Advent begins early this year. Already on Friday, 6 November, the first Christmas markets open in Vienna. For families, that means nearly eight weeks in which children can ride carousels, sample biscuits and shake hands with Father Christmas. We've looked around the states and picked out the destinations that have particularly plenty to offer for the little ones.

Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace, ice skating and craft studio

On 6 November, the Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market opens in the palace courtyard. It runs until 6 January 2027, making it one of the longest in the city. According to the organisers, there are more than 90 stalls in the courtyard and admission is free. It's open daily from 10am to 9pm until 23 December. On 24 December, the market closes early, at 4pm according to several websites. The market is loosely spread across the courtyard and thus feels almost like a small village. Tiny huts and tables in child size fit perfectly into this, and adults enjoy them too. For children, there's ice skating, ice stock sport, a carousel and a craft workshop.

The Vienna Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz starts on 13 November and is open daily from 10am to 10pm until 26 December. It has rides, and the Eistraum ice rink stays open until 6 January 2027. A tip from family travellers: come in the early afternoon while it's not yet so crowded. Also geared towards families are the winter market at Riesenradplatz and the Blumengärten Hirschstetten flower gardens.

Salzburg: Christ Child, child krampus and Hellbrunn

The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt on Cathedral and Residence Square runs from 19 November to 1 January 2027, and admission is free. If you come with children, you should keep an eye on the programme schedule. Children's choirs sing on Fridays at 2pm. On Sunday, 6 December, at 3:30pm, Father Christmas and the child krampus figures appear. This is a good opportunity to experience the krampus for the first time without it becoming too wild. Readings and performances by the Salzburg Christ Child are also planned, as well as tower fanfare playing in the evening.

Things are quieter at the Hellbrunner Adventzauber, which is taking place for the 25th time this year. Family websites recommend it for small children because there's more space, animals and a dedicated children's programme than in the old town. A trip with a view is the Festungsadvent in the courtyard of Hohensalzburg Fortress. It's open from 27 November to 20 December, Friday to Sunday.

Tyrol: The family market on the Inn

Innsbruck has seven Christmas markets, but for families one of the most important is the Christkindlmarkt at Marktplatz right on the Inn. It's open daily from 11am to 9pm from 13 November to 23 December, admission is free. It is deliberately smaller and more cosy than the market under the Golden Roof. There's a nostalgic carousel, puppet theatre and fairy-tale hours. Above it shines the Swarovski crystal tree. At the opening on 13 November, children's attractions are free from 2pm to 5pm. Father Christmas comes on Friday, 5 December, at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm and brings small surprise bags. For a trip up the mountain, the Panorama Christkindlmarkt on the Hungerburg is perfect. The Hungerburgbahn takes eight minutes from the town centre.

Styria: Graz between the bummel train and ice nativity

Advent begins in Graz on 20 November. Most of the around 15 markets are open until 23 or 24 December. Explicitly designed for families is the Kinderadvent in Kleine Neutorgasse. The Christkindlmarkt at Hauptplatz is also considered family-friendly. The Adventbummelzug tram starts at Hauptplatz and makes a loop through the old town; the journey costs €4 for adults and €2 for children. In addition, a decorated historic tram, the Advent-Bim, runs Friday to Sunday in the late afternoon and evening. A children's forest is being created at Schloßbergplatz in cooperation with the Graz children's museum Frida & freD. From 28 November, you can see the ice nativity in the Landhaushof courtyard; it remains open until 6 January. If you'd rather go skating yourself, head to the Grazer Winterwelt in Jahngasse, which opens in mid-November.

Upper Austria: Dwarves and dragons on Pöstlingberg

The Linz Christkindlmarkt at Hauptplatz runs from 21 November to 24 December, with around 80 stalls and weekend stage programme featuring children's choirs. For children, the trip to Pöstlingberg is particularly appealing. The Pöstlingbergbahn is one of Europe's steepest adhesion railways. At the top waits the Grottenbahn with dragons, gingerbread witches and busy dwarves. Admission costs €6.70 for adults and €4 for children aged 2-15 years; the family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) is €18.10. Besides that, there's the Linz Zoo on the mountain. For a family, that's a whole day, not just an afternoon.

Carinthia, Burgenland, Lower Austria, Vorarlberg: Small but fine

  • Carinthia: The Villach Advent opens on 13 November. At Lake Keutschach, the Advent at Neufelder See starts on 20 November, with children's activities and a Christmas letter post office aimed at families.
  • Burgenland: The Eisenstadt Christkindlmarkt runs from 20 November to 24 December. Additionally, from 11 to 13 December there's the Adventmarkt at Schloss Esterházy.
  • Lower Austria: With over 130 markets, it's the state with the densest network. The Adventmarkt at Schlüsselamt in Krems opened as early as 23 October. In St. Pölten there's the Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz.
  • Vorarlberg: In Bregenz the Bregenzer Weihnacht takes place, and in Nenzing the Wünderla Adventmarkt starts on 14 November.

Practical tips for families

  • Admission: Most markets are free to enter. Costs arise for carousels, ice skating or attractions like the Grottenbahn.
  • 24 December: Almost everywhere the markets close early. The main markets in Graz at around 2pm, in Salzburg at 3pm.
  • Visit in calm times: If you come on a weekday or early afternoon, you'll have more space for prams and carousels.
  • Getting there: In Vienna, the U4 goes to Schönbrunn. In Graz, free travel in tariff zone 101 applies on Advent Saturdays.

The dates may still change. For smaller markets, it's worth checking the organisers' website before you travel.

Sources: www.news.at, www.nunu-reist.at, www.visitingvienna.com, www.localout.at, christkindlmarkt.co.at, weihnachtsmarkt-salzburg.at, salzburgjournal.at, www.ad-hoc-news.de