A bleary-eyed Vienna stumbles out of Christmas to find itself clutching yet another glass of punch in one hand and, in the other, a plastic pig holding a four-leaf clover. The New Year markets are upon us.
Read on for details of the markets…
- Traditionally open from December 26th to early January
- Full of arts, crafts, food, and drink
- What opens (and when) changes each year
- See also:
What are the New Year markets?
(A Silvestermarkt on Michaelerplatz)
Imagine the Christmas markets, then take away a few decorations and replace them with lucky charms. That, in a nutshell, is it.
At most markets that literally is what happens: a Christmas market morphs into a New Year’s market (German: Silvestermarkt or Neujahrsmarkt).
Sometimes the difference between the two is largely cosmetic, but normally the selection of stalls and the wares offered change to reflect the new season.
Inevitably, these year-end markets lack the characteristic Advent flair that comes with their tinselled predecessors.
That said, failing to quite live up to the Christmas versions is hardly a disgrace, and most New Year markets still glow with good cheer and quality wares.
So, if you want to while away the time before (and sometimes after) the New Year celebrations, then pop into a market to enjoy roasted almonds or fried sausages while you browse the collective endeavours of all those artists and artisans.
But which Silvestermarkt should you visit?
Find a hotel for the market season
Browse for your New Year accommodation
(service provided by Booking.com*, who I am an affiliate of)
The answer depends on which markets open. While the Christmas market scene remains fairly steady, recent years have seen the locations of New Year markets chop and change.
In 2021/2022, for example, the Christmas market on Stephansplatz continued as a New Year market for the very first time. So check back here nearer the time for final plans.
The 2022/2023 markets
Follow the links for more details.
One market that makes a reliable annual appearance (in normal times) is the one at Schönbrunn palace:
Schönbrunn
This high-class event tops my personal list of market favourites.
The annual New Year version of the hugely-popular Christmas market fills part of the courtyard of the summer Habsburg palace at Schönbrunn. This makes a gorgeous setting, and the quality of the stalls reflects the surroundings.
The market plans to open from December 27th to January 4th in 2022/2023.
Riesenradplatz
Another dependable option is the Wintermarkt on the Riesenradplatz, which actually expects to open in early Advent 2022 and continue through to January 8th in 2023.
The booths sit at the entrance to the massive Prater entertainment complex and almost under the iconic giant Ferris wheel (which looks wonderful lit up at night).
Pretty much food and drink only, here, with a particularly local feel to proceedings.
The Gourmetmarkt
A pedestrianised road leading away from the state opera house has a small gourmet Advent market which looks scheduled to extend through into the night of December 31st. A place to pick up your prosciutto and parmesan before downing a glass of sparkling wine.
Possible other markets
In recent years, other markets have also fed and entertained visitors across the New Year period. As always, check locally or nearer the time to see if they reappear.
Maria-Theresien-Platz
The Silvesterdorf succeeded the Christmas market on the same site. It featured over 70 stands with a nice variety of wares to sell and a super location among the historical architecture of the natural and art history museums on Maria-Theresien-Platz.
Belvedere
Back in 2019, the excellent Belvedere Christmas market extended opening days through until December 31st. The Upper Belvedere palace provided a rather elegant Baroque background to proceedings, especially in the evening thanks to the tasteful lighting.
Rathausplatz
The square in front of city hall hosts the city’s biggest New Year’s Eve party and community waltz as part of the formal Silvesterpfad celebrations.
At the last full event, seventy market booths paved the way toward the midnight festivities, with over half just there to see you had enough to eat and drink. Most of the rest sold New Year knickknacks and party gear.
Michaelerplatz
Another historic location, this time in front of the winter Habsburg palace in the very centre of Vienna. A small collection of striking white stands with mainly food, drink and New Year items.
Like all the New Year markets mentioned, the k.u.k Neujahrsmarkt also followed on from a Christmas equivalent.