Salzburg is Advent as a stage set: stalls between a baroque cathedral and a palace, brass music from the rooftops and a fortress on the hill above. It is also the region where "Silent Night" was first sung. The main market stays open until New Year’s Day, so it suits couples, music lovers and families planning a trip in December or over New Year.
Why go
The Christkindlmarkt sits in the heart of Salzburg’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, spread across Domplatz and Residenzplatz. A market has been held on Cathedral Square since the late 15th century, and today’s Christkindlmarkt dates from 1974. Around 100 stalls sell Austrian specialities, decorations and crafts, and a daily programme of choirs, brass and Advent customs gives it more character than most.
The rest of the city is close by. The Getreidegasse, Mozart’s birthplace, the fortress and the river are all within a few minutes’ walk, and the Mirabell market waits on the other bank. A bus ride takes you to Hellbrunn’s Advent market, and the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf makes a short trip out.
Salzburg
Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
Mattsjc / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz
Around 100 stalls fill the two great squares between the cathedral and the prince-archbishops' palace, where a market has been held since the late 15th century.
Come on a weekday morning, before the coach groups.
Uoaei1 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Salzburg Cathedral
The baroque cathedral where Mozart was baptised closes the market on Domplatz, and its Advent concerts with the Salzburg tower brass players fill the nave.
C.Stadler/Bwag / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Hohensalzburg Fortress
One of the largest medieval castles in Europe looks down on the market from its crag, with views over the domes and the snowy Alps.
Go up in the morning, when the views are clearest.
Getreidegasse
The Old Town's narrow shopping lane is famous for its wrought-iron guild signs, and Mozart's birthplace stands halfway along it.
Cezar Suceveanu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Mirabell Palace and Mirabellplatz
Across the river, a second market sets up on the square in front of Mirabell Palace, whose formal gardens frame the fortress on the far bank.
Nicholas Even (own work) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5 Hellbrunn Palace
The prince-archbishops' summer palace turns its 24-window façade into a giant Advent calendar, with a fairy-tale forest of decorated conifers in the courtyard.
Closed on Mondays; open from 1pm on weekdays.
Silent Night Chapel, Oberndorf
This small memorial chapel stands where 'Silent Night' was first sung on Christmas Eve 1818, in the town on the Salzach where the carol was born.
Salzburg Christmas market 2026 dates and hours
The Salzburger Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz runs from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027, according to the market’s official site. The opening ceremony and the lighting of the Christmas tree start at 6pm on 19 November.
- Monday to Thursday: 10am to 8.30pm.
- Friday: 10am to 9pm.
- Saturday: 9am to 9pm.
- Sunday and public holidays: 9am to 8.30pm.
- Christmas Eve, 24 December: 9am to 3pm.
- 25 and 26 December: 11am to 6pm. From 27 to 30 December, regular hours apply.
- New Year’s Eve: Stalls open from 10am to at least 6pm, and selected food and drink stands stay open until 1am.
- New Year’s Day: 11am to 6pm.
Music and traditions on the market
- Tower brass (Turmblasen): Traditional Salzburg brass on Residenzplatz at 6.30pm on Thursdays (26 November and 3, 10 and 17 December) and Saturdays (21 and 28 November and 5, 12 and 19 December). Young players perform on Domplatz at 6pm on Wednesdays.
- Choirs: Monday to Friday at 5pm, plus children’s choirs on Friday at 2pm, and at 3pm and 5pm at weekends.
- Sing-along: Open singing on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm.
- Krampus and Perchten: A Krampus run on Saturday 5 December, expected around 7pm, and a Perchten run on Monday 21 December at 7pm, both with a big stage on Domplatz.
- The Christkind: Walks with the Salzburg Christkind and four angels at 4pm on the Advent Sundays, starting on Domplatz.
More Salzburg markets
- Christmas market on Mirabellplatz: From 19 November to 31 December 2026. It opens Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 8pm and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm. On 24 December it opens from 10am to 3pm, on 25 and 26 December from 11am to 6pm, and from 27 to 31 December from 10am to 7pm, with food stands open later on New Year’s Eve.
- Hellbrunn Advent Magic (Hellbrunner Adventzauber): Its 25th season runs at Hellbrunn Palace from 19 November to 24 December 2026, according to Salzburg Tourism. It opens Tuesday to Friday from 1pm to 8pm and on Saturday, Sunday and 8 December from 10am to 8pm. It is closed on Mondays, except 21 December (1pm to 8pm), and opens from 10am to 2pm on Christmas Eve. The palace façade becomes a giant Advent calendar, and the courtyard fills with a fairy-tale forest of decorated conifers.
- Silent Night Chapel, Oberndorf: The 2026 Advent and Christmas Eve programme in Oberndorf had not been published at the time of writing. Check stillenacht.at before you travel.
The 48-hour route
Day 1
Morning: Start on Domplatz as the stalls open and walk through to Residenzplatz. Step into the cathedral, then take the funicular or the footpath up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for the view over the Old Town and the Alps.
Afternoon: Come back down for lunch from the market stalls, then walk the Getreidegasse past Mozart’s birthplace and its wrought-iron shop signs.
Evening: On a Thursday or Saturday, be on Residenzplatz at 6.30pm for the tower brass. Stay for the lights and a mug of punch.
Tip: Domplatz and Residenzplatz are busiest on Saturday afternoons and on the 8 December holiday. Browse on a weekday morning and return in the evening for the music.
Day 2
Morning: Cross the river to Mirabellplatz for the second market, then walk through the Mirabell Gardens for the classic view of the fortress across the Salzach.
Afternoon: Take the bus south to Hellbrunn for the Advent Magic, which opens at 1pm on weekdays and 10am at weekends. Remember it’s closed on Mondays.
Evening: Return to the Old Town for dinner and a last round of the Christkindlmarkt. If you’re staying longer, Oberndorf and the Silent Night Chapel make a calm half-day trip.
What to eat and drink
- Glühwein and Punsch: Mulled wine and hot fruit punch, the market’s two staples.
- Bosna: Salzburg’s own spiced sausage in a toasted roll with onions and curry powder.
- Kiachl: Fried yeast dough, served sweet with jam or savoury with sauerkraut.
- Lebkuchen and Vanillekipferl: Spiced gingerbread and crescent-shaped vanilla biscuits, the classic Austrian Christmas bakes.
- Mozartkugel: Pistachio marzipan and nougat in chocolate, Salzburg’s best-known sweet and an easy gift.
- Salzburger Nockerl: A towering soufflé said to represent the city’s snowy hills, for a sit-down dessert.
Where to stay
- Old Town (Altstadt): The cathedral squares and the Getreidegasse on your doorstep. Best for first-timers and short stays.
- Right bank (Andräviertel and around Mirabell): A short walk over the river, close to the Mirabell market. Best for couples and a calmer base.
- Around the Hauptbahnhof: Easy arrivals by train and a bus or walk into the centre. Best for rail travellers and day trips.
- Nonntal: Quiet streets below the fortress, a short walk from Domplatz. Best for return visitors.
Getting around
The Old Town is small and best on foot. Domplatz, Residenzplatz, the Getreidegasse and the fortress funicular are a few minutes apart, and Mirabellplatz is a short walk across the river. Buses run to Hellbrunn, and local trains to Oberndorf.
Getting there: Salzburg Hauptbahnhof has direct trains from Vienna and Munich, so Salzburg pairs well with our Vienna Christmas markets or Munich Christmas market guides. Salzburg Airport is a short bus ride from the centre.
Good to know
- Dates: The Christkindlmarkt runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, so it works for a New Year trip. See our markets open in January 2027 guide for more.
- Holiday hours: Shorter hours apply on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and on 1 January; the market’s site posts any short-notice changes.
- Hellbrunn: Closed on Mondays (except 21 December) and from 2pm on Christmas Eve.
- Silent Night: The 2026 programme in Oberndorf hadn’t been published at the time of writing.
- More markets: Our best Christmas markets in Europe hub and Christmas markets 2026 dates roundup have more December weekends.
FAQ
When is the Salzburg Christmas market 2026?
The Salzburger Christkindlmarkt runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027 on Domplatz and Residenzplatz. It opens Monday to Thursday from 10am to 8.30pm, Friday from 10am to 9pm, Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday from 9am to 8.30pm.
Is the Salzburg Christmas market open on Christmas Day?
Yes. It opens from 11am to 6pm on 25 and 26 December, and from 9am to 3pm on Christmas Eve.
When is the Krampus run in Salzburg in 2026?
The Krampus run on the Christkindlmarkt is planned for Saturday 5 December 2026, expected around 7pm, with a Perchten run on 21 December at 7pm.
When is Hellbrunn Advent Magic 2026?
Hellbrunn Advent Magic runs from 19 November to 24 December 2026. It opens Tuesday to Friday from 1pm to 8pm and at weekends from 10am to 8pm, and is closed on Mondays except 21 December.
Can you visit the Silent Night Chapel from Salzburg?
Yes. Oberndorf, where "Silent Night" was first sung in 1818, is a short trip north of the city by local train. Its 2026 Advent and Christmas Eve programme had not been published at the time of writing.
