Nothing compares to the charm of European Christmas markets. My love for Christmas markets in Europe started years ago when my husband and I stumbled upon Prague’s Old Town Square during a winter trip over Thanksgiving.
As we wandering cobblestone alleys across town, we were surrounded by twinkling lights, steaming cups of mulled wine, and stalls selling handmade ornaments. The magic of European Christmas markets had me instantly hooked!
Since then, I’ve returned to Europe time and time again to visit more Christmas markets each winter. My adventures have taken me to some of the world’s best European Christmas markets across England, France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
But there’s one place I can’t stop thinking about, and it’s the one destination I’d choose if I could only pick a single Christmas market city for the rest of my life: Vienna, Austria!
I flew from the Midwest to Vienna, Austria back in 2019 with my friends for an ultimate girls’ trip to Vienna. We snagged incredibly cheap tickets for $279 round-trip, so we couldn’t say no! At the time, we didn’t even realize that Christmas markets would be set up around the town, making the cheap flight even more shocking.
After spending one week exploring everything Vienna has to offer, I’m convinced it’s the best place for Christmas markets in Europe — here’s why.
Vienna has 20+ Christmas markets, and each one feels different
What sets Vienna apart from other European destinations is the variety of markets across the city. Vienna has around 20 Christmas markets scattered across its neighborhoods, and no two markets felt the same. You can easily spend an entire trip just hopping from one market to the next, and honestly, that’s exactly what I did.
At Rathausplatz, you get the classic storybook Christmas market, featuring an enormous ice-skating rink that winds through the park like a glowing winter maze. You definitely need to try the ice-skating rink if you plan to visit, it was one of my favorite memories!
Over at Schönbrunn Palace, the market feels more refined and elegant, with dozens of stalls offering high-quality crafts and local goods framed by imperial architecture. Smaller neighborhood markets, like Spittelberg or Stephansplatz, have their own vibe too with cosy, artsy, and traditional elements.
When I compare this to places like Budapest or Bratislava, where just a few central markets anchor the city’s festivities, Vienna feels almost endless. We never ran out of places to explore during our week in Vienna!
Vienna doubles as a stunning backdrop to the Christmas markets
Vienna’s markets aren’t just set up in random squares, as they’re staged in front of some of the most stunning architecture in Europe. Picture yourself sipping mulled wine while exploring Baroque palaces, Gothic cathedrals, historic courtyards, and grand boulevards. Everything in Vienna transforms into a glowing winter wonderland around Christmas!
The entire city illuminates with magic, and that’s not something I’ve felt anywhere else. For instance, in England, I found many markets to feel less authentic than other destinations. For instance, the stalls were selling the same commercialized trinkets across different markets.
On the other hand, Vienna really highlights its history and heritage. Wandering under garlands of lights beneath the spires of St. Stephen’s Cathedral or through the palace courtyard at Schönbrunn feels like stepping back in time.
I found more handmade trinkets and unique treasures to bring home compared to other markets in Europe. Every Christmas market in Vienna looks like a postcard, and the magic was undeniable!
Vienna keeps tradition at the forefront
While some cities try to reinvent Christmas markets to appeal to tourists, Vienna does the opposite and doubles down on tradition.
Many markets host live choirs singing carols, nativity scenes, and vendors who specialize in timeless Austrian crafts. I was wowed by all of the handmade goodies, from carved wooden ornaments to hand-dipped candles.
Vienna’s decorations across the city felt classic and not gimmicky. The city’s old-world charm was in its purest form, and this makes the whole experience feel more authentic.
Vienna had the best seasonal food and drink
One of my favorite parts of any Christmas market is the food, and Vienna did not disappoint!
I still dream about the goulash served in hollowed-out bread bowls and warm treldink chimney cakes (my absolute favorite)! You can’t visit Vienna and not try the fragrant mulled wine (Glühwein), served in adorable, collectible mugs. Each market has its own mug design, which makes choosing a warm drink feel like a treasure hunt.
In addition, Vienna’s markets felt noticeably more affordable than what I’ve paid at Christmas markets in Germany or France. I didn’t feel like I was being overcharged for every snack or drink. Of course, I loved trying so many Austrian specialties without blowing my budget.
Vienna didn’t feel overcrowded with so many Christmas markets in town
Given how popular Christmas markets have become, I expected Vienna to feel overwhelmingly busy. Luckily, this wasn’t the case at all and we didn’t experience too many crowds while visiting the first week of December.
Because Vienna’s Christmas markets are spread across the entire city, visitors naturally disperse instead of cramming into one or two main markets. Crowds never hit the same levels I’ve experienced in places like Strasbourg, where the beauty of the market felt overshadowed by shoulder-to-shoulder foot traffic.
In Vienna, I could actually take my time to enjoy the atmosphere and move at my own pace. This made the whole experience feel more relaxed and very festive, as Christmas should be!
Why Vienna is the my top pick for European Christmas markets
After visiting Christmas markets across Europe, I didn’t expect Vienna to be the city that would stick with me the most. Even after visiting so many markets across Europe, Vienna is the one city that I could keep returning to.
Vienna’s old-world charm illuminates across the city’s Christmas markets, and it captivated my heart! There was magic in the air in Vienna that could be felt in each market we visit.
The city truly captures the spirit of Christmas in a way I haven’t found anywhere else. And if I had to choose just one city to return to every holiday season, it would be Vienna—every time.
