A Holly Jolly Guide To Salzburg During the Holidays

Christmas season is a big deal in Salzburg, Austria, and this traditional Austrian city does a fantastic job at bringing yuletide cheer to locals and visitors alike. During Christmas in Salzburg, the city is adorned with decorations such as Christmas lights and nativity scenes, and many churches host daily caroling sessions.

At the Salzburg holiday markets, you can snack on treats such as gingerbread, pancake-like kaiserschmarren, and traditional vanillekipferl (crescent-shaped Christmas cookies flavored with vanilla), while you sip on festive drinks such as mulled wine and haustrunk (hot cider).

Don't forget to visit the Christmas Museum in Austria to learn about how the holiday has changed over time. Fans of classic Christmas music such as the great Christmas carol “Silent Night” take note: Joseph Mohr, the song’s composer, was baptized in the Salzburg Cathedral (as was Mozart).

For an extensive selection of festive treats, head to the Grunmarkt farmers market at University Square (closed Sundays), where you can warm up with local favorites such as wiener schnitzel or hearty beef broth with frittaten (sliced pancakes). If you’d rather just cozy up with a mug of warming orange punch, head straight to Sporer on the Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s celebrated shopping street. While apfelstrudel (apple strudel) is not a Christmas-specific treat, it’s certainly a must-try for any visitor to Salzburg, no matter the season. Some of the tastiest can be found at Cafe Habakuk.

While Salzburg's Christmas markets are one of the most festive things to do in Salzburg at Christmas—especially if you're in the market for things like nativity scenes or ornaments—there are also plenty of standalone shops to pick up some perfect holiday gifts and souvenirs. The aptly named Christmas in Salzburg shop is one such place, selling decorations and ornaments throughout the year.

Or, head to the Salzburg Old Town to pick up edible treats. Pirker is a local favorite for Lebkuchen (similar to gingerbread), while R. F. Azwanger has been selling all sorts of local delicacies, from liquors to jams, for over 350 years.

Salzburg’s famous Hotel Sacher is a great place to stay in Salzburg during the holidays, featuring seasonal decor and special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day set meals. Hotel Weisse Taube is an ideal option for history buffs—it’s likely that Joseph Franz Mohr of “Silent Night” fame was born in the structure that now houses this boutique property. The 15th-century Hotel Goldener Hirschis another festive choice, particularly if you want easy access to Salzburg’s celebrated Christmas and Advent markets.

Along with Salzburg’s many Christmas markets and its Christmas Museum, the Austrian city offers all sorts of fun activities to help make spirits brighter. For a quintessential family-friendly Christmas experience, take horse-drawn sleigh ride in the Salzach River Valley or sign up for a Christmas cookie and apple strudel–making class.

While you’re in town, don’t miss the chance to attend a special Advent or Christmas dinner at the Fortress Hohensalzburg's Panorama Restaurant, either; or, sign up for a package.

Sound of Music tours and visits to top Salzburg landmarks such as Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Palace and Mirabell Gardens, and Hellbrunn Palace are also particularly special during the holiday season when the atmosphere in the city of Salzburg is at its most festive.