Guides · Salzburg
Salzburg Christmas Market 2026: Christkindlmarkt Guide
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
The main Salzburg Christmas market, the Christkindlmarkt on Cathedral Square and Residence Square, runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, according to the Austrian National Tourist Office. The market has been mentioned as far back as the 15th century, and its stalls sit at the foot of the Hohensalzburg Fortress, around the city's Baroque cathedral. Hellbrunn's Advent Magic and the Mirabell Square market open on the same day.
This guide covers the 5 best Christmas markets in Salzburg, from the Christkindlmarkt and the Advent market inside the fortress to Sternadvent, Mirabell Square and the torch-lit courtyard at Hellbrunn Palace. Each entry includes the 2026 dates where published, the address, the nearest bus stop or station and a Pro Tip.
The order starts in the Old Town, where the Christkindlmarkt, the fortress and the Sternadvent courtyard are all within a short walk. It then crosses the Salzach to Mirabell Square and finishes with a bus ride south to Hellbrunn.
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1Salzburger Christkindlmarkt on Cathedral and Residence Square - The Main Market
The Salzburger Christkindlmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in the German-speaking world, with records going back to the 15th century. It spreads across Cathedral Square (Domplatz) and Residence Square (Residenzplatz), framed by the Baroque Salzburg Cathedral, the Residenz palace and the fortress high above. The 2026 market runs from 19 November to 1 January 2027.
The stalls sell carved wooden figures, glass ornaments, candles and traditional crafts, along with food and drink such as Bratwurst, roast chestnuts, baked potatoes and hot punch. On the Feast of St Nicholas, a children's Krampus and St Nicholas visit is part of the programme, and Advent singing performances take place regularly.
The Old Town, including the market squares, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the setting is a large part of the market's appeal.
2Advent Market at Hohensalzburg Fortress - Salzburg's Highest Christmas Market
High above the city, the courtyard of the Hohensalzburg Fortress hosts a small Advent market on weekends during the season. It is the highest Christmas market in Salzburg, and the setting inside one of the largest fully preserved medieval castles in Europe gives it a very different feel from the busy squares below.
The stalls focus on handmade crafts and regional food, and the views from the fortress walls over the snow-covered roofs of the Old Town and the Alps are some of the best in Salzburg. The fortress also hosts evening concerts during Advent.
The 2026 dates follow the Advent weekends; check the fortress or Salzburg Tourism website before you go, as the market does not run every day.
3Sternadvent in the Sternbräu Courtyard - The Local Favourite
Sternadvent takes place in the inner courtyards of the Sternbräu, a historic brewery-inn complex just off Getreidegasse in the Old Town. It is smaller and less touristy than the main Salzburg Christmas market, with a reputation for crafts made by local artisans and a relaxed atmosphere popular with Salzburg residents.
The courtyards fill with stalls selling handmade gifts, felt goods, ceramics and food, and there are regular music performances. Because the market is enclosed by buildings, it feels cosy even on cold nights.
Check the official Sternadvent listings for 2026 dates and opening hours; in recent years it has run from late November until shortly before Christmas.
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4Christmas Market on Mirabell Square - In Front of Mirabell Palace
The Christmas market on Mirabell Square sits in front of Mirabell Palace and St Andrew's Church, on the New Town side of the Salzach River. It runs from 19 November to 31 December 2026, and over the last few years it has become a favourite with both locals and visitors for its wide range of food and gifts.
The market is spacious and easier to move around than the Christkindlmarkt in the Old Town. Mirabell Gardens, with views back towards the fortress, are next door, and the palace's Marble Hall hosts classical concerts throughout Advent.
The square is a short walk across the Makartsteg footbridge from the Old Town, which makes it easy to combine both markets in one evening.
5Hellbrunn Advent Magic - Torchlit Courtyard at Hellbrunn Palace
The Hellbrunner Adventzauber (Hellbrunn Advent Magic) celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, running from 19 November to 24 December in the courtyard of Hellbrunn Palace, the summer residence built for a Prince-Archbishop in the early 17th century. A path lined with torches, a giant Advent calendar on the palace windows and thousands of lights set the scene.
It is the most family-friendly Salzburg Christmas market. Children can enjoy a sleigh ride pulled by real reindeer, and there is an entertainment programme in the area between the orangery and the park. Since 2018, parts of Salzburg Zoo have also been included in the Advent Magic.
The palace is about 15 minutes from the Old Town on bus line 25.
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Salzburg Christmas Market 2026: Christkindlmarkt Guide - FAQ
The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt on Cathedral and Residence Square runs from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027, opening daily from 10am (9am on some days). Hellbrunn Advent Magic and the Mirabell Square market open on the same day.
Yes, the Christkindlmarkt is free, and so are the Mirabell Square market and Sternadvent. Reaching the fortress Advent market requires a funicular or fortress ticket, so budget for that if you plan to go up.
City buses connect Salzburg Hauptbahnhof with stops on the edge of the Old Town, and the market is a short walk from there. The Old Town itself is pedestrianised, so walking is the easiest way to get between markets. Hellbrunn is about 15 minutes away on bus line 25.
Yes. The Christkindlmarkt stays open over the Christmas holidays, with shorter hours of around 11am to 6pm on 25 and 26 December. Hellbrunn Advent Magic, however, closes on 24 December.
Yes. The Christkindlmarkt runs until 1 January 2027, and the Mirabell Square market until 31 December. On New Year's Eve the market turns into a New Year's market with midnight fireworks, and on 1 January the food and drink stalls stay open until around 6pm.
The Christkindlmarkt fills Cathedral Square (Domplatz) and Residence Square (Residenzplatz) in the UNESCO-listed Old Town, at the foot of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Mirabell Square is across the Salzach river, and Hellbrunn Palace is on the southern edge of the city.
Weekday mornings are the quietest. The 2025 market set a record of around two million visits, with the biggest crowds at weekends and around the Christmas holidays, so avoid Saturday evenings if you can.
The Christkindlmarkt is the most famous. The Advent market at Hohensalzburg Fortress has the best views, Sternadvent is a local favourite in a hidden courtyard, Mirabell Square has a wide food selection, and Hellbrunn Advent Magic is ideal for families.
Yes. The Eiszauber ice rink sets up on Mozartplatz, next to the Christkindlmarkt. In the 2025 season it opened daily from 10am to 10pm until the end of January.
Take bus line 25 from the Old Town to the Hellbrunn stop, about 15 minutes. Hellbrunn Advent Magic runs from 19 November to 24 December 2026 in the palace courtyard and is especially popular with families.
