Festive lights, spiced punch, choirs in historic squares, and rooftops dusted with snow: Christmas in Austria is pure magic.
Festive lights, spiced punch, choirs in historic squares, and rooftops dusted with snow: Christmas in Austria is pure magic. From mid-November the whole country shifts into Advent mode, with locals and visitors wandering from market to market until Christmas Eve (and, in many places, right through New Year). It’s also one of the best times to feel Austria’s Lebensgefühl—that easy, joyful, “this is the life” spirit that bubbles up the minute the lamps switch on and the brass bands start.
Austria’s markets go way back—some to the 18th century when they were simple daytime food stalls. The lights, music, and romantic glow arrived later, and today you’ll find everything from traditional woodcarving and glass baubles to hot chestnuts, fluffy Krapfen, and creative, sustainable gifts. Kids (and kids at heart) can meet angels, spot the “Christkind,” and join craft workshops; grown-ups can browse, sip, and soak it all in. Below are the places that do Christmas best—big cities, mountain towns, and lakeside villages—plus a few practical notes to make planning easy.
Christmas markets in the city
Vienna is the heavyweight, with more than twenty markets sprinkled across the city. The big show is in front of City Hall, where the tree, music, and rows of huts set the mood for the whole season. Palace lovers can double up on culture and Christmas at Schönbrunn and the Belvedere; both pair artisan stalls with grand baroque backdrops and stay open beyond Christmas into the New Year period. For something more bohemian, weave through the lantern-lit lanes of Spittelberg or head to Karlsplatz’s “Art Advent,” a favourite for eco-friendly, handmade gifts. And if you like your traditions with provenance, the Old Viennese market on Freyung claims roots back to 1772.
Salzburg’s old town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) turns into a postcard the second Advent starts. The main market sits between the cathedral and Residenz, where choirs drift across the square and the stalls do a brisk trade in gingerbread and Bosna. For a classic Sound-of-Music feel, drop by Mirabellplatz; for a view with your mug of punch, take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress and wander the courtyard market. Just outside town, Hellbrunn Palace stages one of Austria’s most romantic Advents: hundreds of trees dotted with red baubles, windows transformed into a giant Advent calendar, and a cosy, family-friendly vibe.
Innsbruck wraps six markets around a snowy mountain skyline. You’ll find stalls under the Golden Roof, along Maria-Theresien-Straße, over the river in St. Nikolaus, and right up at Hungerburg for twinkling lights with a panorama. Two seasonal highlights are worth pencilling in: the Kaiserweihnacht market at the Bergisel ski jump for Tyrolean crafts with city views, and LUMAGICA, a light-art trail through the Imperial Garden that’s made for an after-dark stroll. Keep an eye out for the Christkind parade too, a beloved December tradition complete with angels, shepherds, music, and a horse-drawn carriage.
Graz packs a surprising number of markets into a walkable centre. The main square projects an XXL Advent calendar onto the town hall; Karmeliterplatz serves up sweeping views of the Clock Tower; Nikolaiplatz leans green with sustainable gifts; and lanes around the Franziskanerviertel brim with food and crafts. Up on the Schlossberg, the Aufsteirern market brings Styrian specialties to the hill on Advent weekends. If you’re with little ones, leave extra time for the children’s Advent fair on Kleine Neutorgasse and the town’s Winter Wonderland ice rink.
Linz is an easy city break with a warm, local feel. Markets pop up on the Hauptplatz and in the Volksgarten (great for families), with Pfarrplatz and Domplatz adding to the mix. A sweet extra is the free hop-on hop-off Christmas train that loops between the markets on Advent weekends. Off the main squares, the Winter Magic at Stiegl-Klosterhof quietly transforms a garden into a glowing forest with lights, music, and mulled wine—exactly the sort of place you “accidentally” linger longer than planned.
Carinthia’s cities go big on atmosphere. Villach decorates its old town and sets up skating by the town hall, while Klagenfurt’s Neuer Platz market spreads out under the Lindwurm dragon—often with harbour pop-ups and cathedral concerts rounding out the programme. Both are easy add-ons if you’re touring the south or heading for the lakes.
Christmas markets in the mountains
Ski first, market later is a very Austrian way to do December. In Tyrol, Kitzbühel’s medieval streets glow with Advent stalls and live music, Seefeld’s pedestrian zone turns into a daily Christmas village through to early January, and St. Johann, Kufstein, and the Zillertal all run cosy, family-minded events. Mayrhofen hosts a fireside-style market at the Waldfestplatz on select dates, and SkiWelt cranks up the romance with a high-altitude market on the Hartkaiser above Ellmau—one of Austria’s highest Advent spots and a brilliant excuse to take the gondola after dark.
SalzburgerLand has standout mountain markets too. Zell am See-Kaprun brings stalls to the lakeside and up to Kaprun Castle on Advent weekends, while Altenmarkt layers in classical concerts and light installations around its festive programme. If you want the “traditional Alps” feel, aim for the Salzburg Mountain Advent in Grossarltal: lanterns, choirs, pony sleighs, and plenty of regional crafts, mostly on weekends to keep it intimate.
Further west, Vorarlberg’s valleys sprinkle their own charm across December. Kleinwalsertal and Schwarzenberg in the Bregenzerwald keep things classic and handcrafted, and Montafon adds Advent concerts to its hut-and-punch routine—a good call if you love your markets with live music tucked around every corner.
Christmas markets at the lake
Few things beat Advent by the water. Around Lake Wolfgangsee in the Salzkammergut (this year’s European Capital of Culture region), the villages of St. Wolfgang, Strobl, and St. Gilgen go all-in on tradition, open fires, and music. The star of the show—literally—is the giant floating Peace Lantern just off St. Wolfgang, and the best way to see everything is to ride the Advent boats between the villages at dusk. Down south on Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia, Pörtschach lines its promenade with stalls and lights while Velden floats an enormous Advent wreath offshore; torchlit walks along the shore add a lovely, wintry hush to the whole experience.
Key Dates
- Vienna
- Rathausplatz: 14 Nov – 26 Dec
- Schönbrunn: 6 Nov – 6 Jan
- Belvedere: 14 Nov – 31 Dec
- Karlsplatz: 21 Nov – 23 Dec
- Spittelberg: 14 Nov – 23 Dec
- Salzburg
- Dom/Residenzplatz: 20 Nov – 1 Jan
- Hellbrunn: 20 Nov – 24 Dec
- Innsbruck - multiple markets from 15 Nov; some run to 6 Jan (see official list).
- Graz - 21 Nov - 24 Dec
- Linz - Hauptplatz & Volksgarten 22 Nov - 23 Dec
- Villach - 14 Nov - 6 Jan
- Klagenfurt - 15 Nov – 24 Dec.
- Wolfgangsee - 21 Nov – 21 Dec
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