The best Christmas markets in Austria you and your kids will love this holiday season
The best Christmas markets in Austria: all you need to know to plan a visit and immerse yourself into the magic of the holiday season.
Austria has wonderful Christmas markets.
From Mid-November to Christmas Day and beyond, Austrian towns and cities celebrate the advent dressing up in lights, Christmas trees, decorations and become home to exciting Christmas markets with stalls, music and festive cheer.
I love Christmas markets in Austria.
I love the ritual of wrapping up before heading for a Christmassy evening, the welcoming glow of the lights and the warmth of the gluhwein.
I love how the historical Austrian squares manage to become even more breathtaking once all lit up at night.
And I love that the Christmas markets in Austria cater to the whole family with pretty stalls with gifts, traditional food, candy, carousels and music that is fun for us and the kids.
Austrian Christmas markets are perfect for a weekend getaway with kids. Today, I want to share four of them I believe are worth the trip!
Safe travel planning!
Need to know! Austria has stringent health rules regulating access to Christmas markets and events. Find the official info here.
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Magical Christmas markets in Austria you will love
Top Tip! Christmas markets in Austria attracts many visitors from all over the world. Advance booking of hotels is essential, especially if hoping to get a good price!
I have included recommendations for hotels and tours in each location. Several offer good cancellations policy: check cancellation details of each room/tour before booking.
Salzburg Christmas Market
The Salzburg market is a traditional Christmas market in Austria with origins dating back to the XV century!
The market takes place in the main town square and has one of the most magical backdrops you can dream of: the Salzburg cathedral and the incredible Hohensalzburg Fortress, which dominates the city and is simply spectacular all lit up!
The Salzburg market is a merry extravaganza of lights.
The market has about 100 wooden huts selling Christmas favorites such as roasted nuts and candy and host events for adults and kids, including choir sing-along, storytelling, and the chance to visit the crib with the Christ Child and angels.
Dates: usually mid- November – January 1
Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 am-8:30 pm / Friday 10 am-9pm / Saturday 9 am-9 pm
Sunday+holidays 9 am-8:30 pm
Special opening hours: December 24, 9 am-3 pm / December 25+26, 11 am-6 pm / December 31, 10 am-1am /January 1, 10 am-6 pm
Official website: click here
Stay at: Altstadthotel Amadeus, which offers lovely family apartments a short walk from the market.
Vienna Christmas market
My very first trip to Vienna was during Christmas time and it was the start of a huge love affair between me and the city.
Vienna at Christmas is spectacular and the Christmas markets is the perfect antidote to the one thing that may tarnish your trip: the cold!
The Vienna Christmas market is not just one market; instead, the city has several locations ready for the occasion.
For all of them, I recommend you stay at: Hotel Kaiserin Elizabeth, my go-to hotel in Vienna, in a spectacular location in the city center, walking distance from everything and just in front of a traditional, delightful cafe!
The most spectacular Christmas markets in Vienna are at the following locations:
Christkindlmarkt, Vienna Christmas Dream (click here for official info): RatHouse Platz, from mid November to December 26th usually.
This is a sensational Christmas market taking place against the stunning backdrop of Vienna City Hall.
The market has fantastic stalls with delicious food and Austrian crafts and has live music and entertainment for the whole family with choirs and performers filling the air with festive notes.
Here is also where you find Vienna Christmas World, which is the most family friendly area of the market. .
Visitors access it by walking under a large archway with advent candles, Christmas baubles and lights; once in, you find a vintage carousel, ferry wheel, 12 nativity scenes and the beautiful Herzerlbaum, a maple tree decorated with 200 glowing hearts!
Christmas Village Belvedere Palace (click here for official info).
Hosted in front of the stunning Belevedere Castle, the former residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, this market is intimate, with only about 20 stands, but is has a wonderfully romantic atmosphere and quality stalls selling food and craft.
To little ones, it offers a vintage carousel.
I recommend to visit the market in addition to your visit to the palace, a must see in Vienna! Find tickets and prices for the castle here.
Christmas Market Schloß Schönbrunn (official info here): the stunning Palace of Schonbrunn is one of the most famous landmarks in Austria and a Vienna must-see, no matter the season.
However, at Christmas it becomes even more enjoyable for families thanks to the beautiful Christmas market!
Right in front of the palace, with its stunning facade on one side and the breathtaking view of the Schonbrunn gardens on the other, you will find pretty stalls, a tall Christmas tree and lots of delicious traditional Austrian Christmas food.
Punch and mulled wine for the grown ups and sugared pancake with raisins, sweet chestnuts or gingerbread for the kids are just some of the delicacies you will find here!
Schonbrun is outside Vienna city center and you can make a day out of your visit here. Make sure you book ticket in advance and visit both the palace and the gardens. Find info and tickets here.
Stephansplatz Christmas Market (official info here): this is a more recent Christmas market in Vienna taking place in front of the wonderful Stephans’ Dome, Vienna’s Cathedral.
Due to its central location, you are likely to simply pass this market as you walk around Vienna city center; however, ti is worth a stop!
Here you can find pretty stalls, atmospheric horse-drawn carriages (or Fiakers, typical of Vienna) and lots and lots of seasonal food.
This is a lovely market for a browse and a meal during sightseeing.
Prater Winter Market (find official info here): The Prater is Vienna’s historical amusement park and one of the best places to visit in Vienna with children no matter the season.
At Christmas however, it becomes even more magical as the whole area fills up with festive lights and stalls. If you are not afraid of heights, make sure you enjoy the market from above too, by taking a ride on the famous Prater Ferry wheel: it’s unforgettable!
Make sure you read here >>> my guide to seeing Vienna in one day, so you can make the most of your city break!
Innsbruck Christmas market
Innsbruck is a beautiful medieval town in Tyrol, Southern Austria, surrounded by beautiful mountains.
I first visited Innsbruck in summer, driving here from my favorite family vacation spot on the Italian Dolomites; however, it is at Christmas that Innsbruck is at its most magical, thank to is delightful Christmas market.
Innsbruck Christmas market spreads over several squares and piazzas and turns the whole town center into a winter wonderland.
Here, you can find stalls wit food and crafts, many musical events, a carousel and a petting zoo for the kids.
As well as city center markets, Innsbruck also has a festive village at Hungerburg, the panoramic station of the Innsbruck cable car, decorated for the season and offering fantastic views over the city as well as
Dates are usually mid November – 23 December usually for
- Old Town Christmas market
- Christmas Market Maria-Theresien Straße (Main shopping street Christmas market)
- The Family Christmas Market at Marktplatz
- Panorama Christmas Market on Hungerburg
- Official info with opening hours and directions to Innsbruck Christmas markets are here.
Stay at: Riedz Apartments Innsbruck, spacious and perfectly located to enjoy all Innsbruck has to offer
Graz Christmas market
Graz is the capital of Styria, in the South East of Austria, and it is one of the best places in Austria for Christmas markets are it hosts not one but several of them, all walking distance from each other!
The main Christmas market in Graz is the Advent Market in the main Graz Square: here, you find a huge and sparkling Christmas tree and the illuminated Advent Calendar on the building façade. Quite a sight!
On the main square you also find traditional wooden stalls selling crafts, food and the signature Feuerzangenbowle, which is a a blend of wine and rum set on fire.
Families will enjoy the Children’s Advent fair – Kleine Neutorgasse, which takes place in front of Graz’s Franciscan church.
This is a lovely Austrian family friendly Christmas market with a carousel, a big wheel and sweets to fill a crowd!
Dates are usually mid-November to 24 December:
- Advent Market in Front of City Hall, Graz
- Old Town Traditional Christmas Market, Franciscan Quarter, Graz
- Other Christmas markets and event happen across Graz during the festive season: find official info and details here
Stay at: City Residence Apartments, a well priced, family friendly property in close proximity to the market
What to wear to visit Austria’s Christmas markets
Austrian Christmas markets happen outdoors and dressing for the weather is paramount!
While the warmth of the stalls and Christmas food will help you warm up, you must be ready for winter in Austria with warm layers (including a thermal one), a warm winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves and winter shoes – boots are ideal.
If you have children in strollers, make sure you have a good baby footfmuff to keep them warm.
I hope you enjoyed this quick overview of the best Christmas markets in Austria you can enjoy with the kids. Safe travel planning!
