Best Salzburg Christmas Market Guide
Updated September 11, 2025
© Tourism Salzburg
The Christmas Markets in Salzburg are magical. Stroll through the UNESCO-listed Old Town where you will find Christmas Markets amongst the backdrop of medieval and baroque buildings, gardens and hilltop castles.
When you think of the perfect Christmas scene- you imagine Salzburg.
Four of the Christmas Markets are within walking distance of the Old Town, and the Hellbrunn Christmas Market is 7 km ( 4.4 mi) away.
**IMPORTANT: The dates of the Salzburg Christmas Markets are provided to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.
It is essential to check each Christmas Market’s website for its opening dates and times.***
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Hi, I’m Tammy — founder of Wanderlustria and the Austria Travel Planning Facebook Group.
I live in the Austrian Alps, just south of Salzburg, and each year I make multiple visits to the city’s enchanting Christmas markets. Over the years, I’ve explored every corner of Salzburg during the festive season, from the bustling Dom–Residenzplatz Christkindlmarkt to the magical Hellbrunn Adventzauber, which remain my personal favourites.
I hope these insider tips help you to experience Salzburg’s Christmas magic like a local.
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The Best Salzburg Christmas Markets
Here are Wanderlustria’s Top 5 Salzburg Christmas Markets that you should visit.
Dom and Residenzplatz Christkindlmarkt
The Dom and Residentzplatz Christmas Market takes place in the centre of Salzburg’s Old Town.
The origins of Salzburg’s most famous Christmas Market date back to the 15th century- making it one of the oldest Christmas Markets in the world. At that time, a ‘Tandlmarkt’ was held in the square in front of the Cathedral. It was not necessarily a Christmas Market but sold goods and foods needed during winter. By the 17th century, an Advent Market called ‘Nikolaimarkt’ existed.
The Dom and Residentzplatz Christmas Market that we visit today dates back to 1974, and in 2024, it will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The Christmas market stretches from Residenzplatz through the Cathedral arches to the Domplatz. The nearby Mozartplatz has a skating rink.
The Dom and Residenzplatz Christkindlmarkt has over 100 traditional huts selling everything you need for your Christmas list, from decorations and gifts to food and drinks. The Christmas Market specialises in artisan handiworks, including blown glass, wooden gifts (including handmade wooden nativity scenes), clothing, shoes, hats, jewellery and art.
Enjoy a hot mug of Glühwein (mulled wine), hot Chocolate, or Punch. A great souvenir is the collectable Salzburg Christmas Mug. You pay a deposit of 5€ on top of the price of the drink. Return the mug and get the 5€ deposit back or keep the mug as a souvenir.
Events:
- Choir sing-along – every Tuesday from 6 – 8 p.m.
- Traditional wind music – every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and every Thursday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
- Traditional Krampus Run- December 5 starting at 17:30 (5:30 pm)
- Perchten Run – Saturday December 21, starting at 11:30
*please check the official website for event times
Market openings:
November 20, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Normal Hours
- Monday-Thursday 10 am-8:30 pm
- Friday 10 am-9pm
- Saturday 9 am-9 pm
- Sunday & Holidays 9 am-8:30 pm
Special opening hours
- December 24: 9 am–3 pm
- December 25 & 26: 11 am–6 pm
- December 27-30: 10 am-8:30 pm
- December 31: 10 am-1 am
- January 1: 10 am- 6 pm
Hohensalzburg Christkindlmarkt
Image © Salzburg Burgen und Schlösser
Highlights
- Christmas Market with a view of the Old Town below
- Unique gifts
- Children’s program
- Fresh tarte flambée from the historic Fortress bakery, baked according to modern recipes in centuries-old wood burning ovens.
WHEN:
November 21, 2025, to December 21, 2025 ONLY Friday, Saturday and Sundays
11 am to 19:00 (7 pm)
Our Recommendations | Our Favourite Salzburg Tours & Activities
♥ Festung Hohensalzburg Pre-book your tickets to visit the 900-year-old Salzburg Fortress- perched upon Festungberg Hill. The medieval fortress is one of the largest and best preserved in Europe.
♥ Sound of Music Tours Find where the ‘Hills are alive with the Sound of Music’ on the Panorama Bus Tour (Read our Bus Tour Review).
♥ Concerts Enjoy classical music, operas, performances- and of course Mozart in breathtaking venues such as Mirabell Palace and Salzburg Fortress.
♥ Cooking Classes and Food Tours Learn to cook Austrian Classics such as Schnitzel and Apple Strudel, Food tours and Wine or Beer Tastings
Stern Advent and Winter Market
The Stern Advent Market is hidden in the courtyard of the Sternbräu between Getriedegasse and Griesgasse.
The large courtyard has wooden huts reminiscent of a small village of chalets.
Top Tip
The Sternbräu is a renowned brewery in Salzburg, offering a perfect setting for dining and enjoying a drink.
The brewery’s guild sign with a star (Stern) date to 1425 and the Sternbräu brewery with restaurant was first mentioned in 1542.
Mozart, Angela Merkel (German Chanceller) , Anthony Hopkins, and David Hasselhof are some of the VIPs that have dined at the Sternbräu.
WHEN:
21 November 2024 till 6 January 2025
- Sunday to Thursday: 11.00 am – 7.00 pm,
- Friday & Saturday: 11.00 am – 8.30 pm
Special opening hours
- December 24 & 31: 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
- January 1-6: daily 11.00 am – 18.00 pm
Mirabellplatz Christkindlmarkt
Image © Weihnachtmarkt-Salzburg
This is the traditional Advent market that the locals favour.
It is located across from St Andrew’s church on the other side of the Salzach River from the Old Town.
The Mirabellplatz Christmas Market has ~20 huts and sells mainly food and drink.
It is an approximately 15-minute walk from the Dom and Residenzplatz Christmas Market. The bus stop and the Mirabellplatz parking garage are opposite the Christmas Market.
Highlights
- Quite- not as many people
- Not touristy- favoured by the locals
- Austrian Food – drinks. One favourite is the Brezen (Pretzels)
WHEN:
November 20, 2025, to December 31, 2025
- Sunday-Thursday 10 am-8 pm
- Friday-Saturday, public holidays 10 am-9 pm
Special opening hours
- December 24: 10 am-3 pm
- December 25 and 26: 11 am -6 pm
- December 27-30: 10 am-7 pm
- Dec 31: 10:00 am -7 pm (Food stalls may be open longer)
Hellbrunn Adventzauber
The Christmas Market is set against a magical backdrop of Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens. The market is popular with families because of its children’s activities program.
The Christmas Market has a 7€ admission fee, which includes a hot drink. Children under 6 are free.
My first visit was in 2024- and it is one of my favourite Christmas Markets in one of the most magical settings.
Highlights
- Traditional and Artisan crafts
- Traditional Austria Cuisine
- The 24 Palace windows are transformed into a giant Advent Calendar.
- A fairy-take forest with over 700 decorated Christmas Trees
- Children’s World of Christmas with Christmas train, post office, Christmas barbecues at the campfire
- Hellbrunn Christmas Market Mug
How to get to Hellbrunn
By car is via the A1 motorway, exit Salzburg Süd. Car parking is available directly at the palace (3€ for first 2 hrs, 1€ each additional hour, 10€ maximum daily fee)
Public Transport: From Salzburg’s main train station, bus number 25 (stop ‘Schloss Hellbrunn’) will take you directly to Schloss Hellbrunn.
WHEN:
November 20, 2025 to December 24, 2025
CLOSED on MONDAYS
- Tuesday – Friday 1pm – 8pm
- Saturday, Sunday, December 8th 10am – 8pm
Special opening hours - December 23: 1pm – 8pm
- December 24: 10am – 2pm
Our Recommendations | Where we Stay in Salzburg
♥ As one of the hotels we always dreamed of staying at, we loved the famous luxury Hotel Goldener Hirsch, located directly on Getreidegasse.
♥ I enjoy staying at the charming 3-star Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt, located on the Linzer Gasse pedestrian zone- close to everything.
♥ For budget-conscious travellers, I recommend staying at the Gästehaus im Priesterseminar. I recently stayed in the Seminary Guesthouse located less than 5 5-minute walk from Mirabell Palace and Gardens. It offers great value close to all the major sights.
Austria at Christmas
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