The Wiener Christkindlmarkt, the Vienna Christmas Market on Rathausplatz, runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with shorter hours on 24 December, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. It fills the square between the illuminated City Hall and the Burgtheater, with the Rathauspark lit up behind it, and the organiser calls it one of Europe's biggest and most beautiful Christmas markets. The Ice Dream skating rink on the square opens with the market and stays until 6 January 2027.
Elly8.net books Vienna Christmas market transportation as a fixed-price plan: a chauffeur who meets you at Vienna International Airport, a car that drops you on the Ring by the Rathausplatz, and an hourly booking that links the Rathausplatz with Schönbrunn, the Belvedere and Spittelberg in one evening. Rides in Vienna are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk. Prices are fixed, all-in and charged in US dollars.
What is the best way to visit the Vienna Christmas markets?
For one market, take the tram or U-Bahn: trams 1, 71 and D stop at Rathausplatz/Burgtheater and the U2 at Rathaus. To see several markets in one evening, with children or with a group, book a chauffeur by the hour, from US$85 per hour, so the same car links the Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn, Belvedere and Spittelberg.
The Rathausplatz sits on the Ringstrasse, the boulevard that circles the old city, and on Advent evenings and weekends the Ring and the streets around City Hall carry heavy traffic, trams and crowds. A car cannot wait on the Ring, and the old-city lanes inside it are narrow or one-way. That is fine for a single visit by tram. It is harder when you want to see three markets that are several kilometres apart, with a dinner booking in between and children who are tired by 8 p.m.
A chauffeur on an hourly booking removes the waiting and the guesswork. The car drops you at the nearest point where it may stop, holds nearby, and comes back when you message. Between markets, you sit in a warm car instead of changing trams in the cold.
Dates and opening hours for 2026
| Market or attraction | 2026 to 2027 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Rathausplatz | 13 November to 26 December 2026 | Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 24 December 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
| Ice Dream at the Christmas Market, Rathausplatz | 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 | Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 24 December to 6:30 p.m.; closed 31 December |
| Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace | 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 | Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 24 December to 4 p.m.; 25 December to 6 January to 7 p.m. |
| K&K Christmas Market at Belvedere Palace | 20 November to 31 December 2026 | See the market's own schedule |
| Christmas Market on Spittelberg | 13 November to 23 December 2026 | Weekdays 2 to 9:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. |
| Old Viennese Christmas Market, Freyung | 14 November to 23 December 2026 | Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Art Advent, Karlsplatz | 13 November to 23 December 2026 | Daily 12 to 8 p.m. |
| Wiener Eistraum, Rathausplatz | 22 January to 7 March 2027 | Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
The Rathausplatz dates and hours come from the organiser, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt, and the other markets from the Vienna Tourist Board's Christmas markets guide. Markets publish their own changes, so check the day of your visit before you set pickup times.
Getting to the Rathausplatz: where the car stops
The organiser's address is simply Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna. The square lies between the Burgtheater on the Ring and City Hall, with the Rathauspark on either side.
Drop-off. The usual drop-off is on the Ring side, by the Burgtheater, beside the Rathausplatz/Burgtheater tram stop. The chauffeur stops at the nearest point a car may legally stop, and on the busiest evenings that is set by traffic police, not by preference. Allow a few minutes' walk.
Pickup. At the end of the visit, message the chauffeur and walk back to the agreed point on the Ring or behind City Hall towards Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz, whichever is easier that evening. The chauffeur confirms the spot by text before you leave the market.
Public transport. The organiser lists trams 1, 71 and D (Rathausplatz/Burgtheater), tram 2 (Parlament), the U2 (Rathaus) and the U3 (Volkstheater, taking the Ring exit). For a single visit from a hotel near a station, that is the easiest option.
Arriving at Vienna Airport
Vienna International Airport (VIE) is about 21 km (13 mi) from the Innere Stadt, about 26 minutes on a clear road, and about 22 km (14 mi) from the Rathausplatz on our routing. Give us your flight number when you book: the chauffeur tracks the landing and waits in the arrivals hall with a name board, with complimentary waiting after a tracked landing, which covers a slow passport queue after a transatlantic flight. See airport transfers and meet and greet.
| Route | Business Sedan | Business SUV | First Class SUV | Executive Sprinter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIE to the Innere Stadt | US$125 | US$165 | US$200 | US$325 |
| VIE round trip | US$240 | US$315 | US$380 | US$620 |
| By the hour, as directed (3-hour minimum) | US$85 per hour | US$110 per hour | US$130 per hour | US$170 per hour |
| Evening out and event night (5 hours) | US$425 | US$550 | US$650 | US$850 |
First Class Sedans are on the Vienna price list too, from US$220 for the airport leg. Arriving privately? Give us the operator and tail number and the desk arranges the meeting point; see private jet and FBO transfers.
Rail works this winter. Vienna's main S-Bahn line through the centre is being modernised until the end of October 2027, according to the City Airport Train. During the works the CAT runs as premium coaches direct between the airport and Wien Mitte/Landstraße, every 12 minutes, and the S7 airport train is affected too. None of this changes a private transfer, but it is worth knowing if you planned to take the train with Christmas luggage.
The market evening: one car, several markets
Vienna's markets are close enough to combine and far enough apart to make walking between them tiring. On our routing, Schönbrunn Palace is about 7 km (4.4 mi) from the Rathausplatz, about 14 minutes on a clear road; the Belvedere is about 3.4 km (2.1 mi); Spittelberg, in the 7th district, is about 1.2 km (0.7 mi).
A typical evening with an hourly car looks like this:
Late afternoon at Schönbrunn. The palace market opens earlier in the season and runs to 9 p.m. Arrive while it is still light enough to see the palace courtyard, and the chauffeur waits nearby.
Early evening at the Rathausplatz. The car brings you back into the city and drops you on the Ring. This is the busiest hour on the square, so plan an hour or more.
Spittelberg or dinner. A short drive takes you to the narrow lanes of Spittelberg, open to 9:30 p.m., or to a restaurant in the Innere Stadt, before the car takes you back to the hotel.
The chauffeur follows local rules on alcohol, so nobody drinks in the vehicle, and nobody in your party has to drive after a cup of punch at the market. Hourly chauffeur service costs from US$85 per hour in a business sedan to US$170 in an Executive Sprinter, with a three-hour minimum; the five-hour evening package costs from US$425 in a business sedan and US$550 in a business SUV to US$850 in an Executive Sprinter.
Daytime sightseeing and the Wachau
Many visitors pair the markets with the palaces and museums. The private city highlights tour, four hours from US$340 in a business sedan to US$680 in an Executive Sprinter, links the sights that are far apart on foot, including Schönbrunn Palace, the Belvedere and the Ring; timed tickets at the palaces suit a car that waits. See private city tours.
The signature day trip goes west along the Danube to the Wachau Valley, Krems and Melk Abbey, an 8-hour package from US$630 in a business sedan and US$810 in a business SUV to US$1,255 in an Executive Sprinter. The full-day chauffeur (8 hours) is priced the same. If you are touring Central Europe's Christmas markets, Elly8.net also serves Prague, Budapest and Munich, and long-distance trips between them are covered by city to city car service.
Families, groups and company outings
Child seats are available on request; tell us each child's age and weight when you book. With strollers and winter coats, a business SUV or an Executive Sprinter has far more room than a sedan, and the price is per vehicle: an Executive Sprinter at US$325 from the airport carries a family group with luggage in one vehicle. See group transportation.
December is also the season for company Christmas events and client dinners in Vienna, and for delegations at the Vienna International Centre who take an evening off. For a group, book Executive Sprinters for the market runs with a fixed return time, and sedans for anyone with separate plans; the desk coordinates every vehicle under one reference. Visiting teams with meetings during the day can book the corporate roadshow day (10 hours), from US$765 in a business sedan to US$1,530 in an Executive Sprinter. Companies that book often can open a corporate account with monthly invoicing, and agencies can book through travel agent accounts. See event transportation.
Honest alternatives: tram, U-Bahn, taxi or a chauffeur
| Option | Cost | Best for | Weak point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tram 1, 71 or D, or U2 to Rathaus | Vienna public transport fare | One market, hotel near a line | Crowded on Advent weekends |
| CAT premium coach from the airport | Fares set by the CAT | Solo travellers near Wien Mitte | A second ride from Wien Mitte to most hotels |
| Taxi | Metered | A short hop off-peak | Hard to find at closing time on the Ring |
| Elly8.net hourly chauffeur | From US$85 per hour, 3-hour minimum | Several markets, families, groups, fixed budget | Must be booked in advance |
Vienna's public transport is very good, and for a couple visiting one market from a central hotel, the tram is the sensible choice; we say so plainly. A pre-booked car makes sense when you want Schönbrunn and the Rathausplatz in one evening, when children, strollers or older relatives are in the group, when a dinner booking sets the timetable, or when you are arriving from the airport with luggage. For the general reasoning, see chauffeur vs taxi and Uber Black vs a pre-booked chauffeur.
How booking works
- Enter the pickup and drop-off, with your flight number for VIE, or Rathausplatz for the market.
- Choose the vehicle: business sedan, business SUV, First Class Sedan or SUV, or Executive Sprinter. The fleet page shows seats and luggage space.
- Press Reserve now on the Vienna price list, or use the web booker for any address not on the list. Confirmation arrives by email, with the chauffeur's contact details before pickup.
Prices include the chauffeur, vehicle, taxes, standard gratuity and airport meet and greet. Tolls, parking and waiting beyond the included time are billed at cost. The price list does not change for Advent, but availability does: December weekends book out early, so reserve as soon as your flights are set. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, 10% at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less, and 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show, refunded to the original card.
Elly8.net is a member of LWD, LAI, HWD and VWD: LimousineWorldwide.Directory, LimousineAssociation.International, HotelsWorldwide.Directory and VacationsWorldwide.Directory. Elly8.net books the car only; for flights and hotels, our travel partner is BookingWorldwide.net.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz open in 2026?
From 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on 24 December from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., according to the organiser. The Ice Dream rink on the square stays open until 6 January 2027 but is closed on 31 December.
How much is a car from Vienna Airport to the Christmas market?
The fixed fare from VIE to the Innere Stadt starts at US$125 in a business sedan, US$165 in a business SUV and US$200 in a First Class SUV, up to US$325 in an Executive Sprinter, per vehicle. It includes the chauffeur, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet in arrivals.
Where does the car drop us at the Rathausplatz?
On the Ring side by the Burgtheater, at the nearest point where a car may stop, or behind City Hall towards Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz when the Ring is busy. On peak evenings the traffic police decide what is possible, so the chauffeur confirms the exact point by text.
Can one car take us to several markets in one evening?
Yes. Book by the hour, from US$85 per hour with a three-hour minimum, or the five-hour evening package from US$425. The chauffeur waits at each market and drives you to the next: Schönbrunn is about 7 km (4.4 mi) from the Rathausplatz and the Belvedere about 3.4 km (2.1 mi).
Do you provide child seats?
Yes, child seats are available on request. Tell us each child's age and weight when you book so the right seats are fitted before pickup. For a family with a stroller and shopping, a business SUV or an Executive Sprinter is the better choice, and the price is per vehicle.
Is the CAT running during the rail works?
Yes, but as a coach. Until the end of October 2027 the CAT runs premium coaches direct between the airport and Wien Mitte/Landstraße every 12 minutes, while the main S-Bahn line through the centre is closed for modernisation. A private transfer is not affected.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel more than 72 hours before pickup and it is free. At 72 hours or less the fee is 10%, at 48 hours or less 50%, and at 24 hours or less or a no-show 100%. Refunds go back to the original card, and the 24/7 desk can change times and addresses.
