Unlike most Easter markets, this one is largely inside. And a good thing, too, since Palais Niederösterreich is one of Vienna’s most historic buildings.
- Arts, crafts and regional food and drink from Lower Austria
- Very high quality of products
- Rare chance to see inside this beautiful town palace
- 2021 dates: TBA
- See also: Easter markets in Vienna | Palais Niederösterreich
The Oster-Erlebnismarkt
Like all of Austria’s rural provinces, Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) takes pride in its regional traditions, culture, and cuisine. And, every now and then, it turns up in Vienna to give locals and tourists a taste of all three.
The Easter market (Oster-Erlebnismarkt) is one example. Around 60 exhibitors sit inside Palais Niederösterreich and offer a broad range of food and drink from the province, together with local arts and crafts.
The quality bears comparison to any other market. In fact, having gone round, I’d venture to suggest only Schönbrunn Easter market comes close to the standards set in Palais Niederösterreich…shame it’s just a two-day event.
On the culinary front, for example, you might find organic craft beers and local wines, giant loaves of crusty bread with homemade pastries and biscuits, organic goats cheese and smoked fish, hams, sausages, multicolored pasta varieties, and much more.
On the arts and crafts front, perhaps handmade soaps and uniquely-decorated silk scarfs, glass and silver jewellry, porcelain cake stands, organic clothing, painted goose eggs, and even (on my visit) ostrich feather dusters.
The events offers more than a passive feast for the eyes and stomach, though.
The central courtyard hosts a stage for music and other entertainment while you dine on Lower Austrian fare and a glass of fine wine (perhaps accompanied by a portly gentleman with a moustache you can hang your coat on).
Palais Niederösterreich rarely opens to the public, so the Easter market is a genuinely golden chance to get a look inside.
The market itself occupies rooms that date back to gothic and renaissance times. Be sure to go into the Landtagssaal, a former seat of the provincial parliament; gorgeous baroque frescoes cover the ceiling.
You can also take a tour of the palais (albeit in German), which gets you inside the perfectly-preserved renaissance chambers with their glorious carved wooden ceilings. They still use the rooms for official functions.
Opening times 2021
The Easter market at Palais Niederösterreich traditionally runs for two days just a couple of weeks before Easter, opening from 10am to 9pm.
As soon as I have times and dates for 2021, I’ll put them here. This assumes, of course, that the prevailing public health situation allows such events to go ahead (the 2020 market did not take place, for example).
Entry is free.
How to get to the market
Herrengasse is right in the centre of Vienna, close to the sights you’re probably passing anyway and home to its own subway station.
While you’re there, can I strongly recommend you pop into Café Central for a coffee (if the queues aren’t too bad). It’s opposite Palais Niederösterreich and fabulous.
Subway: Take the U3 to Herrengasse
Tram/bus: Take the 1A or 2A bus lines to the Herrengasse stop
Address: Herrengasse 13, 1010 Vienna