With a dozen Christmas markets in spitting distance of each other in Vienna’s city center, is it really necessary to take a 15 minute train ride out to yet another market?
An overview of Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market.
Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market is well worth the quick train ride and is my pick for the best Christmas market in Vienna.
I’ve been fascinated with Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market (that’s Weihnachtsmarkt Schönbrunn to my Austrian readers) ever since watching my favorite curmudgeon, Anthony Bourdain, visit the market on an episode of his travel show, “No Reservations.” I expected nothing but a bah humbug from Bourdain, who is known for his caustic wit and commentary.
So I was surprised to see the program feature this self-proclaimed Scrooge sauntering through the snow on the palace grounds (was that a look of wonder on his face?) and helpless to Schönbrunn’s charms, uttering these unlikely words–
“I just wanna cuddle. With some hot wine.”
If this Christmas market could melt the heart of my favorite travel critic, then I knew it must be pretty spectacular. So I made sure to visit Vienna’s Schönbrunn Christmas market on my first European Christmas market tour two years ago. I loved it so much I visited it again on my latest tour this December.
Why Vienna’s Schönbrunn Christmas market will make your heart grow three sizes bigger
By day, Mozart is piped through the Schonbrunn Palace’s outdoor, speakers, making it easy to imagine you are simply strolling through the grounds with the rest of the royal court. The canary yellow Palace wraps itself around the market, creating the perfect backdrop, punctuated by a gigantic Christmas tree at the center.
Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market at night.
By night, Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market takes on a golden hue, the tree twinkles, the stalls are illuminated just enough to create a festive vibe without competing with the Palace’s majestic glow.
No market is complete without excellent shopping– and the quality of the crafts here was bar none, you won’t do better elsewhere. I also like that the crafts were all very traditional– no weird trendy stuff I’ve seen elsewhere to break the fantasy that Sissi or Marie Antoinette might appear around the corner at any moment.
Take my virtual photo tour through Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market and see what great gifts you can buy here:
Lots of food and sausage options at Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market.
These handmade ornaments caught my eye at Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market.
I bought this hand-made hat in Charcoal grey on my first visit to the Schönbrunn Christmas market. I was glad to see the vendor, Helene Dietrich was back again this year and bought some additional items as gifts.
Several stalls of glass blown ornaments at Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market. These were hand-painted with sweet snowy scenes.
A vendor at Schonbrunn Christmas Market peeps out from behind his wreaths.
- Snow globes were actually invented in Vienna and make a great gift from the Christmas market.
A friendly vendor at Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market.
I’ve since learned that creepy puppets are a Christmas market staple.
I bought several of these made-in-Vienna wooden ornaments, for myself and as gifts– very light and suitcase friendly.
You’ll find candles made from beeswax at nearly every Christmas market in Austria and Germany, but the quality and selection may vary. This Viennese vendor had an interesting variety of shapes I didn’t see at other markets, so I loaded up for gifts.
Handmade ornaments made from beeswax at the Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market in Vienna.
I loved the handmade wooden ornaments dressed in miniature woolens– I came home with several, including this guy.
A star light for sale at the Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market in Vienna.
Charcuterie and dried sausages at the Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market in Vienna.
Hand-carved Christmas ornaments at the Viennese Christmas market.
Several stalls of hand-blown glass ornaments.
This was one of my favorite stalls– yummy gingerbread and other Austrian baked goods. I brought back a fruit bread, gingerbread dipped in chocolate and small tray of Christmas cookies, some for me, some for gifts for friends who are gingerbread fanatics.
Piping hot fries at the Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market in Vienna.
Yummy pates and tapenades from pumpkin seeds and other ingredients make a unique gift item.
Glittery, frosty red glass ornaments at the market.
Austrian jams and fruity schapps– also a great gift from the Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market in Vienna.
Austrian sweets.
I loved this little rocking horse wooden Christmas ornament.
Don’t miss a visit with the familie Seifried, a family-owned farm and vineyard just outside Vienna. The family has been making wine, liquors, schmaltzes, jams, and pumpkin-seed based pestos (I bought one) for years. They are a delight to chat with and one of my favorite booths.
Traditional (and home-made) Austrian schnapps are a great gift idea from the Christmas market.
The Schönbrunn Palace at night.
Want to see even more photos? Click through on the slide show:
Vienna Souvenir Shopping Details:
Where: Parade Court, on the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace
When: November 23- January 1
Opening Hours: Daily: 10:00 a.m. – 09:00 p.m., 24th December: 10:00 a.m. – 04:00 p.m., 25th December 2013 – 1st January 2014: 10:00 a.m. – 07:00 p.m.
Want to read about more Christmas markets?
Read about a Real Life Swedish fairy tale at the Swedish market in Stockholm
Check out the Budapest Christmas Market here for the shopping
And here for the Budapest Market’s mouth watering-eats
All photos Copyright 2013 by Souvenir Finder, all rights reserved. No photos may be used in any way without express permission of Souvenir Finder.
wanderingeducators
Wednesday 16th of April 2014
What AMAZING photos - I so want to go!
Kristin Francis
Wednesday 16th of April 2014
Thanks! Lack of Christmas market photos available elsewhere was one of the reasons I started blogging-- I want to know what this stuff looks like before I plan my visit!
Just Add Attitude
Friday 3rd of January 2014
Love, love those ornaments made from beeswax and the wooden ones dressed in miniature woolens. The market looks very atmospheric and festive. ;)
Kristin Francis
Friday 3rd of January 2014
It was so fun! I just put away all the ornaments, such a sad day!
Amy
Monday 30th of December 2013
This looks so fun! You did a great job of showcasing what you can buy, and I recognize some food goodies in here. :)
Kristin Francis
Tuesday 31st of December 2013
Haha you'll have to let me know how the mini goodies are!
gallivance.net
Monday 23rd of December 2013
Well Kristin, this market gets my vote. It's fabulous! The variety is amazing and it certainly seems to include items not seen anywhere else. ~Terri
Kristin Francis
Tuesday 31st of December 2013
Terri, thanks so much for stopping by! It was the best of everything here as far as shopping.
sueslaght
Friday 20th of December 2013
So beautiful Kristin. Via your photos this is my pick of best market. No creepy puppet purchase here either? :)
Kristin Francis
Tuesday 31st of December 2013
No creepy puppets! Looking at my photos is enough to give me nightmares.