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Salzburg was the stop between Munich and Vienna on our Christmas market trip by train. We only had one full day there, but it was one of our favorites of the whole trip. A big reason was where we stayed.
Salzburg Christmas market 2026 at a glance
- Where: Domplatz and Residenzplatz, the squares around Salzburg Cathedral in the old town.
- Dates: November 19, 2026 to January 1, 2027.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays and holidays 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Holiday hours: December 7 and 8 have special hours; December 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; December 25 and 26, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; December 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (food and drink stands until 1 a.m.); January 1, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Choirs: weekdays at 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 3 and 5 p.m.
- Krampus run: December 5, 2026.
- Cost: free to enter.
Times are from the official Salzburg Christkindlmarkt website and Salzburg’s tourism site, checked October 20, 2026. Confirm them before you go.
Where we stayed: the Sound of Music palace
We didn’t take a Sound of Music tour. Instead, we stayed at the hotel at Schloss Leopoldskron, the palace and lake you’ll recognize from the movie. Walking out to the lake at sunset, with the snowy mountains glowing behind the famous gate and horse statues, was unforgettable.
Inside, the palace is just as beautiful, including a wood-paneled library with painted ceilings and chandeliers.
We ate at the hotel’s restaurant right next door, in a palace dining room with chandeliers, painted ceilings and a checkered marble floor. It made breakfast feel like an event.
Check prices at Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron
If you’d rather stay in the old town, Leopoldskron still makes a great stop. Many Sound of Music tours pass by the lake.
A day in Salzburg’s old town
We arrived by train from Munich in the morning, and Salzburg is small enough to see on foot in a day. We walked through the Mirabell Gardens, crossed the love-lock bridge over the Salzach River, and stopped at Mozart’s birthplace on Getreidegasse.
The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt: the best part of our trip
The Christmas market was definitely the highlight. It fills the squares around Salzburg Cathedral, with a giant tree, strings of lights and wooden stalls. Go after dark, when everything is lit up.
2026 dates: the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz runs November 19, 2026 to January 1, 2027, according to its official website. It’s one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world, and it has run in its current form since 1974.
What made it magical was the live music. There were violinists playing right in the market, and a choir singing on the cathedral steps. Standing there with a warm mug of glühwein while the music played is one of our favorite memories from the whole trip.
Salzburg’s market mugs are a deep blue with a gold design, and they were one of our favorite souvenirs. Here’s how we got our mugs home without breaking them.
Salzburg’s other Christmas markets in 2026
We only had one day, so the Christkindlmarkt was the market we did properly. With more time, these are the other markets on Salzburg’s official tourism site and the 2026 dates it publishes:
| Market | Where | 2026 dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salzburg Christkindlmarkt | Domplatz and Residenzplatz, by the cathedral | Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 | Mon–Thu 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
| Advent market at Mirabellplatz | Mirabellplatz, next to the Mirabell Gardens | Nov 19 – Dec 31 | Sun–Thu 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri–Sat 10 a.m.–9 p.m. (Dec 24 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Dec 25–26 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Dec 27–31 10 a.m.–7 p.m.) |
| Hellbrunn Advent Magic | Hellbrunn Palace, south of the old town | Nov 19 – Dec 24 | Tue–Fri 1–8 p.m.; Sat, Sun and Dec 8 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Dec 21 1–8 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Advent at the fortress | Hohensalzburg Fortress, above the old town | Fridays to Sundays, Nov 27 – Dec 20, plus Dec 7–8 | 11 a.m.–7 p.m. |
- Mirabellplatz is the easy add-on. It’s right beside the Mirabell Gardens, which we walked through on our day there, and it stays open until New Year’s Eve.
- Hellbrunn is the one we’d pick with kids. The palace front becomes a giant Advent calendar with 24 windows, and more than 700 decorated conifers fill the grounds in front of the palace. It has run for 25 years.
- The fortress market is open only on weekends (plus December 7 and 8), so plan your day around it if you want to see it.
Dates and hours are from Salzburg’s official tourism site (Mirabellplatz, Hellbrunn, fortress) and the Hellbrunn Advent Magic site, checked October 24, 2026.
Tips for Salzburg at Christmas
- Consider staying at Leopoldskron. Even one night at the Sound of Music palace feels special, and sunset at the lake is worth planning around.
- One full day covers the highlights. Mirabell Gardens, the river, Getreidegasse and the market are all walkable.
- Save the market for after dark, and listen for the live music.
- Keep your mug. Pay the deposit and take it home.
- Dress warm and waterproof. You’ll be standing outside for hours. Here’s what we wore and packed.
Getting there and away
We came in by train from Munich and left by train for Vienna the next morning. Both rides were easy. Our full London-to-Prague itinerary has every leg of the trip.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Salzburg Christmas market open in 2026?
The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz runs from November 19, 2026 to January 1, 2027. It opens at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends, and closes at 8:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the official market website. Hours are shorter on December 24, 25, 26 and 31 and January 1.
What other Christmas markets are in Salzburg?
Besides the Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz, Salzburg's tourism site lists the Advent market on Mirabellplatz (November 19 to December 31, 2026), the Hellbrunn Advent Magic at Hellbrunn Palace (November 19 to December 24, 2026) and the Advent market at Hohensalzburg Fortress (Fridays to Sundays from November 27 to December 20, plus December 7 and 8, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
When do the choirs sing at the Salzburg Christmas market?
The market's choir schedule lists choirs at 5 p.m. on weekdays and at 3 and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. We heard a choir singing on the cathedral steps after dark, and it was the highlight of our day.
Is the Salzburg Christmas market free?
Yes. Entry is free and the market is barrier-free, according to its official website. When you buy glühwein you pay a deposit on the mug, and you can keep the mug as a souvenir.
Is one day enough for Salzburg at Christmas?
For the highlights, yes. We had one full day: Mirabell Gardens, the love-lock bridge, Mozart's birthplace on Getreidegasse, and the Christkindlmarkt after dark.
Can you stay at the Sound of Music palace?
Yes. We stayed at the hotel at Schloss Leopoldskron, the palace and lake from The Sound of Music, and watched the sunset over the lake from the famous gate.
What makes the Salzburg Christmas market special?
For us it was the live music. Violinists played in the market and a choir sang on the cathedral steps while we drank glühwein from Salzburg's blue souvenir mugs.
