This Christmas market is home to some of my best insta-travel photos to date. Imagine the big baroque backdrop of St. Charles Church at nighttime with the glimmers of hundreds upon hundreds of white lights. Not to mention the animals! Shop stalls! Mulled wine! Art! If you have time, definitely go inside the church as well. I did during my October visit (pre-market) and took the tour up to the inner dome. It was really cool to get so close to the artwork. Also since they immediately assumed I was a student and I only had a 20 euro bill (which was too large for them) or a 2 coin, they let me in for half the student rate. But back to the market! I really like this place because it's busy, yeah of course it is, but it's somehow cozy too. I feel like the market is ideal. It's not massive. You're unlikely to get too lost. But you can still bask in the commercial side of the holiday season while enjoying the company of good friends. And for that, Adventmarkt Karlsplatz gets 5 stars. read more

Adventmarkt Karlsplatz - I have many photos but this is my favorite. - Christmas Markets Near Me - Vienna, 9

Confession: I have an unhealthy obsession with street vendors. One time, I was unknowingly in a bad neighbourhood in Toronto because I was attracted by the street vendors selling things on the ground (which almost never happens in toronto). It turned out they were second-hand, likely stolen, goods. I ended up getting chased down the street by a homeless man. And even with this story, I still retain my love for street vendors - likely because in Taiwan, where I was born, street vendors are where you go for the best food and cheapest goods. Why do I give this story as the introduction to my review for Karlsplatz Christmas market? Probably because I just feel the need to talk about myself, but also the fact that the best foods I have tried in Vienna, was actually, and perhaps embarrassingly, from street vendors in this market. My first time in this market was a little after noon. We had 30 minutes before our Vienna sightseeing bus arrived by the opera house, so the bf and I decided to check out this nearby Christmas Market by the St. Charles's Church Sq. It was then, as we walked in to the fringe of the market that I tried the best open faced sandwich with mushed up paste (way better than trzesniewski, imho). I downed it quickly with gulps of Gluhwein. The stall is called "Lukashof" After eating it, we walked into the centre of the market, there was a little farm where children can pet the animals and play in the hay and ride little ponies. Also a really cool merry-go-round with retro transportation vehicles (see pic). We didn't have time to really look around too much so that evening, we headed back for more. Our second time there, my boyfriend had an amazing gluhwein with berries in there while we looked at all the arts and craft. I also smelled these amazing potato puffers that I really wanted to eat. Unfortunately, we just finished dinner elsewhere and I had no room for it, so I dragged my boyfriend back the next day, before I had to leave for the airport, just so I can eat it. It was worth it. I wish I can go back for more. We also both had the berry gluhwein, again. Best ones I've ever had. This Christmas Market is my boyfriend's favourite market for the following reasons: - it's a lot less crowded than the other ones we've been to - it has a lot of unique handcrafted art, which my boyfriend loved As I do my research after the fact, as per usual, I see on visitvienna.com that: "The market is organized by an arts and crafts association called divina art. One of the requirements for those wishing to run a stand at the advent market is that the products on sale must be made by the applicant themselves (no traded goods) and must gain the approval of a qualified jury." For someone like me, who is the definitive middle-class consumer, the stuff is less interesting as I'm not very artsy, and the stuff is not very commercial. For someone like my boyfriend, he wanted to buy so many things, but balked at the price tag (leather football helmet for 95 EUR, handknit wool cap for 85 EUR). We left all three times empty-handed but with full bellies. read more

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I was actually surprised by the market at karlsplatz - this year was my premier for this christmasmarket, but they truly do have very nice art and hand craft stuff there, as well as a nice scenery. Not only a funny and very innovatice roundabout (where the fathers have to ride a bike to get it going) also a pony court entertain the kids. Good traditional nut noodles and fladenbread freshly baked in a stone oven are worth going there. We also found the "Punschbude" of TU (at least i was told it is) which is really nice, they build up a winter scenery close to a statue on which steps you can sit on stuffed jute sacks, next to bigt lanterns which is absolutely romantic. they also built up a box, where you can sit inside, no wind and a little warmer as outside. In this christmas combined with disco style box they also hava DJ and two couches. They also serrve nice food. read more

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The christmas market here at Karlsplatz is one of the bigger one and hence always heaving. There is a decent selection of drink/food and knickknacks to buy here but the prices are a little on the high side. That said there are few more gorgeous backdrops to enjoy a gluhwein or eierlikörpunsch than the Karlskirche. This is a big favourite of the tourists who swarm to Vienna's christmas markets every year and is therefore always full of people. Its a great place to bring the little ones as there is a lot for them to do but for the bigger ones of us it can feel a little too busy. There are certainly nicer and quieter christmas markets to be had in Vienna. I'm looking at you MQ! The eierlikorpunch was a bit of a disappointment here unfortunately. It was just gluhwein with some eggnog liquor poured over whipped cream. Certainly not the best I've had this year. Spittelberg, you're still the best so far. There are a lot more quirkier things to buy here though and more of a handmade feel to the stalls and you'll certainly find some interesting stuff on offer here. But overall its somewhere in the middle of my favourite christmas markets in Vienna. You're in the same list, Belvedere! read more

Adventmarkt Karlsplatz - Christmas Markets Near Me - Vienna, 9

It was one of my favorite Christmas markets in Vienna especially because it wasn't as crowded or as commercial as the other one, and you could actually see kids having a blast being around animals and playing with each other. Definitely recommended if you're more for a lower-key Christmas market! Enjoy! read more

This is definitely one of the better Christmas markets in the city. I recommend a visit in the evening, when St. Charles' Church is nicely lit up. The information booth is staffed with a pleasant, polite person - after a week in Vienna, I was starved for politeness - and she has a maps to help you find the market at Belvedere, which is a 15 minute walk away. The stalls at Karlsplatz are stocked with quality crafts so you don't mind the inflated prices. This seems to be the most family-friendly market, and it is less smoky than some of the other ones. Food items are pretty much the same as in the others. You come here for the marvelous setting. read more

This market is another one of the big ones in Vienna. I believe it specializes more in artisan crafts so I ended up going through it a lot quicker. Location: It is near St. Charles Church and the Naschmarkt so it is worth a look if you're in the area. It's set up is in a winding circle so you can get a bit lost especially if you're looking for a specific stall. There was a setting zoo area so that was different. Stalls: Like I said there were more crafts and so I walked through really quick. Maybe I missed the food stalls, but it felt like there was only a few. I personally like getting unique gifts but a lot were just ornaments. I wish there were other items. I'd check it out again if I'm in the area, otherwise I wouldn't seek it out again. read more

This market is getting bigger and bigger every year. It started off being a small artsy market. And it still is more artsy than most of the other markets and though its a nice place Its not one my favourite christmas markets. Maybe also because the punsch and gluehwein I had there wa the typical sweet and put of a bottle ones, there afe better ones around ;) read more