Salzburg

Christmas Activities

Attend a Christmas concert of music by Mozart, Haydn, Bach, and other legendary composers at the historic Hohensalzburg Fortress, perched high above Salzburg. Ride the funicular for free to listen to masterpieces in a magnificent setting. Feast on a holiday menu with your choice of chicken, fish, or vegetarian dishes. Concert Program: • W. A. Mozart: Salzburg Symphony • J. Haydn: Serenade • J. S. Bach: Concerto for 2 Violins and Strings • A. Vivaldi: Harp Concerto and Guitar Concerto • Advent music from the Salzburg countryside Classic Dinner: • Mini bread rolls with 2 different spreads • Beef Consommé with vegetable julienne and dumplings • Roasted corn-fed chicken on tagliatelle and seasonal vegetables with "Pinzgauer" herbal froth • Mozart dessert VIP Menu: • Mini bread rolls with two types of spread • Beef broth with dumplings • Braised beef cheek from local cattle on truffled mashed potatoes and vegetables of the season or roasted Salzburg gold trout in almond butter with rosemary potatoes • Original Salzburger Nockerl: fluffy egg soufflé with vanilla cream and berries *Vegetarian options are available upon request.

The impressive Advent and Christmas concerts on Fortress Hohensalzburg are truly unique. The way through the festively illuminated Salzburger Christmas market ensures for an enchanting start to this special concert evening. The magical atmosphere on the world-famous fortress with a view of the city and its surroundings combined with the artistic quality of the performing ensemble make for an unforgettable concert experience. During the Christmas concerts, musical treasures from W.A. Mozart and his contemporaries as well as traditional Advent music from the countryside of Salzburg are performed.

Depart from Salzburg and head towards the scenic Wolfgang Lake. Arrive at the first stop of the day, the charming village of Strobl, and be enchanted by the array of impressive nativity scenes. From here, travel to St. Gilgen, home to one of the region’s most beautiful Christmas markets. Spend some time wandering around the stalls, mingling with the locals, and shopping for gifts and handmade crafts. The final stop of the tour is the idyllic Christmas market in the village of St. Wolfgang. Admire the glowing Christmas trees and the market’s picturesque wooden stalls adorned with glistening lights, candles, and decorations. As you explore, warm up with a cup of traditional mulled wine or punch. At the end of an unforgettable experience, hop back on the bus for the return journey to Salzburg.

Enjoy a Christmas walk through the lovely city of Salzburg, with your certified and experienced guide, they will tell you about local history, (seasonal) culture, music, and more. You are greeted  by the smells of local food and drink at the Christmas market of Palace Mirabell, then you continue through the nearby Mirabell Garden - a beautiful place to sing a song or two. Stroll by Salzburg's main sights, with their historic backgrounds, all the way to Residenzplatz Square, and enjoy the lovely atmosphere of Christmas trees, market stalls, smells, and decorations, as you learn many things about this fascinating city from your guide. As the tour comes to an end, you can dwell at the famous Christkindl Christmas-market with your guide, discussing the many things there are yet to see here during your holiday. As your ways part, accept a small gift package from your guide, as a reminder to the time you shared.

Enjoy an unforgettable Christmas Eve! This 4 hour excursion to Oberndorf, near Salzburg, will make this Christmas one you will never forget: for in Oberndorf stands the Silent Night Chapel, where the famous carol was first performed. According to the legend, it was here that Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber, the lyricist and composer, found themselves faced with the problem of a broken organ. Mohr remembered the poem, Silent Night, which he had written two years previously, and Gruber wrote out a simple tune that he could play on the guitar. And that was how the famous song was born. It is traditional in Salzburg and the regions around it, upper Austria, Bavaria and Tirol, to turn out all the electric lights on Christmas Eve. The church will be lit only by candlelight. There is no more heartwarming place to take part in the Christmas festivities than the Oberndorf Chapel. Of course, the proceedings end with Silent Night , and whatsmore, in several languages. Before visiting the chapel, a knowledgeable guide will accompany you along the Salzach, through the snowy foothills of the Alps.

Warm up for the Christmas season on a private tour to Oberndorf bei Salzburg, to explore the origins of the world-famous Silent Night, Holy Night carol. This year is the 200th anniversary of the carol, dedicated to a message of peace in the world. This private tour will start at your hotel in Salzburg. With a professional guide, vehicle, and driver for your group, you'll drive to the town of Oberndorf, enjoying views of the wintery landscape and lakes along the way. Learn the history of the carol's creators, and how the song became a hit around the world. In 2011, the carol was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. With a selection of special activities, this tour will be a trip to remember. Visit the Silent Night Chapel, the site of the songs' world premiere, and the related museum. See the Pilgrimage Church, wander around a Christmas market, and visit a special Post Office. There is much to see, hear, sing and enjoy.