Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary 2024

To explore a city and see Christmas markets it’s helpful to have a plan. Luckily, the markets in Vienna are usually near the sites you’d want to see anyone. This Vienna Christmas Market itinerary helps you plan to see the city and the Christmas markets on your visit.

We’ll assume 3 days. I know you’re trying to see more than one city on your trip. I’d recommend adding the markets in Budapest and Bratislava.

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Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Morning– Hofburg House
Day 1 Afternoon/Evening– Market at the Belvedere and Rathausplatz near City Hall

Day 2 Morning- Explore the historic center
Day 2 Afternoon/Evening– Market by the cathedral, Maria Theresien Square, and Karlsplatz

Day 3 Morning– Explore anything you missed in the city. There are plenty of museums to visit!
Day 3 Afternoon/Evening– Schönbrunn Palace and Market

Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary Day 1

Spend the Morning Exploring Hofburg House

Vienna was the heart of the Hapsburg Empire, starting back in the 13th century and evolving through generations of rules. Now, this grand palace is transformed into a museum with three different sections to explore.

Plan on spending 2-3 hours soaking it all in.

Part 1 – Imperial Apartments

The real gem here is the Imperial Apartments. Get a sneak peek into the lives of Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi as you stroll through their bedrooms and ballrooms.

Sisi’s place is the most interesting. She was obsessed with staying fit and you can see her gym and exercise equipment. Even if you’ve checked out other palaces before this one is still worth a visit. It was from a different time than others I’d visited and I found it very interesting. Especially since it was tied to World War 1 in such a unique way.

Part 2- The SiSi Museum

Next up is the SiSi Museum, a tribute to the fascinating life of Empress Elizabeth. She was a beloved Empress but she was also obsessed with being young and beautiful. I didn’t know much about her going into the visit but she was intriguing. She was unique enough that she was fun to learn about even if you’ve never heard of her.

Part 3- The Silver Museum

To reach the Sisi Museum, you’ll meander through the Silver Collection, showcasing the extravagant china and silver used by the Hapsburgs. It’s a bit mind-boggling how much fancy stuff is on display. While it might not demand an extended visit, it’s worth a stroll through.

Christmas Market Hopping in the Afternoon/Evening

The Christmas markets aren’t open all day so you’ll start your visits to them in the afternoon.

Start your day at The Belvedere. If you’d like to visit the art museum here you can do that first. The market at the Belvedere has booths for food and crafts. Plus, there are some activities for kids. But, the backdrop of the Belvedere makes it a great opening market.

After you finish at The Belvedere head over to Rathausplatz near City Hall.

This was my favorite Christmas market. Period.

It’s massive so you’ll need plenty of time to visit but you can also go back for a second visit.

At the Rathausplatz market, you’ll find mulled wine, roasted nuts, food, and crafts. There’s a giant carousel, a nativity walk, and Christmas lights too. Plus, an ice skating path; not a rink.

It took several hours to wander through the whole thing. There will be crowds here but it’s worth it.

Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary Day 2

Explore The Old Town

The Old Town of Vienna is a beautiful part of the city. It’s near Hofburg house and is very walkable.

Start at Stephen’s Cathedral. The massive church is impossible to miss as you explore this part of the city. Be sure to walk around the exterior to admire the tile work on the roof. The tile work is incredible!

Then tour the inside of the cathedral. It’s pretty and a good way to escape the cold.

Walk to Mozart’s house. Even if you don’t plan to tour the inside of the building the walk to the landmark allows you to walk along picturesque streets.

Walk down Kärntner Straße. This street connects Stephensplatz with the Opera House. The street is lined with striking buildings. It also dates back to when the city was a Roman settlement.

All around the old town area, you’ll find spots for great photos and shopping if you’re interested. Don’t be afraid to spend some time walking around this area.

Market Hop- Stephensplatz, Maria Theresien Square, and Karlsplatz

There are several restaurants in the old town. Pick one for lunch.

After lunch, you’ll start hopping around to different Christmas markets. Start at Stephensplatz. This market opens a bit earlier than some of the others and is located right by the cathedral. It can be a crowded area but take your time to check out the stalls.

Maria Theresien Square is a good next stop. This market has four different rows of stalls. Each one juts out from the monument at the center of the square. It can take a bit of time to wind through the different pathways.

The market at Karlsplatz was one of my favorites. It still felt like it was a local favorite and hadn’t become gimmicky or touristy. There are various handmade carousels and the most unique craft booths.

You can also sip mulled wine while you watch kids at the petting zoo! This was unique to Karlsplatz and was interesting even though I didn’t pet any animals.

You can visit Karlskirche if you’d like. The exterior is stunning but I didn’t feel the need to go inside.

Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary Day 3

Choose Your Adventure

Spend the morning exploring anything in Vienna you feel like you missed. There are plenty of art museums or you can visit the Spanish Riding School.

If you’d like, spend your morning relaxing at a coffee shop or bakery.

Every itinerary needs a little bit of overflow time. If nothing else you can soak in the city by wandering through the old town again.

Schönbrunn Palace and Market

In the afternoon take the train out to Schönbrunn Palace. This site is a must-visit when you’re in Vienna.

You can purchase your ticket early or on-site. If you buy your ticket when you arrive be prepared to kill some time while you wait to be able to enter the palace.

You can also take a guided tour of the palace.

The grounds are large but maybe if the weather is cold and dreary you may not want to walk around too much.

Explore the rooms of the palace. It’s even more fun that it’s festive! Then wander around the market checking out the stalls and sipping more mulled wine.

Where to Stay in Vienna

Stay where public transit is easily accessible and try to find a nearby Christmas market if you can. Then you can visit that market every day and feel like you have “your” market.

My market was the one at Karlsplatz.

The Intercontinental is an expensive splurge unless you have hotel points. But, it is extra festive and fun.

These are more affordable hotel options. Vienna is beautiful and easy to get around.

Getting Around Vienna

It’s easy to get around Vienna using public transit. They have an extensive system of subways (U-Bahn), trains (S-Bahn), trams (Straßenbahn), and busses. Plus, public transit is a nice way to warm up a bit if you’re cold.

You can buy individual rides as you go or get a pass.

Try to walk as much as you in Vienna. The whole city is festive this time of year. Plus, you can stumble on some markets you might’ve missed otherwise.

Create Your Own Vienna Christmas Market Itinerary

Vienna is a must-stop on your Christmas market journey. I expected to like the markets in Germany the best since they were the ones I’d heard about. But, the markets in Vienna were my favorites! If I was going back for Christmas markets it would be to Vienna, without question.

I hope you stay warm and have a great time!