Are Christmas Markets Open After Christmas in Vienna? What to Know Before You Go

If you are planning a trip to Vienna between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you may be wondering whether you will still find the famous Christmas markets open after December 25. The answer is yes, but not all of them. Some of Vienna’s most popular markets close before or on December 26, while others continue into the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and even into January.

I know this from personal experience. I spent seven days in Vienna from December 26 to January 2, which gave me the opportunity to experience the city during the days immediately after Christmas and through the New Year period. If you’re planning a similar trip, here are the things I would recommend knowing before you book, and I wrote a separate Vienna Travel Guide where you can find all museums and attractions I have visited.

Are Vienna Christmas Markets Open After Christmas?

Some are, but you should not expect all of Vienna’s Christmas markets to remain open throughout the holiday period. For the 2026 season, for example, the Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace runs until January 6, while the market at Belvedere Palace runs until December 31. The Winter Market at Riesenradplatz also continues until January 6. The large market at Rathausplatz, Stephansplatz, and the Christmas Village at Maria-Theresien-Platz continue through December 26.

On the other hand, several well-known markets, including those at Freyung, Am Hof, Karlsplatz and Spittelberg, close on December 23. Of course, when planning your trip, make sure to check the official website for the exact opening dates and hours of each market. Also, the exact opening hours can also change on December 24 and during the public holidays, so always check the current schedule before visiting.

This means that travelling after Christmas does not mean missing the Christmas atmosphere completely – but you need to choose your markets carefully.

The Atmosphere Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Before Christmas, Vienna’s markets are strongly connected with Advent and Christmas shopping. After Christmas, the focus gradually shifts towards the winter holiday period, with fewer traditional Christmas markets and more winter-oriented experiences. So if your dream is to spend several days walking from one traditional Christmas market to another, I would recommend visiting Vienna before Christmas rather than after it.

But if you want to experience Vienna during the Christmas and New Year’s period, with some markets still open, festive decorations, museums and the city’s historic sights, travelling after Christmas can still be a very good choice.

For me, visiting between Christmas and New Year’s period was actually a very useful way to experience the city because I wasn’t limited to the few days immediately before Christmas. I had time to see what Vienna was like around Christmas Day and then experience the city again as it moved towards New Year’s Eve.

I would not say that you need to avoid Vienna after Christmas. Quite the opposite – there is still plenty to do. The important thing is simply not to plan your trip around the assumption that every Christmas market will still be open.

If you’re interested in museums and cultural attractions like me, this can actually work very well because you can combine the markets that remain open with sightseeing during the day.

You can see more of what I visited in my Vienna Travel Guide.

What About December 24–26?

If your trip includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or December 26, you need to plan even more carefully. December 24 has reduced opening hours at many attractions and Christmas markets. December 25 and 26 are public holidays in Austria, so some museums, shops and businesses have different schedules. I wrote a separate practical guide specifically about this: Christmas in Vienna: What’s Open & Closed on December 24–26?

I recommend reading it before planning your itinerary, especially if you’re staying in Vienna over Christmas itself.

Don’t Plan Your Trip Around Christmas Markets Alone

This is probably my biggest practical tip. If you’re travelling after Christmas, don’t build your entire Vienna itinerary around Christmas markets. Instead, choose the museums, palaces and other attractions you most want to visit first, then use the Christmas markets that remain open as part of your sightseeing days.

For example, you could combine:

• Schönbrunn Palace + Schönbrunn Christmas Market
• Upper Belvedere + Belvedere Christmas Market
• Prater + Riesenradplatz Winter Market
• Kunsthistorisches Museum or Naturhistorisches Museum + Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Village
• Albertina or Vienna State Opera + Karlsplatz Art Advent

This saves you from spending time travelling across the city just to visit a market. And if you’re visiting Vienna for the first time, my One Day in Vienna Itinerary can also help you understand how to organise sightseeing efficiently.

What About Public Transport After Christmas?

You don’t need to avoid public transport during the Christmas and New Year’s period, but it’s worth checking the timetable for the specific day you’re travelling. Vienna’s U-Bahn generally runs from around 5 am until midnight, while trams and buses usually stop earlier. On Friday and Saturday nights, and on nights before public holidays, the U-Bahn operates around the clock. Night buses also operate daily.

If you’re going to be moving around the city frequently, a transport pass can make things much easier. The Vienna City Card includes unlimited travel on Vienna’s public transport network during its validity period, along with discounts at more than 200 partner attractions, museums, restaurants and other businesses.

If you’re considering it, you can read my Is the Vienna City Card Worth It? Honest Review & Cost Comparison before deciding.

One important distinction: the Vienna PASS does not include regular Vienna public transport. It includes Vienna Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off buses, while public transport requires a separate ticket or a Vienna City Card. If you’re planning to visit several paid attractions, my Is Vienna PASS Worth It? Honest Review & Cost Comparison can help you compare the costs.

Final Thoughts

If you’re travelling between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, focus on markets such as Schönbrunn, Belvedere and Riesenradplatz, which remain open later in the season. At the same time, plan your trip around Vienna’s museums, palaces and other attractions such as House of Music, Albertina Museum and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

From my own experience of staying in Vienna until January 2, I would say that a post-Christmas trip can absolutely be worthwhile. You just need to plan it as a winter city break with Christmas elements, rather than expecting the full Christmas-market experience you would get before Christmas.