Events, Festivals and Exhibitions

Salzburg Christmas Market 2023

23 November 2023 - 6 January 2024

Free

,
 
Loading Events
  • This event has passed.

If you are planning to take a trip to a Christmas market this year, you could do far worse than travelling to Austria’s world-heritage city Salzburg, home of Mozart. Currently, there is a curfew in Austria.

Alongside the Vienna Christmas Market and stemming back to the 15th century, Salzburg Christkindlmarkt as they call it in Austria, is one of the oldest advent markets in the world.

History of Salzburg Christmas Market

In the 15th Century, the festive fare was called Tandlmarkt, but by the 17th century it had been re-christened Nikolaimarkt or St Nicholas’ Market, and was held for two weeks before and after St Nicholas’ Day on 6 December around Salzburg’s Cathedral Square. As an advent fare, it was regarded only behind Vienna, Amsterdam, Nuremberg and Paris.


For another iconic Christmas market in Europe, head to the Brussels Christmas Market in Belgium.


What to expect from the Christmas Market

The market as it is known today really only goes back to 1974. Expect local folk music, mulled wine, incense, Austrian delicacies, 100 stalls selling local crafts and an enormous Christmas Tree, plus lots of singing.

Salzburg Christmas Market
Salzburg Christmas Market
When is the Salzburg Christmas Market

The market opens on the Thursday before the first Sunday in Advent. In 2023, this falls on 23 November. It runs until 1 January, 2024, and will include choral music and nativity exhibits.

Where is it held?

The market is in and around the Cathedral Square and Residenz Square, Salzburg.

There will also be Advent Magic in Hellbrunn Courtyard (23 November to 24 December), a Christmas Market on Mirabell Square (23 November to 24 December), an advent Market in the Hohensalzburg Fortress Courtyard 1 to 18 December), and the St. Leonhard Advent Market every weekend in December.

You can discover details of all Christmas Markets in Salzburg and Salzburgerland, here.

Salzburg Christmas Market Programme

Krampus vor dem Dom © Verein Salzburger Christkindlmarkt
Krampus vor dem Dom © Verein Salzburger Christkindlmarkt

The programme of events includes guided Christmas tours around the city, choral singing in front of the cathedral, readings for kids, “Turmblasen” (wind instruments) on Residenz Square, and nativity exhibits in the Residenz courtyard and festive songs performed from various spots around Salzburg.


Things To Do in Salzburg

For more inspiration on what to do in the city, read about Mark Bibby Jackson’s Salzburg City Break where all roads lead to Mozart.

Flights from London to Salzburg

Ryanair has flights from London Stansted to Salzburg, Eurowings also operates out of Stansted and London Heathrow, while British Airways has flights from London Gatwick. Austrian Airlines flies from Heathrow.

Accommodation in Salzburg

It will cost you nothing extra to book your accommodation via our hotel bookings portal but the small commission we make helps with the running of this site.

Click to search for hotels with Agoda
For further information

Click here.

Photos c. Salzburg Tourism.


Venue

Salzburger Christkindlmarkt
Altstadt Salzburg
Salzburg,5020Austria
+ Google Map
Mark Bibby Jackson

Mark Bibby Jackson

Before setting up Travel Begins at 40, Mark was the publisher of AsiaLIFE Cambodia and a freelance travel writer. When he is not packing and unpacking his travelling bag, Mark writes novels, including To Cook A Spider and Peppered Justice. He loves walking, eating, tasting beer, isolation and arthouse movies, as well as talking to strangers on planes, buses and trains whenever possible. Most at home when not at home.

Read more posts by Mark Bibby Jackson →

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *