Any time of year, Salzburg is an enchanting city to visit. Located an easy train ride from either Munich or Vienna, it makes for a great day trip if you don’t have an extra few days to stay overnight! The compact city center makes it simple to navigate when time is limited. Salzburg is especially beautiful in the Christmas season, particularly if you are lucky enough to get some snow during your visit. We will break down what not to miss in Saltzburg’s during the magical Christmas season!

If you can’t get enough info on Christmas and winter in Europe, check out the following posts as well!

• What to Pack for the European Christmas Markets in 2024
• 2024 Guide to the Christmas Markets in Munich: Food, What to Wear, and More!
• Ranking the Best Christmas Markets in Vienna

Salzburg Christmas Markets

Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

• Where: Dom-and-Residenzplatz Square, city center
• When: November 21 – January 1; Monday-Thursday 10am-8:30pm, Fridays 10am-9pm, Saturdays 9am-9pm, Sundays and holidays 9am-8:30pm

These are actually multiple markets located within the historic old town of Salzburg (a UNESCO world heritage site), but one leads seamlessly to another and it’s difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins. All told, there are around 100 stands with goods for sale, treats, and mulled wine or punch. The goods tend a bit more toward mass production, but there are some local artisan stands mixed in. It’s all worth a walk through with your toasty beverage in hand!

A unique aspect of Sazlburg is their strong musical heritage. In addition to being the home of Mozart, Salzburg is where the Christmas carol “Silent Night” was written. The program of events (check the website for the most up to date schedule) reflects their appreciation of music, with singalongs and performances almost every day.

Hellbrunn Palace – Adventzauber

• Where: a 25 minute bus ride south from the city center
• When: November 21 – December 24; Tuesday-Friday 1-8pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm, closes 2pm Christmas Eve

Salzburg is home to one of my very favorite Christmas markets, located at Hellbrunn Palace. I felt like there was a surprise around every corner! It was one of the least crowded markets we went to (about 6pm on a Tuesday in early December), and there were huge snowflakes falling which lent to the magical atmosphere.

You can take the bus here from the city center, and it’s just a short walk to the entrance. There are plenty of venders with quality goods for sell, many handmade (this is becoming more rare at many markets, where mass produced items are taking over). For a break, there is a small open chalet with heaters that you can warm up in with a glass of wine under furs. And my personal favorite, the Krampus walk! As a lover of both scary stories and Christmas, I’m obsessed with the legends surrounding Krampus, Santa’s evil counterpart. If you time up your trip to the alpine regions of Germany, Austria, or Switzerland right, you may be able to see one of the famous “Krampus Runs“! They usually take place the 1st weekend in December.

The grounds at Hellbrunn are stunning to explore – beautiful lights, tree gnomes, and a giant tree were sights to savor. I would go in after dark if possible – it gets dark around 4pm, so that’s very doable! Many bemoan the short days in this part of Europe during wintertime, but that’s just more time to enjoy the lights at night!

Christmas Market at Mirabell Square

• Where: Mirabell Square (east of the river)
• When: 21 November – 24 December 2024; Sunday – Thursday 10 am – 8 pm; Friday – Saturday 10 am – 9 pm; 24 December 10 am – 3 pm

For those who love The Sound of Music, you will recognize Mirabell Palace as a main filming location. If you just have time for a quick stop in Salzburg, this market is the closest to the train station.

Be sure to check their website for a schedule of events! This is a smaller, atmospheric market frequented by visitors and locals alike. Plenty of mulled wine and Christmas treats are available as you stroll through the stalls!

Other Things To Do

Hohensalzburg Fortress

I feel like this is a must-do whenever you visit Salzburg, especially if you go around sunset so you can look over all the beautiful Christmas lights of the city. The fortress is very easy to get to from the city center, just a short walk. Once there, you can keep walking up the hill, but especially in winter I recommend that you ride the funicular to the top of the fortress. If you are from the US, that is an experience in and of itself – funiculars (trains pulled by a cables used for transport up steep slopes) are not as common here!

Once you get to the top, you can explore the towers and inner courtyard, visit the Fortress Museum, or take a free guided tour. The main attraction is the views! If you happen to be there on a weekend, there is also a small Christmas Market at the top.

Mozart’s Birthplace and Residence

If you have learned anything abut Salzburg, you know it is the birthplace of Mozart. They are *very* proud of their famous native son! In addition to touring the birthplace and/or residence of Mozart, don’t miss the Mozartkugeln candies, made of marzipan, pistachio, and nougat, all covered in chocolate!

Mozart’s “Geburtshaus” (birthplace) offers a look at his early life and family. You can buy tickets ahead of time here if you wish, but it’s probably not necessary unless you are going at a very busy time. There is an audio guide, so bring your earbuds!

A music lover’s visit to Salzburg isn’t complete without also visitng the Mozart Residence (tickets here). You can see Mozart’s pianoforte, as well as other documents and artifacts from his life.

St Peter Skiftskulinarium

St. Peter’s Skiftskulinarium (a restaurant within the walls of St. Peter’s Abbey) claims to be the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world – since 803AD! It also boasts an impressive list of former guests, such as Christopher Columbus and, of course, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The decor at Christmas is perfection – all woodsy, furs, and sparkly lights. It’s a lovely historic area to walk around, and you have the option of booking a regular spot at the dining room, Mozart dinner concert, or just get a drink at their lounge.

We scheduled a dinner there, which was a bit hit or miss. I enjoyed my truffle pasta, but Todd did *not* enjoy the traditional Austrian dish of tafelspitz (boiled beef with apple sauce and horseradish, creamed spinach, leeks, etc). We got the famous Salzburger knockerl (an egg white souffle with fruit sauce) for dessert as well (so did everyone else in the dining room) – it is a huge portion for 2 people, but a sweet end to the meal. They are prepared to order, so let your server know you will be ordering it in a timely manner. On a return trip to Salzburg, I would return for the atmosphere, but would stick with a drink in the lounge (the wine list is great). If you are interested in eating at St. Peter’s, make sure to reserve here!

Salzburg at Christmas Overall

Don’t forget to just wander through the gorgeous, picturesque streets surrounding the markets while you are in Salzburg! The lights of the city are even more charming than some of the bigger cities we visited. There are plenty of cafes to stop at for a warm drink, and stores to explore. I could have done this for hours!

Overall, I highly recommend Salzburg as a stop on your Christmas Market tour of Europe. I would have liked more time there, and am excited to check it out in warmer weather for a completely different view of the city! Try to take at least a night or two there, you won’t regret it!