Rick Rodgers’ Austrian Christmas Markets

Written By Claudia Royston

About this trip

In this carefully curated tour, Rick Rodgers, author of the bestselling cookbooks CHRISTMAS 101 and KAFFEEHAUS, personally guides you to his very favorite spots for Christmas cheer in the Austrian style. 

Special foods (from seasonal lebkuchen to savory snacks) and unique gift shopping await the traveler in entrancing.

Advent markets in both vibrant city and charming rustic locales.  Add a generous helping of art and music (not to mention warming drinks, spiked or not), and you have the perfect recipe for a pre-holiday trip. Throughout your journey, don’t forget to collect each market’s specially decorated mug as a memento. 

 
 

DATES & PRICES
December 1-10, 2025

Cost:
$5,340 per person (sharing)
$5,840 per person (single)

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Vienna

Upon arrival in beautiful Vienna, perhaps the ultimate European capital for savoring the holiday season, check into the centrally located Hotel Indigo Naschmarkt.  Tonight we’ll enjoy a dinner at a nearby local favorite restaurant. 

Day 2: Vienna

Today is the day to soak up some of Vienna’s most iconic sights in its famed Inner City, with some of the best markets literally cheek-to-jowl.  We begin at Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral), lovingly refurbished after WW2, and location of a lovely market.  You’ll see the golden “Plague Column” and be tempted by the area’s upscale shops.  Am Hof square is home to its Weichnachtsmarkt (Christmas Eve Market), with lovely artisan goods and delicious snacks.  Settle in for an Austrian lunch at Das Schwarzen Kameel, (The Black Camel) one of the city’s oldest restaurants.  Then we’re off to the pocket-sized Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (Old Vienna Christmas Market) in the Freyung.  A sunset stroll brings us to the Rathaus (City Hall), perhaps the most stunning market, with festively lighted stalls surrounded by enormous Christmas trees, and kids of ages on the carousel and skating in its ice rink. 

Day 3: Vienna

Explore Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and the adjacent market in Maria-Theresia Platz.  Enjoy lunch at one of the most beautiful cafes in the world, the Cupola in the museum’s heart.  You next have free time for a few hours to explore the museum or its sister across the square, the Natural History Museum.  We start the evening at Karlsplatz, home to one of the largest markets, capping with a performance of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” inside of Karlskirche (St. Charles’ Church), one of the most glorious baroque buildings in the world. 

Day 4: Vienna

After breakfast, we’ll visit the Leopold Museum in the center of Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier. During a private guided tour, we’ll see the most eminent Egon Schiele collection and major works by Gustav Klimt, including his beautiful square-shaped landscape paintings. After lunch we’ll visit some markets of Vienna’s “Outer” neighborhoods, like Spittleberg, named after the Vienna public Hospital which had fields and vineyards in this part of the city from 1525. The vineyards paid for patient care. During the siege of Vienna in 1683 the Spittelberg was of great strategic importance because of its elevated location, and the early Baroque buildings were razed. After 1695, the district was rebuilt in a grid-shaped plan . Today it is a lively, multicultural district, one of the city’s quaintest, with cosy restaurants, small shops and studios.

Day 5: Bad Ischl

Today, we begin our exploration of the Salzkammergut region, the location of some of Austria’s most captivating villages, with local traditions galore, and never more so than before Christmas. After a scenic bus ride, we will arrive in Bad Ischl, summer home to the Imperial Court, which will be our base. There we will see their indoor market and experience the unique Krampusaulf, where St. Nicholas and his demon minions’ parade through town, perhaps spanking those of you who have been naughty (and hand out candy for the rest). A local dinner will be had at our inn, the Goldener Ochs. Advent is the most atmospheric time in Upper Austria, where customs are writ large. Here you will find all the events of the Advent season: Advent markets, Krampus parades, nativity scene displays, and carol singing.

Day 6: The Salzkammergut: Austria’s Lake District

An exploration of local villages awaits today. On the list are St Wolfgang and St Gilgen. Other treats await! We will return to Bad Ischl for an afternoon at leisure to explore its shops (or purchase more goods at the market). Enjoy your choice of dinner venues.

Day 7: Salzburg

This morning, after check-out, we’ll make our way to Salzburg. We’ll go to the market in the cathedral square, before taking a tour of the old town. We’ll enjoy a rooftop dinner (inside) from which to enjoy all the sights of the city.

Day 8: Salzburg

Today begins with a very special visit to the Silent Night Chapel which  commemorates where the ultimate Christmas carol was created and first performed in December of 1818.. The Silent Night museum is located on the site of the original St. Nicholas Church where it was first sung and tells the story of how Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber created the famous carol. After visiting the market there, we'll enjoy lunch at the Hotel Sacher in the city center. Our lunch will lead inexorably to their famous dessert, Sachertorte. Rick will explain how it got its name (and the controversy surrounding it) and how it's made. Afterwards enjoy some free time to enjoy more of the town. 

Day 9: Vienna

Returning to Vienna, we will stop at at Wenschitz Chocolate Factory (Pralinewelt), where you will make room in your luggage for sweet stocking stuffers and more. Our final stop is a hidden gem among Vienna’s Christmas markets, the advent market at the Liechtenstein Garden Palace, the second most significant Baroque building in Vienna. This market offers a charming alternative to the city’s busier holiday attractions. Afterwards, we return to the hotel and end our evening together at a farewell dinner.

Day 10:

This morning, after check out, say goodbye to your new friends and to Austria as you head to the airport for your flight home. Merry Christmas!

Claudia Royston
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