Best Salzburg Christmas Markets [2026]: Dates, Map & Festive Top Tips

There's a pretty Christmas tree, and the wooden market huts are decorated with fir branches and fairy lights. Surrounding the square, you will find numerous restaurants serving authentic Austrian cuisine, housed in the historic Sternbräu building.

Take the funicular up to the fortress for a return fare of 12 euros (or, if you are feeling energetic, take it up and walk back down the mountain to the town, or vice versa). The funicular entrance is beside St. Peter's Church.

Once at the fortress, you can walk around the ramparts and enjoy incredible mountain scenery on one side and views of the old town, including the Cathedral, on the other. Visit at sunset, and you may witness the sky over the mountains change from vivid orange to pink.

While at the fortress, pop into the free puppet museum; it's small but cute. Also, get a flammbuken (flatbread with toppings of bacon and cheese), from the medieval kitchen - with its wooden beams and open fire, it's the place to be on a cold day.

It features a giant Christmas tree wrapped in fairy lights at the entrance, and the market stalls sell Christmas baubles, wooden nativity scenes, and Lebkuchen (gingerbread) hearts with iced wording such as "Happy Christmas" and "I Love You". These are more decorative than they are delicious. For that, plenty of other stalls sell sweets and pastries.

You must pay to enter the Hellbrunn Advent market. The entrance fee is 8 euros and includes a ticket redeemable for a glass of Glühwein or a beer once inside.

The market area is full of Christmas trees covered with shiny red baubles, plus Christmassy characters and twinkling fairy lights. I noticed the stalls seemed to sell a few different gifts, similar to other markets I had already been to in the old town.

A ceramic bird on a metal rod, perfect for my garden back home, caught my eye, and I had to have it. Stalls also sold beautifully crafted, engraved knives; knitted jumpers and jackets; and glass ornaments.

Food and Drink at Hellbrunn Winter Market

Numerous food stalls sold traditional Austrian winter dishes. We settled on Bosna: two grilled bratwurst sausages in a baguette with diced raw onions, parsley, mustard, and a dusting of curry powder.

A Bulgarian immigrant introduced this Austrian snack to Salzburg, and outlets across the city serve it. However, you can find the original Bosna off Getreidegasse in a small covered alleyway.

We then tried Kasnocken, a pasta dish topped with melted cheese and crispy fried onions. It's much like mac'n'cheese.

You will see lots of nativity scenes at the Salzburg Christmas Markets.

Unfortunately, it rained heavily during our visit, so we took refuge under one of the covered stalls. We stayed there for a while, enjoyed our snacks and drinks and listened to an Austrian band play festive tunes.

Children’s World of Christmas at Hellbrunn Palace

Through the main Christmas market area is the Children’s World of Christmas, where children can enjoy the playground and see cute rabbits, ducks, and miniature pigs at the small farmyard. The fun continues in the craft workshop, where children can draw seasonal pictures, make festive crafts, write and send a letter to the North Pole, and grill sausages on the open campfire with their parents.

Once again, there is also a staged Krampus scene showing monsters climbing out of the lake and riding horseback. I watched the faces of small children as their parents pointed these creatures out to see the reaction - nothing. These Austrian children are fearless!

The Advent market featured 20 wooden cabins selling local crafts, candles, baubles, and traditional Austrian food. A central covered area with tables provides a space for people to socialise over drinks and Austrian festive fare. In the centre, an open fire invites visitors to warm themselves beside it while two donkeys in an outdoor stable setting watch on, oblivious to the Christmas happenings.

We spoke with one of the vendors, who said all proceeds from market sales go to a local charity that supports people with special needs and their families as they cope with everyday challenges.

We bought a hot chocolate with cream, a Glühwein and a Brandteigringe, a choux pastry filled with vanilla custard cream. It was so enchanting to have the mountains and the early Baroque church spire as a backdrop while enjoying our goodies.

For us, giving to others really is in the spirit of Christmas, and for that reason, this market, along with Hellbrunn Palace, is one of my favourites.

Don't miss St Leonhard's church, and perhaps light a candle to remember a loved one. It's only tiny but lovely.

The Christmas markets in Salzburg didn't offer the variety of gifts and foods I have experienced in other European markets, such as Vienna and Berlin, simply because Salzburg is so much smaller, but that's part of its charm.

What else can you do besides the Christmas markets in Salzburg?

There are many things to do in Salzburg besides visiting the Christmas markets. These include taking the funicular to Hohensalzburg Fortress for the view, having afternoon tea and cake at Cafe Tomaselli, exploring St Peter's Complex, visiting the Salzburg Christmas Museum, and attending a classical organ concert at Salzburg Cathedral.

Read More: The Best Salzburg Attractions In Winter Beyond The Christmas Markets.

What is the Krampus Parade?

On the first weekend of Advent, you can experience the traditional Krampus Parade: it's one of the popular things to do in Salzburg at Christmas.

The Krampus is an ancient Alpine figure and the dark companion of St. Nicholas. Dressed in shaggy fur, a demonic monster mask, and rattling cowbells, he creates a thrilling, if somewhat terrifying, atmosphere. These impressive processions are a centuries-old tradition and remain a fascinating part of the Christmas season in parts of Germany, Austria and Slovakia.

While St Nicholas hands out sweets to children and adults, the Krampus pick out the 'naughty people' and give them a whacking on their legs to warn them to behave, or there will be no presents on Christmas Day.

Are the winter markets in Salzburg free to enter?

Apart from the Christmas market at Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg's Christmas markets are free to enter. At Hellbrunn Palace, admission is €8 per person and includes a festive hot drink. We chose a Glühwein, which was delicious.

Do you need cash?

Yes, you will need cash at the Salzburg Christmas Markets and plenty of it. Most stalls have signs reading 'cash only.' Unlike other winter markets I have visited in countries such as Poland and Slovakia, where food and gifts are reasonably priced, Austria is considerably more expensive, so bring enough money.

Are the Salzburg Christmas markets close to each other?

Yes, most of Salzburg's winter markets are close together. A couple are further afield: Hellbrunn Palace and St Leonards, but you can reach them by public transport (Bus 25) or Uber.

What dates do Salzburg's festive markets open?

Salzburg's Advent markets open at the end of November and generally run until the end of December.

What time do the markets open and close?

Daily opening times for the Christmas markets in Salzburg vary. I have listed them in the information tables above.

Which are the best Christmas markets to visit in Salzburg?

I visited all the Advent markets listed in this blog post, and my favourites were Hellbrunn Palace and St Leonhard's. They felt more festive and were less crowded.

Hellbrunn Palace had some lovely hand-crafted pieces that I didn't see at the other markets. St Leonhard's was tiny but magical, with an ancient church and majestic mountains dusted with snow as its backdrop. All money raised from sales also went to charity, which was a big plus for me.

What is the best time to visit the Advent markets in Salzburg?

If you can visit the festive markets during the week rather than at weekends, you will likely have a calmer experience and be able to get closer to the stalls to see what is being sold.

I deliberately arrived in Salzburg on the first weekend of December to experience the Krampus Parade; however, hundreds of other Austrians had the same idea, so it was overly busy. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of large crowds, so even though I enjoyed the parade, the weekend was hectic, and the markets were overly busy.

I was still in Salzburg on Monday and could feel a calmer vibe in the old town. So, unless you really have to travel to Salzburg at the weekend, don't.

In winter, the sunsets in Salzburg are around 4.30 pm, so when you visit the markets from then onwards, they are illuminated with hundreds of fairy lights, which enhance the Christmassy atmosphere.

It is still lively at dusk, but many locals are still at work, so it is a nicer experience than later in the evening.

Can I keep my Glühwein mug?

You can keep the Salzburg souvenir mugs if you pay for them. When you purchase your Glühwein (or a similar Christmas drink), you will be charged for the drink plus a glass/mug deposit of €5 to €10.

If you don’t want to keep your glass/mug as a souvenir, return it to the Glühwein market stall where you purchased it, and they will refund your deposit.

How cold is Salzburg in December?

I visited Salzburg in the first week of December, and daytime temperatures were 6 °C, with a mix of sun, clouds, and rain. I was hoping to see snow, but no such luck, even though we could see a dusting on the distant mountains. Temperatures drop in the evening, so dress warmly when visiting the markets: don't forget your hat, gloves, and scarf!

How many days do I need in Salzburg?

I recommend 3-4 days to allow time to visit the Christmas markets mentioned in this post. You will then have time to see some of Salzburg's other attractions, such as Mozart's birthplace, and take a half-day trip to Hallstatt.

Where is the best shopping street in Salzburg?

Many high-end stores line Getreidegasse Street. They sell gifts and food worth checking out if you are in Salzburg shopping for non-market stall Christmas presents.

How do I get to Salzburg?

My easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Salzburg took 90 minutes. You can also take a train to Salzburg from other cities, including Munich, Vienna, and Budapest.

How do I get from Salzburg Airport to the town centre?

From Salzburg Airport, you can take the bus or a taxi to Salzburg Central.

The bus takes 25 minutes and a taxi 13 minutes. Bus 2 or 10 runs frequently to the Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) and is cheaper than a taxi (€3 single); however, if you have suitcases, as we did, you will probably want the convenience of a cab.

We used Welcome Pickups from the airport to our hotel.

How do I travel around Salzburg?

Salzburg is a walkable city, so you won't need public transport unless you plan to visit the Christmas market at Hellbrunn Palace or the St. Leonard's Advent market. You can reach both locations on the same bus, route 25, which runs frequently.

I saw many people taking Salzburg horse-drawn carriage rides around the city. I don't support using animals in tourist experiences, so consider animal welfare before booking any of these tours.

Where is the best place to stay in Salzburg?

Salzburg hotels are expensive at Christmas because the festive markets attract local and international visitors. Be prepared for high prices if you want a nice place to stay.

I stayed for four nights at the 4-star IMLAUER HOTEL PITTER. I chose it for its proximity to many of Salzburg's famous landmarks.

It is close to the Mirabellplatz festive market and a pleasant 20-minute walk to the old town along the river.

The hotel is also a 9-minute walk from Salzburg HBF, where, after checking out of Imlauer Hotel Pitter, I took a 90-minute train journey to the Munich Christmas Markets, where I stayed for 2 days.

My premium double room was comfortable. The rooftop restaurant was excellent, with panoramic views of Hohensalzburg Fortress and Salzburg Cathedral. Finishing off our trip with rooftop cocktails at sunset was the perfect ending to our visit to this fairytale town.

Are there any day trips from Salzburg at Christmas?

If you want to head further afield, you can book a half-day trip to the fairytale town of Hallstatt. Please confirm that all attractions in Hallstatt are open before your visit; otherwise, you may be disappointed upon arrival.

You can do a Sound of Music Tour from Salzburg that includes filming locations.

You can easily take a day trip from Salzburg to the Munich Christmas markets by train. The journey takes 90 minutes, and many of Munich's Christmas markets are close to the central HBF train station. You can buy tickets at the station machines or online from companies such as OMIO.

Which is better to visit at Christmas, Vienna or Salzburg?

One of the popular questions asked is which of the Christmas markets in Austria is the best - Vienna or Salzburg?

In my opinion, if you want a Christmas market experience that is absolutely magnificent, over-the-top and a spectacle of everything imaginably festive, then you need to go to Vienna. I would rank it among the best Christmas markets I have visited in Europe.

If you are looking for a low-key festive experience, with everything close by, smaller markets, and a fairy-tale setting surrounded by the Austrian Alps, I would recommend booking a Christmas market trip to Salzburg. Other smaller European Christmas markets include Gdansk and Bratislava.

Staying longer? Discover more things to do in Salzburg in winter.