Vienna's Christmas market at the Rathaus by night
Vienna · Salzburg · Prague · Dresden · 8 days itinerary

Christmas Markets: Vienna, Salzburg, Prague and Dresden

Photo: Thomas2006, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

This eight-day trip covers Christmas markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Prague and Dresden along with their main sights. It starts in Vienna, adds a day trip to Salzburg, then travels by train to Prague and Dresden before returning to Prague for Christmas Eve. The sequence keeps Vienna visits together at the start and groups Prague time around the holiday.

8 daysChristmas marketsViennaPragueDresdenBy Jane· Checked by the travli team, September 2026

Day by day

Day 1

Vienna's old town

  1. 10:00Innere StadtSight
  2. 12:00Café CentralInnere StadtSight
  3. 14:00Innere StadtSight
  4. 17:00RathausplatzSight
Day 2

Salzburg

  1. 8:00Railjet to SalzburgViennaTransfer
  2. 11:00SalzburgSight
  3. 12:30GetreidegasseSalzburgWalk
  4. 13:30SalzburgSight
  5. 15:00SalzburgSight
  6. 17:00Salzburg ChristkindlmarktResidenzplatzSight
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Day 3

Belvedere and Schönbrunn

  1. 9:30Belvedere, ViennaLandstraßeSight
  2. 12:30WiedenSight
  3. 14:30HietzingSight
  4. 17:00Schönbrunn Christmas MarketHietzingSight
Day 4

Vienna to Prague

  1. 9:30LandstraßeSight
  2. 11:30Christmas market at KarlsplatzWiedenSight
  3. 15:00Train to PragueViennaTransfer
Day 5

Prague's Old Town and Castle

  1. 9:30Old Town Square Christmas MarketStaré MěstoSight
  2. 10:00Staré MěstoSight
  3. 11:00Staré MěstoSight
  4. 13:00Staré MěstoWalk
  5. 15:00HradčanySight
  6. 16:30HradčanySight
Day 6

Dresden

  1. 8:30Train to DresdenPragueTransfer
  2. 11:00AltmarktSight
  3. 13:00DresdenSight
  4. 15:00NeumarktSight
  5. 16:30Brühl's TerraceDresdenWalk
Day 7

Josefov and the New Town

  1. 9:30Old Jewish Cemetery, PragueJosefovSight
  2. 12:00Jubilee SynagogueNové MěstoSight
  3. 13:30Nové MěstoWalk
  4. 15:00Nové MěstoSight
  5. 16:30Malá StranaSight
Day 8

Christmas Eve in Prague

  1. 10:00Malá StranaSight
  2. 12:00Vltava river cruiseStaré MěstoSight
  3. 16:00Náměstí Míru Christmas MarketVinohradySight
  4. 23:30HradčanySight
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Questions about this trip

Is a day trip to Salzburg from Vienna feasible by train?

Yes. Book Railjet tickets online a week ahead for the 2.5 hour journey costing around 30 euros each way.

Do I need to book Prague Castle tickets in advance?

Yes. Purchase timed entry tickets online to skip lines at the castle and cathedral. Allow 3 hours for the visit.

How do I get from Prague to Dresden for the day?

Take the direct train from Prague to Dresden Hauptbahnhof. It takes 2 hours and costs 20 to 40 euros one way.

When should I visit the Vienna Christmas markets to avoid crowds?

Go in the afternoon on weekdays. Markets open from mid November to late December with free entry.

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