Christmas Market Tour

Overview

Join us on a private Christmas market tour from Salzburg and experience the Advent season the way locals do: gingerbread and roasted almonds in the air, Glühwein warming your hands, and market squares glowing under the fortress and the Alps. Your driver-guide collects you at your Salzburg hotel and builds the day around the best markets open on your date. €850 per private vehicle for up to 6 guests, about 8 hours, hotel pickup included.

Advent 2026 in Salzburg: the confirmed dates

The markets do not all open on the same day, which is exactly why a private tour beats a fixed itinerary. These are the 2026 dates as published by the organisers; we re-check them the week before your tour.

• Salzburger Christkindlmarkt, Old Town (Domplatz and Residenzplatz): 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027. Open daily; on 31 December the food stalls stay open until 1 a.m. with fireworks over the fortress at midnight.
• Hellbrunner Adventzauber, in the palace courtyard: 19 November to 24 December, Tuesday to Friday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Mondays. Small entrance fee, includes a drink voucher.
• Advent market at Hohensalzburg Fortress: 27 November to 20 December, Fridays to Sundays and on 8 December, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wolfgangseer Advent (St. Gilgen, Strobl, St. Wolfgang): 21 November to 21 December, with Advent ferries between the three villages Wednesday to Sunday.
• Berchtesgaden Christmas Market, just across the Bavarian border: open through Advent; we confirm the day's hours when you book.
• St. Leonhard and Fürstenbrunn (the Hunters' Christmas Market): small weekend markets near Salzburg that most visitors never find.

December weekends fill first. If you are planning a December trip, September and October are the right time to secure your date.

The Christmas markets we visit

Not every market is open every day, so we take you to the best ones available on your tour day. A typical Advent weekday pairs the Old Town Christkindlmarkt with Hellbrunn and Berchtesgaden; a weekend adds the fortress market or the lakeside stalls of the Wolfgangsee, reached by Advent ferry across the winter lake. Tell us what matters most, handmade gifts, local food, a quiet village atmosphere, or the big-city sparkle, and we shape the day around it.

What the day looks like

• Morning: pickup at your hotel, a short drive out of the city while the markets are still quiet.
• Midday: the first market with your guide, then lunch at a traditional inn or straight from the stalls, your choice.
• Afternoon: a second and third market as the lights come on. The best hour at any Austrian Christmas market is the one after dusk.
• Evening: back at your hotel around 8 hours after pickup, or ask us to drop you at the Old Town market for the evening.

Entrance fees where they apply, food and drinks are paid on the spot, so you decide how much Glühwein the day needs.

Make it a winter trilogy

The Christmas market tour pairs well with our other seasonal days out: trace the origins of the world's most famous carol on the Silent Night Tour, or glide through snow-covered valleys on the Horse-Drawn Sleigh Tour. Staying over New Year? Our guide to New Year's Eve in Salzburg covers the concerts, the fireworks and how we plan the whole night for you.

A magical Christmas experience

"This tour was a highlight of our holiday season! The Christmas markets were enchanting, with delicious treats and beautiful decorations. Our guide was knowledgeable and made the experience unforgettable. Highly recommend!" – Emily R., UK

Christmas Market Tour FAQs

Which Christmas markets will we visit?

Several, chosen for your date: Salzburg Old Town, Hellbrunn, Berchtesgaden, the fortress market and the markets around Lake Wolfgang. Weekdays and weekends have different markets open, so the mix changes.

Is a weekday or a weekend better?

Weekdays are calmer and the Old Town and Hellbrunn are open. Weekends add the fortress and lakeside markets but are busier. If you can choose, a Thursday or Friday gives the best of both.

How long is the tour and what does it cost?

About 8 hours. €850 per private vehicle for up to 6 guests, hotel pickup and your driver-guide included. Larger groups travel in two vehicles.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Most markets are free; Hellbrunn charges a small entrance fee that includes a drink voucher. Fees are paid directly at the market.

Can we do this tour on Christmas Eve or between the holidays?

Yes. The Old Town market runs until 1 January and the lakeside villages reopen after Christmas. Ask us for a date and we tell you what is open.

What should I wear?

Dress warmly in layers; you will be outdoors for much of the day, often after dark. Comfortable, waterproof shoes are the one thing guests wish they had packed.

Can we cancel?

Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the tour; 50% refund between 72 and 24 hours; no refund inside 24 hours. If we have to cancel for weather, you get a full refund or a new date.