Christmas in Salzburg

Christmas in Salzburg: Advent Music, Christmas Markets and Other Christmas Things to Do:

Photo Courtesy Salzburg Tourism

Winter in Salzburg has its very special charm especially at Christmas. The hectic summer festivals are replaced with Advent music, Christmas markets and other traditional Christmas celebrations.

Advent Music

The Christmas season starts with the traditional Salzburg Adventsingen at the Great Festival Hall which started over 70 years ago.  Other traditional Advent concerts and events include:

• the widely regarded Advent Concerts at the magnificent 900 year-old Festung Hohensalzburg
• Advent Serenades in the historic St Blasius Church
• Salzburger Advent at Kirche St Andra
• An evening of Mozart music at the Alte Residenz

Salzburg Christmas Markets

Christmas in Salzburg offers a very magical atmosphere. The Salzburg Christmas Markets, whose tradition can be traced back to the 17th century, are some of the most atmospheric in the world. All kinds of handicrafts such as Christmas tree decorations, nativity crib figurines, toys and gingerbread are sold in the vicinity of the imposing Cathedral.

If you have time to spare in Salzburg, you can join a Christmas markets tour and venture a little further afield.  Spend an afternoon visiting three traditional and charming Christmas markets in the picturesque Salzburg country side.

Silent Night Chapel Tour

The Silent Night Chapel

Salzburg takes pride of place with regard to Christmas carols. The city and its province are home of the world’s most famous and beautiful Christmas carol – “Silent Night”. Not everyone singing this carol today knows that the priest who wrote the lyrics, Josef Mohr, was born in the city of Salzburg. It was sung for the first time on Christmas Eve in 1818 in a church in the tiny town of Oberndorf near Salzburg and from where it was carried to fame around the world.  On Christmas Eve, you can go on a very popular special tour to Oberndorf and join in a touching Christmas celebration at the Silent Night Chapel.

Other Things to Do in Salzburg at Christmas

When in Salzburg at Christmas, why not enjoy a great Christmas time Mozart evening  with a concert and dinner at the Stiftskeller St. Peter.

With the Alps virtually at its doorstep, visitors to Salzburg can easily combine a city stay with skiing in the mountains, especially since the “Salzburg Snow Shuttle” takes the city’s residents and guests to a different winter sports region each day. However, if you’re not in Salzburg to ski, a very popular thing to do in Salzburg at Christmas is to go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride and enjoy the winter scenery.  The horse-drawn sleigh travels along the Salzach River valley, past many of Austria’s ski resort.

Concerts in Salzburg:  See what’s on at Christmas and you can book concert tickets Here.>

Salzburg Tours:  Search for tours and things to do in Salzburg Here.>

Hotels in Salzburg:  Depending on which district you prefer to be based at, there is a good range of hotels to choose from.  You can search, read hotel reviews and book Salzburg hotels Here.>

Click here to get a free PDF of this post