‹ Holidays · The Vienna food guide
Thanksgiving to New Year's · 2026-27
The holidays in Vienna
The Christkindlmarkt in front of the Rathaus, Punsch at Spittelberg, the chandeliers over the Graben, Vanillekipferl from Demel, carp and a long dinner on the 24th, and the whole Innere Stadt out on the Silvesterpfad on the 31st.
Photo: Kstipek, CC BY-SA 4.0The dates to know
- Nov 6 to Jan 6 · On nowSchönbrunn Palace Christmas market (runs past New Year's)Listed dates, check before you go · From vienna.at, Trvlogue
- Nov 13 to Dec 26 · in 5 daysWiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz (one source says Nov 14)Listed dates, check before you go · From vienna.at, Trvlogue
- Nov 13 to Dec 23 · in 5 daysSpittelberg and Am Hof markets (they close before Christmas Eve)Listed dates, check before you go · From vienna.at, Visiting Vienna
- Thu, Dec 24Heiliger Abend: shops close around 1pm and most of the city eats at home
- Thu, Dec 31Silvesterpfad: the New Year's Eve trail through the Innere Stadt and the PraterFrom regionalsuche.at, vienna.at
- Fri, Jan 1New Year's Day: the Philharmonic's concert on TV, and a slow lunch
The Christmas markets
Where to drink something hot and buy something you can eat on the walk.
1
Wiener Christkindlmarkt
Get: A mug of Punsch and a Langos or roasted chestnuts.
The big one, under the lit-up town hall, with the park full of lit trees beside it.
Go on a weekday afternoon; weekend evenings are shoulder to shoulder. Keep the mug or return it for the deposit.
From vienna.at, Trvlogue · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo: Böhringer Friedrich, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT
2A photo like it
Schönbrunn Christmas market
Get: Glühwein and a Kaiserschmarrn in front of the palace.
The prettiest setting, and the one still open after Christmas.
U4 to Schönbrunn. Go at dusk when the palace lights come on.
From vienna.at, Trvlogue · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Böhringer Friedrich, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT
3A photo like it
Spittelberg Christmas market
Get: Punsch from a stall on the cobblestones and something handmade to take home.
Lanes of Biedermeier houses instead of a square: the one locals go to after work.
Evenings, after the museums. It closes before Christmas Eve.
From vienna.at, Girl on a Zebra · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Böhringer Friedrich, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT
4A photo like it
Am Hof Advent market
Get: Hot food from the stalls and a glass of Punsch before the lights walk.
A small market on the old square, a block from the Graben lights.
Start the lights walk here.
From Vienna Unwrapped, vienna.at · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Böhringer Friedrich, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT
The lights
The lights worth leaving dinner for, in walking order.
The lights walk
From the Am Hof market down Kohlmarkt, along the Graben and past St. Stephen's. About 20 minutes.
Walk it in Google Maps5A photo like it
Kohlmarkt lights
Look for: The canopy of golden lights, with Demel's windows halfway down.
The most elegant street in the city, dressed for Christmas.
Walk it toward the Hofburg, then turn back into the Graben.
From Wien Tourismus, Visiting Vienna · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Kstipek, CC BY-SA 4.0
6
Graben lights
Look for: The giant chandeliers hung over the street.
Six-meter chandeliers, about 250,000 LEDs: the picture of Christmas in Vienna.
Best after 5pm. Coffee at the window of a café on the Graben if it's cold.
From Wien Tourismus, Earth Trekkers · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo: Kstipek, CC BY-SA 4.0
7A photo like it
Rotenturmstraße lights
Look for: The lights down from St. Stephen's toward the canal.
Finishes the walk past the cathedral.
Go on to Schwedenplatz for a Würstel if you're hungry.
From Wien Tourismus · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Kstipek, CC BY-SA 4.0
The holiday sweets
Where to buy the Vanillekipferl and the Christmas cookies. Order ahead: the good ones sell out in the last week.
8A photo like it
Demel
Get: A box of Vanillekipferl, the vanilla crescents, to take home; a slice of Sachertorte to eat there.
The old court confectioner; its Christmas cookies are the standard the city measures by.
Buy at the counter by the door; the café line is separate.
From Demel, Chef Amazing's vienna guide · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Schlurcher, CC BY 4.0
9A photo like it
Gerstner
Get: The mixed box of Christmas cookies.
The other court confectioner, across from the Opera, with holiday pastries full of spice, nuts and chocolate.
Easy to combine with the Opera and the Albertina.
From Vienna Insider, Herold · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Schlurcher, CC BY 4.0
Christmas Eve and Day
The night that matters most here, and where to book it.
One of the few grand dining rooms that serves Christmas Eve, behind the Opera.
Book well ahead; the 2025 dinner ended at 10pm.
From Hotel Sacher (2025 menu) · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: daryl_mitchell, CC BY-SA 2.0
11A photo like it
Meissl & Schadn
Get: A classic Viennese Christmas Eve, Schnitzel included.
The schnitzel house on the Ring, and it opens on the night most kitchens close.
Check its Christmas page for this year's menu, then book.
From Meissl & Schadn, 1000 Things · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Gerda Arendt, CC0
A toque-rated kitchen that stays open over the holidays, by the museums.
Book by phone; it fills early.
From 1000 Things · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Mitantig, CC BY-SA 4.0
New Year's Eve
The 31st here is a street party: eat on the trail, then find a table if you want one.
13A photo like it
Silvesterpfad
Get: Punsch, Krapfen and sausages from the stands; the waltz on the stages at midnight.
The whole center becomes one free party; about 550,000 people came last year.
Free. Wear layers, carry cash for cup deposits, and meet up somewhere fixed: phones struggle in the crowd.
From regionalsuche.at, vienna.at · checked Nov 8, 2026
Photo like it: Kstipek, CC BY-SA 4.0
On the map
Plan your holiday trip
Tell Chef your dates and where you're staying. He puts the markets, the lights and the dinners you save into your Trips and fills the days around them. Free, no password.
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Good to know
What are the best Christmas markets in Vienna?
Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Rathausplatz, Innere Stadt, About November 13 to December 26, 10am to 10pm); Schönbrunn Christmas market (Schönbrunn Palace, Hietzing, November 6 to January 6); Spittelberg Christmas market (Spittelberg, Neubau, About November 13 to December 23); Am Hof Advent market (Am Hof, Innere Stadt, Mid-November to December 23; Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-9pm).
Where are the best Christmas lights in Vienna?
The lights walk: Am Hof Advent market, then Kohlmarkt lights, then Graben lights, then Rotenturmstraße lights. From the Am Hof market down Kohlmarkt, along the Graben and past St. Stephen's. About 20 minutes.
Where can you buy the Vanillekipferl and the Christmas cookies in Vienna?
Demel: A box of Vanillekipferl, the vanilla crescents, to take home; a slice of Sachertorte to eat there. Gerstner: The mixed box of Christmas cookies.
Where to eat on New Year's Eve in Vienna?
Silvesterpfad (Innere Stadt to the Riesenradplatz): Punsch, Krapfen and sausages from the stands; the waltz on the stages at midnight.
Every pick was checked on November 8, 2026 and says where Chef found it. Market dates, holiday hours and menus change, and some places haven't posted 2026 yet (each card says which year it's from): check before you go. Photos marked "a photo like it" aren't of that place. Chef Amazing isn't paid by any place here. Something wrong or missing? hello@chefamazing.com.
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