Vienna E-pass
Updated
Vienna’s flying Christmas heart returns to Rathausplatz on 13 November 2026.
After dusk at the City Hall Christmas Market, a giant red heart travels above the stalls towards a tree hung with about 200 smaller hearts. Watch from the university side of Rathauspark, where you can see the flight and the tree lighting up in the same view.
- Market season
- 13 November–26 December 2026
- Flying heart
- Every half hour from dusk to 21:00 on regular market evenings
- Where to watch
- North Rathauspark, by the Tree of Hearts and Bussiplatz
When to See the Flying Heart at Rathausplatz in 2026
Vienna switched on the Herzerlbaum, or Tree of Hearts, on 10 November. The city scheduled the season’s first flight of the big heart for the opening ceremony on Friday, 13 November, around 17:30. The market opens that morning at 10:00. If you’re going for opening night, arrive with time to find the tree before the ceremony. Vienna’s opening announcement
The flight is called the Herzerlflug. The large heart starts on a 13-metre tower and travels about 75 metres along a cable towards the park, lighting up the tree as it goes. The organizer lists a flight every half hour from dusk until 21:00 on regular evenings. Dusk changes over the season, so give yourself time for a short walk around the park before the display.
Where to stand for the flight and the photo
From the illuminated market arch on Universitätsring, face City Hall and turn right into the park. Find the Tree of Hearts near Bussiplatz, the designated photo spot with a heart-shaped frame. For the flight, stand back on an open park path where you can see the tree and the sky above the stalls together. Look back towards the square for the launch tower.
If you’re filming, start with the upper branches in frame and leave room for the heart to travel in from the side. After the flight, move to Bussiplatz for a closer photo with the illuminated tree behind you. This gives you time for both views without having to move during the show.
Rathausplatz Christmas Market and Ice Skating Dates
- City Hall Christmas Market
- 13 November–26 December 2026
Daily 10:00–22:00. On 24 December, 10:00–18:30.
- Christmas ice trail
- 13 November 2026–6 January 2027
Daily 10:00–22:00. On 24 December, 10:00–18:30. Closed 31 December.
- Winter Vienna Ice Dream
- 22 January–7 March 2027
Daily 10:00–22:00.
After the stalls close on 26 December, the ice trail continues into January with a break on New Year’s Eve. If you’re coming on Christmas Eve, make this an afternoon visit and check the flight timing on the day because the market closes early. Official opening hours and site map
See the 31-metre Christmas tree in front of City Hall
Continue straight from the arch through the stalls to the large spruce in front of City Hall. The 2026 tree came from Damüls in Vorarlberg and is over 200 years old. It continues a tradition dating to 1959 in which a different region supplies Vienna’s tree on a rotating basis. From the outer rows of stalls, you can frame the spruce with the City Hall tower behind it.
The Rathausplatz Christmas Market entrance arch in a previous season.
Save a browse through the ornament and craft stalls for after the flight if the heart is your main reason for coming. If you arrive in daylight, go straight to the spruce for the broad view of the square, then follow the paths into the park as the lights come on.
Skate the paths through the south park
The Christmas rink has ice paths through the trees in the south half of Rathauspark. You can buy a skating ticket online or at the venue and hire skates on site. Keep time for changing shoes before you cross back to the north park for the heart. If some of your group are staying on foot, agree to meet under the main spruce afterwards.
Children have a dedicated free skating area. Ask at the ticket office about rentals for a child who’s just starting. If you want to watch, the park paths give you a view of skaters as they pass between the trees, with City Hall above the park.
What’s New for Families at Rathausplatz in 2026
The city has redesigned the Christmas World in the north park with 17 oversized stations along a walkable route. Pick up a quiz sheet and pencil from the official souvenir stand near the Tree of Hearts. Children can look for the answers as they walk between displays, then finish back at the tree in time for the flight.
Along the same side of the park, follow the nativity trail to see hand-made scenes set around recognisable Vienna buildings and streets. The stations have information in German and English, with Braille and a digital reading option. There’s also a Braille quiz sheet at the market information hut.
For a visit from 27 November to 20 December, you can start inside City Hall at the International Advent Singing. The city lists choirs in the Festival Hall on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 15:30 to 19:00. Hear a few songs before heading out to the park for the heart.
Choose How to Spend Your Evening
See the flying heart and take photos
Arrive from the Ring and go straight from the arch to the right-hand park path. Locate the tree while there’s still light and find a spot that leaves you a view across the square. After the heart arrives, take your photo at Bussiplatz, then loop back through the stalls towards the big spruce. On evenings from 27 November to 23 December, you can also hear the brass players at 19:00 or 20:00 by the nativity near the main tree.
Go skating first, then cross over for the heart
Turn left from the arch and begin with the ice trail. This order gives you time to hire and return skates without interrupting the flight. Cross through the main square to the Tree of Hearts when you’re back in shoes. Finish with a drink or something to eat at the stalls once you’ve seen the display.
Follow the children’s route before dark
Start on the university side at the souvenir stand and pick up the quiz. Let children choose the stations they most want to see, then make your way back towards the heart tree as it gets dark. End the visit there if everyone’s ready to go. Schottentor U2 is on the university side, so you can leave along the Ring without going back through the central stalls.
What to Visit Before Rathausplatz With Vienna E-pass
Choose an indoor stop in the Old Town for the afternoon, then walk to City Hall for the outdoor part of the evening. These two included experiences are on Habsburgergasse. Reserve the one you choose in your Vienna E-pass customer panel and leave time to reach the park before the flight.
Time Travel Vienna
At Habsburgergasse 10A, Time Travel Vienna takes you through the city’s history in vaulted rooms with film, sound and interactive scenes. It works well if you want to spend part of the afternoon indoors before several hours outside. From Habsburgergasse, go via Michaelerplatz and Heldenplatz, then follow the Ring past Parliament to the market.
Sisi’s Amazing Journey
At Habsburgergasse 3, start with a film about Empress Elisabeth and finish with a virtual boat ride through Vienna. It suits an afternoon with room for one short indoor visit before you head towards City Hall. Choose an available time that leaves the dusk hours open.
Plan the sightseeing that comes before the market
Choose an Attraction Pass around the included visits you want to make, or explore a Day Pass for consecutive sightseeing days. Market food, rides and skating are purchased on site or through their operators.
See Vienna E-pass options