Each Advent, the forecourt in front of Schönbrunn Palace turns into a Christmas market of the more elegant sort. The palace and its outbuildings form an impressive backdrop, and the quality of the wares is exceptional, too.
- Gorgeous location in front of the Habsburg summer palace
- Perhaps the most classically stylish of all the markets
- Strong focus on arts and crafts
- 2022 dates: TBA (was Nov 20 – Dec 26 in 2021)
- Usually transitions into a New Year market afterwards (in normal years)
- See also:
The market
It’s really, really (really) hard to beat the atmosphere at the Schönbrunn Christmas market.
Silver and gold lights offer a beacon to weary travellers as the entire front of the palace glows gently in the twilight; you almost expect some long-whiskered gentleman in a top hat to appear, ask after your family, and beg the honour of your company for the evening.
The Schönbrunn market is perhaps the most noble of all the Viennese Christmas markets.
Dozens of stalls form a giant circle around the palace courtyard, offering booth after booth of high-quality arts and crafts from the workshops of candle makers, glass blowers, wood carvers, potters, needleworkers, and other artists and artisans.
The market is a particularly good place to find unique Christmas gifts and traditional decorations harking back to a time when plastic was still a twinkle in some chemist’s inventive eye.
On the culinary side, you have plenty of gourmet food for sale, too: mustards and mountain cheeses, gingerbread and jams, honey and ham, schnapps and salamis.
And not forgetting the food and drink for consumption on-site, such as steaming baked potatoes, waffles, crepes, dumplings, and much more…it’s nigh on impossible to walk around without buying something to eat.
A giant Christmas tree dominates the palace side, where a small stage often plays host to open-air (and free) advent concerts.
Opening times 2022
Watch this space for 2022 details. For the record, the Schönbrunn Christmas market opened on November 20th in 2021 (and ended on December 26th). Opening times were:
- 10am to 9pm
- Closed earlier at 4pm on December 24th
- 10am to 6pm on December 25th and 26th
The market traditionally transitions to a Neujahrsmarkt (new year market) after Christmas from December 27th.
How to get to Schönbrunn
To reach the market, follow the instructions for finding the palace. The market takes place in the huge courtyard next to the main palace building.
Needless to say, consider getting there early and enjoying the other attractions at Schönbrunn, such as a tour of the palace or a trip to the zoo.
If the Austrian winter blesses the market with snow, then the park and gardens look particularly splendid coated in white.
Out in the wooded or tree-lined areas, you might also spot red squirrels. They are not shy so can come quite close to visitors.
Address: Schönbrunn Palace, 1130 Vienna | Website
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