Christmas In Vienna: The Best 5-Day Christmas Vienna Itinerary

Planning to spend Christmas in Vienna? Here is a comprehensive 5-day Christmas Vienna Itinerary based on our own family trip to Vienna. It has everything you need to create an unforgettable trip. It’s packed with the city’s best Christmas markets, top activities, places to stay, local restaurants to try, and even tours to make the most of your visit. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let the planning begin. Gute Reise!

Where To Stay in Vienna

Vienna is such a beautiful city with plenty of hotels and Airbnb options. It all depends on your budget and the vibe you’re looking for. It is ideal to stay in the Innere Stadt because of how centric that district is, however please keep in mind that Vienna is a very walkable city like most of Europe. Even if you stay out of the city center you’ll be within 20 minutes of all the tourist attractions.

Regardless of the type of accommodation, we recommend you book the hotel or Airbnb as soon as you can as Vienna is a popular Christmas destination, and the closer to December the harder it can be to find accommodations and the more expensive it gets. Here are a few options, including where we choose to stay.

Innere Stadt

The Innere Stadt is Vienna’s historic center and the perfect choice for those who want to be in the heart of the action. Staying here means you’ll be steps away from iconic landmarks and some of the most famous Christmas markets.

This is where we chose to stay because it is easier to be closer to all the tourist attractions. We are a family of 4 and were able to find a decently priced Airbnb just a block away from the Vienna State Opera.

Pros: Central location, easy access to major attractions, lively atmosphere filled with restaurants, shops, and cultural landmarks.

Cons: Accommodation prices tend to be higher, and the area can get busy, especially during the peak holiday season.

Neubau

Neubau is a trendy and artsy district known for its creative vibe and cool café culture. It’s a great option for travelers who want a mix of local charm. While it’s slightly further from the main tourist spots, they are still within walking distance and Vienna has a very efficient and easy-to-use public transportation system in case it is needed.

Pros: Great for art and design lovers, affordable boutique hotels, and a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the city center.

Cons: Slightly further from the main sights (though still walkable or easily accessible by public transport).

Widen

Wieden offers a balance between local culture and proximity to Vienna’s main attractions. Known for its eclectic vibe, this neighborhood has plenty of small independent shops, cozy cafes, and a less touristy feel. Staying here provides easy access to the famous Naschmarkt and Belvedere Palace, as well as unique Christmas markets like the one at Karlsplatz.

Pros: Quieter and more residential, with plenty of charming eateries and local gems, budget-friendly options available,

Cons: Not as central as Innere Stadt, requiring a short tram or metro ride to reach major sights. Or a 30-minute walk.

Landstraße

Landstraße is a wonderful option for travelers who want to explore Vienna from a quieter base. Home to the beautiful Belvedere Palace and its Christmas market, this district combines historic charm with modern amenities. It’s an excellent choice for families or those looking for mid-range accommodation options.

Pros: More affordable than Innere Stadt, less crowded, and close to the Belvedere Palace and public transport connections.

Cons: Fewer dining options compared to more central districts, and it can feel less lively in the evenings.

Must-Know Vienna Travel Tips

Currency & Payments

Vienna uses the Euro, and while most restaurants, shops, and hotels accept credit cards, cash is often preferred at Christmas markets, especially for smaller purchases like food and drinks. Some stalls at Christmas markets are even cash-only. It’s a good idea to carry some small bills and coins for these transactions.

Tipping is customary in Austria; rounding up the bill by 5-10% or leaving a few extra euros for good service is appreciated.

Vienna’s Weather in December

Vienna in winter can be very cold, with temperatures often ranging from -1°C to 5°C (30°F to 41°F). My family lives in Florida so they were excited to see snow in Vienna. We recommend you pack warm layers. One thing we were not prepared for was rain, it rained a lot during our stay, so you’ll need umbrellas and waterproof jackets and shoes.

It is important to dress in layers because most museums have the heater going high and it can get really warm – you don’t want to be sweating profusely inside. Comfortable, insulated boots are a must for walking around markets and cobblestone streets. Consider hand warmers since you’ll be walking outside a lot, especially in the evenings in Christmas markets when temperatures drop further.

Getting Around Vienna

Vienna’s public transport system is efficient, affordable, and easy to use, with trams, buses, and the U-Bahn (subway) connecting all major attractions. If you’re not staying in one of the most centric districts, or cannot walk as much, consider purchasing a Vienna Travel Pass for unlimited travel within the city. Apps like WienMobil and Google Maps are excellent for navigation and planning routes. Public transport runs frequently, but be aware that service may be reduced on holidays.

Best Tours to Book During Winter in Vienna

Just like with accommodations, tickets are likely to sell out the closer it gets to the date, so make sure you’re purchasing museum, tours, and show tickets in advance.

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concert in Karlskirche – Experience a delightful classical concert with a period instrument ensemble at Vienna’s Karlskirche. Enjoy Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and embark on a captivating journey into musical history.

Guided Walking Tour of City Highlights & Hidden Gems – Discover the highlights of Vienna on a guided walking tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks. See the grand entrance to the Hofburg Palace, the Spanish Riding School, and the Vienna State Opera.

Chocolate Workshop in Chocolate Museum with Tasting – Experience the art of chocolate making in our hands-on workshop, where you’ll indulge in the delicious world of chocolate and create your own sweet masterpieces.

Culinary Horse-Drawn Carriage Experience – Enjoy typical drinks and/or delicacies of Viennese cuisine on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Allow yourself to be enchanted by the city center of Vienna, including its numerous fascinating sights.

One-Day Trips From Vienna

Wachau, Melk, Hallstatt, & Salzburg with a Boat Trip – Join a guided tour of Wachau, Melk, Hallstatt, and Salzburg from Vienna. Enjoy beautiful landscapes, fascinating history, and a relaxing boat ride in Hallstatt. Book now for the ultimate Austria adventure.

Mödling/Vienna: Scenic Guided Hike with Alpacas and Llamas – Explore the scenic countryside near Vienna on a guided hike with your very own four-footed friend. Learn about alpacas and llamas while enjoying the picturesque rural views.

From Vienna: Budapest & Bratislava Guided One-Day Tour – Embark on a captivating full-day tour that bridges the capitals of Bratislava and Budapest. Experience the two nations as you delve into their stories discovering hidden gems along the way.

Vienna’s Christmas Markets List and Schedule

Here is a comprehensive list of Vienna’s Christmas markets and a detailed map so you can see where every Christmas market is. Most of the Christmas markets are sprinkled throughout the 5-day Christmas Vienna itinerary based on location, but keep this map on hand so you can make sure to visit every Christmas market.

Christkindlmarkt at the Rathaus

• Every day: 10am to 10pm
• December 24th: 10am to 6:30pm

Belvedere Christmas Village

• Weekdays: 11am to 9pm
• Weekends: 10am to 9pm
• December 24th: 11am to 4pm
• December 25th to 30th: 11am to 7pm
• December 31st: 11am to 6pm

Christmas Market at Karlsplatz

• Everyday: noon to 8pm

Stephenplatz Christmas Market

• Everyday: 11am to 9pm
• December 24th: 11am – 4pm
• December 25th and 26th: 11am – 7pm

Altes AKH Christmas Market

• Monday through Wednesday: 2pm to 10pm
• Thursday and Friday: 2pm to 11pm
• Saturday: 11am to 11pm
• Sunday: 11am to 8pm

Christmas Market at Maria-Theresien-Platz

• Sundays to Thursdays: 11am to 9pm
• Friday and Saturday: 11am to 10pm
• Closed earlier on December 24th (4pm), 25th to 30th (7pm) and 31st (6pm)

Schönbrunn Palance Christmas Market

• Every day: 10am to 9pm
• Closes at 4pm on December 24th
• 10am to 7pm from December 25th onwards

• Explore the Börseviertel
• Stephen’s Cathedral and Stephenplatz
• Brunch at Cafe Central
• Visit Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum
• Rathaus Christmas Market
• Altes AKH Christmas Market
• Dinner at Cafe Sacher

Christmas Market Freyung

• Every day: 10am to 9pm

Christmas Market Am Hof

• Mondays through Thursdays: 11am to 9pm
• Fridays through Sundays: 10am to 9pm

5-Day Vienna Christmas Itinerary

This Christmas Vienna itinerary includes main attractions, restaurant recommendations, and the famous Christmas markets. It is very comprehensive, as I wanted to provide all the information you need to make your trip to Vienna magical. Hope you enjoy it as much as me and my family did.

Day 1: Welcome to Vienna

Places to visit

• Breakfast at Café Schwarzenberg
• Karlskirche
• Christmas Market at Karlsplatz
• Belvedere Palace
• Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace
• Stroll around Opernviertel
• Concert & Opera
• Dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile

I always think that the first day in a new city, strolling around is the way to go. It would be best to arrive first thing in the morning to make the most out of the day, especially because it gets dark early in the winter. After you head to the hotel or Airbnb to leave your bags, you should head to Café Schwarzenberg, a classic coffeehouse.

After, stop by Karlskirche (St. Charles Church), one of Vienna’s most stunning Baroque landmarks, easily recognizable by its massive dome and twin columns. The church’s forecourt transforms into a small Christmas market during the Christmas season. You can return when it’s dark on your way back from the Belvedere Palace to see all the small shops and to enjoy some Glühwein. We saw mostly arts and crafts at the Christmas Market at Karlplatz and it was lively – one of our favorites! Besides, you’ll want a photo with the shops and the church in the background.

A couple more blocks away is the Belvedere Palace, renowned for its Baroque architecture and art collections, including Klimt’s “The Kiss.” The holiday season is very busy in Vienna, so we recommend you book your tickets beforehand.

After touring the museum, wander through the Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace, where the palace gardens are adorned with festive stalls. This is a small Christmas Market, so you’ll go through it quickly. And because it is a bit further away from the center, it won’t be as crowded as other markets.

Next, capture the city’s festive lights with a walk around the Opernviertel, the area surrounding the Vienna State Opera. For a memorable experience, consider attending an opera performance; check the schedule and book tickets in advance. If everything is booked, you can attend a classical music concert. There are plenty of concerts to choose from and most of them still have availability.

End the night, by grabbing dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile, one of the best restaurants in Vienna. Enjoy a tradional Wiener Schnitzel. This restaurant is a bit pricy and you will most likely need a reservation.

Related: 123 Funny Christmas Captions for Instagram That You’ll Love

Day 2: Hofburg Palace

Places to visit

• Börseviertel
• St. Stephen’s Cathedral
• Cafe Central
• Hofburg Palace
• Christkindlmarkt by the Rathaus
• Altes AKH Christmas market
• Cafe Sacher

Your day should start with a visit to Börseviertel, Vienna’s financial quarter, which is also famous for its chic building architecture and luxury boutiques. Slowly make your way towards St. Stephen’s Cathedral, an iconic landmark in Vienna, renowned for its stunning Gothic architecture and colorful tiled roof. Located in the heart of the city at Stephansplatz, the cathedral is a must-visit. During the holiday season, Stephansplatz transforms into a cozy Christmas market, browse festive stalls filled with handcrafted ornaments, and enjoy the magical ambiance created by the cathedral’s illuminated facade.

For brunch, you’ll head to Cafe Central, one of the most beautiful cafes in Vienna. And their pastries are to die for. One of the best desserts I’ve had in my entire life was their “Nuss Kuss”, a pastry with hazelnuts and chocolate. I recommend making a reservation beforehand as we were in line under the rain for over half an hour to get in. But it was definitely worth it. You’ll want to take plenty of photos as this cafe is stunning inside.

Afterward, you’ll head towards the Hofburg Palace, located a couple of blocks away from Cafe Central. The Hofburg Palace stands as a grand testament to Vienna’s royal history, once serving as the residence of the Habsburg dynasty. The palace includes state apartments, museums, and the Sisi Museum, dedicated to the life of Empress Elisabeth, affectionately known as Sisi. We always recommend Hofburg palace and Sisi Museum skip-the-line tickets, so you can make the most out of your time in Vienna.

A tour of the palace will only take you a few hours, so by the time you exit the palace it’ll be getting dark. This is perfect because you’ll head towards the famous and most visited Christmas Market, the Christkindlmarkt located in front of Vienna’s City Hall (Rathaus).

This Christmas market was our absolute favorite – it looks gorgeous with the illuminated city hall in the background, it has a gigantic Christmas tree, and a light show, along with some activities for children. Pick up some Gluhwein or Punsch and stroll around. This is the perfect market to do your Holiday shopping and find cute souvenirs to bring back since there are around 99 different shops. We enjoyed it so much we came almost three nights in a row.

If you’re up for it, within a 10-minute walk is the Altes AKH Christmas market. It is a less busy area, which makes it the perfect place for locals to grab a drink after work.

After you’re done, it is time to grab dinner. We recommend Café Sacher – a gorgeous Viennese restaurant known for its classic and beautiful design and delicious pastries.

Day 3: Albertina Museum

Places to visit

• Brunch at Palmenhaus
• Visit Albertina Museum
• Advent Genussmarkt: a small Christmas and New Year gourmet market.
• Dinner at Bep Viet

Start your day with brunch at Palmenhaus, a restaurant set in an Art Nouveau greenhouse that used to serve as a train station. It is a very unique restaurant, as it has lots of greenery and beautiful architecture. To put it into perspective – my family lives in Florida and we felt right at home with all the palm trees and greenery at Palmenhaus. The menu is diverse, so there is something for every taste and dietary preference, from schnitzel to vegan options. Do not forget to make a reservation in advance since it is quite popular. We visited this restaurant for dinner and got lucky there was an empty table, but we had to leave within 2 hours since it was already reserved.

Brunch will be followed by a visit to the Albertina Museum, one of Vienna’s best museums of fine arts. It displays masterpieces from several renowned artists like Monet, Picasso, and Klimt. Be sure to explore the basement level, which features a modern art collection known for its bold and thought-provoking pieces. During our visit, we saw paintings that delved into themes like war and societal challenges.

Ultimately, end the evening at this small and intimate gourmet food market, Advent Genussmarkt, located right next to the Opera House. This is usually a high-quality Austrian market where you’ll find delicacies ranging from varieties of mulled wine to crafted chocolate and different cheeses.

Craving a different cuisine? Today, you’ll have a break from schnitzel and you’ll get Vietnamese food instead. We randomly found Bep Viep, and we had the best Vietnamese food ever! Another great Vietnamese restaurant is Saigon.

Day 4: Kunsthistorisches Museum

Places to visit

• Kunsthistorisches Museum
• Brunch at Kunsthistorisches Museum Cafe
• Christmas Market at Maria-Theresien Platz
• Spittelberg Christmas Market

The first thing on the itinerary today is the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a museum of fine arts and history in Vienna. The building in itself is gorgeous! Here you’ll find several works by Rubens, Vermeer, and Caravaggio, among others.

In the middle of the museum, there is a beautiful restaurant. We wanted to grab lunch there but we didn’t have a reservation and the wait time was over two hours. Keep in mind you need a ticket to the museum to be able to eat at their restaurant. Make sure to make a reservation to have this experience.

From here, go out and revisit the Christmas Market at Maria-Theresien-Platz to get those last-minute presents or souvenirs. The market seems to be so much more magical during the daylight, with all its glittering lights and the atmosphere being so upbeat.

Later in the afternoon, head toward the Spittelberg Christmas Market, situated in a historic neighborhood noted for its narrow, cobblestone streets. This market is more boutique-like and less crowded, hence ideal for finding handcrafted gifts, local artisan goods, and unique ornaments. The romantic ambiance here is perfect for winding down your day, with plenty of cozy spots to grab a hot drink or a snack. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant nearby.

Day 5: Schönbrunn Palace

Places to visit

• Schönbrunn Palace
• Christmas Market Schonbrunn Palace
• Dinner at Bauernbräu
• Christmas Market Freyung
• Christmas Market Am Hof

You simply cannot leave Vienna without seeing the Schönbrunn Palace, the iconic Baroque masterpiece and former imperial summer residence in Vienna. Its grand architecture and opulent interiors provide fascinating insights into Austria’s royal history. Don’t miss the palace gardens, which are magical even during winter. To avoid crowds, arrive early and pre-book either a Schönbrunn Palace guided tour or a self-guided audio experience.

After exploring the palace interior, head to the Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace, just outside the gates. This market is renowned for its artisan crafts, high-quality decorations, and gourmet food stalls. Warm up with a cup of Glühwein and try Austrian classics like Kaiserschmarrn or roasted chestnuts. It’s also an excellent place to find unique holiday gifts and souvenirs.

For dinner, dine at Bauernbräu on your way back to the city center. Bauernbräu is known for its traditional Viennese dishes. By the last day, we learned to grab dinner before visiting the Christmas markets because otherwise, we would have filled up with delicious pastries and bratwurst.

As it was the last day in Vienna, we took it easy and focused on revisiting some Christmas markets we loved to take better photos. And we wanted to go to the ones we hadn’t had a chance to visit – the Christmas Market at Freyung and the Am Hof. If you scroll up you’ll find a map with all the Christmas markets, I recommend you save the link to it so you can make sure you see all the Christmas markets as they are the highlight of the trip.

Freyung is one of Vienna’s oldest markets. Located in a charming square, this nostalgic market specializes in handcrafted goods and organic delicacies.

Then, we headed to the Christmas Market Am Hof, a smaller yet elegant market. Here you’ll find a little bit of everything, from artisan jewelry to gourmet chocolates, it’s an ideal final stop to soak in the festive spirit.

Day 6: One-Day Trip From Vienna

Staying an extra day in Vienna? Here are some cities you might want to look into visiting. We stayed a week in Vienna and while we loved it, we quickly ran out of things to do in Vienna. It was also our second time in this beautiful city, so we had already visited most of the museums. But when that happens, the best thing to do is to take advantage of the extra time and to visit a nearby city. That’s the beauty of Europe – everything is so close!

Full-Day Trip to Hallstatt and Salzkammergut – Explore the lakes and mountains of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Salzkammergut on a guided bus tour from Vienna.

Budapest & Bratislava Guided One-Day Tour – Embark on a captivating full-day tour that bridges the capitals of Bratislava and Budapest. Experience the two nations as you delve into their stories discovering hidden gems along the way.

Prague Small Group Guided Day Tour – Experience the beauty of Prague on a small group guided day tour from Vienna. Drive across the vineyards of Austria and see Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and other attractions.

Vienna is a city where every corner has a story, and every view feels like a scene from a painting. In Vienna, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with, whether you’re admiring art at the Belvedere Palace, exploring the Hofburg Palace, or listening to the opera at the Vienna State Opera. Hope you enjoyed this Christmas Vienna Itinerary.