Vienna Shopping Tips by globetrott Top 5 Page for this destination

Swarovski: Swarovski Crystall & more

You will find this Swarovski-shop in the centre of Kärntnerstrasse, it is a large shop with various floors and a lot of things to see, but I always just had a look from outside, as these kind of things are not really "my cup of tea"
But I know that Swarowski has a lot of fans here on VT and this is why I listed it in my shopping-tips!

What to buy: Crystall by Swarovski - what else ?

What to pay: I have no idea !!!

Directions: One of their shops is 50 meters from Kapuzinergruft, on the Corner of Kärntnerstrasse and Neuer Markt ! In my main picture, taken on Kärntnerstrasse you can see a bit of the Kapuzinerkirche in the background !

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.swarovski.at

Weihnachtsmarkt in Schloss Schoenbrunn

The Weihnachtsmarkt of Schloss Schoenbrunn is in my opinion the most beautiful and most scenic one in Vienna :
That market will be set up inside the big court in front of the former summer-palace of the Austrian emperors and it consists of a large circle of shopping-stands and only 4 food-stands in the centre of that cercle, so you will hardly ever have to fight yourselves through crowds of people, but will have in fact a lot of space to walk freely and enjoy also the lovely scenery of the Schloss Schoenbrunn in the background.

This market is normally one of the first to open
and the last one to close :
In 2010 : from Nov. 20th - January 2nd
daily till Dec 23rd: from 10.00a.m. till 09.00 p.m.
At December 24th : 10.00a.m. till 04.00p.m.
At December 25th+26th : 10.00a.m.-06.00p.m.
From Dec. 28th till Jan. 2nd : 10.00am-05.00pm
This market is CLOSED AN Dec. 27th !!!

What to buy: At this market you will find a few stands with special handicrafts, that you will not find at most of the other christmas-markets in Vienna !
For the food I may recommend :
Kaiserschmarrn - MY favorite desert
Raclette and other cheese-specialities

What to pay: Prices will not differ a lot from other markets : Gluehwein is around 3 euro, for the beautifully decorated porcelain-cup you have to pay a deposit of 2 euros, and may keep it, some of the foodstands even give you a paper-bag to pack it safely !

Directions: Take the metro U4, get out at station "Schoenbrunn" and walk about 300 meters to the palace !

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.weihnachtsmarkt.co.at

Adventzauber am Rathausplatz: X-mas-market

Adventzauber am Rathausplatz is the largest of all christmas-markets in Vienna and it includes a lot of activities for children, like rides in a train for children, pony-carriages, small huts, where professional actors are reading fairy-tales etc. A lot of the many giant trees in the park are lighted in a really beautiful way and there are benches as well (and in dec. 8th,2006 it was even warm enough to sit there...).
Some years ago you could buy socks, steam-irons etc. there as well, THAT IS OVER NOW : This market is a must, especially when you considder the scenic place between Burgtheater and the Rathaus (townhall), also the paths between the stands are wider now and mostly you will have enough space to walk through the market.

In 2010 this market was open Nov. 13th till Dec. 24th
daily from 10.00a.m. till 09.30p.m.
Fri & Sat. it closes at 10.00pm
It ends already at 06.00p.m. at dec.24th !!
Dogs are allowed here !

What to buy: There are almost the same goods that you may buy also at the other x-mas-markets as well.
The drinks are served in porcelain-cups that you have to pay 2 euros for a deposit !
You may take it home as well, the one of Rathausmarkt looks really nice !

What to pay: Glühwein / Punch etc. starts with a price of 3 euros, same prices as all other markets !

Directions: This market is between the townhall / Rathaus and the Burgtheater, directely at Ringstrasse, take tram #1, tram D or metro U2, get out at station "Rathaus"

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.christkindlmarkt.at

Kunsthandwerksmarkt am Karlsplatz

Kunsthandwerksmarkt am Karlsplatz
is the name of another christmas-market that is speciallized in some really unique handicrafts by various artists, and once again that main attraction of this market is the location next to the beautifully lighted Karlskirche.
They have some attractions for children as well, like the small train that you can see on my 3rd picture and at certain times there are performances as well, read more at their webpage.
Kunsthandwerksmarkt am Karlsplatz is open
in 2010 from Nov. 19th till Dec. 23rd
daily between noon and 08.00p.m.

What to buy: They have a nice cup with the Karlskirche on it, you have to pay a deposit of 2 euros for it, when you order a drink and of course you may keep it as a souvenir as well.

What to pay: Prices are similar to the other markets

Directions: This market is at Karlsplatz, just in front of the Karlskirche ! Take U2 or U4, tram #62 or #1 or BadnerBahn

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.divinaart.at

Weihnachtsdorf am Schloss Belvedere

Weihnachtsdorf am Schloss Belvedere
is a place I may mainly recommend because of its special place in front of Schloss Belvedere, that will be beautifully lighted as well. This market is quite small and it will also have less visitors than other markets. At the end of the market you will find a lovely nostalgic merry-go-round, it sounds like driven by steam, but I guess it is a replica with artificial sound...
NO dogs allowed at this market !!
In 2010 it is open between Nov. 19th and Dec. 23rd
daily between 11.00a.m. and 09.00p.m.

What to buy: Take a look at my last picture : that is the cup that you may get for just 2 euros deposit, when you buy a hot drink, and when you decide to take it home, you might even get a paperbag at the counter so you may pack it safely.

What to pay: Most prices are the same as at the other markets in Vienna !

Directions: Bus 13A, Tram "D" stops directely at the side-entrance of Schloss Belvedere, but you as well can take tram #18 or "O" to Suedbahnhof, and walk the rest of 400 meters to Belvedere palace.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.weihnachtsdorf.at

Spittelberger Weihnachtsmarkt

Spittelberger Weihnachtsmarkt
is famous mainly for 2 reasons :
1) Spittelberg is one of the old parts of the city with narrow streets, cobbled stones etc. and
2) in this area a lot of artists have settled and built their arteliers here, that are nowadays also part of the x-mas-market.
Spittelberg is a great place to walk through all year long, but it is certainly best at Christmas-time !
in 2010 it is open from Nov. 16th till Dec. 23rd
Monday-Thursday 03.00p.m. till 09.00p.m.
Fridays : 03.00 till 09.30pm
Saturdays : 10.00am - 09.30pm
Sunday & holiday (=dec. 8th) : 10.00am - 09.00pm
and December 8th : 10.00am - 09.30pm

What to buy: Besides a lot of things that you may get at all the other places as well, you will find some special works of art ONLY here at Spittelberg. In Spittelberg there are also some stands with handicrafts from Africa and other places from overseas

Directions: Spittelberg is a small street next to Burggasse, U3 (get out at Stiftskirche) or tram 49 will take you there.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.spittelberg.at

Antique & Kunstmarkt am Hof at X-mas-time

Antique & Kunstmarkt am Hof
is a market that is held normally only each saturday throughout the year, BUT before christmas it gets some "X-mas-touch" added with some food-stands and christmas-decorations and is held the whole week according to the schedule below !
This market is certainly a lot better than the ordinary flea-market of Vienna (In Naschmarkt), you will find old books, works of art, jewelery, fine furniture etc.
Antique & Kunst-Weihnachtsmarkt am Hof is
in 2010 between Nov. 12th and Dec. 23rd
daily : 10.00 noon - 08.00p.m.

What to buy: At this Christmas-market you will find plenty of things that you will not find at any other place : "Blechspielzeug" - see my 2nd picture, they are toys made of thin steel, like they are collectable items rather than toys for children. You will also find vintage clocks, great furniture, porcelain etc.
The cup that you get here for the drinks is not fancy at all, in fact it shows advertisments for taxis etc., MY favorite food there, and not to be found at any other place "Fladenbrot" similar to Pizza, but a lot thinner

Directions: This market is between Freyung and Graben, you actually have to walk there, the closest public transportation is U3 with station Herrengasse.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.kunsthandwerksmarkt.at/

Altes AKH -: Weihnachtsdorf am Uni-Capmus

Weihnachtsdorf am Uni-Capmus is listed in some booklets as one of the bigger x-mas-markets in Vienna, BUT I think this place is of NO real interest for the tourists : No special scenery around this place, it is ment mainly for the local people with a lot of food-stands and attractions for the children. When you have a hotel just around the corner, why not going there, when you have a long way to go there, simply skip it, you would not have missed anything special.

In 2009 this market is open Nov. 14th till Dec.23rd
Monday-Saturday: 02.00p.m. - 10.00p.m.
Sun+December 8th : 11.00a.m. - 10.00p.m.

What to buy: Even the cups that you may get there for 2 euros deposit are not really very fancy or beautiful, but at least there are some restaurant-gardens where you may sit at large tables, while all the other markets will offer just standing-places !

What to pay: Same prices as in the other x-mas-markets !

Directions: This x-mas-market is at the crossing of Alserstrasse and Spitalgasse, go there with tram #5 or #43

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.weihnachtsdorf.at

Adventmarkt: Am Steinhof

The Adventmarkt am Steinhof is the only christmas-market in the outskirts of Vienna that is worth seeing for some special reasons : First of all it is quite small and rather old-fashioned and all of the handicrafts that you may buy there are made by the mentally sick people in the "Otto-Wagner-Spital". So you also make sure that these people may see the "fruits of their work" and you get something, that you will not find at any other place.

Adventmarkt am Steinhof was open in 2008
only the first 3 weekends of Advent !!!
ONLY Friday-Sunday + December 8th
from 02.00 p.m. till 07.00p.m.
On each saturday you may combine it with a visit
of the "Otto-Wagner-Kirche"
For the children : Pony-riding
FOR 2009 I DID NOT YET FIND ANY INFO !!!

What to buy: stationary, nativity-cribs, candles, mirrors in mosaique-technique, wooden handicrafts, ceramics etc. all made by the mentally sick people of the hospital

What to pay: Prices are average, Punch and other drinks are obviously ONLY available NON-alcoholic !!!

Directions: Take the Bus 48A, it starts at the Ringstrasse, close to the parliament, get out at the terminus, that market is in the first court of the hospital !

Theme: Other

Weihnachtsdorf Maria-Theresien-Platz

Weihnachtsdorf am Maria-Theresien-Platz is mainly important and worth seeing, because it is set in the middle between the Kunsthistorisches and Naturhistorisches Museum around the giant monument of empress Maria Theresia. All of these sights are illuminated at night and so that market is really very scenic.

Weihnachtsdorf Maria-Theresien-Platz is open
in 2009 from Nov. 18th till Dec. 24th
daily between 11.00a.m. and 10.00p.m.
At December 24th they close already at 03.00p.m.

What to buy: You will find the same items as at most of the other x-mas-markets and maybe you like to keep their porcelain-cup as a souvenir (see my last picture !) - You get all drinks served in that cup and have to pay 2 euros deposit for it. Bring it back or take it home as a souvenir !

What to pay: prices are the same as at the other markets !

Directions: Maria-Theresien-Platz is the large square between the museum of natural history (NHM) and the museum of fine arts (KHM). get there by U3, U2, tram #1 or #2.

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.weihnachtsdorf.at