Salzburg Christmas market 2026: dates, times

The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt stands in front of the cathedral, in the middle of the baroque old town, and it is one of the few big markets that stays open over Christmas and New Year. The short answer for 2026: it runs from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027 on Domplatz, Residenzplatz and part of Kapitelplatz. It is open Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 20:30, on Fridays until 21:00, and from 9:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Salzburg Christmas market 2026: dates and times

All dates and times from the official website of the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt (see sources), as of October 2026.

With 44 days, Salzburg has one of the longest seasons among the big markets in the Alps and southern Germany:

Season: calendar days from the first to the last day.

What makes the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt special

The setting. The stalls fill Domplatz in front of the baroque Salzburg Cathedral and the neighbouring Residenzplatz with its large fountain, with the Hohensalzburg Fortress above the roofs. Part of Kapitelplatz, on the other side of the cathedral, belongs to the market too. The whole area is part of the historic centre listed by UNESCO.

Music and customs. The market's programme is rooted in local folk culture. According to the organisers, there are choirs singing in front of the cathedral, traditional Turmblasen (brass music played from the towers) and young tower brass players on Domplatz, free open singing, readings for children, appearances of the Salzburg Christkind, and Krampus, Nikolo and Perchten – the devil-like figures of the Alpine Advent tradition. The exact dates and times are published in the events calendar on the official website.

DomQuartier. The museum complex linking the cathedral and the Residenz offers a special "Christmas" guided tour during the season.

What to eat and buy. Look out for Bosna (Salzburg's spicy sausage in a bread roll), roasted chestnuts, Kiachl (fried dough) and mulled wine or punch. The stalls sell Christmas decorations, crafts and gifts.

When to go

• Weekday mornings are the calmest. Saturdays in Advent, when coach groups and day trippers arrive, are very busy.
• Between Christmas and New Year the market is open with normal hours from 27 to 30 December, which makes Salzburg a good choice for a trip during the holidays.
• Christmas Eve is a short day: the market closes at 15:00. On 25 and 26 December it opens at 11:00.
• New Year's Eve: stalls are open from 10:00, and some food and drink stalls stay open until 1:00.

Getting there

Salzburg Hauptbahnhof is on the northern edge of the centre; from there it is about 25 minutes on foot or a short trolleybus ride to the old town. Railjet trains connect Salzburg with Vienna and Munich, so the city combines well with the Munich Christmas markets 2026 or the Vienna Christmas markets 2026; train connections to Salzburg^* can be compared on Omio. Salzburg Airport is a short bus ride from the city.

If you arrive in the morning and leave in the evening, you can use luggage storage near Salzburg station^* (Radical Storage).

Where to stay

The old town on the left bank of the Salzach is closest to the market but has fewer hotels and higher prices. The area around Linzer Gasse and the Mirabell Gardens on the right bank is a short walk across the river and often a little cheaper. For Advent weekends, book early.

More than the market: Advent in Salzburg

Between visits to the stalls, take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for the view, visit Mozart's birthplace in Getreidegasse, or walk through the St Peter's cemetery and abbey next to the cathedral. Tickets for sights and tours in Salzburg^* are on Tiqets. Our article on how many days in Salzburg helps you plan the rest of the trip.

Weather in December

Salzburg is cold and fairly wet in December: on average about 6.4 °C by day and -1.8 °C at night, with 106 mm of rain and snow over the month (ERA5, 2015–2024). Frost at night is normal and snow is possible. Shoes with a good grip help on the old-town cobbles.

How YesTrip helps

Add Salzburg and your travel dates to a trip in YesTrip: the AI day plan puts the market, the fortress and the Mozart sites into a sensible order on a map, the forecast shows the weather for your actual travel days, and the packing list suggests warm clothes to match. Our guide to the best Christmas markets in Europe compares twelve cities if you want to add a second stop.

Salzburg trip planDay by day, with map and tips

Also for the same trip: Graz Christmas markets 2026.

* Ad – Partner link: if you book there, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same.