How to Spend Three Magical Days in Vienna for Christmas

Imagine strolling through Vienna’s twinkling streets, where the charm of centuries-old architecture meets the warmth of festive music.

Vienna for Christmas is pure magic! Ready to create lasting memories? This guide will show you how.

Vienna is a picturesque city filled with castles, plazas, and gardens.

Come Christmas time the city dresses up in lights and beautiful window displays that are just stunning.

From strolling through enchanting Christmas markets to sipping on hot mulled wine under the twinkling lights of the city, Vienna offers an unforgettable holiday experience.

In this guide, we’ll take you through three magical days in this Austrian capital, filled with must-see sights and festive activities that will make your Christmas in Vienna truly special.

Arriving in Vienna

By Air:

• Fly into Vienna (VIE) International Airport.
• Taxi directly to your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb.
• If you’re staying in Old Town you can take a taxi (18 minutes), a bus (30 minutes), or a train to Wien Mitte Station (25 minutes).

By Train:

• If you’re already in Europe, take a train to Vienna Westbanhof.
• From there take a taxi to your Old Town lodging. This can take approximately 10 minutes depending on the location of your hotel.

Things to Consider When Traveling During Christmas

Traveling around the holidays comes with a unique set of challenges.

But with some planning, your holiday escape can be a delightful experience.

No matter where you’re going, if you’re planning holiday travel always take into consideration:

• Many museums, stores, and restaurants are closed on Christmas Day.
• Reservations for dinner and brunch for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day should be made before arriving in Vienna and sometimes months in advance.
• Christmas concerts and other special events often sell out early since they’re popular with locals.
• Locals take advantage of the festive season to visit their favorite restaurants and try new ones.
• There are fewer special events between Christmas Day and after the New Year.

We love traveling during the Christmas season, and planning ahead has truly made all the difference.

Christmas Eve

For our Christmas visit to Vienna, we traveled by train.

We arrived in the afternoon and took a rideshare to our hotel in Old Town.

Le Meridien Vienna Hotel has a centric location very close to the Vienna State Opera and just two blocks from the Museum Quarter.

From the hotel, you can walk to many of the major sights of Old Town.

You can head out to explore the surroundings depending on your arrival time and how rested you feel.

If on the other hand, you need some downtime the hotel room and facilities are excellent.

We celebrated Christmas Eve Dinner at Le Meridien’s Restaurant YOU.

With a fixed Christmas Dinner Menu and a glass of bubbly upon arrival, this is a delicious way to start your Christmas in Vienna.

The restaurant has a modern design with clean lines. Even though it was full, it felt cozy, and we could easily hold a conversation

The food was delicious and the service was very good.

You can also check out the Christmas Eve events at St. Stephens Cathedral in Old Town.

This is an amazing Romanesque and Gothic church dating back to the early 12th century.

This church is worth a visit, whether for a concert or just to tour the church. For more information and tickets visit the website stephanskirche.at

Christmas Day

What better way to start Christmas Day than with a tasty and satisfying brunch?

Not too far from Le Meridien is a breathtaking property, Palais Coburg.

A neoclassical-style palace built in the 1840’s it has been reimagined as a hotel with fantastic gardens, a SPA, and restaurants.

On Christmas Day, they served a Champagne Brunch in the staterooms, so we made a reservation to join in.

It might be a Christmas splurge for some, but the food was delicious and the surroundings were stunning. How often do you have the opportunity to have brunch at such a beautiful place?

After brunch, consider relaxing at the hotel. You can unwind in the pool, hot tub, or sauna.

To burn off those brunch calories, head to their fitness center instead.

When you’ve rested and are ready to head out again put on your walking shoes. It’s time to catch the twinkling lights and the last of the Christmas Market at Rathausplatz.

Follow Ringstrase (the ring road) right outside the hotel door and you will come upon the Austrian Parliament.

Next door to the parliament building is Rathausplatz with its Christmas Market, Winterfest decorations, and lots of festive charm.

After you’ve explored every corner of the market, and snapped plenty of photos, cross the street and head into the Old Town center.

Enjoy the quiet streets tonight. With many people celebrating Christmas Eve at home, you’ll find the streets uncrowded, giving you plenty of time to appreciate the lights and holiday displays.

Exploring Vienna’s Historic Heart

You can spend your second full day in Vienna exploring the old city on foot.

If you like museums there are many to choose from very close to the hotel. Maria-Theresein Platz and Museum Quartier are just two blocks away.

Maria-Theresien-Platz is flanked by the National History Museum and the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a fine arts museum inside a stunning palace.

In the nearby Museum Quartier, you can choose between several museums including the Leopold Museum, the Mumok Museum of Modern Art, and for little ones, the ZOOM Children’s Museum.

Across the street from Maria-Theresein Platz you will encounter the great Hofburg Palace with its great facade and beautiful gardens.

The palace grounds feature several smaller museums, including the Habsburg Emperor’s Treasures and the Sisi Museum.

Cross the Palace grounds and through the Swiss Gate. You are now in the Old Town proper.

The best way to explore this area is just to walk the streets and turn down the one that catches your fancy.

The center of Old Town is St.Stephen’s Cathedral with its unique patterned tile roof. By this time they will be taking down the Christmas Market that takes place in the patio of the cathedral.

But there are many shops and restaurants in the surrounding area where you can take a break and refuel.

Another must-see in Vienna is the Vienna State Opera. The building sits across the street from Le Meridien Hotel.

You can tour the Opera House on a guided tour or purchase tickets directly at the Vienna State Opera website. We highly recommend you purchase tickets before you visit.

We chose to see a ballet on the third day of our visit. The inside of the State Opera is even more beautiful than its exterior.

The marble statues and staircases, and the carvings on the walls and ceiling are breathtaking.

If you like old theaters or buildings this is one you don’t want to miss.

Vienna’s Christmas Charm

Vienna at Christmas is magical!

The city’s enchanting lights and festive spirit will leave wonderful memories of this charming city.

There are many things to do and see in Vienna for Christmas and we hope the activities in this guide inspire you and help you plan three magical days of Christmas in Vienna.

Pack your bags, pull on your warm boots, and go enjoy the beauty and wonder of Vienna at Christmas.