A Magical Guide to Salzburg Christmas Markets

If there’s anything that captures the true magic of the festive season in Europe, it’s the Christmas markets of Salzburg. Snow-dusted chalets, twinkling lights and the scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine in the air.

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This Austrian city feels like it’s been plucked straight from the pages of a festive fairytale and I loved every minute we spent there.

From late November, Salzburg Christmas markets fill the city’s squares with wooden chalets, lebkuchen, handmade decorations and the sound of carols drifting through the crisp Alpine air. It really doesn’t get any more Christmassy.

Whether you’re heading there to shop for gifts, indulge in tasty treats like raclette and glühwein, or, like me, fill yourself with festive feels, Salzburg delivers a Christmas market experience that’s equal parts magic and authenticity.

In this guide, I’ll share everything I learned from our visit, from the best Salzburg Christmas markets to visit and what to buy and eat, dates, times and local tips for making the most of your festive break. I hope you have as wonderful time as we did.

Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

The historic Salzburg Christmas market takes place on Domplatz and Residenzplatz Square in the heart of the Altstadt UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic location and the traditional market stalls make Salzburger Christkindlmarkt one of the best Christmas markets in Austria.

The modern Salzburg Christmas Market has been held in the same city centre location for over 50 years, but the market’s origins stretch back to the late 15th century. By the 17th century, the Advent market had been named the Nikolaimarkt or Saint Nicholas’ Market, as it ran for two weeks before and after St. Nicholas’ Day on 6th December.

Nowadays, the modern Salzburg Christkindlmarkt runs from the Thursday before the first Sunday in Advent through to New Year’s Day. It’s one of the largest Salzburg Christmas markets and you’ll find around 100 traditional stalls selling a fabulous selection of handmade gifts and traditional decorations. Foodies will love trying delicious Salzburg and Austrian specialities and stands serving spiced hot punch and Glühwein.

The festive atmosphere is completed by choral sing-alongs, Christmas storytelling sessions for children, traditional Krampus parades, plus visits from the Salzburg Christ Child and angels. It’s a magical event, not to be missed!

Where: Dom and Residenzplatz, 5020 Salzburg

When: Open from 20th November 2025 until 1st January, 2026. Standard opening hours are:

Monday to Thursday – 10am – 8.30pm

Friday – 10am – 9pm

Saturday – 9am – 9pm

Sunday – 9am – 8:30pm

Special opening hours on selected dates:

7th December – 10am – 9:30pm | 24th December – 9am – 3pm | 25-26th December – 11am – 6pm | 31st December – 10am – 6pm | 1st January – 11am – 6pm

Website: Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

Charitable Advent Market at the Alter Markt

The Old Market in Salzburg’s charming old town has been the go-to spot for shoppers since way back in the 13th century. And for the past 25+ years, it’s been home to a really special Advent market that’s all about giving back.

When you visit the Old Market in the heart of the old town during Advent, you’re not just enjoying the festive atmosphere, you’re actually helping a good cause. The advent market here is run by volunteers from local charities and organisations with over 60 different groups helping out.

So, every mulled wine you sip and every little bauble you buy goes toward a good cause. The market is organized by the Lions Club Salzburg Mirabell, and it’s their way of spreading some extra holiday cheer where it’s needed most.

Travelbunny tip: If you’re in Alter Markt pop into Café Tomaselli for a hot drink and pastry. It’s a Salzburg institution which has been trading for over 300 years and a must-do when in Salzburg.

Mirabellplatz Christmas Market

Visiting Salzburg Christkindlmarkt is an amazing experience, but the large crowds can sometimes be a little overwhelming. If you’d prefer to explore a smaller, more intimate Christmas market, the Mirabellplatz Christmas Market opposite St Andrew’s church is the perfect option. It’s located just in front of the Mirabell Palace and near the train station in the heart of Salzburg city centre.

The Christmas Market at Mirabell Square has a warm, festive atmosphere and rustic huts selling unique artisanal gifts and local delicacies. The mouthwatering aroma of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked pastries fills the air, and you’ll notice that a lot of Salzburg residents come to the Mirabellplatz Christmas Market to spend time with family and friends.

Where: Mirabellplatz, opposite St. Andrew’s Church

When: Open from 20th November to 31st December, 2025. Standard opening hours are 10am – 8pm on Sunday-Thursday and 10am – 9pm on Friday and Saturday.

Special opening hours on selected dates:

24th December – 10am – 3pm | 25-26th December – 11am – 6pm | 27-30th December – 10am – 7pm | 31st December – 10am – 7pm

Website: Mirabellplatz Christmas Market

Advent Market at Fortress Hohensalzburg

Hohensalzburg Fortress overlooks the city from its lofty position, and visiting the world-famous fortress is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Salzburg.

During Advent, the fortress’s courtyard is transformed into a romantic Christmas market, accompanied by Christmas tunes from the tower’s trumpeters. It’s the perfect spot to sip a mug of Glühwein (mulled wine) as you gaze over the twinkling lights and rooftops of Salzburg Altstadt.

More than 100 traditional Herrnhuter stars decorate the path leading up to the fortress’s courtyard. Once inside, you’ll discover a diverse selection of market stalls offering local crafts, handmade gifts and traditional Salzburg specialities like Flammkuchen, baked locally in a centuries-old wood oven.

This Christmas market is also an excellent option for families visiting Salzburg, as the Atelier-Hödlmoser offers a programme of children’s activities like cookie baking, Christmas crafts and storytelling sessions.

Where: Festung Hohensalzburg, Mönchsberg 34, 5020 Salzburg

Open 11am to 7pm each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between 21st November and 21st December, 2025. Also open on 8th December, 2025.

Website: Advent Market at Fortress Hohensalzburg

Christmas Wonder World at St Peter’s Stiftskulinarium

St Peter’s Stiftskulinarium is the fabulous restaurant at St Peter’s Abbey. It dates back to 803, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Europe, and every November, the restaurant’s courtyard is transformed into a magical Weihnachtswunderwelt (Christmas Wonder World).

Entering through the Abbey’s historic archways, you’ll find the courtyard decorated with Christmas trees, bows and soft candlelight. Tables are decked out with candles and fir branches, and the Leopoldskron brass ensemble plays Christmas classics like Silent Night, which originated in the greater Salzburg region of Austria.

Weihnachtswunderwelt St. Peter offers a range of local delicacies like sourdough bread with bacon, sweet pastries, and Erdäpfelkas, a spread made from mashed potatoes, finely chopped onion and sour cream. You can accompany your tasty snacks with hot punch, spiced cider or mulled wine.

It all creates a mellow vibe that feels like a different world from the excited hustle and bustle of the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt.

Location: Sankt-Peter-Bezirk 1/4, 5020 Salzburg

Open between 13th November, 2025 and 6th January, 2026. Standard opening hours are 3pm – 10pm on Monday-Wednesday and 1pm – 10pm on Thursday-Sunday. On Christmas Eve, the market opens from 1pm to 5pm.

Website: Christmas Wonder World at St Peter’s Stiftskulinarium

Sternadvent with Winter Market

Tucked away between Getreidegasse and Griesgasse, the Sternbräu is one of the largest and most famous restaurants in Austria. Every November, its courtyard is decorated with twinkling lights and filled with pretty chalets and stalls selling local arts, crafts and other charming gifts.

This picturesque Christmas market is the ideal place to pick up high-quality artisanal gifts, like wooden ornaments, handmade jewellery, and beautiful textiles. If you’re staying in Salzburg into the New Year, this market runs until Twelfth Night on 6th January.

Location: Getreidegasse 34 / Griesgasse 23, 5020 Salzburg

Open between 20th November 2025 and 6th January 2026. Standard opening hours are 11am – 7pm on Sunday-Thursday and 11am – 8:30pm on Friday and Saturday.

The market also opens 10am – 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and 11am – 6pm on dates in January.

Website: Sternadvent with Winter Market

Christmas market St. Jakobam Thurn

St. Jakobam Thurn is a picturesque lakeside village with a 12th-century castle and a small Baroque church where a Christkindlmarkt takes place in the village square every weekend in Advent.

This Advent market stands out for its focus on regional delicacies from local producers and artisan crafts. It’s a great place to pick up some cosy knitwear made from local sheep wool or try delicious local snacks from one of the wooden huts.

This pretty little village is perfect for a relaxing stroll, and children can even enjoy a guided alpaca hike!

Location: Pfarrhofweg 2, 5412 St. Jakob am Thurn

Open 2.00 – 7.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays between 29th November and 21st December 2025.

Website: Christmas market St. Jakobam Thurn

Christmas Market in Hellbrunn Palace

Hellbrunn Palace is a magnificent palace, just a short bus ride south of Salzburg city centre. For over 20 years, the Palace has hosted a Christmas market that makes a great choice if you’re visiting Salzburg with kids.

The Advent market takes place in the Palace’s inner courtyard, where the trees are decorated with Christmas baubles and fairy lights for a magical atmosphere. Each of the Palace’s 24 windows is also decorated to create a giant Advent Calendar, while choirs and folk singers provide the musical entertainment.

The Hellbrunn market features all the usual huts selling local crafts and refreshments, along with traditional Krampus activities and a special range of activities for kids. These include a Christmas train, face-painting and a Christmas post office, where they can write a letter to Santa or the Christkind (Christ child).

Location: Fürstenweg 37, 5020 Salzburg

Open between 20th November and 24th December, 2025. Standard opening hours are 1pm – 8pm on Tuesday-Friday and 10am – 8pm on Saturday-Sunday. The market also opens from 1pm to 8pm on 22nd December and from 10am to 2pm on Christmas Eve.

Website: Christmas Market in Hellbrunn Palace

St. Leonhard Advent Market

Grödig-St. Leonhard lies around 5 miles south of Salzburg at the foot of the Untersberg mountain. Its pilgrimage church has hosted festive Advent markets since 1973, selling gorgeous arts and crafts from across Austria and neighbouring Bavaria and South Tyrol to raise much-needed funds for local charities.

Browsing through the rustic huts of the St. Leonhard Advent Market, you’ll find handmade candles, glass Christmas decorations, carved wooden Nativity figures and much more. Festive tunes from local musicians add to the cheery Christmas atmosphere.

The St. Leonhard Advent Market is located in the small town of Grödig-St. Leonhard. It’s a 16-minute drive south of Salzburg and also easily accessible by public transport.

Location: Marktfeld 1, 5083 Grödig-St. Leonhard

Open 2pm – 7pm on Saturdays and 11am – 7pm on Sundays between 29th November and 21st December, 2025. The market also opens 11am – 7pm on 8th December, 2025.

Website: St. Leonhard Advent Market

Christmas Skating Rink at Salzburg

Ice skaters whizzing around a rink set against a snowy background is one of the classic Christmas images. Whether you’re a keen skater or a wobbly novice, it’s worth paying a visit to the charming Eiszauber ice rink located on Mozartplatz in Salzburg’s Altstadt. The rink is surrounded by Baroque buildings like the Neue Residenz and the Cathedral, making it the perfect spot for festive fun.

Ice skates are available to rent, and there are market stalls selling mugs of hot Glühwein and spiced punch to warm your hands on.

Location: Mozartplatz, 5020 Salzburg

Open 10am – 10pm, 13th November 2025 until 31st January 2026. The rink closes at 4pm on Christmas Eve and 8pm on New Year’s Eve.

Website: Christmas Skating Rink at Salzburg

Salzburger Weihnachtsmuseum (Christmas Museum)

If you’re looking for more festive things to do in Salzburg or want to escape the winter weather, the Salzburg Christmas Museum is the perfect place to head.

This kitschy little museum is packed full of exhibits, including Christmas decorations, Advent calendars and nativity scenes, exploring how Austria has celebrated Christmas through the centuries.

If you collect Christmas ornaments from around the world, like me, then you’ll want to buy a bauble from the Christmas shop before you leave.

You’ll find the Christmas museum above Café Glockenspiel at Mozartplatz in the heart of Salzburg Old Town. It’s open nearly all year round, so you can experience a touch of the festive season every day!

Location: Mozartplatz 2, 5020 Salzburg

Open 10am – 6pm daily during Salzburg Festival and Advent, and 10am – 6pm Wednesday to Sunday at other times. The museum is closed from the start of February until mid-March.

FAQ about Christmas Markets in Salzburg

If you’re planning a festive visit to Salzburg, the answers to these frequently asked questions will help you plan your trip.

What to buy at Salzburg Christmas markets?

When you visit Salzburg’s Christmas markets, be sure to search out handcrafted gifts and souvenirs from local artisans and small businesses. These include unique hand-painted glass baubles for your Christmas tree, cute wooden toys, handcrafted ornaments and nativity figures. Hats, scarfs and jumpers made with local wool are another great option.

Remember that you’ll need to pack all of your gifts in your checked luggage, so look for smaller trinkets and ornaments.

What to eat at Salzburg Christmas markets?

Local food and drink can also make excellent Christmas gifts, so be sure to save some room in your suitcase for these local specialities.

Mozartkugel (Mozart balls) are delicious balls of pistachio marzipan covered in dark chocolate. These are one of the must-try Salzburg specialities, so look out for their distinctive blue and silver wrapper.

Other local food treats include classic Austrian Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Stollen, an enriched bread filled with dried fruit, nuts, spices and marzipan. The local schnapps is also worth trying, and a mug or two of Glühwein will help keep you warm.

You’ll need cash for the deposit on your Glühwein mug, and many stallholders prefer cash for purchases, so keep some Euros handy.

I loved the raclette stand where we watched melted raclette loaded onto toast and topped with bacon and spring onions. Absolutely delicious and really filling.

How many Christmas markets are there in Salzburg?

There are four main Christmas markets in the centre of Salzburg, plus various other markets hosted in the surrounding area.

Are the Christmas markets in Salzburg worth visiting?

Salzburg has some of the best Christmas markets in Europe and they are definitely worth visiting at least once! I’d go back every year given half the chance. The fairytale atmosphere, beautiful architecture and festive decorations make Salzburg Christmas markets well worth visiting.

You’ll be spoiled for choice by the variety of markets in the Christmas season, from the large and bustling Salzburg Christkindlmarkt to smaller events like the Advent Market in Grödig-St. Leonhard. Whichever magical markets you visit, you’re sure to find some wonderful Christmas gifts, unique decorations and tempting local treats.

Salzburg Christmas markets are a popular destination for travellers from across Europe, so be prepared for crowds and book accommodation well in advance.

If you’re looking for more things to do in Salzburg take a look at my one day in Salzburg itinerary for all the best things to see and do, travel tips and info about the Salzburg card to help you plan your day.

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