You’re wrapped up warm all ready to splash out on strawberries that foolishly fell into some chocolate. Not to mention a mug of mulled wine to scare away the winter cold. Around the corner, and…the market’s not open.
- See also: List of Christmas markets | Vienna in December
When do the markets start in 2021?
The list will eventually show when the main Christmas markets in Vienna open, according to each market’s website at the time of writing. Obviously, it’s a little early for specific dates right now with one or two exceptions (all dates provisional):
- November 19th: Karlsplatz market begins
- November 20th: the Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz, the Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz and the Schönbrunn Christmas market start
Traditionally, most markets start up in mid-November and all should open by the end of that month.
(I try to keep things up-to-date but it’s not always possible, so check with official market sites to be sure.)
Just to given you an idea of what to expect from the other markets, here’s a list of planned openings for 2020 before a COVID-related event ban put paid to everything:
- November 13th: Am Hof, Altes AKH, Spittelsberg, Michaelerplatz, Genussmarkt bei der Oper, Rathausplatz, and Stephansplatz
- November 18th: Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz
- November 20th: Belvedere
- November 21st: Freyung
All markets normally stay open until at least December 23rd. Some Christmas markets continue into late December or early January (most tend to do so more or less as New Year’s markets).
The following markets commonly stay open during the actual Christmas and New Year holiday period. The dates given are based on provisional plans for 2020 pre-event ban:
- Rathausplatz (until December 26th)
- Belvedere (until the 26th and then until December 31st as a New Year market)
- Maria-Theresien-Platz (until January 6th)
- Stephansplatz (until December 26th)
- Michaelerplatz (until December 26th and likely later, too)
- Genussmarkt bei der Oper (until December 31st)
(The Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz already indicated they will open until January 9th, 2022. The Schönbrunn market stays open until December 26th and then continues as a New Year’s market until January 4th, 2022.)
Opening hours 2021
Most markets open sometime between 10am and midday, closing around 9pm. Here the details, again based on what the websites say at the time of writing:
Surprise! Few times available yet, but you might find the 2020 plans helpful…
2021 opening hours
Schönbrunn
- 10am to 9pm
- Closes at 4pm on December 24th
- 10am to 6pm (December 25th to January 4th)
Planned opening hours for 2020 (before the ban)
Altes AKH
- 2pm to 10pm (Mon – Weds)
- 2pm to 11pm (Thurs, Fri)
- 11am to 11pm (Sat)
- 11am to 9pm (Sun)
Am Hof
- 11am to 9pm (Mon-Thurs)
- 10am to 9pm (Fri-Sun and public holidays)
- Food stalls were open until 10 pm
Belvedere
- 11am to 9pm (weekdays)
- 10am to 9pm (weekends and December 8th)
- 11am to 4pm (December 24th)
- 10 am or 11am to 7pm (December 25th – 30th)
- 11am to 6pm (December 31)
Christkindlmarkt (Rathaus)
- 11am to 9.30pm (10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
- Closes at 7pm on December 24th
- 11am to 9.30pm on December 25th and 26th
Freyung
- 10am to 9pm
Genussmarkt bei der Oper
- 11am to 9pm
- Closed on December 24th
- On December 31st, opens until 2am the next day
Karlsplatz
- 11am to 9pm
Maria-Theresien-Platz
- 11am to 9pm (Sun to Thurs)
- 11am to 9.30pm or 10pm (Fri and Sat)
- Closed earlier on December 24th (4pm)
- 11am to 7pm (December 25th to January 6th)
- Closed early on December 31st (6pm)
Michaelerplatz
- 10am or 11am to 8pm (5pm on December 24th)
Spittelberg
- 2pm to 9pm (Mon-Thurs)
- 2pm to 9.30pm (Fri)
- 10am to 9.30pm (Sat)
- 10am to 9pm (Sun and public holidays)
Stephansplatz
- 11am to 9pm (closed at 4pm on Dec 24 and at 7pm on Dec 25 and 26)
Wintermarkt
- Midday to 10pm (weekdays)
- 11am to 10pm (weekends and public holidays)
- 10am to 5pm on December 24th
- Opened longer on New Year’s Eve (midday to 2am the following day)