3Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s venerable Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz opens its gates in mid-November, welcoming over 3 million visitors each year.
And the Christmas markets in Vienna truly are an age-old tradition. Just look for the Advent season concerts, where choirs from around the world perform Christmas music in the Rathaus every weekend from late November to December 24.
Beeswax candles, wooden toys, glass ornaments, cream-filled pastries, candied fruits, roasted chestnuts and Weihnachtspunsch (a spiced ‘Christmas punch’ of wine, brandy or Schnapps sweetened with warm fruit juices), these are some of the many goodies, waiting to be sold.
Between the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum, Christmas village on Maria-Theresien-Platz, consisting of 70 stalls, offers traditional handicrafts, as well as original gift ideas.
Kids will appreciate the Christmas market on Karlsplatz, while the cultural and Christmas market in front of Schönbrunn Palace offers romance in front of an imperial backdrop.
