Renowned alpine slopes and romantic night markets, festivities in mountain villages, folklore parades, and delicious yuletide feasts – winter in Austria covers all the festive bases. Here’s where to soak up the Christmas spirit, find the magic and merriment, and join the locals in their new year traditions.
1 City-hop and enjoy the famed Christmas markets
Christmas markets spring up all over Austria, but the big cities are where you’ll find the showstoppers. Let the illuminations guide you towards squares and former imperial grounds, where you’ll discover festive stalls selling traditional handicrafts and barrels of hot punsch from mid-November until the end of December. Visit Vienna for markets with baroque palace backdrops and an epic ice rink in front of the gothic-style city hall. Head south to Graz to see its ice-carved Christmas crib and the giant advent calendar projected on to the facade of the Graz Rathaus. Feel the market magic outside Salzburg Cathedral, beneath the glowing Hohensalzburg fortress. Or marvel at Innsbruck’s Christmas tree, glimmering in front of the Golden Roof in the cobblestoned old town.
2 Trace the origins of Silent Night
First performed in 1818 by composer Joseph Mohr and organist Franz Xaver Gruber in the tiny chapel of St Nicholas Parish Church in Oberndorf, close to the city of Salzburg, Silent Night is Austria’s yuletide gift to the world. Designated an intangible cultural heritage by Unesco in 2011, there are now 13 Silent Night locations across Upper Austria, Tirol and Salzburgerland that you can visit to find out more about the song’s fascinating history.
3 Witness the legendary Krampus parade
Horned, masked characters in hairy costumes march to the chilling clang of cowbells and beating sticks. Plumes of smoke, bursts of fire, and gasps from the crowd fill the air. The devilish counterpart to St Nicholas comes to the streets every 5 December for Krampusnacht (Krampus night), to punish all the naughty children (those who have been good will get treats from St Nicholas the next day). While traditionally concentrated in western Tirol, this Christmas tradition has now spread nationwide, with hundreds of parades taking place in villages and small towns across the country. Klagenfurt in Carinthia hosts the largest Krampuslauf (Krampus run) in Austria, while charming Graz also puts on a spectacular show.
4 See a life-size nativity scene
Handcrafted scenes depicting the story of the nativity are a longstanding advent tradition in Austria, and as much a part of the season as market-stall hopping. But in the countryside surrounding the gorgeous Lake Wolfgangsee, which skirts the states of Salzburg and Upper Austria, the Christmas tale is told in epic proportion, with life-size dioramas featuring beautifully rendered biblical figures, starry lights and even real barnyard animals. The three villages of St Gilgen, Strobl and St Wolfgang are the perfect stages for this artistry, each hosting their own stunning displays in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
5 Ride the world’s longest floodlit toboggan run
A wooden sled curving down a snow path at speed – you haven’t experienced winter in Austria until you’ve tried the traditional pastime of tobogganing. These snow paths are lovingly carved into mountains yearly to cater for family fun, but the region of Zell am See, famed for its mighty Kitzsteinhorn glacier adventures, has upped the ante. The nearby Wildkogel Arena is home to the world’s longest night-time toboggan run, and it’s a daring ride. Strap in and embark on a thrilling journey of twists and turns on this illuminated 8.5-mile run. Your starting point is at 2,100 metres, and you’ll drop a whooshing 1,300 metres on the way down to the valley.
6 Carve your way to Austria’s oldest ski town
The pretty, pastel-hued, medieval alpine town of Kitzbühel in Tirol is a winter delight. One of Austria’s oldest ski towns, come here to glide over some of the 145 miles of slopes. Follow in the turns of local Franz Reisch, who was the first to ski down the Kitzbüheler Horn mountain in 1893, or watch the prestigious Hahnenkamm downhill races, taking place 16-22 January 2023. This grand winter resort is a magical place to indulge your senses in the yuletide spirit; the streets of its picture-perfect centre glistening with Christmas markets, the sweet smell of cookies filling the air, and the sound of the renowned Wilten Boys’ Choir, which continues a centuries-old tradition of performing at the advent concert.
7 Waltz your way into the new year
New Year’s Eve in Vienna is unique and filled with traditions that follow in a particular order. Known as Silvester (the German word for New Year’s Eve in Austria), the city centre throngs with people dancing and drinking at a trail of stages and stalls in the historic 1st District. As the new year nears, the streets turn into an open-air ballroom, where the Viennese grab a partner and whirl to the Blue Danube waltz, before Austria’s largest bell, the “Pummerin”, rings from the north tower of St Stephen’s Cathedral. The Vienna Philharmonic new year’s concert is broadcast live from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, continuing the celebration of classical music in the city and showcasing it to the world. Tickets for this year are sold out but booking begins in February for 2023/24.
From magical Christmas markets to world-class skiing, epic new year celebrations to spectacular spas, fall in love with everything winter has to offer, with an unforgettable trip to Austria. Plan your perfect trip at austria.info/en/winter
