I have always dreamed of spending Christmas in Vienna. If it’s the most magical time of the year, and you’ll find it everywhere in December due to the Christmas spirit we saw in the film, then it’s the knee depth of Gruwein at the German Christmas market. This year I headed to Austria to experience everything Vienna has to offer until December, with the smell of Christmas lights, Nativity displays, Christmas markets and of course the smell of Christmas trees, hot wine and roasted chestnuts.
Updated in December 2022.
How to spend Christmas in Vienna
1. Visit Hofberg Palace
There are many Christmas markets scattered around Vienna until December. One of the best starting points is to visit Hofberg Palace with several Christmas stalls at the entrance (to save Vienna’s best Christmas market –
Michael Kooppel, 1010 Vienna
2. Visit the Giant Christmas Bow
There is a lot to see and do while traveling around Vienna’s Innere Stadt (District 1), and the best way to experience Central Vienna is by foot, of course, so you can incorporate it all. Vienna State Opera House This iconic building has been a pit stop for visitors to Vienna in recent years.
Opposite the Vienna Opera House
3. Visit Demel Bakery
This 1786 tea salon built its own name as one of Vienna’s best tea shops. It offers specialized cakes, tea, coffee and a limited café style menu. This is a great place to make a pit stop during Christmas shopping (there are seating upstairs) or to grab some pastries to go on Christmas Day. For local things, try the famous Sachertortte (its origin is contested between Demel and Café Sacha).
Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Vienna
4. Step into the Vienna State Opera House
Still within the studs of Inel, try to go to the Vienna State Opera House for a behind-the-scenes tour – priced at a fair 9 euro and available on time (check the website for tour time updates as they vary depending on performance). This tour provides access to many of the opera rooms, including behind the scenes tours.
Operanring 2, Wien
5. Visit CafeCentral
The coffee house culture has a huge heritage in Vienna to this day. There is no cafe more famous than Cafe Central (and therefore you’ll have to wait any longer). There is tourism, but a visit to this famous institution is a must for first-time visitors to Vienna and you will be amazed at how amazing the cake is despite the main customer base being out of town.
Herrengasse 14, 1010 Vienna
6. Visit the traditional Christmas market
Vienna It is an absolute mecca for Christmas traditions, and it all starts with the famous Christmas market that brings thousands of visitors to Vienna every year. There are several major Christmas markets around the city and small pop-ups of food stalls in all directions, so get ready to spoil yourself for your choice!
7. Try the traditional Apple Strudel
Austria is “known for its heartfelt winter dishes, and even desserts are based on cold winters, and staying warm! Apple Strudel is the most popular Austrian dessert and can be found on almost every menu, but if you don’t have many people in the sweets, you can pick up a miniature apple strudel at Demel (near Hofberg Palace) and sample a bite-sized strudel.
Demel: Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Vienna
8. Explore Vienna at night
It’s beautiful during the day, like Vienna, but even more magical at night. The city of Vienna brings Christmas to life. This is especially true when Blue Hour is a hit and the city is lit up by all of its festivities.
9. Check out the traditional coffee house cafe Schwarzenberg
There are plenty of coffee houses during your visit in Vienna, but if you can choose just one, I recommend visiting Cafe Schwarzenberg as it is as impressive as its more popular counterparts (i.e. Cafe Central and Cafe Sacher).
KärntnerRing 17, 1010 Vienna
10. Christkindlmarkt by Rathausplatz
If you only have one Christmas market to visit in Vienna, then Christkindlmarkt from Rathausplatz, the largest Christmas market in District 1. Because of its size and central location, this is also the most popular Christmas market, so prepare for the crowd!
Rathauspl. ,1010 Wien
11. Check-in at Pare Hansen in Kempinski
If you’re looking for a Vienna hotel with a bit of extra Christmas flares, look no further than Pare Hansen in Kempinski. Not only will they decorate the lobby with decorations on top of the decoration, but the concierge will even find some wrapping paper for you to wrap those last minute gifts and allow you to enjoy Christmas in Vienna to the fullest.
Schotthring 24, 1010 Wien
12. See the city with horses and carriages
Vienna horses and carriages are as traditional as Cafehauser and the symbolism and Impressionist works that have made Austria so famous. Looking at the city with horses and carriages is a cozy event, and at that point it’s a romantic event!
13. Visit the Belvedere Palace
There is far more to Belvedere than the blessings of Gustav Klimt Kiss, But, if we’re honest, that’s just the reason why we visit! The Belvedere Museum is a great insight into Austrian art history, and while there is much to see inside the palace doors, the garden itself is equally impressive.
Prince Eugene Stress 27, 1030 Vienna
14. Hundertwasserhaus
If you are an art fan and are looking for something to tickle your flashy stuff outside the museum, make sure to visit Handard Wassel House in the Landstrasse district. This is a great insight into the modern existence of Vienna and the quirky aspects of the city.
Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Wien
16. CafeSperl
Last but not least, you can’t miss a visit to Cafe Sperl and Neaby Naschmarkt. This is my favorite neighborhood in town and Cafe Spar is coming near Cafe Schwarzenberg for me. It also has a much broader lunch menu that can be served than traditional coffee houses, making it a perfect pit stop for lunch!
Gumpendorfer str. 11, 1060 Wien