Vienna’s grand squares get a touch of humble holiday cheer during the Christmas season.
You’re wise to search the city for every small handicraft market, but one that you can’t miss is the bustling Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz. The Christmas market at Maria-Theresien-Platz is flanked by the Museum of Natural History and Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum), creating a stunning square full of season’s greetings. Here’s what you need to know about Vienna’s Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market.
Christmas on Maria-Theresien-Platz in Vienna, Austria. Image Credit: Getty Images, majaiva
When is the Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market?
The dates for the 2024 Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz, one of Vienna’s largest Christmas markets, are November 13 through December 31, 2024. Its opening hours vary by date:
- 🗓️ November 13 - December 23, 2024
⌚ Sunday through Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
⌚ Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- 🗓️ December 24, 2024
⌚ 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- 🗓️ December 25 - December 30, 2024
⌚ 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- 🗓️ December 31, 2024
⌚ 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Read also: The best European spots to visit in January
Aerial view of Kunsthistorisches Museum and Maria-Theresien-Platz in Vienna, Austria. Image Credit: Getty Images, pawel.gaul
Where is the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market located?
The location of Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz is no secret: this large Viennese Christmas market is located on Maria-Theresien-Platz, address: 1010 Wien. The Maria-Theresien-Platz is served by the Museumquartier metro station and Volkstheater U-bahn U3.
Read also: Find The Third Man at these Vienna filming locations
How to get to the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market by train?
Vienna’s four major railway stations: Wien Westbahnhof, Wien Rennweg, Wien Mitte, and Wien Hbf (Vienna’s main train station) are a few kilometers away from the the Christmas Market.
Thankfully, a U-bahn or S-bahn station isn’t far from these arrival train stations in Vienna:
- Bratislava hl.st. to Wien Hbf: about 1h 23m
- Budapest-Kelenföld to Wien Hbf: about 2h 25m
- Praha Hl.n. to Wien Hbf: about 4h 5m
- München Hbf to Wien Hütteldorf: about 4h 19m
- Kraków Główny to Wien Hbf: about 5h 17m
Why is the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market famous?
The Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market is famous for its coveted setting between the Art History Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum) and the Museum of Natural History. Vienna has too many magnificent backdrops to count, but the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market picked one of the best locations in the city to set up stalls.
Read also: Best 2024 Christmas markets in Europe to visit by train
Glass ornaments at Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market in Vienna, Austria. Image Credit: Getty Images, Elizabeth Beard
Is the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market worth visiting?
Yes, the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market is worth visiting even if you’re not on a Christmas market binge. It’s one of the largest markets in the city and draws a festive crowd. Its location in the Museumsquartier along the Museumsplatz gives you instant access to exceptional cultural sites like the Leopold Museum, MUMOK, and the Weltmuseum.
Best hotels near the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market
Vienna’s Christmas markets are scattered throughout the city, but if you want to stay as close as possible to the 70-some stalls of Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market, unwrap a warm welcome at these hotels:
- K+K Hotel Maria Theresia: Get to know Bohemian Spittelberg from the cozy confines of this stylish hotel.
- Le Méridien Vienna: Views of the Ringstrasse and Schillerplatz await in this delightfully designed hotel.
- Hotel Gilbert: This family-run hotel features apartment-style quarters, a 24-hour gym and sauna, and a gourmet breakfast buffet.
Read also: The best European city brrr-eaks for this winter
What foods are popular at the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market?
Come hungry when visiting the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas market. Austria’s reputation for heavy, hearty cuisine carries over onto its holiday markets. You’ll find a mix of traditional Viennese foods like lebkuchen, germknödel, kaiserschmarrn, and lángos, as well as the classic Christmas market fare like pastries.
Fun facts about Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market
Here’s a fun fact about the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market: Let’s say that your flight got canceled, your train got delayed, or your eggnog got a little too tasty — and now you can’t get to the market until its final day on December 31.
Good news: when the ball drops on the New Year, the Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market becomes the Maria-Theresien-Platz New Year Market. You’ll likely find special New Year mugs to add to your Christmas mug collection, as well as special foods and gifts to symbolize the New Year.
Read also: See the angelic Christkind at the Nuremberg Christmas market
Vienna State Opera at night. Image Credit: Getty Images, Leftbrokeneye
5 things to do in Vienna besides the Christmas Market
Vienna is such a grandiose city that it’s hard to believe its interiors are as grand as its architecture. Take advantage of a Christmas trip to Vienna to explore Wien’s wonderful attractions:
- Nibble a delectable sachertorte at Café Sacher before an evening at the Vienna State Opera.
- Admire the beauty of the Austrian National Library alongside other bibliophiles.
- Check out the former apartment of a classical genius at the Wien Museum Mozart.
- See the city from atop the Viennese Giant Ferris Wheel.
- Take a guided tour of St. Stephen's Cathedral’s catacombs.
Vienna is a winter wonderland thanks to Christmas markets like the Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz. Download the Trainline app and plan your trip to this whimsical city by train.
Kartnerstrasse street in Vienna, Austria during Christmas. Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Gary Yeowell
