Vienna doesn’t have one Christmas market. It has more than a dozen, and many of the best-known ones are in or right around the old town. That makes it one of the easiest holiday trips in Europe to pull off on points: one hotel, one transatlantic flight, and a different market every evening. Here is what’s open in 2026, what to order, and how to get there and stay there with points and miles.
We gave a quick overview of Vienna in our 2026 Christmas markets roundup. This guide goes deeper on Vienna alone.
Vienna Christmas markets 2026: dates and hours
The dates below were announced by the market organizers and are listed on the Vienna Tourist Board site and the City of Vienna’s events calendar (as of October 2026). Hours are the regular daily hours. Most markets close early on December 24, and several close for good on December 23.
| Market | 2026 dates | Regular hours |
|---|---|---|
| Viennese Christmas Market (Wiener Weihnachtstraum), Rathausplatz | Nov. 13 to Dec. 26 | Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Dec. 24: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) |
| Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace | Nov. 6, 2026 to Jan. 6, 2027 | Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 23; Dec. 24: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 25 to Jan. 6: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| K&K Christmas Market, Belvedere Palace | Nov. 20 to Dec. 31 | Mon. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat., Sun. and holidays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Dec. 24 and 31: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Christmas Village at Stephansplatz | Nov. 6 to Dec. 26 | Daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Dec. 24: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) |
| Spittelberg | Nov. 13 to Dec. 23 | Mon. to Fri. 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. |
| Am Hof | Nov. 13 to Dec. 23 | Mon. to Thu. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri. to Sun. and holidays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Old Viennese Christmas Market, Freyung | Nov. 14 to Dec. 23 | Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Art Advent, Karlsplatz | Nov. 13 to Dec. 23 | Daily noon to 8 p.m. (food until 9 p.m.) |
| Christmas Village, Maria-Theresien-Platz | Nov. 20 to Dec. 26 | Mon. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
One note on Belvedere: the City of Vienna and the Vienna Tourist Board list a 9 p.m. close, while Austria’s national tourism site lists 10 p.m. Plan around 9 p.m. to be safe. The ice rink that’s part of the Rathausplatz market runs Nov. 13, 2026 to Jan. 6, 2027, but it is closed on December 31.
Which markets to pick
- Rathausplatz is the big, bright one in front of City Hall. It’s the most crowded, especially on weekend evenings.
- Schönbrunn and Belvedere put you in front of Habsburg palaces. Schönbrunn is the only major one that stays open until Epiphany (Jan. 6), so it’s your best bet for a trip between Christmas and New Year’s.
- Spittelberg spreads across several narrow lanes in the 7th district (Spittelberggasse and the streets around it). It opens at 2 p.m. on weekdays.
- Am Hof and Freyung are side by side in the 1st district, so you can do both in one evening. Karlsplatz is the pick for arts and crafts.
What to eat and drink
In Vienna the signature drink is Punsch, a hot punch that comes in many flavors and often contains alcohol. You’ll also see Glühwein (mulled wine) and non-alcoholic Kinderpunsch for kids. Drinks typically come in a ceramic mug that carries a deposit: return the mug and you get the deposit back, or keep it as a souvenir. Deposit amounts vary by market and stall, so ask when you order. For food, look for roasted chestnuts (Maroni), baked potatoes, and Christmas cookies such as Vanillekipferl.
Getting to Vienna on points and miles
Austrian Airlines, a Star Alliance member, is the main nonstop option from the US. Its winter 2026/27 schedule (as reported in May 2026) includes nonstops from Chicago O’Hare, Newark, New York JFK, Washington Dulles and Boston. Midwest readers will like the Chicago flight, which goes to five weekly starting Oct. 25, 2026. Heads-up: Chicago and Boston have seasonal breaks from about Jan. 9 to early February 2027. That won’t affect a Christmas market trip, but it matters if you’re flying home late. Confirm current days and times on austrian.com before you transfer points.
Because Austrian is in Star Alliance, you can book its flights with partner miles instead of its own Miles & More program. Two easy routes from Chase Ultimate Rewards are United MileagePlus and Air Canada Aeroplan, which both transfer 1:1. Award prices with both are dynamic or zone-based and change, so search before you transfer. December demand is high, so award seats on Saturdays near Christmas go fast. Look at midweek departures, or fly into Munich or another Star Alliance hub and connect.
Where to stay on points
- Park Hyatt Vienna (World of Hyatt). It sits in a former 1915 bank building looking out over Am Hof, so one of the markets is right outside the door. It’s a Category 7 hotel. Under Hyatt’s chart that took effect May 20, 2026, a standard room costs 25,000 to 55,000 points a night, depending on the date’s pricing tier.
- Hyatt Regency Vienna (formerly Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere). The Andaz rebranded as a Hyatt Regency in April 2026. It has 303 rooms and is a short walk from the Belvedere market. As an Andaz it was Category 3 (8,000 to 20,000 points under the new chart). Check its current category on hyatt.com before you book, because rebrands sometimes come with changes.
- The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna (Marriott Bonvoy). It’s on the Schubertring, part of the Ringstrasse, and has the Atmosphere rooftop bar. Marriott uses dynamic pricing, so points rates vary by date. Check marriott.com for your nights. A Marriott Free Night Award certificate can work here if the rate falls under the certificate’s cap.
- Hilton options. Hilton lists Hilton Vienna Park, Hilton Vienna Plaza, Hotel Astoria Vienna (Curio Collection) and several others in the city. Hilton Honors pricing is dynamic.
- IHG. The InterContinental Vienna at Johannesgasse 28 is next to the Stadtpark. IHG One Rewards pricing is dynamic.
One Hyatt detail: Chase Sapphire Reserve points still move to Hyatt 1:1, but Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred now transfer at 4:3. That’s 4 Chase points for every 3 Hyatt points, for existing cardholders as of Oct. 1, 2026.
Practical tips
- Go on a weekday. Weekday afternoons are far calmer than Friday and Saturday nights, especially at Rathausplatz.
- Watch the Dec. 23 cutoff. Spittelberg, Am Hof, Freyung and Karlsplatz all close for the season on Dec. 23. If you arrive after Christmas, plan on Schönbrunn, Belvedere (through Dec. 31) and the Riesenradplatz winter market in the Prater.
- Carry some euros. Don’t assume every stall takes cards. Cash is handy for small purchases and mug deposits.
- Book refundable. Points stays at Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton and IHG can usually be canceled up to a deadline, so lock in a room now and keep watching for better prices.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can cover both halves of this trip: United or Aeroplan for the flight, and Hyatt for the Park Hyatt or Hyatt Regency. You can compare current offers and apply with our Chase referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
If you only do one European Christmas market city, we think Vienna is the one: the markets are close together, the 2026 dates are already set, and Chicago has a nonstop. The Park Hyatt is the standout points hotel thanks to its location on Am Hof, but peak December nights can price at the top of Category 7. The downsides are real. The big markets get very crowded on weekends, December award seats are scarce, and many markets close on Dec. 23, so a week-after-Christmas trip gives you far fewer options. Book early and go midweek if you can.
Sources
- Vienna Tourist Board: Vienna’s most attractive Christmas markets
- Wiener Weihnachtstraum (Rathausplatz) official site
- Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace official site
- City of Vienna: K&K Weihnachtsmarkt Belvedere
- Austria Tourism: Christmas markets in Vienna
- AeroRoutes: Austrian NW26 intercontinental changes
- Austrian Airlines: 2026 network release
- One Mile at a Time: Park Hyatt Vienna review
- The Points Guy: Hyatt hotels in Vienna
- AwardWallet: World of Hyatt award charts
- MHP Hotel AG: Andaz Vienna rebrand to Hyatt Regency Vienna (German)
- Traveling for Miles: Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere review
- Hospitality Net: The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna opening
- Hilton: Hotels in Vienna
- IHG: InterContinental Vienna
- Upgraded Points: Chase transfer partners
- The Points King: Chase transfer partners
Prices, points rates, schedules and entry rules change often; confirm details with the airline, hotel or organizer before you book. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
