Place a hay bale in the Schönbrunn Palace courtyard and it would soon acquire a certain imperial elegance, nostalgic charm, and its own souvenir range of pitchforks.
You simply cannot beat the setting. And the Easter market here is a lovely seasonal treat.
- Beautiful surrounds in the forecourt of the Habsburg summer palace
- Top quality wares and edibles
- Giant Easter eggs make excellent photos
- 2024 dates: Mar 16 – April 2
- See also:
The market
(Schönbrunn Easter Market; press photo © www.ostermarkt.co.at / FOTOFALLY)
Given the imperial location, the Schönbrunn Easter market already has an advantage over its colleagues elsewhere in Vienna. Add in that it’s the biggest and you have – in my opinion – the top option.
I like, for example, the organic foods and lovely decorated eggs at the Freyung and the art and food booths at Am Hof. But meandering past truffles and trinkets in the shadow of the great summer Habsburg palace has a particular flair to it.
Two rows of market stands curve around one side of the giant courtyard, with huge Easter eggs at a couple of locations. And most of these stands contain quality arts and crafts, some familiar from the Christmas market held at the same location.
On my 2023 visit, the stalls offered jewellery, crafted glass, toys, handmade soaps, original linocut art, crockery and ceramics, textiles and more. Some sold Easter decorations, too (including the inevitable painted eggs), thereby ensuring an Easter feeling flowed through the market.
Expect to find one or two booths with regional meats, honeys, alpine cheeses, and similar in among the craft stalls, too.
Not that the food is only to take away and enjoy later.
I encountered, for example, Leberkäse, poppy seed potato gnocchi, sweet apricot dumplings, fried potatoes with Easter ham, Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancake), crepes, waffles, and pulled pork.
And among the various vegetarian options: veggie patties with coleslaw, vegetarian bowls, spinach and sheep cheese on dark bread, and red bean, chickpea and lentil salad.
The location offers more seats than usual at a seasonal market as well as numerous free-standing bar tables.
So you can relax with your food and wash it down with a traditional drink, like Viennese beer or wine, or a not-quite-so-traditional one, like a strawberry fruit punch.
Be warned, however: even with all these seats and tables, space can get scarce at busy times.
(Ostermarkt Schloss Schönbrunn; press photo © Angelika Kessler)
Crowds were plentiful when I last dropped by (a late March Saturday). Mind you, visitors still had enough space to get close to the wares. And the only real queues were at selected food stands.
The Schönbrunn market also makes an effort to keep the kids happy.
For example, an Osterhasen Werkstatt (Easter rabbit workshop) offers various activities for children, and I spotted a small carousel made from discarded items like abandoned bicycles. The little ones might also enjoy the neighbouring Children’s Museum.
Once you’re done with the market, wander around to the other side of the palace and see what flowers and colours spring has brought to the landscaped gardens. Pansies have dominated in recent years.
And consider Schönbrunn zoo, should you wish to see what baby animals the season also put into the world.
Opening times 2024
The 2024 Schönbrunn Easter market opens from March 16th to April 2nd (the day after Easter Monday).
Opening times are daily from 10am to 6.30pm.
How to get to the Schönbrunn market
The main entrance to the palace complex opens onto a courtyard where the market takes place. You can’t miss it. Follow these directions to get there.
Subway: U4 (either to the Schönbrunn or Hietzing stations, then a short walk).
Tram/bus: Take tram lines 10, 52, and 60, or bus line 10A, to the Schloss Schönbrunn stop.
The palace does have a large car park located close by: just over the road, diagonally opposite the main entrance to the complex.
Address: Schloss Schönbrunn, 1130 Vienna | Website