Finally the wait is over: On Friday, November 15th, the market stalls at the Vienna Christmas Market will open their shops to the many visitors. But even beyond the 99 stands and other highlights such as the “Ice Dream at the Christmas Market” or the spacious and free-access children’s area in the town hall park, there are attractions worth seeing that will literally make your heart soar:
The “Herzerlbaum” is without a doubt the most famous and at the same time romantic attraction of the Vienna Christmas market. With 200 glowing red hearts, the tree is visible from afar and is a popular meeting place for young and old in Christmas Vienna, and is often chosen for dates and even marriage proposals.
The tree has been a little more beautiful for two years now, as every half hour since then a two-meter-large heart has been set in motion, floating above the guests’ heads towards the town hall park and illuminating the “Herzerlbaum” step by step.
The Viennese Christ Child 2024 is 23-year-old Lena
Mayor Michael Ludwig presented the attractions on Wednesday and put them into operation for the first time this season. He was supported by none other than the Viennese Christ Child, who is a regular guest at the Rathausplatz. This year, the Christ child is portrayed by 23-year-old Lena. The studied journalist grew up in Carinthia and has lived in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus for many years, where the Viennese-by-choice works as a content creator.
Highest awards for Vienna Christmas market
Word of the many offers has already spread to the US news channel CNN, which included the Vienna Christmas market in its list of the “best Christmas markets around the world” and thus, like the Financial Times last year, attested to the market on Rathausplatz. being one of the best Christmas markets in the world.
CNN justifies its selection, among other things, by saying that the Vienna Christmas market offers a wealth of opportunities for young and old and mentions, as an example, the nativity scene path, which invites visitors to discover numerous hand-made nativity scenes, the large Ferris wheel, from which guests can get an overview of the You can enjoy the colorfully decorated park, or the already mentioned Herzerlbaum.
Ludwig: “Vienna’s Christmas market is extremely attractive”
Mayor Michael Ludwig: “I am very pleased to welcome all visitors to the Vienna Christmas Market from Friday. The fact that our market has once again been declared one of the best Christmas markets in the world by an international media fills me with great joy and shows that the Vienna Christmas market is extremely attractive, both for Viennese and visitors who travel to us every year from all over the world to experience Vienna in all its Christmas splendor.”
The 200 hearts of the Herzerl tree shine for the first time on Saturday and are illuminated at the same time as the Christmas tree from Lower Austria.
Easily accessible by public
The best way for visitors to reach the Vienna Christmas market on Rathausplatz is by public transport. The Wiener Linien recommends traveling to Rathausplatz with the U2 to Schottentor, with the U3 to Volkstheater, with tram lines 1, 2, 71 and D to the Parliament stop or with line 2 to the Rathaus stop. The Rathausplatz, Burgtheater stop will be served on Fridays and Saturdays from November 15th to December 22nd, as well as on December 25th and 26th, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. This ensures safe arrival and departure even when there are large crowds at the Christmas market.
Vienna Christmas market
Friday, November 15th to Thursday, December 26th, 2024
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m
Tuesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
The exact opening times of all rides and attractions can be found at www.christkindlmarkt.at