Advent in Vienna 2025: a detailed guide to markets and events

Advent in Zagreb is easy to love because it is ours, diverse, spread across many locations around the city, and the fact that you will always run into someone you know adds to the excitement in the capital. We love Advent in Budapest because it is close and a great idea when you want to escape the familiar and step into their unique holiday spirit, which this year, we noticed, was marked by numerous ice rinks. The one in City Park is worth trying because it is the largest outdoor rink in Europe. And Advent in Vienna? Every year it comes out on top as the most classic choice, which is exactly why it is so dear to us. Below you will find a detailed guide through the Advent locations in Vienna, which this year includes eleven official markets along with many smaller hidden spots and a rich program of events. We gathered everything important in one place.

Related: I just returned from Advent in Vienna. These are the locations that impressed me the most.

Locations

Christkindlmarkt at City Hall
Where: Rathausplatz
When: 14 November to 26 December 2025

The square in front of the neo-Gothic City Hall and the surrounding park become one of the biggest Christmas gathering points in the city during Advent. Dozens of stalls, a large Christmas tree, and light installations create a festive scene. A special attraction is the Ice Dream rink whose paths stretch through the park, while the stands offer punch, Glühwein, homemade pastries, and classic regional dishes, often in organic versions. You will find everything from Buchteln and Baumkuchen to pastries and roasted potatoes. If you need a break from the walk and the crowds, the nearby Sluka café offers handmade pralines and traditional desserts.

Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace
Where: Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna
When: 6 November to 6 January 2026

If you want to experience Christmas in Vienna in its full splendor, Schönbrunn is the ideal destination. The forecourt of the palace turns into a space filled with light installations and around one hundred stalls arranged around a one hundred sixty year old Christmas tree. Visitors will find handicrafts, artworks, and a variety of gourmet products, including Kaiserschmarren. Children can enjoy workshops, labyrinths, and a free ice rink, while adults can try their hand at ice curling. You can end the day with a concert in the Orangery, lunch at the Joseph II restaurant, or a visit to the Gerstner Café.

schoenbrunn.at

Christmas Village at Stephansplatz
Where: Stephansplatz, 1010 Vienna
When: 8 November to 26 December 2025

Right in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral you will find a charming Christmas market that blends a traditional atmosphere, historic surroundings, and an exceptionally photogenic backdrop. Wooden stalls line the walls of the Gothic cathedral, offering handicrafts, textiles, ceramics, sweets, and a variety of gourmet specialties. It is the perfect stop after a walk through Vienna’s famous shopping streets Graben and Kärntner Straße, and the occasional horse carriage adds another historical detail. Across the square is the well-known Viennese shop Pirker Lebkuchen, famous for traditional gingerbread. Nearby are the bars Everybody’s Darling, known for its Hugo Rosé, one of Vienna’s favorite aperitifs, and Neue Hoheit, ideal for cocktails with a panoramic view of the city.

Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace
Where: Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Vienna
When: 14 November to 31 December 2025

The Baroque elegance of Belvedere Palace, its perfectly symmetrical gardens, and the still water surface reflecting the holiday lights create one of the most magical Advent settings in Vienna. Around forty stalls arranged around the palace offer imaginative handicrafts, traditional snow globes (especially the ones with a black base, made in Austria), fragrant roasted almonds and chestnuts, sweets, and a rich selection of warm specialties. You can easily combine your visit with a tour of the museum, admire masterpieces such as Klimt’s The Kiss, and finish with a gentle walk through the historic gardens. For a pleasant end to the outing, the nearby Art Nouveau café Café Goldegg, only a ten minute walk away, is perfect for coffee, cake, and a short rest.

Christmas Village at the University Campus Altes AKH
Where: Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Vienna
When: 14 November to 23 December 2025

The market on the Altes AKH university campus is smaller, more relaxed, and has a cozy student atmosphere. Different Austrian regions present their specialties, making it ideal for visitors who want to explore various parts of the country through food and drink. Want a taste of Styria, the Tyrolean Alps, or Burgenland? Look for the name of the region on the menus and set off on a small culinary journey. The market consists of outdoor stalls and a small rustic indoor restaurant for warming up. A few minutes away is Pelican Coffee, one of the best third wave cafés in Vienna and a lovely spot for a warm coffee break.

Art Advent at Karlsplatz
Where: Karlsplatz
When: 21 November to 23 December 2025

In front of the Baroque Karlskirche, an Advent market appears each year that feels like a creative laboratory, with organic gastronomy and around eighty stalls offering visual art, jewelry, unique clothing, ceramics, and decorations. Visitors can often watch artists as they create their pieces. Karlsplatz, known as the Vienna Montmartre, brings concerts, workshops, impressive performances, and encounters with fantastical characters.

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Photo: WienTourismus, wien.info

Altwiener Christkindlmarkt
Where: Freyung Square, 1010 Vienna
When: 14 November to 23 December 2025

At Freyung Square in the center of Vienna, the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt offers traditional Christmas stalls with wooden ornaments, ceramics, jewelry, and handmade crafts. With the scent of roasted nuts and mulled wine in the air, it brings visitors an authentic Viennese Advent atmosphere, the classic old Vienna style Christmas market. It is smaller and more intimate than the more famous locations, which makes it especially charming. Nearby is the Schönborn Batthyány Palace, which hosts concerts throughout December featuring classical and Baroque works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Johannes Brahms, and others for those in the mood for a classical touch.

Christmas Market at Am Hof
Where: Am Hof
When: 14 November to 23 December 2025

Just a few steps away, directly across from Freyung Square and the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt, another Christmas market takes place at Am Hof, still in the very heart of Vienna. The atmosphere combines historic architecture with an intimate holiday mood, and its central location makes it easy to walk to nearby markets and major city attractions. You will also find plenty of traditional food, warm drinks, and gift ideas if that is what you are after.

Christmas Market in Spittelberg
Where: Spittelberg quarter
When: 14 November to 23 December 2025

Spittelberg is a historic and bohemian neighborhood in Vienna’s seventh district, Neubau, known for its narrow cobblestone streets, Biedermeier houses, and artistic charm. This Christmas market is unique because it spreads through these narrow streets. Stalls fill the alleys and courtyards, surrounded by glowing entrances leading to galleries, artisan shops, lively bars, and small hidden spaces full of charm. You will find candied fruit, caramel apples, and a pop up Braun chocolate shop that opens only during Advent. After wandering through the market, traditional and authentic Vienna awaits at Gasthaus Grünauer, one of the most beloved old school spots among Viennese chefs.

Wintermarkt at Riesenradplatz
Where: Riesenradplatz, Prater, 1020 Vienna
When: 21 November 2025 to 6 January 2026

In the Prater, at Riesenradplatz, you will find the Wintermarkt, a fun and adrenaline filled version of the Viennese Advent season. The market brings together the amusement park and Christmas atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy rides, the giant Ferris wheel, the winter train, the carousel, and various attractions of the Wurstelprater, while stalls offer seasonal sweets, warm drinks, and street food. Live music from Wednesday to Sunday enhances the program, and the smaller square near the Prater Museum becomes the Wintermarkt Village with several stands offering crafts and gifts. The Wintermarkt is an ideal destination for families and anyone who wants a mix of fun, food, and festive spirit in one place.

Photo: WienTourismus, wien.info

Christmas Market at the Blumengärten Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens
Where: Quadenstraße 15, 1220 Vienna
When: 13 November to 21 December 2025

In the Hirschstetten botanical gardens, Advent transforms into a floral oasis where stalls with handmade crafts and Christmas decorations appear between greenhouses and living plants. Visitors can enjoy interactive decorations and creative installations, while the scents of seasonal treats and warm drinks create an intimate and magical holiday atmosphere.

Christmas Market in Türkenschanzpark
Where: Hasenauerstraße, 1180 Vienna
When: 14 November to 23 December 2025

In Türkenschanzpark, located in Vienna’s eighteenth district, Währing, you will find a small and charming Christmas market that blends the park’s natural setting with handmade crafts and festive delicacies. Stalls offer unique artisan products, decorations, glassblowers, and seasonal specialties. Visitors can take a relaxed walk along the park’s green paths, surrounded by the scent of cinnamon and roasted chestnuts, while live music adds to the holiday mood. It is an ideal choice for anyone seeking a more intimate and creative Advent experience away from the crowds in the city center.

Winter at MQ
Where: Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
When: 13 November to 23 December 2025

During winter, the MuseumsQuartier hosts Winter at MQ, an urban and creative seasonal event that combines entertainment, art, and culinary enjoyment. Visitors can try Bavarian curling on the outdoor lanes, watch Winter Race model car competitions in the reflective pool, and enjoy light installations and decorations that animate the courtyard. Cafes and restaurants within the MQ open outdoor terraces offering mulled wine, punch, and seasonal snacks, while the setting merges artistic ambiance with urban Viennese winter charm. Winter at MQ is a great choice for those who want an alternative Advent experience far from the classic markets.

Events

“Slow dating” at Gleis/Garten
Where: Eichenstraße 2, 1120 Vienna

At Gleis/Garten, Vienna’s food hall and cultural hub, slow dating evenings bring together a relaxed social atmosphere, games, and shared activities with crispy bites and seasonal cocktails. It is ideal for singles who want to meet new people without pressure while enjoying the modern urban setting of a former tram hall.

gleisgarten.com

Gala Concerts by the Vienna Music Society (Musikverein)
Where: Musikvereinsplatz 1, 1010 Vienna

For a calmer and more sophisticated Advent experience in Vienna, the Musikverein offers its Golden Hall and impeccable acoustics through Christmas concerts and classical performances. Symphonies, chamber concerts, and recitals create a warm and elegant holiday atmosphere, ideal for those who want an artistic and cultural experience far from the crowds of the Christmas markets. Announced performers include the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna Mozart Orchestra, and the Imperial Philharmonica. The program features classics by Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, and Vivaldi, along with exclusive performances related to the New Year’s Concert. Exact dates and schedules can be found on the official Vienna Music Society website, and it is wise to book tickets in advance.

Concerts at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Where: Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Vienna

Extraordinary acoustics, a monumental interior, and the knowledge that Mozart and Haydn once played in the same space turn every concert into a small ritual. Highlights include Advent concerts by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and performances of Mozart’s Requiem. The full schedule can be found on the official cathedral concert pages and on platforms such as Vienna Concert and KunstKultur.

Vienna Boys Choir

During the season, the Wiener Sängerknaben perform at Sunday masses in the Hofburg Chapel, in their own concert hall MuTh, and occasionally in special holiday programs such as Christmas. Tickets can be checked and reserved on the official websites of the Wiener Sängerknaben, the Hofburg Chapel, and MuTh. Their performances remain a true ein Muss for anyone who appreciates long standing tradition, precise vocal performance, and an authentic musical experience in the heart of Vienna.

Photo: WienTourismus, wien.info

Theater am Spittelberg
Where: Spittelberggasse 10, 1070 Vienna

Theater am Spittelberg is home to the Wintertainment festival. Here Christmas arrives in a slightly different form. Music, theater, variety shows, and comedy come together in a lively program that runs until the end of December. The full schedule is available on the theater’s official website. It is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to spend an evening in a warm setting without a strictly traditional format.

Jazzy Christmas at the Porgy & Bess Jazz Club
Where: Riemergasse 11, 1010 Vienna

When you have had your fill of waltzes, head to Porgy & Bess, the legendary Viennese jazz club where Advent sounds completely different. The Jazzy Christmas program features concerts by local and international jazz musicians, and the club becomes a stage for late night holiday outings. A special highlight is the concert by Slavko Ninić and the Wiener Tschuschenkapelle, who perform their Christmas Special on 24 December at 10 p.m.