After visiting Innsbruck’s Christmas Markets, it was time for Zell am See and Salzburg on my Austrian road trip.
I visited Salzburg a decade ago but this time I was keen to explore its Christmas markets. While the Austrian city of Vienna grabs all the limelight for its Christmas markets, I equally enjoyed the markets and overall holiday vibe in Innsbruck, Salzburg and some of its neighboring towns. These smaller towns are relatively less crowded and have a more local feel. So yes, if you are visiting Vienna, do consider adding the smaller towns to your itinerary 🙂
Click here for detailed guides on all the towns I have visited so far during the holiday season:
A little fun fact for you – while Salzburg is famous as being the home of Mozart, it is also the city where the Christmas carol “Silent Night” was written. Every Christmas Eve, a mass service is held with people from all over the world joining in. This church is located only 30 minutes by train from Salzburg in Oberndorf.
Throughout the whole month of December, there are special events going on, like the Krampus run, choirs singing Christmas music and kids’ activities, making Salzburg a lovely addition to your holiday itinerary.
Another little fun fact – Austria was the first European country I visited a decade ago, and since then, there has been no looking back 🙂 For a detailed guide on Austrian summer trip, please click here.
Before we dig deeper, here are couple pointers to keep in mind for visiting Europe during holiday season:
- Each city has several markets spread throughout the city. These markets usually open around mid-November. Most markets close by December 23rd or 24th, though some may stay open until early January. Always check the official website while planning your trip. Here is the link for Austrian Christmas markets.
- If you order a drink in the market, you must leave a deposit for the cup, which ranges from €4 – €5. Once you have finished the drink, you can either keep the cup (as a souvenir) or return it. You don’t have to return it to the stall where you bought the drink. You can return it to any of the stalls selling drinks and get your deposit refunded. The cup designs vary between the markets, so you may want to check out the different mug designs and keep the ones you like as souvenirs and return the rest.
- Most markets in Salzburg are cash only.
- The markets are at their busiest in the evenings and on weekends. So, if you are looking to peacefully browse thru the stalls and buy, then advise going early in the day. Even if you have strolled the market during morning time, you should go back at night since they look prettier with the lights on.
- I wouldn’t recommend the market for those who have mobility issues or are unable to stand for long periods, as there isn’t much seating available.
Best Way to Reach
Salzburg is easily accessible thanks to its international airport located just 6 km from the city centre. From the airport, take the car or taxi or public transport and you will reach the city center in 15 – 25 minutes.
If you can’t find direct flights to Salzburg from your hometown, then consider flying into Munich, Germany or Vienna. From Munich, Salzburg is less than 2 hours by train and car. From Vienna, it is 2 hours by train and 3 hours by car. The main train station is located at a walking distance to the Old Town.
Since we were travelling from Mumbai, we took the flight from Mumbai to Munich and then rented a car from Europcar. If you are planning to visit multiple Austrian cities during your trip, it is best to rent a car. Remember to purchase a vignette for Austrian expressways, ensuring it is visible on the windscreen to avoid penalties. For more information, click here.
Where to Stay
Salzburg is compact and most of the places to see are withing walking distance of each other. Staying in the Old Town is ideal, and we stayed at Sheraton Grand Salzburg near Mirabell Gardens on our first trip.
On our recent trip, we were late in booking and found no suitable hotels in the Old Town within our budget. Since we had planned to take day trips to the nearby lake towns during our visit, we decided to stay a little away from the city. We stayed in a spacious Airbnb, just a 15-minute bus ride from the Old Town. The bus stop to Old Town was just outside the apartment, making it convenient.
Things to Do
Christmas Markets
For a relatively small city, there are quite a few Christmas Markets in Salzburg to check out.
Salzburg Christkindlmarkt
This is the largest Christmas market in the city and is held in Residenzplatz Square. Right from delicious local specialties to stands serving spiced hot punch and mulled wine to goods, you will find it all here!
And with stunning buildings all around, lights and garland strung across the stalls, this canopy of twinkly lights looks extra magical as the sun sets.
Before our visit to the market we grabbed Mexican for lunch at Burrito Factory (the Indians in us were missing the spices😂 ). So, by the time we reached the market, we weren’t too hungry. We simply browsed thru the stalls – trying out a range of sauces, liqueur (cappuccino, hazelnut, espresso) and ended with strawberries coated with chocolate sauce.
Came back at night to try hot aperol spritz and admire the lights 🙂
Also, you can’t leave Salzburg without trying Mozartkugel (Mozart balls), one of Salzburg’s must-try specialties. They are delicious balls of pistachio marzipan covered in dark chocolate. We picked up a few from Cafe-Konditorei Fürst located right across Residenzplatz square.
There is also an ice rink is right behind Residenzplatz.
If you can only visit one of the Christmas markets in Salzburg, make it this one! But since it is the biggest and most popular, it can get very crowded.
Hohensalzburg Fortress Advent Market
Hohensalzburg fortress is located on top of a hill and you can either walk up or take the funicular. It starts off as an easy walk but gets steeper as you start climbing up. What made it more challenging for us was that it started snowing just as we crossed the funicular station. With the heavy snowflakes and the steep climb, in hindsight we should have just taken the funicular🙈
But once we got to the top, we forgot all our huffing and puffing seeing the holiday lights and stalls. There were a handful of stalls and a few tables to eat and drink at but the atmosphere was very cozy!
There were trumpeters playing under a giant Christmas tree decorated by local children. It was the perfect spot to sip a mug of Glühwein as you gaze over the twinkling lights and rooftops of Salzburg Altstadt.
While browsing through the markets, I saw baked apple schnapps on the menu, and I had to try it ! It was so delicious !!
Since this market is located on top of a hill, you are going to get a good view of the city from the top. Time your visit during sunset so you can look over all the beautiful Christmas lights of the city. Sadly, it was very gloomy on the day of our visit so we couldn’t get a good view ☹
This Christmas market is also an excellent option for families visiting Salzburg since there are several children’s activities like baking cookies, Christmas crafts and storytelling sessions.
You can also explore the towers, inner courtyard, visit the Fortress Museum, or take a guided tour.
Christmas Wonder World at St Peter’s Stiftskulinarium
As you are walking up/ down the fortress, you will spot a small but cute market at St Peter’s Stiftskulinarium, one of the oldest restaurants in Europe.
Every November, the restaurant’s courtyard is transformed into a magical Christmas Wonderland with twinkling lights, red baubles, festive atmosphere and unique charm in the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town. Tables are decked out with candles and fir branches.
It started snowing very heavily when we were here and it added to the magical vibe! Even though the food on offer was limited, we absolutely LOVED the cozy vibes here!
Note that this market is open only on certain dates; check the website before planning your visit.
Christmas Market at Mirabell Square
This one is small, cozy and has an authentic charm. It is a lot smaller than the one at Residenzplatz but you will find plenty of mulled wine, sweet treats and lovely Christmas crafts. You can also stroll the iconic Mirabell Gardens (but don’t expect any flowers ☹) before or after checking out the market!
Sternadvent
Tucked away between Getreidegasse and Griesgasse streets, the Sternbräu is one of the largest and most famous restaurants in Austria. Every November, its courtyard is decorated with lights and filled with stalls selling local arts, crafts and other lovely gifts. This is an idyllic Christmas market with more focus on art, crafts and winter products.
The stalls sell unique gifts instead of mass-produced souvenirs and is the ideal place to pick up high-quality artisanal gifts, like wooden ornaments, handmade jewellery, etc.
This one is easy to miss if you aren’t specially looking for it so as you are walking along Getreidegasse, watch out. This market runs until the first week of January if you are visiting after Christmas.
Hellbrunn Palace
Hellbrunn Palace hosts a magical Advent market every year. This isn’t located in Old Town but just a 25-minute bus ride or a 15-minute drive from the city center. If you take the bus, this palace is a short walk from the bus stop. And if you are driving, there are several parking lots right outside the palace.
The Advent market takes place in the Palace’s inner courtyard, which is beautifully decorated. You will find a mini forest of trees 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.
The Hellbrunn market features all the usual huts selling local crafts and refreshments, along with traditional Krampus runs and a wide range of activities for kids. These include a Christmas train, petting zoo, scavenger hunt and a Christmas post office, where they can write letters to Santa.
Entry to this Christmas market is €8 per person but it includes a free drink from their designated stall. Entry is free for children under 6 years, and free after 7 pm.
Overall, I truly enjoyed my time here. The grounds are stunning and beautifully decorated. Try to go after sunset since it looks prettier with all the lights.
Other Things to Do in Salzburg
- Simply wander through the gorgeous, picturesque streets surrounding the markets while you are in Salzburg! There are plenty of cafes to stop at for a warm drink, and stores to explore. Here are some of the noteworthy streets are Getreidegasse, Goldgassse, Judengasse not to be missed.
- Take a Sound of Music Tour
- Visit Mozart’s Birthplace and Residence
- Walk along Makartsteg Bridge, commonly known as the Love Lock Bridge. It is a pedestrian bridge over River Salzach, adorned with thousands of padlocks placed by couples to symbolize eternal love. It connects the Old Town to the newer part of the city, offering iconic views of the Hohensalzburg Fortress.
- If you will be in Salzburg on Christmas Eve, then take a little trip to Oberndorf, home of the Silent Night Chapel. You can take a guide tour and attend a Christmas Eve mass. Read more about it here.
Take a day trip to Hallstatt
The dreamy town of Hallstatt is just 1.5 hours away from Salzburg. I have visited this town twice, once in summer and once in winter. While summer was pretty, I preferred seeing the town covered in winter! It looked so magical under snow!
Click here to read more and plan the perfect day trip to Hallstatt.
Salzkammergut Christmas Markets
If you are in Salzburg for more than a day, I highly recommend visiting the beautiful Salzkammergut lake district.
Austria’s Salzkammergut region is filled with cute lake-side towns which have their own little markets and the beautiful lakes provide a lovely backdrop for these markets.
This region comprises three main towns – Strobl, St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang. They are small but oh so charming! And the setting – simply gorgeous!
St. Wolfgang
St. Wolfgang is the largest and the busiest town in this region. There is a parking lot right at the entrance, from where the town is another 10-12 minute walk. As you start approaching the town, you will see a huge floating peace light lantern. This 16-metre-high, floating lantern in front of St. Wolfgang, is considered the landmark of Lake Wolfgang Advent.
Stalls are spread throughout the historic center, with beautiful Christmas lights and festive decorations all around. We picked up jacket potatoes and ginger carrot soup for lunch from one of the stalls and finished with a cuppa coffee from one of the cafes.
It was busy for sure, but what a pretty town !
Strobl
Known as the “Nativity Scene of the Lake,” Strobl is the smallest and quietest of the three markets.
We got here just as the markets opened for the day. The town was a lot quieter, but what set it apart was an oversized nativity scene village and the wildlife park.
We picked up French toast with plum jam and macarons from the market and simply wandered around aimlessly 🙂
St Gilgen
This village is famous for its Christmas candles. An 11 meters high candle glows on the lake shore and as you are walking around you will notice that this town is lit by more than 50 candles and thousands of lights during the Advent season!
We reached right after sunset and the town looked extra magical at twilight hour!
Unlike large city markets, the St. Gilgen market is known for being quieter and more romantic. St. Gilgen is also famous because Mozart’s mother was born here. You can even visit the house or simply browse the markets. There is also a statue of a young Mozart.
The center is beautifully decorated and you can get mulled wine and sweet treats from over 100 stalls. From all the markets I visited in Austria, this was the only one which had a stall serving sushi😄
Best way to Reach these Lake Towns
While car is the easiest way to get around these towns, you can even experience these markets via boat. There is a hop-on hop-off ride that connects the Christmas markets in in these three towns. It is a hassle free and romantic way to enjoy these festive towns! Click here for schedule and price details.
If you are coming from Salzburg, take Bus 150 from Salzburg which will drop you to St. Gilgen. You can then take the hop on hop off boat.
If you are driving, the views are incredible! We experienced a lot of snow during our visit here (November 21-23, 2025) so it made the views even prettier!
If you don’t want the hassle of renting a car, then you can sign up for group tours.
We visited Hallstatt in the morning and followed it up with Strobl, St Wolfgang and St Gilgen. From Hallstatt, Strobl is just 40-minute drive. Since we had the car, we were able to visit them all (including Hallstatt) in a day. We managed to find parking easily in all towns too. So yes, I would highly recommend adding one more night to your itinerary and visiting these lakeside towns.
Ride the Schafberg Railway for Snowy Views
If you are hoping for a snowy mountain view during your visit, then ride the Schafbergbahn, Austria’s steepest cogwheel railway. This is Austria’s steepest cog railway and has been running from St. Wolfgang up the Schafberg since 1893. The train takes 35 minutes to cover a total distance of 5.85 kilometers, rising 1190 vertical meters and offers scenic views.
Lake Konigsee, Berchtesgaden and Church of St Sebastian
Berchtesgaden and Lake Konigsee, located in Germany, are just 30-40 minute drive from Salzburg and can be easily included in your itinerary if you have more time on hand. We have visited them on our summer trip a few years ago. You can read more about it here.
Once you are there, you can even take a little detour to the Parish Church of St Sebastian in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Germany, another 15 minutes from Lake Konigsee. The picturesque church is situated in the foothills of the alps and looks like something straight out of a fairytale!
We stopped by here on our dive to Salzburg. It was snowing VERY heavily when we visited and the entire area was under a heavy blanket of snow! Doesn’t it look absolutely stunning !
Zell am See
When we were planning our Austrian holiday market trip, we were keen to experience snow. Since we were visiting in mid-November, our chances of experiencing fresh snowfall were bleak. So, we decided to visit Zell am See, a popular ski resort in the Kitzbuhel Alps, approximately 1.5 hours away from Salzburg.
When winter arrives, Zell am See transforms into something straight out of a storybook. The snow blankets the mountains and the frozen surface of Lake Zell glitters under soft lights. And during holiday season, the town fills with warm lights, festive cheer and special winter magic. Whether you are a skier, a snow-lover or someone who wants a peaceful winter escape, Zell am See offers a little bit of everything!
Now of course, as our luck would have had it, we experienced WAY too much snow on our second day in Austria itself. There was a snowstorm as we started our drive from Innsbruck to Zell am See and by the time we reached, the entire town was submerged under snow. But that didn’t dampen our spirits and off we went to explore the markets.
There are two small markets here. The first one is the Star Advent Market where festive wooden huts line the town square, offering regional crafts, warm drinks and delightful treats. The smell of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and freshly baked Christmas cookies fills the air and everywhere you look, stars hang softly, casting a gentle, magical light.
The other market is in Elisabeth Park, right on the shores of Lake Zell, where illuminated star decorations float above the water. In addition to the stalls offering food, crafts and mulled wine, you can see locals and visitors enjoying and warming themselves by bonfires. The whole set up is just gorgeous!
If you enjoy lights and art, then check out Lumagica Light Park, an illuminated trail with magical figures, animals, musical motifs, and glowing shapes guiding you along the lake promenade.
Now of course, winter in Zell am See is not just about Christmas markets. If you love skiing, then you have come to the right place – this region has some of the most scenic slopes in Austria.
The Ski ALPIN CARD provides access to three premium ski regions, where you can enjoy endless mountain experiences on up to 408 kilometres of pistes, with 121 lifts and all this with just one ski pass! Click here to read more.
If it hasn’t started snowing yet and you want to experience snow, then head up to Top of Salzburg where it starts snowing as early as October. One you get to the top, you can admire stunning views over surrounding peaks and the national park and even ski !!
Since we had almost a washout due to the excess snow, we simply wandered around the town and its markets. During our time, we ate at Pizzeria Giuseppe and tried germknodel at Café Seegasse. Highly recommend both.
Also, we stayed at Nikolaus by AvenidA Panoramic Wellness Suites which had its own private sauna inside the room. Super cool, right?
The next morning, we went for a little stroll around the town to take in the snowy views one last time 🙂
So yes, if you have additional time on hand, highly recommend including Zell am See in your itinerary. From skiing and sledding to winter walks, sleigh rides to light shows, there is something for everyone. And the overall atmosphere during Advent time is truly fairytale-like festive lights, markets and cozy corners.
*All prices as of November 2025