AustriaViennaChristmas marketsChecked Oct 2026

Manchester to Vienna Christmas Markets

Vienna has some of Europe's most elegant Christmas markets, and there are direct flights from Manchester all winter. This guide covers which airlines fly, how to get into the city while the airport rail line is being rebuilt, and when the markets open in 2026.

13 Nov – 26 DecRathausplatz market 2026
Manchester (MAN)Direct flights all winter
~2h 30mFlight time to Vienna

The short answer

Fly direct from Manchester to Vienna. Ryanair flies all winter and Jet2 until early January, and easyJet adds flights from November, and the flight takes about 2h 30m. From Vienna Airport, take the ÖBB Railjet to Wien Hauptbahnhof (about 15 minutes) or the CAT bus to Wien Mitte, then walk or take the U-Bahn to the markets.

Market essentials

Vienna has around a dozen Christmas markets, and the biggest is outside the City Hall.

Dates

The Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026. Most of the other markets open in mid-to-late November, and a few carry on into early January as New Year markets. Check each market's own dates.

Opening hours

Rathausplatz is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. It closes early on 24 December.

Where

Rathausplatz (City Hall) is the main market. Spittelberg, Am Hof, Karlsplatz, Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace are also popular, and all can be reached by U-Bahn or tram.

Good to know

Punsch and Glühwein come in souvenir mugs with a deposit (Pfand), which you get back if you return the mug. Weekday afternoons are much quieter than Friday and Saturday evenings.

Every way to get there

From Manchester to Vienna, best options first. Times are typical door to door; check live schedules for your dates.

1

Fly direct from Manchester, then the Railjet or CAT bus

Best for most
Door to door5–6h
£ Cost££
Best forMost trips, short breaks
  1. Manchester (MAN) to Vienna (VIE)About 2h 30m. Ryanair flies the route all winter 2026/27; Jet2 flies until early January 2027. easyJet is due to start a twice-weekly service (Mondays and Fridays) in November 2026. TUI also has a few flights on set dates between late November and late December. Check current schedules.
  2. Vienna Airport to the city centreThe S-Bahn line through Wien Mitte is closed from September 2026 until the end of October 2027. During the closure, the ÖBB Railjet runs nonstop to Wien Hauptbahnhof in about 15 minutes. The City Airport Train (CAT) runs as a replacement bus to Wien Mitte (about 21 minutes), and Vienna Airport Bus line 2 goes to Schwedenplatz.
Find MAN–VIE flightsExpediaSkyscannerTrain tickets on KlookTrain times: Vienna Airport → Wien Hauptbahnhof

Return fares are typically about £60–£250, and December weekends cost the most. The train from Manchester Piccadilly to the airport takes about 15–20 minutes.

2

Seasonal Jet2 flights from Leeds Bradford or Liverpool

Door to door5–6h
£ Cost££
Best forYorkshire and Merseyside travellers, package breaks
  1. Leeds Bradford (LBA) or Liverpool (LPL) to Vienna (VIE)About 2h 30m. Jet2 flies from Leeds Bradford from mid-November to early January, and from Liverpool from late November to about 21 December. Many seats are sold as city-break packages, but flight-only is usually available too. Check current schedules.
  2. Vienna Airport to the city centreTake the Railjet to Wien Hauptbahnhof or the CAT bus to Wien Mitte, as in the option above.
Find LBA–VIE flightsExpediaSkyscannerFind LPL–VIE flightsExpediaSkyscanner

These flights only run for the Christmas-market season, so book early. Check what baggage your fare includes before you buy.

3

Fly with a change, or from London

Door to door6–9h
£ Cost££
Best forWhen direct flights are full or expensive
  1. Manchester to Vienna with one stopFull-service airlines connect Manchester to Vienna via hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam or Zurich. Alternatively, take the train to London and fly from Heathrow with British Airways or Austrian Airlines.
  2. Vienna Airport to the city centreTake the Railjet to Wien Hauptbahnhof (about 15 minutes) or the CAT bus to Wien Mitte.
Find MAN–VIE flightsExpediaSkyscannerFind LHR–VIE flightsExpediaSkyscanner

Connecting fares sometimes beat direct ones on the busiest December weekends, and they're worth comparing.

4

Train via London, Brussels and the Nightjet sleeper

Flight-free
Door to door25–27h
£ Cost£££
Best forRail fans, avoiding flying
  1. Manchester Piccadilly to London, then Eurostar to BrusselsAvanti to London Euston takes about 2 hours. Walk 10 minutes to St Pancras, and take the Eurostar to Brussels-Midi, which takes about 2 hours.
  2. ÖBB Nightjet: Brussels-Midi to Wien HauptbahnhofThe sleeper leaves Brussels on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, at about 19:00, and arrives in Vienna at about 10:15 the next morning. Choose a seat, a couchette or a sleeper berth. Check times for your date, because timetables change in mid-December.
Train tickets on KlookTrain times: Manchester → LondonTrain tickets on KlookTrain times: London → BrusselsTrain tickets on KlookTrain times: Brussels → Vienna

Leave a generous buffer between each train, ideally reaching Brussels by mid-afternoon.

Where to stay in Vienna

Compare hotels and apartments, many with free cancellation. Book early for December weekends.

See hotels in Vienna Expedia KKday

Plan the rest of your trip

🎟️ Tours & tickets 🚕 Airport transfer 📶 Travel eSIM 🚗 Car hire 🎫 City passes 🧳 Luggage storage ⏱️ Flight delay claim

All options compared

Typical times and relative costs. £ is cheapest, £££ is priciest.

OptionDoor to doorCostBest for
Fly direct from Manchester, then the Railjet or CAT bus5–6h££Most trips, short breaks
Seasonal Jet2 flights from Leeds Bradford or Liverpool5–6h££Yorkshire and Merseyside travellers, package breaks
Fly with a change, or from London6–9h££When direct flights are full or expensive
Train via London, Brussels and the Nightjet sleeper25–27h£££Rail fans, avoiding flying

Add more markets by train

Vienna is well placed for adding a second Christmas market city by fast train.

Your base

Vienna

Stay in the 1st district (Innere Stadt) or the 7th (Neubau) so you can walk to Rathausplatz, Spittelberg and Am Hof.

Hotels in Vienna Expedia
About 1h by train

Bratislava

Slovakia's capital has a compact old-town market and is an easy day trip by regional train.

Hotels in Bratislava Expedia
About 2h 30m by train

Salzburg

Mozart's city has a market in front of the cathedral, with views up to the fortress. Railjets run often from Wien Hauptbahnhof.

Hotels in Salzburg Expedia
About 2h 40m by train

Budapest

Vörösmarty Square and St Stephen's Basilica host two big markets. It works well as a second stop.

Hotels in Budapest Expedia

Local tip: Vienna Airport is about 20km from the centre, and the airport rail line is partly closed until October 2027. Allow extra time to get to your flight home.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask most about this trip.

When do the Vienna Christmas markets open in 2026?

The main market on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026. Most other markets open in mid-to-late November. Check each market's own website for its exact dates.

Are there direct flights from Manchester to Vienna?

Yes. Ryanair flies direct from Manchester all winter 2026/27, and Jet2 until early January 2027, and easyJet is due to add a twice-weekly service from November 2026. TUI also has a few flights on set December dates. The flight takes about 2h 30m.

How much are flights from Manchester to Vienna in December?

Expect roughly £60–£250 return, depending on the airline, your dates and your bags. Fares on Friday-to-Monday trips in early December rise quickly, so book early.

How do I get from Vienna Airport to the Christmas markets?

Take the ÖBB Railjet to Wien Hauptbahnhof (about 15 minutes), or the CAT replacement bus to Wien Mitte (about 21 minutes). Then take the U-Bahn or a tram to Rathaus or the city centre.

How many days do I need in Vienna?

Two or three nights is enough to see the main markets, plus a coffee house or palace visit. Add a night if you want a day trip to Bratislava or Salzburg.

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Times and prices are typical estimates, checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the operator before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.