What We Spent: One-Week Christmas Market Trip to Vienna on a Budget
Vienna might be known for imperial palaces and classical music, but visit in November and you’ll find something even more magical—glühwein, twinkling lights, and the smell of roasted sausages floating through the air. We spent one week in Vienna as the Christmas markets were just opening for the season, and it was the perfect way to kick off the holidays without blowing our budget.
It’s nearly impossible to try to decipher vague budget estimates from these picture-perfect Christmas market vacation posts! That's why we're committed to providing honest, transparent travel information for other travelers looking to experience the magic of European Christmas markets on various budgets. We believe in realistic itineraries and budgets, and we want to empower you to make informed decisions about your own Christmas market adventure.
Before we dive into the numbers, let's clarify what we mean by "budget."
We opt for comfortable, well-rated hotels and Airbnbs (mostly 3-4 star hotels or Airbnbs rated 4.7 or higher). We consider ourselves “sort of” foodies, but we primarily love the experience of grazing and sharing treats and meals at the Christmas markets themselves rather than long and lavish meals.
We aren’t really “go out for a big, fancy dinner” people. Instead, we’d rather have plenty of mulled wine, share delicious market snacks, and the occasional casual sit-down meal at a cozy restaurant. We also factored in transportation to and from Vienna, local transport (Ubers and trams), shopping for souvenirs and gifts, and a few other factors.
These prices are in USD. Here's the cost breakdown of our one week Christmas market trip to Vienna, Austria!
*this post contains affiliate links. We might be reimbursed from participating partners if you use one of the links below. Thanks!*
How Much is a Christmas Market Trip to Vienna?
Our Grand total for our 7-day/6-night trip to Austria was $2,250 (for two people) This includes everything: flights, accommodation, transportation, food and drinks, shopping, and entertainment. Keep in mind that this is a per couple cost.
That comes out to just under $1,125 per person for a full six-night/seven-day trip to Vienna during Christmas market season. It was festive, cozy, and insanely goregous getaway.
Now, let’s break down the budgets by category!
Flights & Transportation – $500
One-way flights from London (LHR): $280
Taxi from airport: $35
7-day public transit passes: $45
Uber XL to train station: $22
Train to Budapest (next leg of our trip): $118
For these flight deals, it definetly helped that we were already in England for a while before this trip! And because we knew we were continuing our journey on after Vienna, we knew we could just book a well-priced one way ticket from London to Vienna just days before the Christmas markets began. We booked the flights about one month in advance.
Once in Austria, we found that Vienna’s public transport is easy to use and covers the whole city. We based ourselves in the Karmeliterviertel neighborhood, just outside the main tourist zone but right next to a tram stop. Though we weren’t in the central heart of the city, we were able to save loads of money and still get around quickly and affordably with the weekly transit pass. Even when we walked to the markets from our Airbnb apartment, it only took a maximum of 20 minutes to reach the middle of the markets from here.
Look at these fun tours we loved in Vienna!
6 Nights of Accommodations in Vienna – $698
We stayed in an Airbnb for seven nights in Karmeliterviertel. The neighborhood felt local and residential but still central enough to get anywhere fast. The apartment was clean, quiet, and had a kitchen—perfect for breakfasts and a couple of low-key meals in.
Vienna travel costs in December can really add up, so rather than splurging on a hotel room in the center of the city when we knew we wouldn’t spend much time there, we’re happy we went the Airbnb route this time! It was also fantastic to have a washer/dryer combo in unit to leave with clothes that were fresh and clean!
Attractions and Entertainment Costs in Vienna – $345
This was almost entirely the cost of the 3-day Vienna Pass, and we used it to the fullest. It gave us access to:
Hop-on hop-off city bus
Schönbrunn Palace and gardens
Albertina Museum
Beethoven’s House
Danube Tower
Imperial Carriage Museum
And several smaller museums and sites
Pro Tip: The 3-day Vienna Pass was 100% worth it for us. If you plan to visit 2+ attractions per day, it practically pays for itself. With the pass, we just showed up and walked in—no lines, no decisions, no ticket booths. It’s especially useful if you’re visiting during Christmas market season when the city is busier than usual.
What We Spent on Food & Drinks in Vienna – $557
Groceries: $142
Eating out: $415
We mixed groceries with casual meals and market snacks. Groceries covered most breakfasts and a couple of dinners and lunches at the Airbnb. The rest of our meals were spread across ramen spots, cafés, and, of course, Vienna’s Christmas markets. The glühwein was excellent, the sausages on buns were the best we had anywhere in Europe, and we fully endorse the Sacher torte at Café Sacher Wien. It’s pricey and touristy, but absolutely worth the experience.
How Much We Paid for Souvenirs & Etc. – $150
eSIM data (5GB for each of us): $40
Souvenirs and market gifts: $110
Vienna’s market mugs and ornaments were some of the cutest we’ve seen. If you like collecting glühwein mugs, save a little room in your suitcase and your budget. We allocated a reasonable amount for those must-have Christmas market treasures. It's easy to get carried away with shopping at the markets, so setting a budget beforehand is a good idea. We spent about $100 on ourselves and gifts for family and friends. And you can’t get around the city without an eSIM! We always use Airalo for the easiest and most reliable eSIM option. We each got 5GB of data each which we can use throughout Europe, not just Austria.
How Do You carry Christmas Market Goodies Home?
Shopping and returning home with your treasures in tact is a crucial part of a Christmas markets trip! Find out 6 Clever Ways to Bring Home More Christmas Market Souvenirs here!
Visiting Christmas Markets in Mid-November
Vienna’s markets start earlier than most—one reason we chose this destination. The five major markets we visited opened on Friday of our trip. The main market at City Hall (Rathausplatz) kicked things off with a live concert and festive atmosphere that made the opening day feel like a big event.
Going in mid-November means not all markets are open yet, but if this is the only time you can travel, it’s still 100 percent worth it. The main ones will be open, the crowds are lighter, and the weather is cool but manageable. We never needed umbrellas or snow boots—just warm coats and gloves.
What to Pack for a Vienna Christmas Markets Trip
From classic winter wear to the must-have cold-weather gadgets, get our ultimate packing list for your trip!
Read more here.
Key Budget Takeaways
The Vienna Pass is a great value if you plan to visit multiple attractions.
Public transportation is fast, easy, and budget-friendly.
Staying just outside the city center saved us money without sacrificing convenience.
Christmas markets in Vienna open early—but not all at once—so check the schedule.
Food and Drink Costs Can Be Managed. Our approach of sharing and grazing at markets helped us keep our food expenses in check without sacrificing the culinary experience. This allowed us to try a variety of different foods without overspending.
If you want a unique restaurant experience, make lunch rather than dinner reservations to save a bit of money and still have an elevated experience. Unless you adore fine dining or hate sharing, we’d recommend a budget of about $50 per person per day for food if you’re on a mid-range budget.
This detailed breakdown should give you a much clearer picture of what a mid-range European Christmas market trip actually costs. Remember, these are our specific expenses, and your own budget may vary depending on your travel style and preferences. However, we hope this provides a helpful starting point for planning your own exciting Christmas market adventure. We also encourage you to do your own research and compare prices for flights, accommodation, and transportation to find the best deals for your trip. Happy planning!