Once is not enough!
If there’s one thing the Christmas Market can do, it’s shorten the time before Christmas and heighten the anticipation of the big festive season – because here, every day is Christmas Day. Whether you’re strolling across Rathausplatz and sampling the wide range of delicacies and buying Christmas presents, ambling leisurely through the park, enjoying the wonderful sea of lights while gliding across the ice with your loved ones, or taking a photo at the Bussiplatz (“kissing spot”). There’s so much to discover! One day at the Vienna Christmas Market is usually not enough to fully experience the enormous variety of Christmas activities and atmospheric attractions that appeal to young and old alike.
A symbol of life and love
Fall in love at the Vienna Christmas Market? Absolutely! With its festive lights and charming attractions, Rathauspark provides the perfect setting for romantic moments. A special highlight is the famous Heart Tree, decorated with around 200 glowing hearts and illuminated by a spectacular light display every hour after nightfall. Cupid’s arrow might just strike here or you might simply fall in love with the Vienna Christmas Market itself. After all, Christmas is the season of love.
Vienna with a heart: love for all
There is once again a very special focus on the Heart Tree: every half an hour from dusk till 21:00, the Christkind sends a huge heart along a cable from a 13 metre-tall tower straight over Rathausplatz to the Heart Tree, gradually lighting up the tree on its 75-metre flight there. There’s plenty of space for emotions here!
Everybody to the ice rink!
Those who have big ice skating ambitions start practising early on. The 110 square metre children’s ice skating area in the Rathauspark at the Vienna Christmas Market is the ideal opportunity to do so. Accompanied by adults, the little ones can find support from fun mascots skating alongside them until they find their feet and can glide along the smooth ice by themselves. Use of the children’s ice skating area is free of charge!
Romantic hotspot in the town hall park
In the run-up to Christmas, Bussiplatz contributes to peaceful coexistence and cordial cooperation between all people in the city. Until 26 December, all kinds of tokens of love and heartfelt wishes can be deposited at this specially selected location under the atmospheric and romantic heart-shaped tree. Of course, the Bussi Square is positioned so that visitors can take a perfect photo or selfie with the heart tree in the background and take home an unforgettable memory of their visit to the Vienna Christmas Market.
View the Christmas world from above
The Vienna Christmas Market also boasts an attraction that provides glorious views of City Hall, the park and the Christmas market. The romantically lit nostalgic Ferris wheel is an unforgettable delight for all ages. Even Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Sisi are watching.
A stroll through the park from manger to manger
Before Catholic families had Christmas trees, the nativity scene with the manger was the centrepiece of the Christmas celebrations. In Austria, the building of nativity scenes goes back a long way. One of the most famous “crib builders” was an Austrian. Alexander Schäffer’s works of art were a hot commodity the world over – from Germany to Canada. Schäffer even had the honour of building a nativity scene for the Summer Olympics in Mexico City in 1968, as a representative showpiece for Austria.
The Nativity trail in the Rathauspark has been paying tribute to this lovely tradition since 2018.
Festive melodies
Christmas sounds from tower brass ensembles from Vienna and the Austrian provinces can be heard from the roof of the large nativity. From 27 November to 23 December 2026, traditional brass music performances will bring festive cheer to the Vienna Christmas Market. Every day from 7:00 to 7:30 pm and from 8:00 to 8:30 pm, festive melodies will fill the air from the roof of the nativity scene near the Christmas tree, adding a musical touch to the Advent season.
Program: Tower brass ensembles at the Vienna Christmas Market
44th International Advent Singing
In the festively decorated ballroom of Vienna City Hall, the 44 th International Advent Singing Festival offers a celebration of sounds and emotions! More than 85 choirs from Austria and abroad will be guests and enchant the audience on each of the four Advent weekends, from Friday to Sunday, between 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. With a repertoire of enchanting Advent and Christmas carols from around the world, they create an atmosphere full of contemplation and festive joy!
