Innsbruck puts its Christmas markets in front of a mountain range. Stalls fill the medieval Old Town under the Golden Roof, a crystal tree glitters by the River Inn, and a funicular climbs to a market with the whole lit-up city below. It suits couples and families who want Alpine scenery with their mulled wine, and two days covers it at an easy pace.
Why go
Seven markets sit within a compact city, most of them walkable from each other. The Old Town market is the oldest and largest, packed into the lanes around the Golden Roof, the late-Gothic balcony roofed with gilded tiles for Emperor Maximilian I. A short walk away, the family market on Marktplatz has a carousel, a puppet theatre and a Swarovski crystal tree beside the river.
Then there is the setting. The Nordkette range rises straight above the rooftops, and the Hungerburg funicular carries you up to a panorama market in a few minutes. Smaller markets in St. Nikolaus and Wilten give you a quieter, neighbourhood version of Advent, while the Bergisel market sits next to the ski jump.
Innsbruck
Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
Freddy Alexander Bugueño Tolmo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 at Old Town market at the Golden Roof
The city's oldest and largest market fills Herzog-Friedrich-Straße beneath the gilded copper tiles of the Golden Roof, with wooden stalls, Kiachl frying and the medieval lanes lit up after dark.
Go before noon on a weekday for the calmest browsing.
Marktplatz family market
Beside the River Inn, a sparkling Swarovski crystal tree rises over a carousel, a puppet theatre and stalls of regional food, with the coloured houses of the riverbank behind.
The best stop for children, open daily 11am to 9pm.
Wilfredor / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Maria-Theresien-Straße
The main shopping street hosts the most modern of the markets, with international food, bright lights and the snowy wall of the Nordkette filling the view at the far end.
Open until 6 January, so good for a post-Christmas trip.
Hafelekar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Hungerburg panorama market
Innsbruck's highest market sits above the city at the top of the Hungerburg funicular, with mulled wine in hand and the whole valley glittering below once night falls.
Ride up late afternoon and stay for the lights.
St. Nikolaus market
Across the Inn, five wooden stalls turn little Hans-Brenner-Platz into a lantern-lit village square, with live music each evening and far fewer people than the Old Town.
St. Nicholas visits on 6 December at 6pm.
Michielverbeek / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kaiserweihnacht at Bergisel
Next to Zaha Hadid's sleek ski jump on the Bergisel hill, this weekend market pairs mulled wine and Kiachl with a wide view over the Capital of the Alps.
Open Fridays to Sundays only.
Simon Legner (User:simon04) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wiltener Platzl
A small, atmospheric market in the old Wilten quarter, south of the centre, with handcrafted art, international food and a neighbourhood feel near the rococo Wilten Basilica.
Innsbruck Christmas market 2026 dates and hours
The Old Town Christmas market in front of the Golden Roof runs from Friday 13 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, daily from 11am to 9pm, according to Innsbruck Tourism and the Austrian National Tourist Office.
- Marktplatz family market: 13 November to 23 December 2026, daily 11am to 9pm.
- Maria-Theresien-Straße: Wednesday 25 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027, daily 11am to 9pm.
- Hungerburg panorama market: 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. Monday to Friday 1pm to 7pm; weekends and public holidays 12pm to 7pm. From 25 December it closes an hour earlier, at 6pm. On 24 December it opens 12pm to 3pm, and on 31 December 12pm to 5pm.
- St. Nikolaus, Hans-Brenner-Platz: 20 November to 23 December 2026, daily 4pm to 9pm. St. Nicholas himself visits on 6 December at 6pm.
- Wiltener Platzl: 20 November to 23 December 2026, daily 4pm to 8pm.
- Kaiserweihnacht at Bergisel: 13 November to 20 December 2026, Fridays 2pm to 8pm and weekends 11am to 8pm, plus 7 December (2pm to 8pm) and 8 December (11am to 8pm).
The Old Town, Marktplatz, St. Nikolaus and Wilten markets all close on 23 December. For a trip between Christmas and Epiphany, plan around Maria-Theresien-Straße and the Hungerburg.
The 48-hour route
Day 1
Morning: Walk from the Hauptbahnhof into the Old Town and start at the Golden Roof while the stalls are opening. Browse the craft stalls along Herzog-Friedrich-Straße, then wander the side lanes towards the Inn.
Afternoon: Drop down to Marktplatz for the crystal tree and the riverside view of the coloured houses on the far bank. Cross the bridge to St. Nikolaus, which opens at 4pm, for a quieter mulled wine on Hans-Brenner-Platz.
Evening: Return to the Old Town as the lights come on. The narrow lanes look their best after dark, and the Golden Roof is lit above the stalls.
Tip: The Old Town lanes are narrow and fill quickly on weekend evenings. Browse there on a weekday morning, then spend the evening at the smaller markets.
Day 2
Morning: Walk the length of Maria-Theresien-Straße towards the Nordkette, past the Annasäule column, and browse the modern market (from 25 November).
Afternoon: Take the Hungerburgbahn funicular from the Congress station in the centre up to the Hungerburg. Wander the panorama market and watch the light fade over the valley.
Evening: Come back down and head south to Wiltener Platzl for its small, local market, or on a Friday to Sunday ride out to Bergisel for the view from beside the ski jump.
What to eat and drink
- Kiachl: A round of fried yeast dough, served savoury with sauerkraut or sweet with cranberry jam. The classic Tyrolean market snack.
- Glühwein: Mulled wine, on every square, often joined by hot punch and fruit versions.
- Kaspressknödel: Flattened cheese dumplings, fried and served in broth or with salad. A warming lunch in a cold week.
- Tiroler Speck: The region’s cured, lightly smoked ham, sold in slabs at the stalls and served sliced on bread.
- Roasted chestnuts: Sold in paper cones on the squares, best eaten walking between markets.
Where to stay
- Old Town: The Golden Roof and Marktplatz on your doorstep. Best for first-timers.
- Around Maria-Theresien-Straße: Central, close to the station and the Hungerburgbahn. Best for short trips by train.
- St. Nikolaus and Mariahilf: Across the Inn, with views back to the Old Town and a quieter feel. Best for couples.
- Wilten: South of the centre, a residential quarter near the basilica and Bergisel. Best for longer stays.
Getting around
The Old Town, Marktplatz, Maria-Theresien-Straße and St. Nikolaus are all a few minutes’ walk apart, and the Hauptbahnhof is about 15 minutes on foot from the Golden Roof. The Hungerburgbahn funicular runs from the centre up to the Hungerburg. Wilten is a short walk or tram ride south, and Bergisel sits just beyond it. Innsbruck Airport is on the western edge of the city.
Good to know
- Dates: The Old Town runs from 13 November to 23 December 2026. Compare other cities in our Christmas markets 2026 dates roundup.
- After Christmas: Only Maria-Theresien-Straße and the Hungerburg stay open into January, both until 6 January 2027.
- Holiday hours: 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a public holiday in Austria; the Bergisel market adds an opening that day.
- Weather: Innsbruck sits in an Alpine valley, and December evenings are cold. Bring warm boots for the Hungerburg.
- More markets: Pair Innsbruck with the Salzburg Christmas market or the Munich Christmas market for a longer trip, or browse our best Christmas markets in Europe hub.
FAQ
When is the Innsbruck Christmas market 2026?
The Old Town market in front of the Golden Roof runs from 13 November to 23 December 2026, daily from 11am to 9pm. The Maria-Theresien-Straße and Hungerburg markets run until 6 January 2027.
Which is the best Christmas market in Innsbruck?
The Old Town market is the classic, being the oldest and largest. For views, take the funicular to the Hungerburg; for children, the Marktplatz market with its carousel and crystal tree.
Is the Innsbruck Christmas market open after Christmas?
Yes, in part. The Maria-Theresien-Straße market and the Hungerburg panorama market stay open until 6 January 2027, with shorter hours on the Hungerburg from 25 December.
How do you get to the Hungerburg Christmas market?
Take the Hungerburgbahn funicular from the city centre. The market opens from 1pm on weekdays and from 12pm at weekends.
How many days do you need in Innsbruck at Christmas?
Two days covers the central markets, the Hungerburg and one of the smaller neighbourhood markets without rushing.
