Embracing The Christmas Spirit With A Visit to The Christkindlmarkt in Eisenstadt

The Christmas season started which means that it is time to bake cookies, hang up fairy lights, ogle at pine trees, eat the already mentioned cookies and visit the Christmas market. With this spirit in my mind, a couple of bloggers decided that it is time to visit the Christmas market near us. Everyone picked their favourite spot in their Austrian Bundesland. Thus, I ended up at the Christkindlmarkt Eisenstadt in Burgenland.

What is a Christkindlmarkt?

... I hear some of you ask. Time to rewind for a moment - a Christkindlmarkt literally translates as "baby jesus market" and, unlike the name might suggest, it has lost the religious aspect and focuses on everything that creates a Christmas vibe. It consist of small huts in which you can buy different Christmas-y goods such as bobbles, hot punch, and all the sweet pastry that you deny yourself during the rest of the year. They are also very common in Germany and Switzerland.

First, you need to get to Eisenstadt!

The Christkindlmarkt Eisenstadt is situated in the pedestrian area on the main square and next to Schloss Esterházy. The easiest way to reach it would be by car. If you come from the Viennese area, you simple drive onto the A2 and continue to follow the A3 until Eisenstadt. Drive off the Autobahn at "Eisenstadt Süd."

If you are coming from the South, simply find your way onto the S31. If you come from the A2 - driving direction to Vienna - you need to switch onto the S2 in Wiener Neustadt and then switch at "Knoten Mattersburg" onto the S31. Once more, drive off at "Eisenstadt Süd."

Please keep in mind that the Autobahn is a toll road and you need a Vignette before the start of your journey!

Once you are on regular roads again it won't take more than five minutes and all you need to do is follow the signs to "Schloss Esterhazy."

There are short-stay parking zones on the main road. In addition right at the Schloss is a small parking lot that can be used in exchange for a small fee. Otherwise, you can use the trick of the common cheapskate and find a small parking spot in the side roads.

Public transport to Eisenstadt is sadly lacking but you can reach it with the REX 2647, and with the bus No. 120 that departs at Vienna's central station every hour. From Wiener Neustadt there is the bus No. 563 that takes you there.

The Christmas Market

Once you managed to make your way to the Christkindlmarkt, you are going to be welcomed by green huts with festive decoration on the left and right.

Everything that your festive heart loves can be bought here: there are various huts which over Christmas decoration, from woodcraft and a whole decorated Christmas tree made of glass.

Naturally, it wouldn't be a Christkindlmarkt without hot punch. There are a few places that offer you non-alcoholic punch for children and also for adults - marked by a Ferrari icon. The punch is relative cheap, costing only 1,50€

In case you fancy something to eat with your beverage there a huts that offer chestnuts and tasty lángos. Should you be craving something sweet you can get Palatschinken - which is similar to crepes - at Bauer's Palatschinken. One of my favourites was Brauchtumsgebäck with its gigantic Krapfen! There are many more food specialties such as Baumkuchen and, due to the closeness of the boarder, also Hungarian specialties.

From the food side to the knick-knacks for the Christmas time: If you are looking for small decoration to cheer up your place, you won't go home with empty hands. There is a whole hut which specialists in woodwork and you are able to buy a wooden nativity scene on the spot. If Christianity doesn't quite float your boat - there is Murano Glas, they offer you a broad selection of angles, Christmas trees and various figures made out of glass but also rings, necklaces and other jewelry.

For the little ones and people with young spirits a merry-go-around in the centre of the square keeps you entertained.

Another attraction is the Kissing Point: according to legend, couples who are in love are meeting at this point to kiss. This brings good luck for their relationship. In exchange for a kiss pic, UNIQA is going to donate to a charity organisation.

Furthermore, if you post your kiss-y picture on Facebook and use the hashtag #kissmas you might win a booklet filled with coupons.

Overall, the Christkindlmarkt Eisenstadt provides a Christmas market that isn't cramped and has a calm and yet festive feeling.

As an added bonus if you come by this or the following weekend (07-09th and 14th-16th December) an additional market is available at Schloss Esterházy!

When can I go? 

The market opened on the 23rd of November and the gates are kept open until Christmas. From Monday until Thursday it is open from 11AM until 9PM. On Friday, Saturday and on bank holidays from 10AM until 10PM. On Sundays only from 1PM until 9PM, while on the 24th it is only open from 10AM until 2PM.

Go and check out the other Christmas markets: 

WIEN

• Adventmarkt in den Blumengärten Hirschstetten: www.olivasly.com
• Türkenschanzpark: www.yellowgirl.at 
• Wintermarkt Prater: https://maryjay.at/ 

NIEDERÖSTERREICH

• Badner Adventmeile: www.travel.chamy.at 

OBERÖSTERREICH

• Linzer Volksgarten Adventsmarkt: http://www.curvylifestories.com/

BURGENLAND

• Christkindlmarkt Eisenstadt: https://www.floralcars.com/ 

SALZBURG

• Salzburger Bergadvent Großarltal, Licht-Advent St. Johann, Adventmarkt St. Martin: https://zwoadahoam.com/ 
• Salzburg Stadt Adventmärkte: http://piecesofmara.com/ 

STEIERMARK 

• Meine liebsten Adventmärkte in Graz: https://provinzkindchen.com