Vienna Christmas Market Mugs

Where to get the best Vienna Christmas Market Mugs

So many Vienna Christmas Markets, so many Vienna Christmas Market Mugs.
The Vienna Christmas Market mugs are excellent souvenirs of your visit to the Viennese Christkindlmarkt.  

Every Viennese Christmas Market has a mug and each market has a unique Vienna Christmas Market mug design.  So you can collect many different Christmas Market Mugs.

We will explain where and how to get the best 2024 Vienna Christmas Market Mugs.

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How to Buy a Vienna Christmas Market Mug

Every Vienna Christmas Market has many stalls selling Glühwein and Punch.  This is where you find the Christmas Market Mugs.

You purchase a warm drink (5-8 € depending on the type of drink) and pay a 4-5€ deposit for the mug.
You can return the mug to reclaim your deposit or keep the mug as a souvenir.

The prices listed at the Glühwein Stands is only the drink prices- the mug deposit is on top of the price of the drink.

What is Glühwein  

Glühwein is the popular drink at Christmas time and at ski slopes. You will find it at every Christmas Market in Austria and Germany. Glühwein is mulled red (rot) or white (weiß), infused with spices and citrus.  The wine is heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star aniseed, orange, sugar and sometimes vanilla pods.

What type of drinks can I buy at the Christmas Markets?

In addition to Glühwein, there are several other warm drinks.

Punsch:  Punsch is also a heated alcoholic beverage at the Christmas Markets. It usually combines spirits (such as rum and/or brandy) and fruit. You will find hundreds of different types of punch apple, orange, raspberry, strawberry, wildberry  mango, etc
In the past few years, the french aperitif  Lillet has been popular as a punch.

Non-alcoholic: Each punch stand also serves non-alcoholic punches. Just ask for the Kinderpunsch (Children’s Punch) or alkoholfrei (alcohol free).

Turbo Punsch: It is what it says is Turbo on the alcohol content -a punsch spiked with more rum or another liquor.

Prices:  Prices 

• 3.5-4€  for the nonalcoholic Kinderpunsch
• 5-6€ for Glühwein
• 7-8€ for the more expensive punches.

Remember, the mug deposit is charged in addition to the price of the drink.

In search of the Boot Mugs

The most sought after Vienna Christmas Market Mugs are the boot mugs.  In 2024, the Weihnachtsdorf  (Christmas Village) Markets have the Vienna Christmas Market boot Mug.
You will find them here:

• Weihnachtsdorf Stephansplatz
• Weihnachtsdorf Belvedere Palace
• Weihnachtsdorf Maria-Theresienplatz
• Weihnachtsdorf Altes AKH (Weihnachtsdorf Campus Universität Wien) Alserstraße

Stephansplatz

Other Vienna Christmas Market Mugs

Schönbrunn Palace

There are two different mugs in 2024. either with Sisi (Empress of Austria) or Schönbrunn Palace.

Tips

1. IMPORTANT: Recently there has been a scam, where ‘staff’ come to collect the Christmas mugs. But,  they are thieves who are collecting mugs to get your deposits. Only return mugs back to the kiosks directly, to get the refund. DO NOT give the mug to ‘staff members’ that are circulating through the Markets.

2. Bring Cash (Euros) to the Christmas Markets.

Be prepared to pay with Cash at Christmas Markets

You may also need Euro coins to access public washrooms.

Generally, only VISA and MasterCard are accepted if credit cards are accepted.

**TOP MONEY-SAVING TIPS**

Some markets may have an ATM (in Austria, known as Bankomat) on-site (which tends to have much higher conversion rates). The best method to withdraw cash is to find an ATM associated with a Bank.  

3. Bring a backpack or extra bag

Having a backpack is always essential when visiting Christmas Markets. You will need a place to store all the Christmas Market Mugs, souvenirs and gifts you buy at the Christmas Markets.