The Best Christmas Markets in Austria

As the Christmas season comes around, towns and cities throughout Austria start to set up their Christmas markets for this festive season. There are numerous Christmas markets you can visit throughout this historic country. These markets will invite you in with warm glowing lights and the captivating smells of simmering apples, roasting chestnuts, and the spicy Glühwein. Here are some of the most popular Austrian cities and towns to visit for Christmas markets.

Popular Christmas Markets in Austria

Austrian Christmas Markets #1 Vienna

Christmas markets in Vienna are some of the oldest and most historic ones. You’ll find very traditional Christmas markets here in Austria’s capital.

Christmas World at City Hall

One of the best Christmas markets to visit is the Vienna Christmas World Market. This is located in front of the City Hall and features over 150 booths you can browse through to search for handmade decorations, delicious foods, and other Christmas treasures. In the center of this Christmas market you’ll find a large Christmas tree adorned with lights and ornaments. It’s open from November 18- December 30.

Christmas Village at Maria-Theresien-Platz

This Christmas market is located at the Maria-Theresien-Platz and features over 70 booths you can visit. You can stroll along the Christmas market’s illuminated sidewalks while listening to festive music. If you’d like to take a break from shopping, you can try to curl at a special curling station located in this market. You can visit this market anytime from November 22- December 26.

Old Viennese Christmas Market on Freyung

If you’d like to visit a very historic Christmas market, be sure to check out this one. This Christmas market began in 1772 and features very traditional booths and activities. You can find unique products like handmade mangers and even local cheeses and wines. This market is open from November 18-December 23.

Austrian Christmas Markets #2  Innsbruck

Just like Vienna, Innsbruck Christmas markets have a historic flair. They also have a very romantic ambiance with many of the markets being located beneath towering snow-covered mountains and colorful lights.

Old Town Christmas Market

This Christmas market is located in the historic Old Town right in front of the famous Golden Roof. This market features over 70 stalls and is known for the Marchengasse (Fairy Tale Alley). The Marchengasse features scenes of well-known fairy tale characters, like Snow White, on the ledges of buildings, in windows, and other locations. As you stroll through the market you will occasionally hear trumpets sounding from the Golden Roof. You can visit here anytime from November 15- December 23.

Hungerburg Christmas Market

To reach this market you can hop on a train which will take you on a scenic tour up the mountains. When you first step foot into this market you’ll have a fantastic view of the city below, which is why this market is also known as the Panorama Christmas Market. This market is open from November 25- December 23.

Family Christmas Market at Marktplatz

If you plan to travel with children, the Family Christmas Market at Marktplatz is one of the best to see. It features a petting zoo and carousel for children to enjoy. It also caters to adults as well. It features over 60 stalls that you can browse through to search for interesting ornaments and other handmade decorations. In the center of this market you’ll find the magnificent Swarovski Crystal Tree whose crystals glow and shine on the market below. It’s open from November 15- December 23.

Austrian Christmas Markets #3 Salzburg

Salzburg has Christmas markets located under historic buildings. You can stroll under them while marveling at their architecture. Besides the history and architecture, Salzburg also features some new Christmas markets available for you to visit.

Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

This is considered to be one of the best Christmas markets in Salzburg. This market is one of the oldest Advent markets around and is situated right beneath the Cathedral of Salzburg. The market is lined with large decorated Christmas trees and features strings of garlands and lights hanging above you. You can browse through the many booths available while listening to the Cathedral’s bells chiming and looking at the majestic mountains in the distance. You can enjoy this market from November 23- December 26.

Mirabell Square Christmas Market

If you want to visit a new market, this one would be the best one for you. It’s located in the center of Salzburg and features some delicious foods for you to try, like fresh pretzels. It’s a smaller option as well which makes it great for those who don’t want to worry about crowds. It’s open from November 23- December 24.

Austrian Christmas Markets #4 Graz

The city of Graz offers some of the finest Christmas markets due to their great festivity and fantastic locations. You can often find stunning Christmas displays here, like the ice nativity scene in the Landhaus Courtyard.

Hauptplatz Christmas Market

This market is located in front of the Gratz City Hall. It features many stalls for you to browse around in to find unique items. Besides this, the market is also known for its Feuerzangenbowle. This is a drink where wine and rum are mixed together and then set on fire. This market is open from November 17-December 24.

Glockenspielplatz Christmas Market

If you’d like to see something new and exciting each day at a Christmas market, you should consider this one. There are themed days to help give a creative atmosphere to this market. You can sip on the freshly mulled wine and listen to seasonal music as you walk and browse through the market’s 14 stalls. You can visit it anytime from November 17-December 23.

Kitzbühel and Linz Christmas Markets

Many of the Christmas markets previously mentioned are very large and popular ones. If you’d like to visit some that are a little smaller and out of the way, you should consider markets in Kitzbühel and Linz.

Kitzbühel

One of this town’s best Christmas markets is located at a local ski resort. It focuses not only on the shopping experience, but St. Nicholas as well. St. Nicholas will make occasional visits to the market. There’s even a Grand St. Nicholas Parade that takes place. You can also listen to some singers and choirs perform at the market. This market is open from November 30-December 26.

Linz

One of the best Christmas markets in Linz is in Volksgarten. Here you can eat local pastries while strolling through the booths and listening to classical music drift through the air. This market also has crib games you can play and features a stunning Christmas pyramid on display that lights up. It’s open from November 18- December 24.

Each Christmas market in Austria is unique in their own way. However, they all have the same purpose: to celebrate the Christmas season. You can choose between historic and new Christmas markets, as well as the type of scenery you’d like to enjoy looking at while shopping in one. No matter which one you choose you can be sure it will be an experience you’ll never forget.

Did you like this post? Pin it!