If you’ve ever dreamt of spending Christmas in a postcard-perfect European city, consider Vienna. With its grand imperial architecture, romantic streets dusted with snow, and world-famous Christmas markets glowing with fairy lights, the Austrian capital transforms into a festive fairytale during December.
We spent 5 days and 4 nights in Vienna during early December for our anniversary, and it was an unforgettable experience filled with culture, food, music, and Christmas festive cheer. This & Helsinki were our first Christmas experiences in Europe so we don’t really have a yardstick to compare just yet.
At the start of our trip, which was primarily focused on witnessing the Northern Lights in Finland, we decided to include a city stopover on our way back keen to club witnessing a European city thats famous for its Christmas celebrations and Vienna, conveniently along our route (we flew Lufthansa) , perfectly fit the bill.
Here’s our detailed day-by-day Christmas itinerary in Vienna, things to see, best Christmas markets, delicious Austrian food to try and some tips that shall help you plan your winter visit to this Austrian capital.
Getting Around Vienna
Vienna boasts one of the most efficient and tourist-friendly public transportation systems in Europe. The U-Bahn (subway), trams, and buses are clean, punctual, and well-connected making it super easy to explore the city without a car. If you’re planning to use public transport like us, consider purchasing the Vienna City Card. It offers unlimited travel on all public transit for 1 , 2 , 3 or 7 Days and it comes with added perks like discounts on certain museums, attractions, and restaurants so is a great value for both convenience and savings especially during a busy sightseeing itinerary in Vienna.
Day 1: History & Food
After arriving in Vienna late in the evening, we checked into an Airbnb we had hastily booked just a few days earlier while still in Finland. Our original reservation had been abruptly cancelled at the last minute by the host, and although we would have loved to stay in the heart of the city as originally planned, it was too late to find something similar so we went with the next best option.
Nexy day we started our morning with a quick visit to the famous St Stephen’s Cathedral which was extremely crowded so after a quick glance we decided to come out and wander a bit. A visit to St Stephen’s Cathedral can comprise several different parts of the church: the North Tower, the South Tower, its catacombs, the main part of the cathedral and a treasury museum. All these different things require a ticket, but you can walk a bit into the cathedral in a roped off zone for non-paying guests.
The towering Gothic cathedral actually looks more beautiful lit up at night and also hosts the famous Stephansplatz Christmas Market – small but cozy, this market is conveniently located right outside the cathedral. One can try some of the Christmas treats here but our plan today was to visit a famous Cafe for lunch so we just glanced around the market stalls for a bit, picked some souvenirs tried hot chocolate and left.
If you are feeling energetic (which I quite wasn’t) consider climbing up the south tower (343 steps) for a closer look at the gorgeous mosaic work on the Cathedral roof and for panoramic views across the old town.
Walk around the Unesco Old town Square, Graben & Kärntner Strasse – These main shopping streets are beautifully decorated during Christmas. If you have ever seen those famous Red Christmas bows , Wreaths and ornate Chandelier’s on Instagram its all right here. Take a horse carriage and step back into time if you please, I just can’t manage to ride horses and animals anymore so gave this a skip.
Wandering around the extremely photogenic streets in the old town square for a bit to work up an apetite we were headed to grab a lazy lunch to ‘ Cafe Oberlaa ‘ a place that we had bookmarked to try what is apparently considered the best Sacher Torte in town. From the four Cafe’s we tried on this trip this indeed turned out the best and their food was equally good. ‘ Sachertorte ‘ one of Vienna’s most popular dishes is a dry chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a thin layer of apricot jam that is typically served with whipped cream. It is undoubtedly one of the best things we have eaten in life, and could go back to Vienna just for this.
We had pre-booked a late afternoon slot for the Upper Belvedere Palace at 3 pm so post lunch it was time to head to the beautiful Belvedere Palace, home to Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss . The Belvedere is not only a magnificent Baroque palace but as a museum it also houses one of Austria’s most valuable art collections – with key works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka so reserve a few hours on your calendar.
We spent nearly a couple of hours here, right up until closing time, before heading out to the grounds to enjoy yet another charming Christmas market. The Belvedere Christmas Market is more compact, but looks stunning with the palace backdrop. Here we sipped our first Glühwein (mulled wine) as the temperatures plummeted in the evening and tried the warm Apfelstrudel and some Raclette with potatoes.
Pro Tip: Bring cash and a reusable mug deposit for drinks—you can keep the mug as a souvenir or return it for a refund.
Day 2: Palaces & Museums
Our day began with a visit a to Schönbrunn Palace, a must-visit on every Vienna Itinerary. Pre-booked this just like Belvedere to save us time and highly recommend doing the same to everyone here. The Baroque palace was once the summer residence of the Habsburgs and now hosts one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Vienna.
One can choose from a couple of options that can be slightly confusing our recommendation would be to opt for its Grand Palace tickets that allows you to view all the 29 state halls ie is 34 Euros as of Dec’24, If you come from Asia , the ones with India and Japanese influences are part of this tour, the gardens and the Gloriette are anyway free to climb and look around so does not make sense to add this unless you intend to. If you plan to visit the Sisi Museum and Hofburg Imperial Apartments then best is to buy a combine ticket to all three together and save more. You can look up the different Ticket options HERE and decide.
Keep a couple of hours aside to climb the Gloriette to get a birds eye view of the city in the backdrop of the Palace grounds and explore its charming gardens specially if you are coming during the summer months.
If you still have more time on hand which in winters just slips away somehow as everything shuts by 5 p.m you can head to the Austrian National Library from here or visit another museum like Sigmund Freud. Since we were visiting during Christmas we decided to spend the evening exploring the Schonbrunn Christmas market instead.
Later in the evening, we visited the Maria-Theresien-Platz Market, nestled between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum both architectural marvels.
One could also walk along the Ringstrasse to admire Vienna’s festive lights and historic buildings like the Opera House and Parliament.
Day 3: Politics , Art & Music
We had a few more museums and places bookmarked for our Vienna trip but Parliament & the Austrian National Library topped our list since neither of us had been to a Parliament before, so this sounded interesting and a novel experience. Make sure you pre-register for this and then get there as early as possible by 8 or 9 am to get yourself a spot.
The Parliament tour is free but they only take in a limited group everyday which is first come first serve and needless to say fills up fast. So go early and book your spots after you have pre registered on their official website. Its a small hassle but turned out to be a favourite thing for us on our Vienna itinerary.
Next grab some lunch at yet another popular Cafe (Cafe hopping in Vienna is a thing in itself and you must try a few to really soak in the culture) choose from any of these popular one’s – the first two come with a long wait but the queue moves fast. Cafe Central , Cafe Demel , Cafe Gerstner and Cafe Oberlaa take your pick we tried one each day during our stay but from all four Cafe Oberlaa & Cafe Central turned out as our favourites.
Today we stopped by Café Demel to try ‘ Kaiserschmarrn – that translates to emperor’s mess in German. Kaiserschmarrn is a fluffy, shredded pancake, typically made with eggs, flour, sugar, and milk, sometimes with a touch of rum-soaked raisins. It’s lightly caramelized, torn into bite-sized pieces while cooking, and often dusted with powdered sugar and often accompanied with plum compote, berries , whipped cream or applesauce.
Post lunch we visited the Austrian National Library another favourite and since no pre bookings were permitted here we did spend some time in a long ticket queue but it was definitely worth it. The Library is definitely one of the most beautiful libraries we have been to and considered Europe’s largest Baroque library that houses over 200,000 historic books on its richly decorated wooden shelves. The Grand Hall is rightly one of the most beautiful library rooms in the world. I will leave it to you to take a look for yourself below and decide.
This evening, we swapped Christmas markets for something truly special—music. Known as the City of Music, Vienna practically demands that you experience a live performance while you’re here. We chose to attend a concert by the Kaiser Orchestra and were completely swept away by the melodies of Beethoven and Mozart. It was unanimously, our favourite experience in Vienna so far. We can’t recommend it enough try to get seats in the front rows and treat yourself to at least one musical concert, opera, or ballroom performance, especially if you’re visiting in winter. Trust us, no trip to Vienna is complete without it.
Top Tip : Dress well for your concert in formal attire. You need not be in a ankle length gown and a tuxedo but well tailored clothes will do. Skip the jeans and Tees today. Classical concerts at St. Charles Church (Karlskirche) or the Wiener Musikverein etc offer festive programs featuring Mozart, Strauss, and Christmas classics.
Day 4: Cafe Hopping & Christmas Markets
We spent our fourth and last day that was also our anniversary first exploring Kunsthistorisches Museum, followed by Spittelberg, a neighbourhood known for its cobbled streets and indie charm.
We then made our way to Berggasse to visit the Sigmund Freud Museum, an absolute highlight for me as a psychology enthusiast. After exploring the museum, we took a leisurely stroll through its peaceful neighbourhood and along the Danube River. Later, we wrapped up the day with a quiet evening and our anniversary dinner at yet another bookmarked spot Café Central, a historic café once frequented by intellectuals like Trotsky and Freud.
We wrapped up our time in Vienna with one final indulgence in its iconic cafe culture savouring another slice of Sacher-Torte at Café Gerstner followed by a peaceful evening stroll through the historic old town, beautifully lit up with shimmering Christmas lights.
Top Tip :
On Thursdays the Kunsthistorisches Museum is open until late 9 p.m make use of the extended opening hours. Make reservations at Cafe Central to save time and jump the queue. We stood in long queue for Cafe central for over 45 minutes only to realise they take reservations.
Day 5 : Time to Bid Adieu
On our final morning in Vienna, it was time to bid farewell. With an early flight back to India, we opted for the convenience of a taxi straight to the airport though not without sneaking a few slices of Sacher-Torte into our luggage (undoubtedly the best chocolate cake in the world!)
If you have more time to spare in Vienna, consider checking out the options I’ve listed below, this city truly has no dearth of sights to explore, and you could easily spend an entire week here. The Hofburg Imperial Apartments and the Imperial Treasury were high on our list, but since it was our anniversary, we chose to slow things down. Instead of cramming in too much, we spent the day strolling through Vienna’s charming neighbourhoods, savouring the pace and atmosphere rather than navigating yet another crowded museum filled with the opulence of former princely states. That said, if the Parliament Tour or the Sigmund Freud Museum aren’t on your must-do list, consider swapping them for the Imperial Apartments and the Treasury.
- Hofburg Imperial Apartments & The Imperial Treasury
- The university of Vienna
- Leopold Museum
- The Albertina Museum
- Museum of Natural History
- Naschmarkt – Vienna’s famous open-air food market
- Some side day trips to Bratsilivia, Hallstatt or Budapest even.
Best Christmas Markets in Vienna
- Rathausplatz (Vienna Christmas World): The largest and most iconic with a skating rink and over 150 stalls.
- Schönbrunn Palace Market: Elegant and romantic with imperial flair.
- Maria-Theresien-Platz Market: Centrally located with a blend of crafts and snacks.
- Spittelberg Market: Local and artsy in a historic neighborhood.
- Belvedere Palace Market: Compact and fewer crowds.
- Stephansplatz Market: Atmospheric and easy to access.
- Freyung & Am Hof Markets: Traditional charm and handcrafted gifts.
Austrian Foods During Christmas
- Glühwein – Classic mulled wine with citrus and spices.
- Punsch – A punchier version, sometimes with rum or amaretto.
- Sachertorte – Decadent chocolate cake with apricot jam & whipped cream.
- Kaiserschmarrn – Fluffy shredded pancake topped with fruit compote & powdered sugar
- Käsekrainer – Grilled cheese sausages.
- Apfelstrudel – Apple strudel with warm spices.
- Wiener Schnitzel – Breaded veal or pork cutlet.
- Vanillekipferl – Delicate vanilla cookies.
- Lebkuchen – Soft, spiced gingerbread.
- Maroni – Roasted chestnuts, perfect on chilly evenings.
- Mozartkugeln – Iconic chocolate and marzipan truffles.
Visiting Vienna during Christmas is like stepping into a living snow globe if you are a Christmas lover. But let me also sound you off how Vienna is a year round destination, we have been to Austria in summer once and it was as magical minus the Christmas lights but with sunny skies, gardens full of summer blooms, open air concerts etc.
During Christmas this magical city sparkles under its festive markets, cozy cafés, lit grand palaces, and timeless music, it’s a destination that captures the true spirit of the holidays. Whether you’re sipping mulled wine in front of a baroque palace or listening to classical music in a candlelit church, every moment feels magical.
Thats a wrap, if you’re planning a Christmas trip to Europe, consider Vienna if you haven’t been to this city. It’s family-friendly, romantic, and wonderfully festive—just the winter getaway you didn’t know you needed. Its also a short ride and in quick proximity to Germany to combine the two.
Have you been to Vienna during the holidays or are planning a trip. Vienna is a great year round European city with so much to explore that one trip would never be enough. Any questions or thoughts leave them in the comments !
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