Christmas Market on Rathausplatz

Print this article There are plenty of Christmas markets in Austria and lots in Vienna. And the biggest is on the Rathausplatz, the square in front of the town hall and opposite the Burgtheater.

There are those who’ll argue in favor of the smaller, more cultured markets in Schönbrunn and Spittelberg. But the one that garners the most attention and crowds is the Rathausplatz version.

It’s the home of the Wiener Christkindlmarkt, a yuletide market whose roots go back to the late 18th century: it only moved to its present location in 1975. It’s impossible to say how many visitors it attracts, but estimates range as high as a whopping 3.5 million a year.

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The Christkindlmarkt has really blossomed in recent times. At one point it looked like it would degenerate into a rather tasteless venue where every second stand seemed to sell plastic toys from China. Not anymore – the quality of the stands is very high.

On the culinary front, you’ll find the traditional roast chestnut stalls, and a host of stands selling everything from cream-filled pastries and a dozen varieties of pretzel to specialty hams and sausage. There are also plenty of places to drink a mug of Christmas punch.