The Salzburg Christmas market, the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt, opens on Thursday 19 November 2026 and runs until 1 January 2027 on Domplatz and Residenzplatz in the Old Town. Its stalls sit right in front of Salzburg Cathedral, and it’s one of the oldest Advent markets in Austria.
Entry is free, the hours are long, and there’s something on most evenings, from choirs to brass players on the towers. Here are the 2026 dates and opening times, the Krampus dates, the other markets around town, and where to leave your luggage while you look around.
Salzburg Christmas market 2026: dates and hours
| Dates | 19 November 2026 – 1 January 2027 |
| Mon–Thu | 10:00–20:30 |
| Friday | 10:00–21:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00–21:00 |
| Sunday and holidays | 09:00–20:30 (also 8 December) |
| 24 December | 09:00–15:00 |
| 25–26 December | 11:00–18:00 |
| 27–30 December | 10:00–20:30 |
| 31 December | Stalls from 10:00 to at least 18:00, food and drink until 01:00 |
| 1 January 2027 | 11:00–18:00 |
| Location | Domplatz and Residenzplatz, Old Town |
| Entry | Free |
The times come from the market organisers and Salzburg’s tourist board. You can double-check them on the organisers’ official website before you travel.
Where the Christkindlmarkt is
The market fills two squares next to each other. Domplatz, in front of the cathedral, has most of the stalls and the meeting point by the Marienstatue (the Virgin Mary column). Residenzplatz, with its big fountain, connects to it on the north side and has more stalls and a Christmas tree. Both are in the UNESCO-listed Old Town on the left bank of the Salzach, a short walk from Getreidegasse and Mozartplatz.
Weekday mornings are the quietest time. From late afternoon, and on Saturdays in particular, the lanes between the stalls get crowded.
What’s on at the Salzburg Christmas market
Most stalls sell handmade goods: carved wood, glass ornaments, candles, felt and textiles. The programme runs throughout Advent, with choirs, traditional tower blowing (brass music played from above the square), free sing-along sessions and visits from the Christkind. A nativity exhibition is set up in the Residenzhof, the courtyard of the Residenz.
The dates to plan around in 2026:
- 5 December, 18:30: Krampus run, with the horned, fur-covered figures that go with St Nicholas.
- 6 December, 15:30: Nikolo and a children’s Krampus, gentler and aimed at families.
- 21 December, 13:00: Perchten run on the first Rauhnacht, an old Alpine winter custom.
The Krampus runs are loud and the figures do come close to the crowd. Small children may find them scary, so stand further back if you’re with kids.
Other Advent markets in Salzburg
The Christkindlmarkt is the main one, but there are several smaller markets in and around the city. Most of them have not published their 2026 dates yet, so the dates below follow the usual pattern:
- Sternadvent in the Sternbräu courtyard near Getreidegasse usually runs from late November into early January (it closed on 6 January in the last edition).
- The Advent market at Hohensalzburg Fortress usually opens on Advent weekends, Friday to Sunday, plus 8 December. The funicular takes you up.
- The Christmas market at Hellbrunn Palace, south of the centre, usually runs from late November to 24 December.
- The Mirabellplatz market on the right bank usually runs from late November to 31 December.
Food and drink
Glühwein (mulled wine) and Punsch are the standard drinks, often served in a souvenir mug you pay a deposit on and can keep or return. Bratäpfel, baked apples filled with nuts and raisins, are a good warm snack. You’ll also find sausages, roasted chestnuts and Lebkuchen (gingerbread). For dessert after the market, try Salzburger Nockerl, the city’s baked soufflé, which most Old Town restaurants serve.
Getting there
From Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (the main station), it’s about 25 minutes on foot to Domplatz, through Mirabell Gardens and across the river. Trolleybuses from the station stop near the Old Town in around 10 minutes. Driving into the centre in December is slow, and the Old Town is mostly car-free, so use the Park and Ride sites on the edge of the city if you’re coming by car.
Salzburg is cold in December, often below freezing in the evening, with snow some years. The cobbles get slippery, so bring boots with grip.
Luggage storage near the Salzburg Christmas market
Lots of visitors see Salzburg as a day trip from Munich or Vienna, or stop on the way to the ski resorts. The Old Town lanes are narrow and cobbled, which is hard work with a suitcase. Radical Storage has luggage storage spots near Domplatz and around the main station, in local shops and hotels.
You book online, drop your bags and pick them up when you’re done. Prices start from €0.90 a day, each bag is protected up to €10,000, and cancellation is free. Radical Storage has over 16.5K locations in more than 2.3K cities, rated 4.8/5 by travellers.
Salzburg Christmas market FAQ
The Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027.
Monday to Thursday 10:00 to 20:30, Friday 10:00 to 21:00, Saturday 09:00 to 21:00, and Sundays and holidays 09:00 to 20:30. On 24 December it closes at 15:00.
Yes. It reopens on 25 and 26 December from 11:00 to 18:00, runs normal hours from 27 to 30 December, and stays open until 1 January 2027.
The Krampus run at the Christkindlmarkt is on 5 December 2026 at 18:30. A children’s Krampus with Nikolo follows on 6 December at 15:30.
Yes, entry is free. You pay for food, drinks and anything you buy at the stalls.
Radical Storage has luggage storage near Domplatz and the main station. Book online from €0.90 a day, with bags protected up to €10,000 and free cancellation.