Salzburg Christmas Markets: What to Eat & Drink
The short version: the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, in front of the cathedral in the UNESCO-listed Old Town. The drink is Glühwein, with orange or berry Punsch and Jagatee for colder nights, and the foods to try are the Bosna (Salzburg’s spiced sausage sandwich), Raclettebrot, a sugar-dusted Bauernkrapfen and honey Lebkuchen. Smaller, quieter markets fill Mirabellplatz, the courtyard of the Hohensalzburg Fortress and the gardens of Schloss Hellbrunn. On a short visit, a guided market and food walk is the shortcut to the best stalls and the right beer hall for dinner.
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At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Dates 2026/27 | Christkindlmarkt 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027; Mirabellplatz to 31 December; Hellbrunn to 24 December; Fortress weekends 27 November to 20 December |
| Drink | Glühwein, Orangenpunsch and Beerenpunsch, Jagatee, Salzburg beer |
| Street food | Bosna, Raclettebrot, Haunsberger, Bratwurst, Surbratl bread |
| Sweet | Bauernkrapfen, Lebkuchen, Weihnachtsschmarren, roasted almonds |
| Best markets | Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz, Mirabellplatz, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Hellbrunn |
| Mug deposit | Drinks come in a Häferl (mug) with a deposit; 4 euros at some stalls in 2025 |
| Best time to go | Weekday mornings or late afternoon, when the lights come on; Saturday evenings are the most crowded |
What to drink at the Salzburg Christmas markets
Glühwein is the default: red wine heated with cinnamon, cloves and orange. In November 2025 a mug cost between 4.50 and 5.50 euros on the Christkindlmarkt, with little change on the year before, and the market has twelve drink stands, so quality and price vary. Many stalls also make their own Punsch, especially Orangenpunsch and Beerenpunsch (berry punch), and there is always Kinderpunsch without alcohol.
The Alpine choice is Jagatee (Jägertee), black tea laced with rum and spices, the classic partner to a Bauernkrapfen. Salzburg is also a brewing city: in Advent, the Augustiner Bräu in Mülln serves Stachelbier, Christmas bock beer heated in front of you with a red-hot iron rod until the foam caramelises.
Drinks are served in a Häferl, a ceramic mug with a deposit. In 2025 one stall charged a 4 euro deposit. Return the mug for your money, or keep it as a souvenir.
What to eat at the Salzburg Christmas markets
| Food | What it is | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Bosna | Salzburg’s cult sausage sandwich: grilled pork bratwurst in a toasted white roll with onions, parsley, mustard and a secret spice mix | Stalls on the Christkindlmarkt; the original at Balkan Grill |
| Raclettebrot | Bread topped with melted raclette cheese, optionally with Speck (cured ham), served with cranberries | Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz |
| Haunsberger | A warm roll filled with pork bratwurst, mustard, sauerkraut, onion and curry, a local cousin of the Bosna | A specialist stall on Residenzplatz |
| Bratwurst and Würstl | Grilled pork sausages in a roll with mustard | Every market, from Domplatz to the campfire at Hellbrunn |
| Surbratlbrot and Verhackertbrot | Rye bread with cold cured roast pork, or with Verhackert, a spread of minced smoked bacon and lard | Snack stalls on the Christkindlmarkt |
| Speck and Hartwurst | Alpine cured ham and dried sausages, sliced to eat or vacuum-packed to take home | Speck stalls in front of the cathedral on Domplatz |
| Bauernkrapfen | A round “farmer’s doughnut”, fried, with a thin centre and a thick puffy rim, dusted with sugar or filled with jam | Christkindlmarkt; eat it with a Jagatee |
| Lebkuchen | Honey gingerbread, plain, glazed or chocolate-coated, often as decorated hearts | Lebkuchen stalls in front of the cathedral on Domplatz |
| Weihnachtsschmarren and sweet dumplings | Torn, caramelised pancake (a festive Kaiserschmarrn) and sweet filled Knödel | Sweet stalls on the Christkindlmarkt |
The one thing not to miss is a Bosna. It was invented in Salzburg in 1949 by Bulgarian-born Zanko Todoroff, and the tiny Balkan Grill in a passage off Getreidegasse still makes it to the original recipe. Order a “Einspänner” (one sausage) if you want to save room for the market.
The best Salzburg Christmas markets
Salzburger Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz
The Salzburger Christkindlmarkt fills Domplatz in front of the cathedral and the larger Residenzplatz next door, with parts of Kapitelplatz. It has been held in its current form since 1974, draws close to a million visitors a year and sits under a “starry sky” of lights strung across the squares. The 2026 market runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027: Monday to Thursday 10am to 8.30pm, Friday 10am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 9pm, Sundays and holidays 9am to 8.30pm. This is the place for Bosna, Raclettebrot, Haunsberger, Speck, Lebkuchen and the widest choice of Glühwein and Punsch. Look out for choirs, tower brass music, a crib exhibition in the Residenz courtyard, and the Krampus and Perchten runs on 5, 6 and 21 December.
Christmas market on Mirabellplatz
Across the river in the right-bank Old Town, the Mirabellplatz Christmas market in front of Schloss Mirabell is one of the calmer markets, with handmade crafts and regional food. The 2026 market runs from 19 November to 31 December 2026, Sunday to Thursday 10am to 8pm and Friday and Saturday 10am to 9pm. Brass groups play in front of the palace on Wednesdays and weekends at 5.15pm. Combine it with a walk through the Mirabell Gardens.
Advent market at Hohensalzburg Fortress
High above the city, the Hohensalzburg Fortress Advent market fills the Burghof, the castle’s inner courtyard, with local crafts, Glühwein and Salzburg Schmankerl (regional snacks). In 2026 it opens on weekends only, Friday to Sunday from 27 November to 20 December, plus 7 and 8 December, from 11am to 7pm. Brass musicians play in the courtyard from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on every market day. Walking up the footpath to the market is free; the funicular and the fortress interiors cost extra.
Hellbrunner Adventzauber
Celebrating its 25th edition in 2026, the Hellbrunner Adventzauber at Schloss Hellbrunn, south of the centre, began in 2001 with six small huts. Today the palace’s 24 front windows become a giant Advent calendar and a forest of more than 700 fir trees hung with 10,000 red baubles lights up the park. Eat at the Advent café in the Orangerie or the Schlossrestaurant in the courtyard, and children can grill sausages and stick bread over the scouts’ campfire. It runs from 19 November to 24 December 2026, Tuesday to Friday 1pm to 8pm, weekends and 8 December 10am to 8pm, closed on Mondays except 21 December. There has been an admission charge in recent years.
Sternadvent in the Sternarkaden
Hidden in the arcaded courtyard between Getreidegasse and Griesgasse, the Sternadvent is a small, refined winter market of traditional and new crafts, where you can meet the makers. It runs from 19 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, Sunday to Thursday 11am to 7pm and Friday and Saturday 11am to 8.30pm, so it outlasts the main market. The Sternbräu beer hall shares the courtyard, which makes it an easy stop for a hot drink and dinner.
Where to eat a proper meal near the markets
Salzburg’s Old Town is small, so all of these are within ten minutes’ walk of Domplatz.
- Balkan Grill, a hatch in the Stockhamer passage off Getreidegasse, has made the Bosna since 1949. Order the original, or the “Einspänner” with one sausage. Cheap (€).
- Gasthof Goldgasse, two minutes from Residenzplatz, cooks Austrian classics and reworked old Salzburg recipes. Order Backhendl (fried chicken), Wiener schnitzel or Topfenschmarrn. Mid-priced (€€). (Michelin listing)
- Herzl Tavern on Getreidegasse is an Austrian tavern for Wiener schnitzel, boneless Backhendl, Kaiserschmarrn and Salzburger Nockerl, the city’s sweet soufflé. Upper mid-priced (€€€). (Michelin listing)
- St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, Salzburg’s oldest restaurant, sits in the abbey courtyard next to Domplatz. In Advent its courtyard becomes a small Christmas village with a mulled wine stand (from 13 November in 2025), and it serves festive menus on 25 and 26 December. Book ahead.
- Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln, the monks’ brewery founded in 1621, pours beer from wooden barrels into stone mugs in huge halls. You can bring your own food (drinks must be bought here), and in Advent try the Stachelbier.
- Sternbräu, the brewery restaurant around the Sternadvent courtyard, serves its own Sternbier and Austrian dishes. Order oven-roasted Schweinsbraten with bread dumplings. Mid-priced (€€).
- Café Tomaselli on Alter Markt, with roots going back to 1700, is Austria’s oldest coffee house. A new operator took over in May 2026 and has said the name and character stay. Stop for coffee and a slice of cake between markets.
Names link to Google Maps for directions. We checked these places in October 2026. Christmas opening days change, so check before you go.
Christmas market tours to book in Salzburg
Salzburg’s markets are close together, but the best food is split between dozens of stalls, the Getreidegasse snack bars and the old beer halls. A guided Advent walk links the Christkindlmarkt with the side streets and tells the story of the Old Town, with tastings of Bosna, Punsch and Lebkuchen along the way.
| Experience | Length | Rating (reviews) | Best for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Strudel and Salzburger Nockerl Class | 1.5 hours | 4.9 (571) | Baking a local classic | Check availability |
| Christmas and Advent Concert with Dinner | 3.5 hours | 4.4 (201) | A festive evening | Check availability |
| Stiegl Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting | 1.5 hours | 4.7 (368) | Beer lovers | Check availability |
| Salzburg Christmas Market Tour | 1.5 hours | New | The markets with a guide | Check availability |
Our pick: the Apple Strudel and Salzburger Nockerl Class, rated 4.9 from 571 reviews on GetYourGuide.
Ratings as shown on GetYourGuide in October 2026. Seasonal tours sell out in December, so check the listing for live dates and prices.
Tips for visiting
- The Christkindlmarkt closes early on Christmas Eve (3pm) and opens 11am to 6pm on 25 and 26 December. On New Year’s Eve selected food stalls stay open until 1am.
- Mind the Häferl deposit: it was 4 euros at some stalls in 2025. Return the mug to get it back, or keep it as a souvenir.
- Close to a million people visit the main market each year. Come on a weekday morning or late afternoon rather than a Saturday evening.
- The Fortress market is open on weekends only (plus 7 and 8 December); the footpath up is free, the funicular is not.
- Hellbrunn is closed on Mondays (except 21 December) and is a short bus ride south of the centre.
- For a Krampus run, be on Domplatz on 5 or 6 December, or catch the Perchten run on 21 December.
- Sternadvent runs until 6 January 2027, the best bet if you visit after New Year.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Salzburg Christmas markets 2026?
The Salzburger Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027. Mirabellplatz runs 19 November to 31 December, Hellbrunn 19 November to 24 December, the Fortress on weekends from 27 November to 20 December, and Sternadvent until 6 January 2027.
What do you eat at the Salzburg Christmas markets?
The Bosna sausage sandwich, Raclettebrot, the Haunsberger roll, bratwurst, Speck, Bauernkrapfen and Lebkuchen. For the original Bosna, go to the Balkan Grill off Getreidegasse.
What is Glühwein, and what is Jagatee?
Glühwein is hot spiced red wine, about 4.50 to 5.50 euros a mug on the Christkindlmarkt in 2025. Jagatee is hot black tea with rum and spices, an Alpine favourite. Both come in a Häferl with a deposit.
Which Salzburg Christmas market is best?
For food and atmosphere, the Christkindlmarkt in front of the cathedral. For a calmer evening, Mirabellplatz or Sternadvent. For views, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, and for families, Hellbrunn.
Are the Salzburg Christmas markets open on 25 and 26 December?
Yes. The Christkindlmarkt and the Mirabellplatz market are open from 11am to 6pm on 25 and 26 December 2026. Hellbrunn and the Fortress market have closed by then.
Is a Salzburg Christmas market tour worth it?
On a short visit, yes. A local guide takes you straight to the best Bosna, Punsch and Lebkuchen stalls and tells you the story of the Old Town while you eat.
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