Austria · CHRISTMAS

15 Christmas Experiences in Austria to Build a Day Around

26 tours  ·  from $34

The 15 best christmas experiences you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

Vienna: Christmas & New Year's Concert in St. Peter's Church - The arrival plan that protects your seat choice
Christmas, Concerts, Concerts in Vienna, Tour Reviews, Vienna Tours

Vienna: Christmas & New Year’s Concert in St. Peter’s Church

1.Christmas & New Year’s Concert in St. Peter’s Church

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 516 reviews · from $56Our pick

Spend an hour with the Classic Ensemble Vienna in St. Peter’s Church, a Baroque landmark in central Vienna. Hear familiar works such as Eine kleine Nachtmusik and selections by Vivaldi, Bach, Schubert, Haydn, and Beethoven beneath the church’s underground vaults. Seating is first come, first served within your ticket area, so arrive early for the best choice.

“Absolute must do! Go fresh to thoroughly enjoy. My suggestion would be to not plan this at the end of a very long and tiring day.”

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Salzburg Christmas Cookies and Apple Strudel Cooking Lesson - Stretching pastry for original Austrian apple strudel
Apple Strudel Classes, Christmas, Cooking Classes, Salzburg Tours, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Salzburg Christmas Cookies and Apple Strudel Cooking Lesson

2.Salzburg Christmas Cookies and Apple Strudel Cooking Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 183 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72Top rated

In a small English-language class near Salzburg’s Old Town, an Austrian chef guides you through apple strudel and Vanilla Kipferl. You stretch pastry, season apples, bake, eat goulash, and take extra cookies home. The cooking school occupies a distinctive cave-like space, and the 90-minute class suits families, couples, and solo visitors.

“we had so much fun!! our instructor was amazing and we were laughing the whole time! the lunch we were provided was delicious, I would definitely recommend taking the class!”

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Christmas and New Year Concert at St. Peter’s Church in Vienna - A closer look at arrival and seating
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Christmas and New Year Concert at St. Peter’s Church in Vienna

3.Christmas and New Year Concert at St. Peter’s Church in Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 155 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Spend about an hour with the Classic Ensemble Vienna in St. Peter’s Church, a Baroque landmark near St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Expect a string quartet, Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Strauss, and other classical favorites in the church crypt. Seats are assigned or selected at the venue, so arrive early, collect your paper ticket, and dress warmly.

“It was fantastic really atmospheric. The location added to the experience. I just wish people would not talk. They think they are being quiet but the mumbled voices can spoil the experience.”

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Salzburg: Christmas/Advent Concert & Dinner - Dinner above Salzburg’s rooftops
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Salzburg: Christmas/Advent Concert & Dinner

4.Christmas/Advent Concert & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 154 reviews · from $93

Ride the funicular to Fortress Hohensalzburg for dinner and a Christmas concert by the Salzburger Advent Ensemble. Choose Classic or VIP dining, then hear Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, and Advent music in the castle hall. The evening lasts about 3.5 hours, with city views, free funicular access, and vegetarian meals available on request.

“A wonderful evening entertainment following an excellent meal in beautiful surroundings…..”

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Vienna: Christmas Markets Tour - What the walk is like from start to finish
Christmas, Christmas Market Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vienna Tours

Vienna: Christmas Markets Tour

5.Christmas Markets Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 99 reviews · from $98

Walk about 2 kilometers through four Vienna Christmas markets with a local English or Spanish-speaking guide. Taste mulled wine, rum-spiked punch, cookies, and other market food while hearing about Viennese holiday customs. Guides such as Rita, Sophie, Andreas, and Roderick bring local stories, street art, and less touristy neighborhoods into the outing.

“Guide was very friendly and helpful and tried hard to make the tour worthwhile.”

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Christmas Concerts in Capuchin Church - Inside Capuchin Church
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Christmas Concerts in Capuchin Church

6.Christmas Concerts in Capuchin Church

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 81 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Spend about an hour with a professional chamber ensemble, soprano, and trumpet in Vienna’s small Capuchin Church near the State Opera. Expect candlelight, strong acoustics, familiar classical music, and Christmas carols. A combo ticket adds the Imperial Crypt beneath the church, home to Habsburg tombs including Maria Theresa, Franz Joseph, and Sisi.

“I really enjoyed the concert not being a classical music fan I wasn’t sure what to expect but found the music to be easily recognisable and beautifully played in a stunning location. The crypts were also a fascinating experience and worth the trip”

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Salzburg: Christmas/Advent Concert at Fortress Hohensalzburg - Walking through the Christmas market and up to the fortress
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Salzburg: Christmas/Advent Concert at Fortress Hohensalzburg

7.Christmas/Advent Concert at Fortress Hohensalzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 54 reviews · from $49

Ride the funicular up to Fortress Hohensalzburg for a 90-minute Advent concert featuring Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, and traditional Salzburg music. The Salzburg Advent Ensemble performs in the castle hall at 8 pm, with additional 5 pm and 8 pm shows on December 25 and January 1. Concert admission includes the funicular ride.

“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.”

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Christmas Market Vienna Tour - Mariahilf begins with a modest first market
Christmas, Christmas Market Tours, Markets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vienna Tours

Christmas Market Vienna Tour

8.Christmas Market Vienna Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 53 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $103

Walk through Vienna’s smaller Christmas markets with a local English-speaking guide, sampling Glühwein, punch, cookies, and traditional snacks. The route visits Mariahilf, Spittelberg, MuseumsQuartier, and Maria-Theresien-Platz in about two to three hours. Guides such as Rita, Kamil, Chloe, and Germana have led recent departures.

“Rita was a wonderful guide! She showed us around the markets and provided interesting and informative stories about the places we visited. Trust her recommendations about food and beverages. This was a great way to see a few markets, sample some delicious snacks and drinks, and spend a few hours in this beautiful city.”

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Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concert with Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg - Classic, VIP, or Golden VIP?
Christmas, Concerts, Concerts in Salzburg, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Hohensalzburg Fortress Tours, Mozart Concerts, Mozart Concerts in Salzburg, Salzburg Tours, Tour Reviews

Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concert with Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg

9.Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concert with Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 36 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $102

Ride the included funicular to Fortress Hohensalzburg, enjoy a set dinner in the Panorama Restaurant, then hear a Mozart concert with Advent and Christmas carols in historic fortress rooms. Choose Classic, VIP, or Golden VIP dining. The 3.5-hour evening begins at 6:00 pm, with drinks generally extra.

“Beautiful setting.. very professional musicians and wonderful concert. View from the fortress amazing both in the day and at night”

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Silent Night Oberndorf Christmas Eve Tour from Salzburg - Leaving Salzburg for the Salzach walk
Christmas, Salzburg Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Silent Night Oberndorf Christmas Eve Tour from Salzburg

10.Silent Night Oberndorf Christmas Eve Tour from Salzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 32 reviews · 4 hours · from $88

Join a four-hour Christmas Eve trip from Salzburg to Oberndorf, led in English or German, and walk beside the Salzach to the Silent Night Chapel. Guide Kylie is praised for her warm, lively approach. Expect a candlelit service, songs in several languages, and very cold outdoor conditions.

“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.”

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Private Christmas Markets Walking Tour Vienna - Graben, Kohlmarkt, and the Hofburg add Vienna’s grand city center
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Private Christmas Markets Walking Tour Vienna

11.Private Christmas Markets Walking Tour Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Start at your hotel, vacation home, or another agreed point at 4:30 p.m. and walk through Vienna’s Christmas markets with a private licensed guide. Expect Karlskirche, Stephansplatz, Freyung, Hofburg, Graben, and Rathausplatz, plus tips on food, coffee, restaurants, and public transport.

“Our guide, Daniella, was perfect for our group. She was engaging and full of interesting information about the history of Vienna. She kept the tour moving at a nice pace and filled in information about the Christmas markets too. Would highly recommend.”

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Salzburg Christmas Market & City Tour - Salzburg Cathedral and the story behind Silent Night
Christmas, Christmas Market Tours, City Tours, Markets, Salzburg Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Salzburg Christmas Market & City Tour

12.Salzburg Christmas Market & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $348

Walk Salzburg’s old town with an English-speaking guide, visiting the Residenzplatz market, cathedral, St. Peter’s, Getreidegasse, and Alter Markt. Hear the story of Silent Night, see Mozart’s birthplace, taste gingerbread, and take home a Salzburg Christmas mug. The group is limited to 10 people.

“So much more than learning about the Christmas Market. Wonderful opportunity to hear about local culture and history. Our guide was amazing. Highly recommend.”

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Vienna Christmas Tour - Freyung Passage and Vienna’s quieter market tradition
Christmas, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vienna Tours

Vienna Christmas Tour

13.Vienna Christmas Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $87

Join guide Dace Schaerf for a late-afternoon walk through central Vienna, visiting traditional Christmas markets at Freyung, Am Hof, Rathaus, and Karlsplatz. Along the way, see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg, churches, opera house, and grand squares. Food, drinks, and purchases cost extra.

“You need to do this tour to get the best view of Vienna possible! Nothing is better than walking around town with a guide! It's better than a bus tour! I wouldn't have known where to visit but she showed me more than I ever could have imagined!! Even if you aren't a big fan of Christmas markets, it's worth the city tour that's included. The architecture is so incredible! I was also excited when she pointed out the stand that created the first snowglobe and traditional gifts and food at the markets! We even rode the rail car to the Belvedere which was so fun!! I'd recommend this for…”

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Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concerts at the Fortress Hohensalzburg - What you hear: Mozart with Salzburg Advent music
Christmas, Concerts, Concerts in Salzburg, Hohensalzburg Fortress Tours, Mozart Concerts, Mozart Concerts in Salzburg, Salzburg Tours, Tour Reviews

Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concerts at the Fortress Hohensalzburg

14.Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concerts at the Fortress Hohensalzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51

Attend a 90-minute Mozart and Advent or Christmas concert inside Salzburg’s Hohensalzburg Fortress. You’ll ride the funicular up and down, pass the illuminated Christmas market, enjoy city views, and hear Mozart, his contemporaries, and traditional Salzburg Advent music. Food is not included, and smart-casual dress is expected.

“Magical to be at the fortress at night. Beautiful views. Music transported us to another time. Talented musicians.”

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Christmas Markets & Shopping in Vienna - Graben and Kohlmarkt, Vienna’s polished shopping center
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Christmas Markets & Shopping in Vienna

15.Christmas Markets & Shopping in Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $70

Spend about three hours walking central Vienna with a local English-speaking guide, from Hotel Sacher and Swarovski crystals to St. Stephen’s Christmas market, Café Central, and Neubaugasse. You’ll get a city map, shopping tips, and time for Viennese cake, coffee, chocolates, tea, and seasonal treats.

“Nice guide, showed us many places and ts interesting stories about the city. She also recommended local specialties.”

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