Julmarknad Wien

From mid-November to Christmas, Vienna’s prettiest squares transform into magical Christmas markets. The aroma of Christmas bakery items and hot punch creates a pre-Christmas atmosphere.

At the traditional Vienna Magic of Advent, the Rathausplatz becomes a shining fairytale land. The 150 or so sales stands offer Christmas gifts, Christmas tree decorations, sweets and warming drinks. The trees of the surrounding City Hall park are festively decorated and radiate in a sea of lights. There are lots of offers here for children in particular.
Not far away is the Christmas village on Maria-Theresien-Platz, situated between the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum. Over 60 stands offering traditional handicrafts and original gift ideas are set up here during Advent. The romantic Christmas village in the Old AKH is also a popular meeting point during the run-up to Christmas, especially for the younger crowd.
The Old Viennese Christmas Market on Freyung in the city center is committed to tradition. A Christmas market was held here as early as 1772; today, it is a place to buy handicrafts, glass decorations, traditional cribs and ceramics. Festive Advent music can be heard on the square from 4 pm. Top-quality handicrafts can also be purchased a couple of steps further along at the Am Hof Advent Market.
The cultural and Christmas market in the Ehrenhof in front of Schönbrunn Palace offers romance in front of an imperial backdrop, and is converted into a New Year's market after Christmas. The atmospheric market offers traditional handicrafts, hand-made Christmas decorations, Christmas concerts and an extensive children's program, including Christmas workshop. The Advent market in front of Belvedere Palace is also held in an imperial ambience.
Children in particular also really appreciate the Christmas market on Karlsplatz. In addition, to an extensive children's program, this market is above all noted for handicrafts and will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in style in 2013. At the Christmas market on Spittelberg, in the idyllic little lanes, there are also many stalls selling handicrafts, and numerous others with culinary gift ideas.
Experience is the word at the winter market on Riesenradplatz. There are children's adventure rides, musical live acts and a humorous show program here until 6 January. A Christmas market will be held for the first time at Stephansplatz in 2013. Contemplation and tradition are the focus here, with 26 booths offering high-quality products from Austria. There is also a small but mighty Christmas market at Naschmarkt this year for the very first time.