The big outdoor Christmas markets grab most of the glory in Vienna, but the two-day advent market inside the beautiful Palais Niederösterreich is an excellent tip.
- Regional crafts, food & drink from Lower Austria
- Gastronomy section, choirs, and brass bands
- Has tours of the palais, too
- 2026 dates: TBA (was Nov 28-29 in 2025)
- Book a classical concert experience* for your trip
- Nearby:
- See also:
So Schmeckt NÖ Adventmarkt
(Outside Palais Niederösterrerich on Herrengasse)
Here’s another little architectural jewel, largely hidden away from the public except at a few choice special events: Palais Niederösterreich, home to 16th-century chambers and painted wooden inlaid ceilings.
Fortunately, one of those special events is a Christmas market showcasing the best of the province of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria): a region full of tradition, fine food, and a welcome willingness to share both.
The German title for the event is the So Schmeckt NÖ Adventmarkt, which translates literally as “A Taste of Lower Austria Advent Market”. Taste is the pertinent word, here.
(View through the entranceway)
For two days, numerous stalls occupy the courtyard, ceremonial hall, and other rooms of the palais.
Chambers that once echoed to the sounds of Beethoven and Schubert now let you sample the products of the region’s craftsfolk, farms, orchards, vineyards, and distilleries. With the emphasis on food and drink.
The market is a treasure trove for those little quality gifts you take with you to lunches and coffee mornings at a friend’s house.
On the food front alone, you can typically find organic jams, spreads and chutneys; pasta and sauces; seeds and edible oils; biscuits and baked goods; handcrafted chocolates; regional wines, spirits, and liqueurs. And more.
Not all the products are to take away with you, either.
An open-air courtyard has various food outlets where you fill up with such delights as game ragout, sweet dumplings, hot spiced cider, and poppy seed noodles. Choirs and brass bands usually provide musical accompaniment.
Walking across that courtyard on a still day becomes an olfactory adventure with all the kitchen scents in the air.
(The palais around 1840 when it was the Niederösterreich Landhaus; a copy painted by Sophie Chotek in 1893 based on Giuseppe (Josef) Brioschi’s original; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 38508; reproduced under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license; photo by TimTom, Wien Museum)
All of which is wonderful. But the insider tip is to join one of the palais tours often held during such events (on the Saturday at the 2025 advent market, for example).
A tour is the only way you get to see, for example, the renaissance chamber from the late 16th century with its gorgeous wooden décor. Check on language availability, though.
Which reminds me…if you do go to the market, always be sure to glance up now and then. We sat casually with coffee and cake in one room only to notice the ceiling looked like something from a church in Florence.
2026 dates & tips
I don’t have details on the 2026 market at the time of writing. For the record, the previous edition ran from November 28th to 29th with times of 10am to 9pm.
Incidentally, the building sits between two further historical institutions worth your attention.
Over the road, Café Central inside Palais Ferstel is the perfect coffee house for impressing guests and one of my favourites, thanks to its gorgeous interiors and an equally gorgeous cake counter.
Expect queues down the street to get in at this time of year, if you haven’t reserved.
(Café Central at Christmas)
Behind Palais Niederösterreich sits the Minoritenkirche, a working church and concert venue whose rich history dates back to the 14th century. You should find some advent concerts there, too.
Two outdoor Christmas markets set up stall nearby, as well.
Walk up to the Freyung for a market strong on decorations and organic food. Walk across to Am Hof for one with a bonus section devoted entirely to quality arts and crafts.
How to find the Adventmarkt
Palais Niederösterreich practically has its own subway station at Herrengasse on the U3 line. For full travel tips, see the main Palais article. As a central sight, you also pass it on Part 4 of my self-guided walking route for Vienna.
Address: Palais Niederösterreich, Herrengasse 13, 1010 Vienna | Website (for the 2025 event)