{"id":2933,"date":"2016-04-01T10:07:36","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T09:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=2933"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:28:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:28:54","slug":"freyung-ostermarkt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/eastermarkets\/freyung-ostermarkt\/","title":{"rendered":"Altwiener Ostermarkt on the Freyung"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/frey1.jpg\" alt=\"Egg-shaped candles on the Freyung\" class=\"wp-image-3034\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/frey1.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/frey1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Like all Easter markets, the one on the Freyung has a challenge to compete with the Christmas market on the same spot, but it does have one major advantage&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Great for finding decorated eggs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Typically adjoins a small organic food market<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Close to the Am Hof Easter market<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expect about 45 stands<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2026 dates: Mar 20 &#8211; April 6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Easter\" rel=\"sponsored\">concert experience<\/a>* for your Vienna trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/april\">Vienna in April<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/march\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"12552\">March<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/easter-markets\/\">Easter markets<\/a> overview<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/activities\/easter-in-vienna\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2731\">Easter in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/where-to-stay\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1647\">Find a hotel for Easter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-freyung-easter-market\">The Freyung Easter market<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/freyungeastermarket.jpg\" alt=\"Altwiener Ostermarkt and Schottenkirche\" class=\"wp-image-58612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/freyungeastermarket.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/freyungeastermarket-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The &#8220;Altwiener Ostermarkt&#8221;)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I say the Freyung market has eggs, I mean more eggs than an omelette factory that&#8217;s just opened new production facilities. Eggs in a myriad of colours and designs, ready to hang on your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/easter-traditions\/\">Easter tree<\/a> (an Austrian tradition).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <em>Ostereistand<\/em> normally dominates the centre of the square, offering box after box of painted eggshells and egg-shaped decorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a few moments to browse the displays and appreciate the variety of motifs. I was impressed by the sheet-music themed eggs I spotted one year. They seemed particularly appropriate for a city like Vienna, given the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/classical-concert\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5359\">concert &amp; music heritage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/freyungeaster2025.jpg\" alt=\"Decorated Easter eggs at a market\" class=\"wp-image-81989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/freyungeaster2025.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/freyungeaster2025-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Find plenty of decorated eggs at the stall that usually occupies the market&#8217;s centre)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The egg-filled centrepiece typically has a giant painted egg at one end: a gift from the Croatian county of Koprivnica-Kri\u017eevci. This certainly emphasises the market&#8217;s genuine Easter feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On my 2025 visit, other market booths featured arts and crafts that included the usual ceramics, glassware, jewellery, clothes, soaps, Easter decorations made from a variety of materials, and other items. One or two places sold specialty chocolates, cheeses, sauces, and similar.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/freyungeaster2025a.jpg\" alt=\"Giant decorated Easter egg in front of historical buildings\" class=\"wp-image-81992\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/freyungeaster2025a.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/freyungeaster2025a-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Seasonal joy and historical ambience)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And no seasonal market in Vienna is complete without its food and drink, of course. I spotted such traditional fare as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/langos\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"59\">Langos<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/lebkuchen-gingerbread\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"798\">Lebkuchen<\/a>, pretzels, Baumkuchen (spit cakes), various pastries and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/kaiserschmarren\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6137\">Kaiserschmarren<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some less traditional food &amp; drink also made an appearance: arancini, macaroons and even a sparkling wine bar to help toast the season.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/craftstallsfreyung.jpg\" alt=\"Craft stalls at the Freyung\" class=\"wp-image-41988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/craftstallsfreyung.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/craftstallsfreyung-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Craft stalls in the lee of the neighbouring Schottenkirche church)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to also cross the road to the small organic farmers&#8217; market that commonly adjoins the Easter event. Youthful acolytes and wizened old mountain folk (not really, but I wanted to get the word wizened in an article) serve up, for example, hams, cheeses, sausages and salami.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Austria has a strong small-scale traditional agricultural sector. The Ostermarkt and farmers&#8217; market provide an excellent opportunity to try some of the best the country&#8217;s pastures, meadows, fields and orchards have to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-content-type=\"product\" data-content-ids=\"1008299,1029872\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_Easter\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Not forgetting the vineyards, either: try a glass of Austrian wine, which always seems to dominate proceedings at both markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ll admit to being particularly partial to the sharp Bergk\u00e4se alpine cheese they often sell on the Freyung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when I say sharp, I mean eye-poppingly so: the kind of cheese that leaves a visceral lasting memory. My last purchase had apparently matured for a year in a mountain cave (I kid you not).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musicaleggsfreyung.jpg\" alt=\"&quot;Musical&quot; Easter egg decorations\" class=\"wp-image-41989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musicaleggsfreyung.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/musicaleggsfreyung-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Appropriately musical eggs for a city like Vienna)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/freyung-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29646\">Freyung square<\/a> actually represents one of the oldest parts of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One wall marking the upper boundary of the market, for example, is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/schottenkirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27651\">Schottenkirche<\/a>. They consecrated this church in 1200, many centuries before chocolate reached the shores of Europe and not long after the first chickens did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next square down also hosts another major Easter market: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/eastermarkets\/am-hof-ostermarkt\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2937\">Ostermarkt Am Hof<\/a> tends to open across the same time period. And one of my favourite coffee houses is just up the road: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/cafe-diglas-schottenstift\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"54085\">Caf\u00e9 Diglas im Schottenstift<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"opening-times-2022\">2026 dates &amp; times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2026 market runs from March 20th to April 6th. Daily opening times are 10am to 8pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In past years, a small stage has hosted kids entertainment most workday mornings and live music most afternoons and weekends. Though you can always take in the market by day and enjoy an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/classical-concert\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5359\">evening concert<\/a> at one of Vienna&#8217;s many nearby historical venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-get-to-the-freyung-easter-market\">How to get to the Freyung<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/freyungfrombelow.jpg\" alt=\"The Freyung from below\" class=\"wp-image-47716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/freyungfrombelow.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/freyungfrombelow-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The host square with the Schottenstift church at the back)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The market is very central, about a five-minute walk from a sizeable station (Schottentor), and not far from the cathedral and main tourist trail. So you might <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/walking-tour-city-centre\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50618\">come across it<\/a> on your travels anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: take the U2 to Schottentor (go south down Schottengasse) or the U3 to Herrengasse (go north up Herrengasse).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tram: the lines 1, D, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 71 all stop at Schottentor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bus: take the 1A bus to Teinfaltstrasse (the stop is practically in the middle of the market).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Altwiener Ostermarkt, Freyung, 1010 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/altwiener-markt.at\/de\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1HJ0F61P1aOkYuFwwoyEtRi5dh3w\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like all Easter markets, the one on the Freyung has a challenge to compete with the Christmas market on the same spot, but it does have one major advantage&#8230; Eggs. The Freyung Easter market (The &#8220;Altwiener Ostermarkt&#8221;) When I say the Freyung market has eggs, I mean more eggs than an omelette factory that&#8217;s just [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3034,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2933","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eastermarkets","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2933"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2933\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88774,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2933\/revisions\/88774"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}