Choose from three Easter markets worth seeing

In two weeks it will be that time of year again, when the Easter markets open their gates in Vienna: Starting in mid-March, the Ostermarkt (Easter market) at Schönbrunn Palace in front of the palace gates, the Altwiener (Old Viennese) Ostermarkt on the Freyung in downtown Vienna, and the Ostermarkt am Hof invite guests to stroll, taste foods and purchase gifts.

Schönbrunn Palace Easter Market

Easter market at Schoenbrunn Castle (c) Foto Schiffl

The backdrop from the Easter market in front of the gates of Schönbrunn Palace is really stunning. You stroll from one stand to the next and truly feel a bit imperial, above all on a beautiful, sunny day when the palace’s façade is gleaming and the colorful market drives away the winter’s gray once and for all.

What is there to see? 60 carefully selected exhibitors offer high-quality arts and crafts, in large part handmade themselves with lots of attention to detail. Materials such as felt, papier mâché, clay, glass and pewter are worked into bunnies, chickens, eggs and more. In addition, candles, wooden toys, carvings, jewelry and much more are on offer.

In terms of food, the Schönbrunn market also emphasizes tradition and regional products. Deciding between a tender ham in a breaded crust, wild boar meat loaf or Kaiserschmarren (a type of pancake with raisins, and a famous Viennese delicacy) is definitively tough. To go with your meal, you might opt for a Frühlingsbowle (spring punch), and if it gets colder you can still drink Glühwein (mulled wine).

Live music is perennially part of the general program, and every Sunday, as well as on Holy Saturday and Easter Monday, jazz ensembles guarantee a good mood.

In the Osterwerkstatt (Easter workshop), children as young as four can make marzipan figures or tie together Easter flower arrangements. (Please note the opening hours.) For 5 euros per piece, under expert instruction children will make sweet marzipan figures or springlike flower arrangements from pussy willows, dwarves and various decorations, which can then be packed as a gift for grandma and grandpa for instance.

Open from March 17 through April 2, 2018
Daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Altwiener Ostermarkt

Europe’s largest “egg-mountain” at Freyung

What’s special about the Altwiener Ostermarkt, which you can combine wonderfully and just “take in” with a stroll through the city, is surely “Europe’s biggest egg mountain.” Thousands of decorated eggs, from quail eggs to ostrich eggs and all painted differently, are on offer in the middle of the market. It’s impossible not to find something there!

The Altwiener Ostermarkt has been around since 1990 and was founded as a counterpart to the Altwiener Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) and continues the tradition of markets at the beautiful historic Freyung marketplace.

The Altwiener Ostermarkt also offers a musical program, as well as the ever-popular Punch and Judy puppet shows.

Open from March 16 through April 2, 2018
Daily from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM

Ostermarkt am Hof

The Ostermarkt am Hof is just a few steps removed from the Freyung. What was previously an arts and crafts market, the Kunsthandwerksmarkt am Hof, gets in the Easter spirit in the spring and transforms itself into an Easter market. Here, too, there is a large selection of handmade works and culinary delicacies for refreshment.

Open from March 17 through April 2, 2018
Mon.–Thurs. from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Fri.–Sun. from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

You can see that there’s a lot to choose from. Find your favorite Easter market and enjoy the spring. Wishing you lots of fun!

To relax the best idea would to book a room in one of the five Schick Hotels. Then you have double fun for your shopping tour through Vienna.

Main picture copyright: FOTOFALLY_6560