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.
About the facts in this text: the checked dates and the links to every organiser are on the list of all markets (checked 21 September 2026). Opening hours, prices and programme mentioned in the running text refer to the 2025/26 season or to the state of the organiser's page when this was written — check before you travel.
Adventkranz, calendars and biscuits
The run-up to Christmas is called Advent in Austria. Many households have an Adventkranz, an Advent wreath with four candles. One more candle is lit on each of the four Advent Sundays. If you come from a country where December is associated mainly with 25 December, you will find a lead-in here that spans four Sundays: the first candle burns on the first Advent Sunday, the fourth on the last Sunday before 24 December.
Alongside that come Advent calendars and home-baked biscuits. The usual ones are Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent biscuits), Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Linzer Augen. The Advent calendar counts the days to 24 December. That is the day the presents are given, not 25 December.
At the Vienna Christmas markets, Punsch (hot spiced punch) and Glühwein (mulled wine) are served in ceramic Häferl, the mugs the markets use. A deposit is charged on the Häferl. In Vienna that deposit was most recently mostly 3 to 5 EUR in the 2025 season, and 5 EUR at the Rathausplatz. The amounts are guide values from the 2025 season. You get the money back on return, or you keep the Häferl as a souvenir. Each market has its own design. As a rule, the Häferl from one market cannot be returned at another.
Krampus, Perchten and Nikolaus
On the evening of 5 December, Krampusse move through the streets. These are shaggy figures with horns, chains and birch rods. They accompany Nikolaus, the Austrian St Nicholas. Related to them are the Perchtenläufe, the Perchten runs held during Advent. A family-friendly Perchtenlauf is planned for 2026 at the Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz.
On 6 December Nikolaus comes and gives children nuts, mandarins and sweets. Many markets hold their own event for this, for instance on 5 December at the Türkenschanzpark. Nikolaus Day should be kept separate from 24 December: nuts, mandarins and sweets on 6 December, and the Bescherung, the giving of presents, in the late afternoon or evening of 24 December.
The Christkind
In Austria the Christkind brings the presents, not Father Christmas. Visitors from countries where Father Christmas brings the presents during the night before 25 December meet a different figure here, and a different day in the calendar.
The Wiener Christkindlmarkt at the Rathausplatz carries that name deliberately for this reason. A Wiener Christkindl also appears at the market.
Bescherung, the Christbaum and the Mitternachtsmette
The Bescherung takes place on 24 December in the late afternoon or evening, not on 25 December. In many families the Christbaum, the Christmas tree, is decorated only on 24 December. It is shown to the children only at the Bescherung. A small bell signals that the Christkind has been.
After the Bescherung many people go to the Mitternachtsmette, the midnight mass, in Vienna at the Stephansdom among other places.
24 December is not a public holiday. Retail closes early all the same. Employees’ working time ends at 13:00. In most shops the doors shut between 12:00 and 13:00. Confectioners and florists may stay open until 18:00, and Christmas trees may be sold until 20:00. Many places to eat are closed on the afternoon of 24 December. Opening hours of museums, sights and restaurants differ from normal operation on 24, 25 and 26 December and on 1 January. Check the relevant website before you go.
Stille Nacht
The carol “Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!”, known in English as Silent Night, comes from Austria. It was first performed on 24 December 1818 in the Nikolauskirche in Oberndorf near Salzburg. Joseph Mohr wrote the words and Franz Xaver Gruber the melody. The carol is part of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. Oberndorf is near Salzburg, not in Vienna.
Christtag, Stefanitag and the markets that stay open
25 and 26 December are quiet family days. 25 December is called Christtag, 26 December Stefanitag. Both are public holidays throughout Austria. Shops, supermarkets, banks and public offices stay closed. The same applies to 1 January (New Year’s Day) and 6 January (Epiphany). For visitors that means retail is shut on Christtag and Stefanitag. On 24 December most shops close between 12:00 and 13:00.
Most Vienna Christmas markets end on 23 December, among them Spittelberg, Am Hof, Freyung, Art Advent am Karlsplatz, Campus Altes AKH and Türkenschanzpark. The market at the Türkenschanzpark is closed on 24 December. The 2026 market dates are officially confirmed.
Over the holidays Rathausplatz, Stephansplatz, Maria-Theresien-Platz and Schwarzenbergplatz stay open until 26 December. The Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn and the Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz carry on as New Year markets until 6 January 2027.
Shortened opening hours apply on 24 December:
| Market | 24 December |
|---|---|
| Rathausplatz | 10:00–18:30 |
| Schloss Schönbrunn | 10:00–16:00 |
| Stephansplatz | 11:00–16:00 |
| Schwarzenbergplatz | 11:00–16:00 |
| Wintermarkt Riesenradplatz | 11:00–17:00 |
On 25 and 26 December these markets open again, usually with shorter hours, for example 11:00–19:00.
On 24 December Wiener Linien, the city transport operator, run to a Saturday timetable until about 18:00. After that trams and buses run at least every 15 minutes. On the night before 25 December the underground runs right through. On 25 and 26 December the Sunday and public holiday timetable applies.
Silvesterpfad, the Pummerin and the New Year’s Concert
On 31 December the city centre turns into the Silvesterpfad, the New Year’s Eve trail. There are several stages. Admission is free. One stop is at the Riesenradplatz in the Prater. At midnight the Pummerin, the great bell of the Stephansdom, rings. After that the Danube waltz “An der schönen blauen Donau” is played. People dance to it on the squares.
On 31 December a Saturday timetable applies during the day. On New Year’s Eve night all underground lines and many tram and bus lines run right through. The Stephansplatz underground station is closed for safety reasons from about 21:00.
On 1 January the Wiener Philharmoniker play the New Year’s Concert at the Musikverein. It is broadcast worldwide. Anyone without a ticket can follow the broadcast in the open air, from about 11:00 on the LED wall at the Riesenradplatz. 1 January is a public holiday. Shops, supermarkets, banks and public offices stay closed.
Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy
If you want to visit a light park, you can drive to Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy. The park is operated by DECOLED, the publisher of this site. It is not in Vienna but in Hungary, around 100 km away by road.
The season runs from 21 October 2026 to 10 January 2027, daily from 17:00 to 21:00, last admission 20:30. The park is closed on 1 November, on 24 and 25 December and on 1 January. On its own pages the operator runs the season as Fantasy Garden (Fantáziakert). There is no confirmation of this name from Schloss Esterházy as the site partner.
Common questions
Who brings the Christmas presents in Austria?
In Austria the Christkind brings the presents, not Father Christmas. The Bescherung takes place on 24 December in the late afternoon or evening, not on 25 December.
What happens on 5 and 6 December?
On the evening of 5 December Krampusse move through the streets, shaggy figures with horns, chains and birch rods who accompany Nikolaus. On 6 December Nikolaus comes and gives children nuts, mandarins and sweets. Many markets hold their own event for this, for instance on 5 December at the Türkenschanzpark.
Are shops and markets open over Christmas?
25 December (Christtag) and 26 December (Stefanitag) are public holidays: shops, supermarkets, banks and public offices stay closed. On 24 December most shops close between 12:00 and 13:00. Most Vienna Christmas markets end on 23 December; Rathausplatz, Stephansplatz, Maria-Theresien-Platz and Schwarzenbergplatz stay open until 26 December, and Schloss Schönbrunn and the Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz until 6 January 2027.
How does public transport run on 24 December and on New Year’s Eve?
On 24 December Wiener Linien run to a Saturday timetable until about 18:00, after which trams and buses run at least every 15 minutes; on the night before 25 December the underground runs right through. On 25 and 26 December the Sunday and public holiday timetable applies. On 31 December a Saturday timetable applies during the day, and on New Year’s Eve night all underground lines and many tram and bus lines run right through; the Stephansplatz underground station is closed from about 21:00.
Where can you watch the New Year’s Concert without a ticket?
On 1 January the Wiener Philharmoniker play the New Year’s Concert at the Musikverein, and it is broadcast worldwide. Anyone without a ticket can follow the broadcast in the open air, from about 11:00 on the LED wall at the Riesenradplatz.
