On our Viking Christmas cruise last year one of our favorite days was our all day excursion to the city of Salzburg, Austria. The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt at the Residenzplatz celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. Located at Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the traditional Advent market goes way back to the late 15th century. The market as it is known today began in 1974 and has drawn in thousands upon thousands of visitors each year to take part in traditional Austrian Christmas rituals.
Residenzplatz is one of the largest public squares in Salzburg and serves as a gathering place for local events and the home of the beautiful baroque Residence Fountain. The area is surrounded by religious residences in Salzburg’s Old City. The square is bordered by the New Residence and its bell tower, the Cathedral, the Old Residence, and some townhouses. For hundreds of years, the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg lived at the Old Residence, a palace just as large as their political status.
Each year, the Salzburg Christmas Market opens on the Thursday before the first Sunday in Advent, and closes down on January 1 and is free for all those who attend. The market is full of over 100 vendor huts where locals sell traditional hand-made decorations, baked goods, warm drinks, and gifts for all ages. The Residence Fountain acts as a midpoint, surrounded by vendor huts with lighted garland shining down on the area. Aside from the dozens of gifts and goodies to choose from, the market also has a few events.
Every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., guests are invited to sing Christmas songs together in a public choir, spreading Christmas cheer. On Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., as well as Thursdays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m., traditional brass music is played from above the square. Of course, the market also has visits with the Christ Child and the angels every Sunday at 4:00 p.m. where children can tell them what they hope for at Christmas. On Wednesdays, children can join the Christ Child once again for reading time.
Just a block away from Residenzplatz, the Eiszauber ice skating rink is set up in Mozartplatz. The famous square with a statue of Amadeus Mozart provides guests with the unique backdrop of the Neue Residenz, the Salzburg Christmas Museum, and the Cathedral. This is a perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Market and brush up on your ice-skating skills or learn the sport from scratch.
The ice-skating rink is open from November 13 to January 31, usually from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., but make sure to check their website for any special changes in opening hours. The price for adults to rent skates is about $6.00, $3.00 for children 4-10, and $4.00 for youth 11-18.
We enjoyed our time at the Salzburg Christmas Market and the Eiszauber ice skating rink and look forward to visiting again in years to come.