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 shows when the main Christmas markets in Vienna open, according to each market’s website at the time of writing:
- November 12th: Spittelberg, Stephansplatz, Am Hof, and Altes AKH markets
- November 17th: Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz
- November 19th: Karlsplatz and Belvedere markets
- November 20th: the Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz, the Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz and the Schönbrunn Christmas markets
Traditionally, most markets start 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 remaining main markets, here’s a list of planned openings for 2020 before a COVID-related event ban put paid to everything:
- November 13th: Michaelerplatz, and the Genussmarkt bei der Oper
- 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).
These markets stay open through the Christmas public holiday period:
- Wintermarkt am Riesenradplatz (until January 9th, 2022)
- The Schönbrunn market (until December 26th and then continues as a New Year market until January 4th, 2022)
- Stephansplatz (until December 26th)
- Belvedere (until the 26th and then until December 31st as a New Year market)
- Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz (until the 26th then traditionally after as a New Year market)
The following markets also commonly stay open during the actual holiday period. The dates given are based on provisional plans for 2020 until I get the actual 2021 dates:
- Rathausplatz (until December 26th)
- Michaelerplatz (until December 26th and likely later, too, as a New Year market)
- Genussmarkt bei der Oper (until December 31st)
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:
Provisional 2021 opening hours
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 typically open until 10 pm
Belvedere
- 11am to 9pm (weekdays)
- 10am to 9pm (weekends)
- 11am to 4pm (December 24th)
- 11am to 7pm (December 25th – 30th)
- 11am to 6pm (December 31st)
Maria-Theresien-Platz
- 11am to 9pm (Sun to Thurs)
- 11am to 9.30pm (Fri and Sat)
- Closed earlier on December 24th (4pm)
- 11am to 7pm (December 25th onwards)
- Closed early on December 31st (6pm)
Schönbrunn
- 10am to 9pm
- Closes at 4pm on December 24th
- 10am to 6pm (December 25th to January 4th)
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)
Planned opening hours for 2020
Here the opening hours announced for last year for those markets who have not yet published this year’s times last time I checked.
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
Michaelerplatz
- 10am or 11am to 8pm (5pm on December 24th)
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)