Ashley Lauren
The Altes AKH Market in Vienna
- Goes By: Christmas Village Campus University of Vienna & Altes AKH Market
- Location: Campus der Universität Wien (Hof 1), Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Wien, Österreich
- Dates: November 15th- December 23rd, 2024
- Times: Monday- Wednesday 2pm- 10pm, Thursday- Friday 2pm- 11pm, Saturday 11am- 11pm, Sunday 11am- 8pm
- Website: https://www.weihnachtsdorf.at/en_us/
During my hunt for the best Christmas markets in Europe, I stumbled upon one of the four Christmas Village Markets in Vienna, the Altes AKH Market. I ranked this market as #9 out of 15; view the complete ranked list of market locations in Vienna by clicking here.
This was the first market my family and I experienced while in Vienna, and it was delightful because of its slow pace and more intimate feel. We went shortly after opening at 2 pm on a Wednesday and were among the 4-6 other groups. The cold air at the end of November was an adjustment coming from Sicily, so, at 45°F and cloudy, we were bundled up with winter jackets, hats, and mitts to stay warm at the Altes AKH Market.
We were immediately drawn to the hot cocoa and mulled wine to start our adventure. The mug deposit is 5€, and you get that back when you return the mug. Most drinks are 5- 7€ in addition to the mug deposit unless you have a mug to use already.
The smell of garlic filled the air at the Altes AKH Market because someone nearby had just gotten a Langos. This is a must-try food while visiting the Vienna Christmas Markets! The classic Langos has sour cream, cheese, and garlic butter on top of a fried dough. Some markets offer different variations and toppings, but the real key is the dough.
I found a great booth at the Old Viennese Christmas Market at the Freyung market called The Langos Queen, which makes the best Langos dough I have ever tried.
Unique Finds at Altes AKH Market
The booth that caught my eye the most at the Altes AKH Market is pictured above. Its display of intricate designs cut from the pages of a book was fascinating.
Additionally, there was a build-your-own-family rock portrait stall. You could pick outfits and build a rock family that adheres to your frame. I thought that was pretty unique, and I also saw it later at a few other markets around town. I did find a really cool painted rock that looked like my daughter’s new kitten at this market!
My daughter found a Christmas tree charm bracelet at one of the jewelry booths for 8€.
Most food and beverage booths accept cards, but often, you will run into vendors that don’t accept credit cards or don’t accept them under a specific dollar amount. Ensure you have plenty of Euros before your visit, or you can take cash out from a nearby ATM.
To use the toilet at the Altes AKH Market, you will need 0.50 €, which is typical for most of the Christmas markets in Vienna.
Things To Do At The Christmas Village Campus University Of Vienna
This is one of Vienna’s smaller peaceful markets, making it great for little kids. You won’t find the hustle and bustle at the big markets here. The creators of the Altes AKH Market designed this to be a toddler family kind of market.
The adorable kiddie swing makes them feel like they are finally tall enough to ride on the big kid rides. They can also ride two trains because what toddler doesn’t love the wind blowing through their hair with the sound of a choo choo full steam ahead?
This little Altes AKH Market packs a punch, and it has the bonus of having a curling rink. I had no idea how to play this game, but it looked fun, and I was surprised to see all of these extra experiences offered.
Pro Tip – all Christmas markets are more magical at night time.
Nearby Gems To The Altes AKH Market
- 15 min. walk to Wiener Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz shown in the photo 👉
- 17 min. walk to Gartenpalais Liechtenstein Christmas Market
- 12 min. walk to the Votive Church
Where To Stay Near The University Of Vienna Market
- 5 min. walk to Levante Rathaus Apartments
We stayed at Levante Rathaus Apartments with our family of four because it offered one bedroom and a pull-out couch, a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and dishwasher, and one TV in the living room. I wish there was another TV in the bedroom, but that’s not an easy feature to find. The Wi-Fi was great, and we asked for four more pillows, and that was like heaven.
We noticed that they had a shampoo/conditioner and a lotion container in the shower. We weren’t sure if it was a Vienna thing to put lotion on in the shower, but our whole family scratched our heads at that. It was warm and cozy inside, and we slept with the windows open, a cool breeze coming through. It’s on a quiet street, so nightlife noise isn’t a problem. It was a 5-8-minute walk to the two closest public transportation stations we commonly used.
Overall, it was a great place, and they provided free coffee. They also let us check in early, so we didn’t have to leave our luggage and could rest right after arrival. We were happy with our stay.
Navigating Public Transportation In Vienna
To get around quickly in Vienna, we bought the Vienna Easy City Pass for unlimited use for 72 hours. It was only 27€, including one adult and one child under the age of 15, so it’s perfect for a family. It allows you to add the app with the ticket to your phone to authorize you to travel comfortably from one sight to another using the underground and S-Bahn trains, buses, streetcars, and regional trains. It also came with discounts that we used for tickets for a Mozart concert.
My husband and I never really understood how Vienna tracked whether or not we had a bus pass. It seemed like meters were never turned on, and people just walked on the buses, trams, and underground without scanning the aforementioned tickets we purchased. 🤔
It wasn’t until our third day visiting Vienna that there was a sudden sting operation on the bus when the doors closed. Two guys with badges introduced themselves as the transportation authority, and they were checking everyone’s tickets. So, we were thankful that we had them on hand because a person couldn’t find their ticket, and I don’t know what else happened after they all got off at the next stop.
I know a fine of 105€ if you are caught without a ticket, though. So, save yourself the embarrassment and get the City Pass!
Restaurants Near The Christmas Village AKH
- 3 min. walk to Edison
If the market snacks aren’t giving you the energy to explore Vienna’s Christmas markets, walk over to Edison, a delicious little breakfast restaurant. We booked on an app called The Fork and got 30% off. I would have eaten here for breakfast daily if I could, and the kids loved it, too. My kids are teenagers, but I do have picky eaters. My daughter got two orders of the classic pancakes because they were small. My eggs Benedict was like none I had before, and I am a Benedict snob. Even the side salad was excellent. Just let the pictures speak for themselves. Delicious, Edison’s got some bright ideas for their menu!
You Might Also Like These Other Vienna Christmas Market Posts
- Explore 15 Charming Markets: Christmas In Vienna The Right Way (With Helpful Map)
- 5 Reasons Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz Will Triple Your Heart Size This Christmas
- Why Karlsplatz Christmas Market Is the Chillest Spot in Vienna
- From Langos to Love: My Best Moments at the Freyung Market
- Christmas Market at the Farm: How a Simple Rock Turned Into My Favorite Find
- Stephansplatz Christmas Market: Vienna’s Glittering Gem in the Holiday Season
