The main Christmas markets
The markets most visitors come for, with the dates and opening hours published by the organisers. The full list, with filters, is on the markets page.
| Market | District | Dates 2026/27 | Opening hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altwiener Christkindlmarkt auf der Freyung Freyung, 1010 Wien | 1st District — Innere Stadt | 14.11.2026 – 23.12.2026 | daily 10:00–21:00 | Free entry |
| Art Advent — Kunsthandwerksmarkt am Karlsplatz Resselpark, Karlsplatz, 1040 Wien | 4th District — Wieden | 13.11.2026 – 23.12.2026 | daily 12:00–20:00 | Free entry |
| Christmas Village Maria-Theresien-Platz Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Wien | 1st District — Innere Stadt | 20.11.2026 – 26.12.2026 | Monday to Friday 11:00–21:00; Saturday and Sunday 10:00–21:00 | Free entry |
| Christmas Village at the University of Vienna Campus (Altes AKH) Campus der Universität Wien, Alser Straße/Spitalgasse, Hof 1, 1090 Wien | 9th District — Alsergrund | 13.11.2026 – 23.12.2026 | Monday to Thursday 14:00–22:00; Friday 14:00–23:00; Saturday 11:00–23:00; Sunday 11:00–21:00; 23 December 14:00–20:00 | Free entry |
| Weihnachtsmarkt Am Hof Am Hof, 1010 Wien | 1st District — Innere Stadt | 13.11.2026 – 23.12.2026 | Monday to Thursday 11:00–21:00 (catering until 22:00); Friday to Sunday 10:00–21:00 (catering until 22:00) | Free entry |
| Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn Ehrenhof, Schloss Schönbrunn, Schönbrunner Schloßstraße, 1130 Wien | 13th District — Hietzing | 06.11.2026 – 06.01.2027 | 06.11.–23.12.2026 daily 10:00–21:00; 24 December 10:00–16:00; 25.12.2026–06.01.2027 daily 10:00–19:00 | Free entry |
All markets, dates and opening hours →
Countdown to the opening of the Fertőd light park
The light park at Esterházy Palace in Fertőd opens on 21 October 2026.
Source: the park's official page. The park is run by DECOLED, the publisher of this site. It is in Hungary, about 100 km by road from Vienna.
Practical information
Transport, holidays, food and drink, money and the usual traps — written for someone who has never been to Vienna in winter.
Getting around Vienna in Advent
Every market in this guide sits on an underground or Ring tram line, so nobody needs a car. What a ticket costs, where you validate it — and which engineering works affect winter 2026/27.
When to go, and what is closed
Vienna’s markets open between 6 and 20 November and they do not all end on the same day. Arrive on 23 December and you will find half the city already packed away.
Eating and drinking at the Christkindlmarkt
Punsch, Glühwein, Maroni and the Häferl you pay a deposit on. What the stalls charged in 2025, where the prices diverge and what to know before you order.
Money, tickets and the usual traps
Vienna in Advent is not an expensive city once you know three things: how time-based tickets have worked since 2026, what the deposit is, and where not to change cash.
Story of Lights Fertőd — Esterházy Palace
A walk-through light park in the courtyard and garden of the baroque Esterházy Palace in Fertőd, about 100 km by road south-east of Vienna. Illuminated facades, carriages and figures tell of the court of the Esterházy princes and of Joseph Haydn, who was Kapellmeister here. The walk takes about an hour. The park is in Hungary, not in Vienna, and is operated by Story of Lights / DECOLED.
Dates 2026/27: 21 October 2026 – 10 January 2027 · Entry: in advance sales from 2 560 Ft reduced / 2 960 Ft full price (Mon–Thu), Fri–Sun from 3 040 Ft / 3 200 Ft · Getting there: By car about 100 km from Vienna via Eisenstadt and Sopron (roughly 1½ hours); by train with ÖBB/GySEV to Sopron and on by regional bus to the stop 'Fertőd, Esterházy-kastély'
Transparency note: Story of Lights is the light-park brand of DECOLED s.r.o., the Czech company that publishes this guide. It is the only attraction on this site that we have a commercial interest in. The park is not in Vienna — it is in Hungary, and it is listed here as a day trip. Every other market on this site belongs to someone else, is listed for information only, and is neither rated nor promoted.
Guides
Longer reads: what to expect at the markets, a day trip across the border to the Fertőd light park, and how Austrians actually celebrate Christmas.
Vienna Christmas markets 2026/27: dates and opening hours
The Vienna Christmas markets 2026/27 open in stages from 6 November. This overview lists confirmed dates, opening hours, how to get there and which markets carry on over the holidays or until 6 January 2027.
Day trip to Fertőd: the light park at Schloss Esterházy
Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy is a light park in Hungary, around 100 km from Vienna, operated by DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site. The 2026 season is confirmed: 21 October 2026 to 10 January 2027, daily 17:00–21:00.
How Austria celebrates Christmas
In Austria the Christkind brings the presents on 24 December, not Father Christmas on 25 December. This piece explains Advent, Nikolaus, Krampus, Bescherung, the public holidays, New Year’s Eve and the New Year’s Concert for visitors from abroad.
Not sure how to fit it all in?
Tell the planner how many days you have, whether you are travelling with children and what you want to spend, and it puts together a day-by-day route from the places on this site.
Build my itineraryEverything on this page was checked on 21 September 2026. Found a mistake? One line to [email protected] is enough.