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Christkindlmarkt in Vienna for three days

There is a good chance that I will be in Vienna in early December on a Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday and leave Monday morning. I will be with my daughter and her son (my 10 year old grandson). My grandson wants to see and experience the Vienna Christkindlmarkt. I would like to experience some Christmas orchestra music, but the Christmas markets are our main goal. (and some excellent food and pastry!!) We will only have casual clothing. Any and all suggestions for our merry three generation band will be appreciated.

Posted by
5362 posts

Best market for kids - Karlsplatz
Best market for high quality crafts - Karlsplatz
Most stunning nighttime setting - Belvedere
Best food - Schonbrunn
Best overall - Spittelberg
Best themed if dates align - Military History museum Middle Ages Market
Other favorites - Altes AKH, Freyung

The market at the Rathaus, the “main” market is best seen from across the street as it is crazy busy and the crafts are from China.

Posted by
234 posts

I have to agree that the Spittelberg one is wonderful. I also really like the one at Stephansplatz. That's very nice at night too with the cathedral illuminated against the night sky looking over it. I agree about the Rathausplatz one, but I will note that you can ice skate there, which is lots of fun. It may be that others also offer ice skating--that would probably be fun for your grandson!

Posted by
5362 posts

Ice skaois only offered at the Rathaus. You can do curling at the Altes AKH. Stephansplatz is a very new market - only running a couple of years. It’s easy to walk by it, but the stalls are junk, in my opinion.

Posted by
1875 posts

The "main" Christkindlmarkt in front of City Hall (Rathaus) has become very touristic, for sure. But the city administration takes some countermeasures to offer more traditional items. This year there will be a "manger's trail" where you can discover old Viennese style mangers, all completely handmade. Within the City Hall children can bake traditional Christmas cookies or do handicrafts.

Posted by
2380 posts

I am just going to say I am jealous. We were there in 2015 for the Christmas markets. These will be
wonderful memories for your grandson.

Posted by
374 posts

Well, we are back home. It was WONDERFUL!!!!! Every tip and bit of advice that Emily gave was spot on. I don't know that I have ever visited a more "comfortable" city. No grouches, no crabs. Very polite and accommodating people. We bought the 72 tram ticket and it worked out quite well.

The surprises were the actual number of Christmas markets. It seemed like there was one every few blocks in the city center. Our favorite was Karlsplatz, though we must have visited at least ten markets. We were at the University buying sweatshirts as gifts, then crossed the ring on the way walking to Julius Meinl. About three blocks from the ring we happened upon another market that was just marvelous. The only disappointment, and a minor one at that, was Julius Meinl itself. My daughter had been there with her husband nineteen years ago. It was a classic, traditional coffee house. Now it is more of a multi-level market. This change was more than made up by our visits to Demel and to Sacher Cafe. The sacher tort at both were a bit different, yet both superb. Five full cakes accompanied us home as gifts. My grandson ate his way through Vienna. I, on the other hand, was very selective and ate very little high calorie treats. (This past lie is for the benefit of my wife, should she read this. She warned be about my girth before we left!)

I will return to Vienna. There is so much to see and so much history that just wasn't on our agenda, since there was so little time and there are so many things that I wanted to visit.

Anyway, again, thanks to all for their advice, especially Emily.