Christmas Eve shopping in Vienna comes with shortened hours for most stores, but there are still options for last-minute gifts and groceries.
Christmas Eve in Vienna is a bustling day for last-minute shoppers. With most shops closing early, you need to plan well if you’re still looking for gifts, groceries, or Christmas dinner supplies. Here’s a guide to what’s open and what to expect on December 24th, 2024.
When do shops close on Christmas Eve?
In Vienna, December 24th is not a public holiday, but it comes with specific rules for shop opening hours. According to the Vienna Opening Hours Ordinance, most retailers must close by 1 pm. Only owner-managed shops without employees are allowed to stay open until 2 pm.
However, some businesses, such as florists and confectioners, can remain open until 6 pm, and Christmas tree sellers are allowed to operate until 8 pm.
For those cutting it close, shops in railway stations, airports, and certain convenience stores offer extended hours, giving you a chance to grab last-minute items.
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Supermarkets and grocery stores
Many major supermarket chains will be open in the morning but close by 1 pm. Here’s a look at what to expect:
- Billa/Billa Plus: Most branches are open from 6:30 am to 1 pm. Exceptions include Praterstern (6 am–1 pm) and Vienna Airport (5:30 am–5 pm). Find specific branch details here.
- Hofer: Open from 7 am to 1 pm. Check Hofer branch hours here.
- Lidl: Most stores open from 7 am to 1 pm, with some exceptions, like the Felberstraße branch (8:30 am–1 pm). Find details here.
- Penny: The shops are open until 1 pm, and more detailed information on individual locations can be found in the store finder.
- Spar, Eurospar, and Interspar: Typically open from 6:30 am to 1 pm, with special hours at locations like AKH and Vienna Central Station. For more information, visit Spar’s store finder.
Drugstores and pharmacies
Drugstore chains like Bipa, dm, and Müller are open until 1 pm. Check specific opening hours for Bipa branches here, dm here, and Müller here. Emergency pharmacies (Nachtapotheken) are available for urgent medical needs and operate on a rotation system as usual.
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Shopping malls
Vienna’s shopping centres follow similar schedules, with most closing by 1 pm. Some highlights include:
- Westfield Donau Zentrum: Open from 9 am to 1 pm, with select restaurants staying open later. Learn more here.
- Wien Mitte – The Mall: Shops open from 9 am to 1 pm, with some stores extending hours to 2 pm. More information is available here.
- Lugner City: Open from 9 am to 1 pm. Visit their website here.
- Millennium City: Open from 9 am to 1 pm. Details can be found here.
Where to find last-minute gifts
For those needing presents, options are limited but not impossible. Bookstores like Thalia at Wien Mitte station are open until 4 pm, offering books, toys, and games. Shops like Press&Books at Vienna Central Station and Westbahnhof stay open until 6 pm, providing items like bestselling books, chocolates, and Christmas socks.
Florists and confectioners
Florists are allowed to stay open until 6 pm so that you can buy fresh flowers for the holiday table. Confectionery shops can also operate until evening, perfect for picking up festive treats.
Christmas tree sellers
If you’ve left your Christmas tree purchase to the very last minute, sellers can operate until 8 pm on December 24th. Be sure to check locations and availability in advance.
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Public transport on Christmas Eve
As is the case every year at Christmas, public transport will continue to run on a Saturday timetable until 6 pm on Christmas Eve. After 6 pm, trams and buses will operate at least every 15 minutes, and the underground will run all night long.
Additionally, cemetery transport will be increased for those visiting loved ones during the holiday. Bus route 38B will run from Nussdorf to the Nussdorf and Heiligenstadt cemeteries every 20 minutes from 8 am to 5 pm. Line 39B will operate every ten minutes from Sieveringer Straße/Karthäuserstraße to the Sieveringer cemetery.
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