Christmas Market on Rathausplatz

Christmas Market on Rathausplatz

Christmas Market on Rathausplatz
4.5
About
Romantic Vienna lights up in Advent with the scent of glühwein hanging over the Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt set against the lovely backdrop of the Neo-Gothic town hall. Here more than 150 wooden stalls offer yuletide gifts – from handmade wooden toys to lavish tree decorations and Christmas candles – lights are strung across the square and nativity stories are read each evening. Food vendors offer Viennese specialities from smoked sausages to apple strudels and spicy punch, there are carol concerts around the Christmas tree and train rides on the Christkindl Express in the Rathauspark.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Inner City
In Vienna's best-known district, pedestrian boulevards Kärntner Strasse and Graben connect you with landmarks such as the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), Vienna’s iconic Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) and the vast compound of Hofburg, the Habsburgs’ former Imperial Palace. Peek down side streets such as Annagasse and Weihburggasse, and Graben’s Seilergasse and Habsburggasse, to get a feel for the centre. The Imperial Apartments and the refreshingly demystifying Sissi Museum are must-dos at Hofburg. Spacious squares such as Am Hof and Freyung often host beautiful seasonal and antiques markets.
How to get there
  • Rathaus • 3 min walk
  • Schottentor • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • The Mills Twins
    Wrexham, United Kingdom599 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Market
    Lots of choice lots of food and great fun. The ski ring goes throughout the trees with separate breakout rinks within it. Really brings the Christmas spirit ! Looks beautiful at night too .
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 23 November 2023
  • navyjim58
    Czech Republic852 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the best Christmas Markets in Vienna
    Vienna has 7 Christmas Markets and we visited 5 of them with this one being the best. We attended on a very snowy day and it was very crowded. But. It was beautiful and fun and we enjoyed everything except the bathrooms. Rediculous long lines. However we were glad we went as they had so many things to see including the lights and ice skating and smow man making and hot wine and food and a beautiful church and much more. Recommend.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 December 2023
  • Melody D
    46 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Busy but classic!
    Very very busy. We went on a Sunday night and there were long queues and many people aimlessly wandering which does become frustrating when trying to navigate. Range of stalls and lots of punsch / hot wine. Pretty lights.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 December 2023
  • nottinghall
    Weymouth, Massachusetts458 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Festive and Fun!
    How could you not love this place? Yes, it's crowded! Know that in advance and be prepared to deal with it. Everyone wants to be here. The lights and displays were wonderful. From the ferris wheel to the carousel and the ice skating ... not to mention all the booths crammed full of trinkets. This is where we had dinner, not one, but two nights in a row. Couldn't recommend it more!
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 December 2023
  • Vasilisa V
    6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit if in Vienna for Christmas!
    This is a large Christmas market, with plenty of beautiful lights, lots of food options, and many unique stalls with different souvenirs. There is an adult carousel, a ferris wheel and an ice rink. The town hall makes a beautiful backdrop for the market.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 December 2023
  • Ezra B
    Howick, New Zealand414 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Huge Christmas market, busy but worth it!
    Rathausplatz forms a stunning backdrop for the very busy Christmas market here. There is a huge variety of stalls with many different foods, drinks and Christmas themed items to buy. Do yourself a favour and try the different things on offer here. The vibe is fantastic with many people in high spirits here. There is an ice skating rink to enjoy as well, and it is only a short walk from many other Viennese landmarks such as the Parliament Building and Hofburg palace.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 December 2023
  • PavlaPavla
    Chrudim, Czech Republic7,538 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots of stalls and lots of people
    The Christmas market in front of the town hall was divided into three parts. The main and largest one was the market itself with lots of stalls in the square right in front of the town hall. The dominant of this part was a large, colorful carousel. On one side there was an ice rink where you could skate and on the other side in a small park there was a space mainly for children, a small ferris wheel and a "tree of love" on which hung big, red (glowing in the night) hearts. The vendors here offered snacks, sweets, drinks, handmade items, ornaments, candles, hats and scarves... I really liked the drinking cup system. At the stand where you bought your first drink, you also paid for the mug. Then they gave you a drink (punch, coffee, hot chocolate...) at other stalls in this mug. In the end, you could keep the mug or return it and get your money back. This is also how it worked in the other Viennese markets.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 December 2023
  • Stirling B
    Ottawa, Canada764 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Christmas Market
    My partner & I visited the Christmas Market at Vienna City Hall on our recent trip to Vienna. Christmas Markets are a big tradition in Europe and this particular market is a prime example of why they are so popular. Lots to see and many booths to visit. The offerings include food, crafts and there is also a skating rink and colourful light displays at night. A must stop on any Christmas time trip to Vienna.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 January 2024
  • Lyall D
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom486 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Huge market and light show
    This is a huge market with stalls selling food, drink, sweets and Christmas decorations. There are also a lot of Nativity scenes set out around the walkways. Lots of choice of flavours for the mulled wine. Watch out for beggars looking for money or trying to take your drinks, there is a 4 - 5 Euro deposit on the cups.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 February 2024
  • Roberts69
    Northampton, United Kingdom18,888 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you can only make one Christmas Market in Vienna, this is the one to visit.
    We visited Vienna at the end of November in 2023 and was amazed at just how many Christmas Markets there were around the city. Of all those we visited we probably enjoyed the one on Vienna’s Rathausplatz, the square in front of the town hall. the most. This Christkindlmarkt was the centrepiece of the Viennese Christmas experience for us in Vienna. Made extra special by the gorgeous backdrop that is the Rathaus glowing with illuminations. There are some nice market stalls and plenty to eat and drink at the Christkindlmarkt... A real flavour of Austrian Christmas festivities. If you can only make one Christmas Market in Vienna then to me this is the one to visit.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles598 reviews
Excellent
375
Very good
151
Average
48
Poor
13
Terrible
11

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Tony G
Cricklade, UK845 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
We have visited Xmas markets throughout Europe over many years and these are my thoughts on the Rathaus version we came to see early December.
Pros - enjoyed the lights around the buildings and in the garden. The skating area has up and down twisting paths as well as a rink. Little fair ground for children. Some good street food to be had from some of the stalls. Particularly enjoyed a long cheese flavoured wurst in a tube of bread.
Cons - I thought I’d seen a stall somewhere else so I asked the stall holder and discovered they had a presence at a number of different locations in Vienna. So, you can literally see the same items for sale in a number of Xmas markets. I love the atmosphere but it seems to me that gone are the days of finding artisan treasures at sensible prices. Today it’s massed produced baubles and decorations which you find in the shopping streets for a fraction of the cost.
We bought a couple of Xmas tree baubles as a memento as you do but they cost 10 euros each.
Come if you must to get some pre-Xmas spirit but maybe age is making cynical as the Xmas market excitement is wearing thin due to them being over commercialised. Check the prices before you buy!
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MangiandoMiPassa
71 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
Despite the first initial impact, where you can appreciate beautiful bright decorations, the market is quite anonymous and offers nothing particular. The various stalls, in the houses, offer absolutely generic products, which could also be sold in the Caprarola market. The food tends to be of low quality
The right one is very nice and a single tour costs 5 euros per child, plus 5 euros for the companion. There's a queue, there's a lap, but for 10-15 euros per lap (depending on the children) it's not worth doing an encore
Stop by but don't waste too much time
Google
Written 11 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

machinmad
Yaxley, UK2,606 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Traditional continental market selling everything Christmassy. In England, they put all stalls selling food together but not here, so you have to search out the grub. I found giant bratwurst!

Just be aware most stuff is overpriced, so careful what you buy, check the price first.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

3stars1wish
Winnipeg, Canada319 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Quality, quantity, variety of products just awesome. The displays were literally eye candy. The lights were breathtaking! Lots of options for food and drink. I found the crowds were not that bad, the prices reasonable. So glad that we made it to the market, where we spent almost 2 hours. Wish we had had more time, but made the best of the time we had. Oh, almost forgot, great entertainment in front of the Ratthaus.
Written 8 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nicole Meisner
Rybnik, Poland116 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Family
Vienna’s Christmas Market was one of the first biggest Christmas Markets I was to. It was back in 2009. Since then I visited it almost every year, so that should be enough of a review... but let me continue!

It is spectacular. Big, bit loud, lots of people. But also lots of beautiful sights, good food, stalls with the most mesmerizing Christmas ornaments I’ve ever seen.
Did I mention the food? It is worth traveling to Vienna just for that food stalls that are there only for the Christmas Market period. From sweet to salty, meat and sausages to fluffy donuts.
Another gorgeous thing is the illumination. Everything looks like it is from a fairytale.

Another great thing. The Christmas Market doesn’t only happen at Rathaus. Go and see stalls on Prater and other places, spread all over the city. It’s definitely worth it!
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

navyjim58
Czech Republic852 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Vienna has 7 Christmas Markets and we visited 5 of them with this one being the best. We attended on a very snowy day and it was very crowded. But. It was beautiful and fun and we enjoyed everything except the bathrooms. Rediculous long lines. However we were glad we went as they had so many things to see including the lights and ice skating and smow man making and hot wine and food and a beautiful church and much more. Recommend.
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen Kelly
Liverpool, UK77,516 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Friends
The Christmas Market in Rathausplatz is in my opinion the best Christmas Market that we visited in Vienna on our six day holiday to this amazing city and I would say its the best Christmas Market in Europe.
Located on Rathausplatz'this is a magical place to visit for the adults and children as it encapsulates the Christmas spirit with its amazing Christmas decorations and all its illuminations.
This Christmas Market is breathtaking with its assorted Christmas stalls that sell many festive gifts.There are lots of stall's offering Glühwein and festive snacks and is a great place to spend a few hours.
With amusement ride's for the children and a superb ice rink and lot's more attractions and as mentioned above magnificent light feature's throughout the Christmas Market its a magical place to visit.
This was our 3rd Christmas Market and the best of the three by far.We stayed for a few hours and had festive snacks and plenty of Glühwein that warmed us up no end.If your ever in Vienna in the Christmas period and you are looking for a Christmas Market'this is the one to visit.Very easy to find from the tram stop at Rathausplatz Burgtheater it's a minute's walk.(This is my first review of the Christmas Markets at Rathausplatz).
Opening Hours.
Monday-Sunday-10.00-22.00.
Public Transport.
Tram Stop.
Rathausplatz Burgtheater tram stop.
Written 27 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roberts69
Northampton, UK18,888 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
We visited Vienna at the end of November in 2023 and was amazed at just how many Christmas Markets there were around the city. Of all those we visited we probably enjoyed the one on Vienna’s Rathausplatz, the square in front of the town hall. the most. This Christkindlmarkt was the centrepiece of the Viennese Christmas experience for us in Vienna. Made extra special by the gorgeous backdrop that is the Rathaus glowing with illuminations. There are some nice market stalls and plenty to eat and drink at the Christkindlmarkt... A real flavour of Austrian Christmas festivities. If you can only make one Christmas Market in Vienna then to me this is the one to visit.
Written 15 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Virginiatravel1
372 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
You must visit this market at Christmas in Vienna and join the crowds who are enjoying themselves. There is food, drink, crafts and other items for sale, lights, more lights, and a Ferris wheel. Immerse yourself in the crowd and enjoy the holiday and be sure to watch the ice skaters.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christina W
Peachtree Corners, GA254 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We traveled to Budapest, Vienna and Prague just for the Christmas Markets. This market was by far the best. Go at night to see the Christmas lights; they are unbelievable. It gets very crowded. We went in the middle of the week and there were thousands of people there. There is plenty of food, great souvenirs to buy, and great desserts, but there are lines for everything. Do not miss this Christmas Market!
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 386
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

CHRISTMAS MARKET ON RATHAUSPLATZ (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

All Vienna HotelsVienna Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Vienna
All things to do in Vienna
Day Trips in Vienna
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire