Christmas Trips · AUSTRIA CHRISTMAS TOURS
Punch instead of Glühwein, and a concert most evenings. The 15 below cover the Vienna and Salzburg markets, the Advent concerts and the sleigh rides, with prices, start times and how formal each one is.
Spend one hour with Classic Ensemble Vienna in St. Peter’s Church, a Baroque landmark in central Vienna. Hear Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, selections from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and works by Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, and Schubert. Arrive early for the best seat in your ticket section.
“A Lovely Evening In Vienna. Amazing Concert With Very Talented Quartet.”
Spend one hour walking through central Vienna with an English-speaking photographer. Pose at the Albertina, Burggarten, Hofburg, Rathaus, Ankeruhr, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral while your guide captures polished portraits and candid moments.
“The day trip to Salzburg and Hallstatt was great to see these 2 amazing and beautiful places. Instead of seeing Traunsee, we get to visit Melk. That was the only disappointment because we did not get to ride on the boat. We had a great driver cum photographer Omer who was very friendly and knowledgeable of the places we visited. If only there is more day light, it will make the trip perfect as we reached Hallstatt just before sunset.”
Join an English-language class near Salzburg’s Old Town and learn apple strudel and Vanilla Kipferl with instructors including Johann, Leonardo, Nonna, and Ishmail. You’ll stretch pastry, shape cookies, eat goulash, taste the results, and carry extra cookies home.
“If you are looking for something fun and active to do in Salzburg, this is it! Our group of six ranged from 13-58 years old and each of us enjoyed our time making strudel and Christmas cookies. The hosts were detailed in their demonstration and then provided assistance as each group about to make our own strudel. Everything turned out delicious and we left with the ability to replicate the strudel at home. So fun! We’d definitely take another of their classes if we had a chance.”
Spend about an hour with Classic Ensemble Vienna in baroque St. Peter’s Church, hearing a string quartet perform Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Strauss, and other classical favorites. The concert is intimate and atmospheric, but traditional Christmas songs are not guaranteed, and church seating can be tight and cold.
“It was a good show, but I should have really done more research. I went in thinking it was a Christmas/New year concert and the majority of music played was strauss”
Ride the funicular to Salzburg’s 900-year-old Fortress Hohensalzburg, enjoy dinner at its panoramic restaurant, then hear Mozart, Bach, Haydn, and Vivaldi performed by the Salzburger Advent Ensemble. Choose classic or VIP dining, with vegetarian meals available on request.
“What a beautiful setting for a wonderful evening. From the view of castle at night, and the ride up the funicular, it was great. Dinner was very good. Excellent food and service. The view of the city from our table was nice. And the concert afterwards was so wonderful. Thanks for a great evening.”
Leave Salzburg at 9 a.m. for Ramsau am Dachstein, where horses, bells, blankets, and Alpine views set the scene for a winter ride. Guides such as Walter, Daniel, Leo, and Lisa have led the trip. Plan on lunch at your own cost, a possible snow-free route, and a return via Filzmoos.
“A memorable excision, highly recommended. Probably the best tour guide I’ve ever had in all the years of traveling, Leapold.”
Walk through four Vienna Christmas markets in lesser-visited districts with a local English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect hot punch with optional extra rum, cookies, food samples, holiday crafts, street art, and stories about Viennese Christmas customs. The 2-kilometer route runs in all weather.
“Roderick was absolutely amazing. He is so passionate about Austria and shares a wealth of knowledge from history to his favorite places. The markets were quaint & non-touristy and the treats were quintessentially Vienna!”
Spend about an hour with a professional string quartet, soprano, and trumpet in Vienna’s intimate Capuchin Church near the State Opera. Expect festive carols, familiar classical music, warm woodwork, strong acoustics, and an optional combo visit to the Habsburg Imperial Crypt beneath the church.
“El ave María me impresionó mucho ,así como la cripta . Los músicos para mí poco entender lo hicieron genial”
Ride the funicular up to Fortress Hohensalzburg for a 90-minute Advent concert featuring Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, and traditional Salzburg music. The 8 pm program includes the Salzburg Advent Ensemble, castle views, and festive decorations. On December 25 and January 1, concerts run at 5 pm and 8 pm.
“The venue itself was incredible, but the exceptional performance of these virtuosos was purely an exquisite experience. I wished they could have played a few more encores. Nobody wanted the concert to come to an end! It was the highlight of our time in Salzburg.”
Walk from Mariahilf to Maria-Theresien-Platz in 2 to 3 hours, visiting four Christmas markets with an English-speaking guide. Sample Glühwein, punch, cookies, and local snacks while hearing Austrian holiday stories. Expect cold weather, crowds, and a group of up to 20 people.
“Great informative tour. Learned many interesting things about Vienna and tasted some really good food!”
Begin with dinner at Hohensalzburg Fortress’s Panorama Restaurant, reached by included funicular. Choose classic, VIP, or Golden VIP dining, then hear a Best of Mozart concert with traditional Salzburg Christmas carols in historic fortress rooms. Smart casual dress is suitable.
“Dinner is delicious and concert is great. Just a reminder that the ticket offer you to visit the castle which will be closed at 5pm. The restaurant opens at 5:30pm which end up half an hour waiting time.”
Leave central Salzburg at 3 pm by coach for Oberndorf, where you can browse Christmas stalls, learn the story of *Silent Night*, and attend a multilingual Christmas Eve service. Expect cold weather, crowds, outdoor standing, and a moving finale at the chapel.
“Last time I went was about 20 years ago. Maybe 200-300 people. A mass, then singing of Christmas carols and finally singing Silent Night by all in the crowd. Now, bus loads of people can't hardly move. No more mass only the story of the composition of the song. When they finally got around to singing Silent Night, no one in the horde sang, only the local choir. Better off staying in Salzburg and attending church in one of the many spectacular churches in the town.”
From Salzburg, join an English or German speaking guide for a four hour Christmas Eve visit to Oberndorf. Walk beside the Salzach, learn how Silent Night began, then join candlelit festivities and sing the carol in several languages. Dress warmly, as much of the service takes place outdoors.
“Great communication, our tour guide Kylie was awesome. She had such a great and fun energy. Not too much to see once the service got going and as predicted it was super cold but such a lovely thing to do on Christmas Eve. Really enjoyed it.”
Start at your hotel, vacation home, pier, or station at 4:30 p.m. and walk Vienna’s Christmas markets with a private licensed guide. You’ll visit Karlskirche, St. Stephen’s, Freyung, Hofburg, and City Hall, while guides such as Brigitte, Walter, and Sabine add local history, food advice, and transit tips.
“Walter was a great guide. The tour was interesting and the markets were really fun! It was just the right amount of time and walking.”
Walk Salzburg’s Christmas markets and old town with an English-speaking guide, visiting the cathedral, St. Peter’s Abbey, Getreidegasse, and Mozart sites. You’ll hear local stories, taste gingerbread, receive a Salzburg mug, and finish near the market with time for a warm drink and food.
“We thoroughly enjoyed our time with our guide! She was thoughtful and very kind and showed us some of the best out of the way areas and the best places to purchase local items. The food tastings were also great!”
Pick a market, a lights run or a night in the snow.
