Like all Easter markets, the one on the Freyung cannot easily compete with the Christmas market on the same spot, but it does have one major advantage…
Eggs.
- Great for finding decorated eggshells
- Normally adjoins an organic food market
- Close to the Am Hof Easter market
- 2023 dates: Mar 24 – Apr 10
- See also:
The Freyung Easter market
(Craft stalls in the lee of the neighbouring Schottenkirche church)
When I say the Freyung market has eggs, I mean more eggs than an omelette factory that’s just opened new production facilities. Eggs in a myriad of colours and designs, ready to hang on your Easter tree (an Austrian tradition).
The Ostereistand typically dominates the centre of the main square, offering box after box of painted eggshells and egg-shaped decorations.
On my last visit (2022), you could even buy decorated ostrich eggshells.
It’s worth taking a few moments to browse the displays, as some of the egg designs are quite beautiful: painted scenes; Easter, imperial, floral, and animal motifs; lacework decor; eggs as globes etc. etc.
I was very taken with the sheet-music themed eggs, which seemed particularly appropriate for a city like Vienna:
This centrepiece, together with a giant revolving painted egg, gives the market a genuine Easter feeling.
These Easter-themed displays balance the more generic arts and crafts flavour in the rest of the market (though you’ll still discover egg-shaped candles, Lebkuchen rabbits and similar).
Those craft stands feature the usual crockery, jewellery, clothes, leather items and more.
And no seasonal market in Vienna is complete without food and drink. This is your chance to stock up on specialties like mustards, vinegars, oils and honey (try Schönbrunn market for even more variety).
(Um, eggs)
Be sure to also cross the road to the small organic farmers’ market that usually adjoins the Easter event. Youthful acolytes and wizened old mountain folk serve up a cornucopia of organic fare: pickles and pastries, pate and breads. And yet more cheese, sausages and salami.
Austria has a strong small-scale traditional agricultural landscape, so the Altwiener Ostermarkt makes for a good spot to sample the efforts of the farmers’ endeavours.
(And those of the winemakers, too: try a glass of Austrian wine, which always seems to dominate proceedings.)
I’ll admit to being particularly partial to the sharp Bergkäse alpine cheese they typically sell on the Freyung. And when I say sharp, I mean eye-poppingly so: the kind of cheese that leaves a visceral lasting memory.
2023 dates & times
According to the official website, dates for 2023 are March 24th to April 10th with opening times of 10am to 8pm.
How to get to the Freyung
(The host square)
The market is very central, about a five-minute walk from a sizeable station (Schottentor), and not far from the cathedral and main tourist trail. So you might come across it on your travels anyway.
Incidentally, the next square down also hosts another major Easter market: the Ostermarkt Am Hof is scheduled to open across the same time period in 2023. And one of my favourite coffee houses is just up the road: Café Diglas im Schottenstift.
The Freyung square represents one of the oldest parts of the city. The wall marking the upper boundary of the market, for example, is the Schottenkirche church (originally consecrated in 1200, many centuries before chocolate reached the shores of Europe).
Subway: Take the U2 to Schottentor (go south down Schottengasse) or the U3 to Herrengasse (go north up Herrengasse).
Tram: The lines 1, D, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 71 all stop at Schottentor.
Bus: Take the 1A bus to Teinfaltstrasse (the stop is practically in the middle of the market).
Address: Altwiener Ostermarkt, Freyung, 1010 Vienna | Website