, as if travelling back to imperial times.
Museums to discover behind the walls of Vienna’s palaces
Snow globe museum
Away from the centre, and with Christmas magic in mind, we find Original Wiener Schneekugel, the factory where the snowballs originated. Shake the crystal ball and let white specks recreate snow. Erwin Perzy I created them unintentionally in 1990, and today they continue to distribute around 200,000 around the world.
Visitors to the museum can see how snowballs are made in the traditional way. The museum is open from Monday to Thursday from 9.00h to 15.00h.
All of them are handmade, being unique for everyone who receives one. You can choose different sizes as well as the central element inside the glass. From snowy mountains and penguins to the Viennese Ferris wheel and palaces.
C/Schumanngasse, 87 Vienna (district 17)
Albertina Modern Museum
For travellers who prefer to enjoy the art within the capital’s palaces, there are many museums to be found. The Albertina Modern Museumis one of them, located in the centre of the city, offering one of the most extensive collections in the world. The neoclassical building was restored in 1865, bringing together national artists such as Maria Lassing and Christian Ludwing. As well as international artists such as Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein. .
The Albertina Modern Museum shares a location with Vienna’s Musikverein on Karlspatz. Transmitting art through every street.
A few minutes’ walk away, the Heidi Horten CollectionMuseum offers a collection of world-class art in modern and contemporary works. Entering it you can learn how the founder, Heidi Goess-Horten, focused on women’s vision, interacting with art and fashion.
Mozart Wohnhaus, the museum in Mozart’s house
On the other hand, at number 5, Domgasse Street, the essence of the composer Amadeus Mozart is still intact in one of the residences where he lived. The Mozart Museum, a house that invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of the artist. Where he managed to devise such renowned pieces as The Marriage of Figaro. .
Visitors enter the Mozart Museum to discover where he lived with his family between 1784 and 1787, and how the house was divided up. Showing elegant elements and figures that lived inside the playroom (left) or the room where he composed (right).
Vienna, a city of social and cultural charm, headed by the architecture that presides over its monuments and palaces, those that once housed imperial personages. And the Christmas season is the perfect time to dress up in big coats and stroll through its streets. Discover its ancient traditions through gastronomy and art, enjoying the beautiful views while the white snow falls. Letting the innocence that makes children fall in love, and enjoying Vienna at the end of the year.
