Today I want to bring you my Vienna Christmas itinerary. The Austrian capital is one of my favorite places in Europe during the festive season. From the Christmas markets to the shops and restaurants, Vienna has no shortage of things to entertain visitors in the run-up to December 25th. I’m here now and I can’t wait to show you what I find. Read on for my 1-day itinerary. There’s a map, too.
Vienna Christmas Itinerary
Vienna is magical at Christmas. I’ve been here at this time of year before, and I love the way the city comes to life with seasonal markets, decorations, lights, and entertainment.
Whether you want to discover the iconic Christmas markets, see the sights, shop for gifts, or indulge in a delicious slice of Sachertorte, you’ll find a lot to get excited about while you’re visiting Vienna in November or December.
Most of the Christmas markets are open by the middle of November, and the decorations and light displays are up by then too. If you time your trip accordingly, you’ll be able to see the best of them. You can check hours and dates of specific events online.
Where to Stay in Vienna
When it comes to accommodation in Vienna, you have no shortage of choices. Whether you want to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment, the Austrian capital has a range of accommodation options.
I’ve had a great stay at the 25hours Hotel at MuseumsQuartier in the past. With unique design, vintage and modern furniture, and whimsical circus elements, it’s one of the coolest places to stay in Vienna. It’s close to the best Christmas markets, too.
If you want more ideas, you can find deals and book accommodation in Vienna here. With so many options, you’re sure to find somewhere that fits your travel style and preferences.
How to Pack for Vienna at Christmas
Before you visit the city, you’ll need to pack for Vienna. The weather here can be similar to the climate in London, so you can take a look at my winter packing list to see what you should bring.
If you’re flying to Austria, you can also check out my long-haul packing list and my guide to how to pack with just a carry-on (I was interviewed by The New York Times about the latter).
1 Day in Vienna at Christmas
My other half and I arrive in Austria on an early flight from Tbilisi. We’ve just had a great time in Georgia and Armenia, and we’re looking forward to continuing our European trip with a day in Vienna.
After landing at Vienna airport at 6:30am, we head into the city for a day of festive fun. We’ve bought tickets for the CAT (City Airport Train) at the recommendation of a contact of mine at the Vienna Tourist Board, and we enjoy the easy 16-minute ride.
From there we hop on a U-Bahn train for the 5-minute journey to Karlsplatz station in the heart of the city. We’re excited to start our Vienna Christmas itinerary.
Breakfast
A few minutes’ walk from the station is the famous Hotel Sacher. This grand dame is known for everything from its luxurious interiors to its restaurants and cafes.
But what it’s really known for is its cake. Sachertorte is a chocolate cake that was invented by Franz Sacher. It’s said that he created it in Vienna in 1832 for Prince Metternich.
Sachertorte is one of the most famous things to eat in Vienna, and no trip would be complete without it. Even for breakfast.
We’ve booked a table at the hotel’s casual Cafe Sacher at 8am, and we arrive ready for sustenance. We order coffees and egg dishes, then finish off our meal with a slice of Sachertorte. It’s every bit as good as I remember from my first trip to Vienna.
Sightseeing
After breakfast we walk over to Spittelberg, a charming historic area. It has beautiful cobblestone streets, painted facades, and hidden cafes. It’s one of my favorite places to visit in Vienna.
We spend an hour walking through the streets, watching as the neighborhood’s Christmas market stalls prepare to open for the day.
It’s fun to wander along the lanes, through archways, and into courtyards as we make our way around the area. There are great restaurants and cafes here, not to mention Christmas decorations.
Spa at Hotel Sans Soucis
Soon we’re off to the spa. We’ve been offered complimentary access to the luxurious one at Hotel Sans Soucis via the Vienna Tourist Board. It’s the perfect place to warm up when the weather is cold.
While here we enjoy everything from the steam bath to saunas, the Sun Meadow, and the quiet room. The spa is also home to the largest hotel pool in Vienna. We take advantage of the opportunity to swim, basking in the water.
The spa also has changing rooms with lockers, bathrobes, slippers, towels, and skin care products. They’re the perfect places to freshen up before heading back out to explore more of the city.
Christmas Market
Once outside, we continue our Vienna Christmas itinerary with a short walk to the Christmas market in Maria-Theresien-Platz. Situated between the natural history museum and the art history museum, this place is packed with chalets selling all kinds of crafts, gifts, and food.
The market is beautiful against the backdrop of the historic museum facades, and we have fun walking through it and browsing the stalls.
We stop for a festive drink served in a mug shaped like a Christmas boot, then browse chalets selling everything from ornaments to clothing and candles.
Lunch
After the market we continue our Vienna Christmas itinerary with lunch at Glacis Beisl in Museumsquartier. The restaurant has been recommended to us by the Vienna Tourist Board, and we’re excited to try some Austrian specialties.
Glacis Beisl blends all things modern and traditional. It serves classic Viennese cuisine in the window-lined dining room, and there are daily and weekly specials on the menu.
We tuck into everything from doughy pierogi dumplings to classic Wiener schnitzel as the dining room fills up around us.
Christmas Market
After lunch we continue our Vienna Christmas itinerary with another market. This time we’re off to the Christmas market in Rathausplatz. It’s the largest one in the city, and it gets millions of visitors each year.
The market sits in front of the Rathaus (city hall), which makes for a stunning backdrop. There are around 100 chalets, ice skating, entertainment, a huge Christmas tree, a carousel, Advent displays, and more.
We spend time browsing the stalls, taking in the scents, and buying a Christmas ornament to bring home as a souvenir.
Konditorei
After exploring the market, we make one last stop in Vienna: Konditorei Oberlaa. This cafe is known for its sweet treats, and we’re after one in particular: apple strudel.
After being seated at a table near the mouth-watering pasty case, we make our order. Soon we’re tucking into delicious pastry and sauce. It goes down a treat.
When we finish our strudel, we head back to the airport to catch our flight to London. It’s been a whirlwind trip, but a fun one.
Vienna Christmas Itinerary
I hope you’ve enjoyed this itinerary for 1 day in Vienna at Christmas and that it’s given you good ideas for things to do in the city. There’s a lot to love about this place during the festive season, and it’s a great excuse to take a trip.
I’ve published plenty of other blog posts about Vienna, too. From my guide to the best places to visit in Vienna to my itinerary for 2 days in Vienna at Christmas, I’ve covered a lot of things to do. This is one of my favorite weekend trips from London to Europe.
If you want to explore further afield, my Austria itinerary for 10 days can help. It will show you a range of places to visit on one trip.
I’ve also written about Salzburg and Innsbruck at Christmas if you want to continue the festive fun elsewhere in the country. They’re some of the best places to visit in Europe in winter, and they’re home to some of my favorite European Christmas markets.
Vienna Christmas Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the spots we visited in Vienna at Christmas. You can see it here. I hope it helps you follow in our footsteps and have a fun time in the Austrian capital.
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