Disclosure: This post (probably) contains affiliate links. If you click on one, I may make a small commission. Of course, this will come at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running.

When it comes to Christmas time, Vienna takes its celebrations seriously. Around every corner is a Christmas market with stalls bursting with people keeping warm with a mug of gluhwein. The Vienna Christmas markets are fun, yes, but to me the Christmas lights are the real stars of the season and one of the best reasons to visit Vienna at this time of year.

In December, the city centre of Vienna is transformed with an incredible array of dazzling lights. Honestly, on their own they’re worth a visit just to see. Even if you’re reading this after Christmas has passed, it’s never too late to start thinking about plans for next Christmas! Enjoy the following journey through the Vienna Christmas lights that will show you where in the city to go to see them.

Where to Find Christmas Lights in Vienna

Throughout the pedestrian streets in the heart of Vienna, you will find different streets adorned with their own styles of lights. It’s a great motivator for exploring the city despite the cold weather. A lot of the time, but not always, you’ll find these lights in the city’s historical centre and/or around the many Vienna Christmas markets.

At squares both large and small around Vienna you’ll find the markets, with stalls selling traditional Viennese Christmas foods, arts and crafts. Really, no matter where you go, you’re bound to find something to your liking. You can even do Christmas market tours to take the guesswork out of it completely.

While the Christmas markets in Vienna are generally open from the afternoon onward, if you want to see the lights as well, you need to wait until it gets dark. You won’t have to wait long though at this time of year; the lights honestly are one of the few benefits to the short winter days.

Stephansplatz

Stephansplatz is not only the centre of the city and at the centre of so much sightseeing, it’s also the best starting point for finding Christmas lights in Vienna. Outside the city’s towering cathedral you’ll find an equally impressive Christmas tree as well as lights and a few stalls.

Kärntnerstrasse

There are many important streets that lead off Stephansplatz, but one of the most important is Kärntnerstrasse. This pedestrian street runs from the Opera House to the Stephansplatz and is almost always buzzing with activity. And that’s definitely the case in the lead up to Christmas, as the street is illuminated with shimmering curtains of lights. Look down its side streets and you’ll see they too are lit up as well.

The Graben Chandeliers

The other pedestrian street off Stephansplatz that’s important for tourists, no matter the time of year, is the Graben. While it normally impresses with its golden plague column and surrounding buildings, they barely get noticed when the lights go up. That’s because Graben has possibly Vienna’s most iconic lights display, as grand chandeliers hang overhead. It goes from a shopping street to some sort of outdoor ballroom.

Again, don’t miss the side streets here. Habsburgergasse gets very royal with its floating crowns, but the undeniable hit is the glittery sky over Kohlmarkt, a personal favourite of mine. The good news is that the light displays in Vienna rarely change, so you too have a good chance to seeing this awe-inspiring illumination.

Rotenturmstraße

Easily missed amongst the action of Kärntnerstrasse and Graben is Rotenturmstraße. This street leads north of Stephansplatz to Schwedenplatz and mostly goes unnoticed unless you’re looking for the Hard Rock Cafe, Starbucks, or McDonalds. However, the lights here deserve to be noticed. Their design, appropriately red given the street name, feel like they have an East Asian influence almost.

Vienna State Opera and Ringstrasse

The Vienna State Opera is an icon of the city and its love of music. While it always looks impressive illuminated at night, very little changes come Christmastime. The reason I say to go here is that it’s a useful landmark to see two nearby light displays.

One is the the fantastic bow that wraps around the Popp & Kretschmer building on the corner. The other though are the lights along the Vienna Ring Road, the Ringstrasse. Right around the ring the bare winter trees are dressed up in lights, while arching lights create a tunnel effect over this ever-busy street. There’s also a neat candle illumination over by the Ringstraßen Galerien that you may want to find.

Belvedere Palace Gardens

There are always plenty of reasons to visit Belvedere Palace when in Vienna. But Christmas brings a new one, as the palace gardens host a Christmas market and interesting light display. Normally, you’d focus on the rear gardens at Belvedere Palace, but the Christmas market is actually out the front of the palace by the pond.

The market is all well and good, but it’s the other decorations that make things interesting. For starters there’s the Christmas tree made of sleds that you can actually walk into, which is pretty cool. The star in the pond are another nice touch and combine with the glowing signs of the stalls to create an enchanting effect.

Schönbrunn Palace

You’d be sorely mistaken if you think Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna’s most prominent palace, is going to sit the festive season out. However, I will say that Schönbrunn goes for a more subdued look than other places. At Schönbrunn, the palace is bathed in a warm glow so as to not distract from the large glittering Christmas tree that takes centre stage. You might not be dazzled here, but the atmosphere certainly isn’t lacking and it’s still Schönbrunn Palace after all.

Karlsplatz Lights

One of my favourite markets due to how easy it was to reach when I stayed in Vienna was the Karlsplatz Christmas Market. The square in front of the imposing church was home to another large Christmas market, but the lights and decorations in Karlsplatz are a little more humble.

Perhaps that’s done to not pull focus from the large pile of hay that is added to the pond area to create the popular children’s playground. Still, the streams of fairy lights that crisscross over the markets and paths do add to the festive atmosphere.

Rathaus Christmas Market

Saving the best to last we have the massive Christmas market outside the Vienna Rathaus. This is *the* Christmas market in Vienna, with a sea of kiosks sitting inside a huge ice skating rink. As for the lights, there’s the huge banner arch leading into the square and lights over the market paths, all leading to the big tree in front of city hall and the beautiful building itself.

But it doesn’t stop there, as the park spaces on either side of the market are illuminated as well, with annually changing displays in the trees and unusual art installations. The variety and scale of the lights at the Rathaus market make it a stop not to miss.

Tips for Visiting Vienna at Christmas

Well there’s a hefty taste of what Christmas in Vienna has to offer. And that’s really only if you focus on the lights, and not all the fun things to do at the Christmas markets themselves. Christmastime really does transform the city of Vienna into something else, and while it’s busy, it’s also a lot of fun. There are even special concerts in the lead up to Christmas.

Together with enjoying the atmosphere and seasonal goods at the markets, the Vienna Christmas lights really transform the city. I hope that this may encourage you to consider coming to this beautiful city next festive season. It may well be the best time of year to visit. If you do decide to visit, I recommend checking out my other Vienna articles, but especially my guide on where to stay in Vienna.

Have you been to see the Vienna Christmas Lights during the festive season? Where are your favourite Christmas lights and Christmas markets? Please comment below.