Christmas Market Itinerary: Vienna and Budapest

European Christmas Markets are becoming a bucket list-worthy trip. Rightly so. Experiencing the magic of the markets is a perfect way to get you in the mood for the holidays. But there are hundreds of markets to choose from. It’s impossible to see them all on one trip (especially if you’re using American vacation time). I remember being frustrated and overwhelmed trying to nail down an itinerary for my Christmas market trip.

This Christmas Market itinerary will give you an option to consider as you plan your trip.

Christmas Market Itinerary: Overview

This is the general overview of the itinerary. More details will come, but sometimes a quick rundown is helpful.

This itinerary assumes you’ll take about a week of vacation.

Day 1 -Arrive in Vienna and Explore

Day 2- Vienna

Day 3- Vienna and travel to Bratislava

Day 4- Bratislava to Budapest

Day 5- Budapest

Day 6- Budapest

Day 7- Budapest and travel home

Day 1- Arrive in Vienna, Explore

You don’t have much time in Vienna with this itinerary. The city is so pretty. You could spend longer in Vienna. You’ll be surprised how much you can see in a short amount of time.

What to See

Kick off your time in Vienna by exploring the Old Town. This area near the cathedral is filled with stunning architecture and beautiful streets.

On the map, you’ll see the innere stadt.

Start your time here at the cathedral. Go inside, but also be sure to check out the tile work on the roof of the building when you’re outside.

Walk to Mozart House. Be aware that there are several Mozart Houses since he lived in Vienna for so long and moved around the city a fair bit.

There is a Mozart House museum in a beautiful part of the city. Even if you don’t go into the museum, you’ll wander down the cobblestone streets, which makes it worth the short walk.

There is a smaller market just outside of the cathedral that opens early in the day. Be sure to check it out while you’re in the area.

Christmas Markets to Visit

Most markets open in the afternoon, so it’s easy to divide your day between the typical sightseeing in the city in the morning and hopping between Christmas Markets in the afternoon and evening.

Rathausplatz near City Hall

On your first day, visit the Rathausplatz market near City Hall. This is the biggest market in the city. You’ll find food and craft stalls, a carousel, an ice skating ribbon, holiday lights, and more.

It was my favorite market of the trip and the one I’d most love to visit again.

I still regret not trying ice skating here. The skating at this market would have been the most unique. If you plan to ice skate on your trip, I’d recommend doing it here.

Then maybe let me know how it goes so I know how badly I need to get back?

The Belvedere

Another market to check out on day one is the market at the Belvedere. The Belvedere makes a beautiful backdrop for a market. The historic palace backdrop somehow makes it even more festive. This one has a souvenir and food stall. But, it has some activities for kids too.

If you finish your time in the historic center early, you can visit the art museum inside the Belvedere Palace. If nothing else, it’s a good way to keep warm while seeing some of the sites!

Where to Stay

The Intercontinental is a good splurge. They even have it decorated nicely! It’s also good if you have some credits/certificates to use like I did.

But I’m a big fan of serviced apartments if I’m paying my real money and not using hotel points.

How to get around Vienna

Of course, walk as much as you can. You see so much of the city that way!

Public transportation is the best way to get around Vienna in the winter. It’s an extensive system, and it’s easy! There are subways (U-Bahn), trains (S-Bahn), trams (Straßenbahn), and busses.

You can buy individual rides as you go or purchase the 48-hour pass. I enjoy being able to take as many rides as I want; otherwise, I’ll weigh the ticket cost with the length of the walk.

It’s a problem, and buying the day pass helps me make the decision once instead of a hundred times a day.

Day 2- Vienna

My favorite places in Vienna are on this plan for your second day in Vienna!

What to See

The Hofburg House in Vienna is a must-see, even if you’ve seen plenty of other European palaces. The city was the seat of an empire for many years. It’s grand, but it’s also more modern than many of the other palaces I’ve visited.

The Hofburgs fell during World War 1, so you can see exercise equipment and how the palace was equipped with modern restrooms and plumbing.

The Hofburg House has several museums. The tickets can be confusing, but you’ll want to see the Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum.

To get just an entry ticket, you can purchase it directly from the site. There are also ticket machines at the museums that are easy to use. Audioguides are free as long as there is availability when you visit. The entry is timed, so arrive on time if you purchase your ticket early.

A guided tour is an option as well.

If you enjoy horses, there is a Spanish Riding School. It has limited tickets and timing. Plan your day around the riding school if it’s on your list.

I recommend spending 2-3 hours visiting them all. Plan for this to be your entire morning.

Hofburg House- Imperial Apartments

Visit the living spaces of Franz Joseph and Sisi, exploring their bedrooms and opulent ballrooms to gain insight into their palace life.

Sisi’s quarters, in particular, offer intriguing glimpses into her daily routine, complete with her gym equipment.

Hofburg House- SiSi Museum

The SiSi Museum offers a window into the world of Empress Elizabeth. She was celebrated for her remarkable beauty. She was determined to stay beautiful from her workout routines to not allowing herself to be photographed after she aged. Even if Elizabeth’s story is unfamiliar, the museum provides an engaging journey into her life and character.

Hofburg House- Silver Collection

You have to walk through the Silver Collection to visit the Sisi Museum. It showcases the extravagant china and silverware used by the Hapsburgs. The sheer opulence of the collection is awe-inspiring, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the imperial household.

It won’t take long to walk through the collection. It wasn’t the highlight, but it was interesting.

Schönbrunn Palace

After lunch, head out to Schönbrunn Palace. A quick 30-minute journey via public transportation gets you just outside of Vienna to Schönbrunn. This majestic residence, another gem of the Hapsburg empire, is truly remarkable.

While touring Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace might seem repetitive, they offer distinct experiences that make it worthwhile.

Plus, Schönbrunn’s enchanting gardens are breathtaking. There’s also a great market for this Christmas Market itinerary!

Tickets can be purchased on-site or in advance. It wouldn’t hurt to buy them early. But, since there is a Christmas Market, it’s not so bad if you have to wait to get in.

You can buy your ticket from a kiosk in a building to the left after you pass through the gates. It will give you a timed entry. You can explore the market for a bit if your entry time is delayed.

You could easily spend the whole afternoon exploring the palace, the gardens, and the market.

Take your time to soak in the grandeur of the palace interiors and enjoy the beauty of the gardens.

Christmas Markets to Visit

Schönbrunn Palace is on the list so you can visit both the palace and the market at the same time. The market in Schönbrunn has the most beautiful backdrop of any market, and the palace creates a magical vibe that the others don’t have.

After you get back from Schönbrunn, head to Karlsplatz. This market was near my hotel and felt the most “local” of any of the markets in Vienna. There are several mulled wine and food vendors and some unique crafts.

Karlsplatz also has beautiful lights, a petting zoo, and some creative DIY carousels for children.

The church is unique with its massive columns. It’s open fairly late, so you can visit inside if you want. But, the market outside the cathedral is the best part.

There are plenty of other markets you can check out if you have the time.

Day 3- Vienna to Bratislava

Bratislava is a much smaller city with a different feel than Vienna and Budapest. You don’t need much time in Bratislava, but it is worth visiting.

Luckily, Bratislava is more or less on the way from Vienna to Budapest. So, it’s an easy stopover. I’d recommend staying a night in Bratislava, so you have time to experience the city and the market there.

You can also visit Bratislava as a day trip from Vienna if you’d rather not deal with moving your stuff for one night.

What to See

Bratislava is small, but it offers a lot! A modern city surrounds the old town, but the old town is where you’ll spend most of your time.

Bratislava Castle

This massive white castle sits on top of the hill and overlooks the city of Bratislava. The views and the walk down from the castle are the highlights. The castle is home to a museum now, but don’t feel like it’s a must-do.

Castle Grounds are open from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily.

The Museum is open daily (except Tuesday) from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. final entry).

Admission is €12.

Little Blue Church

The Little Blue Church is technically the Church of St Elizabeth. The exterior of the church is a beautiful blue color.

It was originally built as the chapel of a nearby school. The school has a similar design but not blue.

Visiting the exterior of the church is easy. Getting inside the church is restricted to when it’s open.

The church is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2:30- 5:00 pm.

The exterior alone is worth the short walk.

Go On a Sculpture Hunt

Bratislava’s old town has a series of sculptures. If you keep your eyes open, you’ll likely see them as you wander around.

The watcher is the most popular statue. It depicts a soldier looking out at the streets from a manhole.

Climb the Tower at Old Town Hall

This one isn’t a must unless you want the photo. This tower overlooks the main square with the market. So, you can get a really fun photo of the Christmas market if you’d like.

Christmas Markets to Visit

There are two main markets in Bratislava. The first is in the main square. You’ll find food and loads of drinks here. Bratislava has more than the traditional mulled wine.

The markets in Bratislava have the largest variety of warm drinks for you to sample. It was a nice change-up.

There is also a stage with some seating if you happen to visit when there’s some entertainment performing!

The other market isn’t far. The Hviezdoslavovo námestie is kind of like a park that runs along one of the main streets. It’s a beautiful part of the city, and you’ll find loads of food stalls here.

Where to Stay

I stayed at The Double Tree because I had a good points redemption.

It was far from the city center, but it was a good way to save some money. It’s nice to see a different part of the city, but it does cut down on the time you have in the city since so much is spent traveling back to your accommodation.

These apartment-style rooms near the Old Town would be my pick if I were doing it again

How to Get Around Bratislava

Once you get to the historic center, walking is the best way to see Bratislava. However, there is also a bus system that is easy to use if you have Google Maps.

Without the maps downloaded, I would’ve been lost here! The alphabet in Bratislava isn’t the same as the one we use in English, so it would’ve been difficult to decipher without the help of the GPS.

Day 4- Bratislava to Budapest

At this point, head to Budapest. Depending on how you decide to structure your Christmas Market itinerary, it’s easy to train to Budapest from Vienna or Bratislava.

Budapest is an incredible city with so much to do!

It’s also heaven for those of us who need to eat gluten-free.

What to See

After arriving in Budapest, check in to your hotel and grab dinner. I assume you’ll arrive relatively late in the day since you’re training in from another city.

Christmas Markets to Visit

Kick off your visit to Budapest with a trip to some of my favorite Christmas Markets in the city.

Vörösmarty Square

Vörösmarty Square is in the heart of the shopping district in Budapest. Food stalls/trucks are on one side of the square, and crafts/gifts are on the other. Some of my favorite items were at this market. I have the most beautiful ornament on my tree now!

St. Stephen’s Basilica

This is one of the biggest markets in Budapest, and it has won the award for being the best Christmas Market overall. It’s a big deal.

It’s also packed! There are so many stalls and so many people that it can be hard to see everything. Spend plenty of time, and it’s also not a bad idea to go back another night.

The most special part of this market is a scheduled light show on the front of the cathedral. The light display is set to music, and the cathedral is used as a backdrop. It was unique to this market and fun to see!

Where to Stay in Budapest

You’ll either stay in Buda on top of the hill or Pest across the river.

Staying in Buda puts you at the top of the hill near some of the best attractions in the city. At night, I had them to myself because the crowds had gone down to Pest. It was so peaceful.

However, you’ll have to take the bus each day because the hill is so steep, and there aren’t as many hotel options.

The Hilton does have wonderful views of the city, though.

In Pest, you’ll have many more hotel options, and it’s a much more walkable part of the city. However, you miss out on seeing some of the main attractions at night.

I will always love an apartment-style hotel.

How to Get Around Budapest

Public transportation in Budapest is incredibly cheap and extensive. Getting where you want to go is easy if you want a break from the cold. It’s a steep walk up the hill, so you’ll want to take the bus when visiting Buda.

The travel card makes it super easy. You can use it on any form of public transit in Budapest. And you don’t have to visit the ticket machines whenever you want to ride.

• 24 Hr- $6.50
• 72 hr- $14.50
• 7 days- $17

The easiest place to get your ticket is at the BKK counter at the airport or from the kiosks/ticket windows at the metro stations.

Day 5- Budapest

What to See

Budapest is known for its thermal baths. Spend the morning soaking in the bath at the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. They were constructed in 1913 and are a beautiful place to relax.

There are baths at different temperatures, including three outdoor pools and several interior pools. Some of them are on the cooler side.

The outdoor pools were my favorite experience. But I was glad I checked out the rest of the property, too.

There’s also a lap pool if you’re a swimmer. I enjoyed getting my laps in here.

Széchenyi baths are open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.

Buying your ticket before you go is a good idea since it can be quite busy. You can buy directly from the baths or go through a third party if that’s your preference.

Regardless of where you get your ticket, book a cabin.

Then, you’ll have a place to store all of your belongings and change. If you’re in a group, you’ll each have a wristband. Note that only one of the wristbands will open the cabin.

After you change clothes and lock your cabin, walk down the main floor hallway until you see the small concession stand. The door to the baths is directly across from this stand. Many people said it was complicated, but I didn’t have that experience.

Pack a microfiber camp towel if you can. They’re small and super absorbent!

Plan to spend a few hours in the baths and then change when you’re done. This will take up most of your morning, and it’s worth it!

After lunch, you can check out Central Market Hall before you start looking for Christmas markets.

Christmas Markets to Visit

Head out to Heroe’s Square and City Park. Near the castle, there is a Christmas market and a really popular ice rink. Vajdahunyad Castle is the backdrop as you skate around!

I recommend a second visit to the markets in Vörösmarty Square and at St. Stephen’s Basilica. You can even see a concert inside the basilica.

Day 6- Budapest

What to See

Head up the hill to Buda. Visit the Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church, and walk down to Buda Castle for a good view of the city below. You can purchase tickets for each of these on-site.

The walls at Fisherman’s Bastion are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the ticket is about $2.75.

Matthias Church is a bit more complicated since it’s a functioning church. But it is one of the most impressive churches I have ever visited, so it’s worth trying to make it happen.

• Mon-Fri: 9 am – 5 pm
• Sat: 9 am – 1 pm
• Sun: 1 pm – 5 pm

Tickets are $6.83.

In the afternoon, take a tour of the Hungarian Parliament building.

You’ll need to get your tickets early for this. It fills up quickly!

They advertise “day of” tickets, but it doesn’t seem very common for them to be an option.

Don’t be late for your tour. They’ll start without you!

After touring Parliament, walk along the Danube to find the Shoes on the Danube World War II memorial.

Then, stroll along Andrassay Avenue. It’s a picturesque street that’s worth a walk!

Christmas Markets to Visit

Try to get to Óbuda if you can. This is a smaller, more residential market. But it had a very different feel to it. It was clearly geared at those living in the neighborhood instead of the tourists who frequent the other markets.

There is another small ice rink here and a stage, too! There are also food and craft stalls. But it is much smaller than the other two markets. It’s still worth the visit.

Another popular thing in Budapest is the ruin bars. They are bars built into old buildings, and each has its own character. If you have the time, you can visit some of them.

Day 7- Budapest and travel home

You can visit Budapest a bit more depending on your travel plans. Check out the Gellert Thermal Baths or the Dohány Street Synagogue if you have time.

Other Considerations for Your Christmas Market Itinerary

There are so many Christmas markets to pick from! I also visited a few markets in Germany. They weren’t my favorites. It could have been the year, the weather, or the markets I visited.

You could do a longer trip. I went for 2 weeks. But, this paired-down itinerary seems more reasonable after staying for longer. It’s taxing walking around in the cold for so many weeks.

And, as much as I love the markets, they start running together. You can pass the peak of fun if you stay for too long or explore too many markets.

Enjoy This Christmas Market itinerary

Christmas Markets are a special way to see Europe. I loved exploring them and seeing how over-the-top they were.

You can spend an endless amount of time there, but this itinerary gets you to some of the most special markets I visited.

I’m already excited about going back to see more of them!