Austria · CHRISTMAS
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 christmas experiences worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Vienna’s Christmas and New Year classical concert at St. Peter’s Church, 1 hour of Baroque vault acoustics and familiar masterworks.
“Wonderful! Magical! Once in a life time experience to do in Vienna! Such talented musicians”
Vienna in Christmas mode, captured by a pro photographer. Walk from the Albertina to St. Stephen’s, with help on angles in 1 hour.
“Our guide Peter is very calm and gave us lots of time to explore Hallstatt and Salzburg at our pace. He guided us with pointers regarding each destination… His driving was also good and he made us feel safe.”
Make Salzburg apple strudel and Vanilla Kipferl in a cave kitchen, enjoy goulash lunch, and take cookies home.
“We loved this cooking class! The staff in the kitchen was phenomenal and the setting was perfect, close to the Old Town and located in a old carved out cave. So fun!”
Spend Christmas or New Year listening to a Vienna string quartet in St. Peter’s Church, with intimate crypt seating and classic favorites.
“This was a classical music concert with a string quartet in the amazingly beautiful St Peter’s Church in Vienna, a short walk from St Stephen’s Cathedral. The concert was an hourlong, with no introductions or programme which felt odd and we were packed in like sardines some in pews and some on chairs. The music and setting was beautiful and much enjoyed but felt it was a little disorganised and with a few tweaks would be much better.”
Christmas horse-drawn sleigh ride from Salzburg to Ramsau am Dachstein, with alpine scenery, blankets, guide talk, and return coach service.
“OMG - Breathtaking views. The bus trip to Ramsau was wonderful then seeing the horses and sleigh as we pulled into the parking lot was amazing. Our sleigh driver was very nice and helped us with a blanket, many times if checked to see if we needed anything to be more comfortable. He stopped several times to point out different photo ops and to let us play in the snow. One time we stopped for hot chocolate and he shared his mountain water. Anyone thinking about doing this ride should immediately book the trip. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about Austria. She made the bus ride interesting…”
A short, warm, and beautifully musical Christmas concert in Vienna’s Capuchin Church, with an optional Imperial Crypt visit under it.
“Perfect amount of concert time to satisfy all in the family. Beautiful church and setting - wonderful acoustics. Very talented musicians and soloist. Highly recommend!”
Vienna Christmas markets in 2 to 3 hours with glühwein and punch, snacks, and guided stories across four districts. Mobile ticket included.
“Wonderful. We hit 3 Christmas markets with lots of authentic food. Our guide Andres was knowledgeable fun and engaging.”
Dinner with fortress views, then Mozart plus Advent and Christmas carols at Hohensalzburg, with funicular rides included.
“Fun memorable experience, perhaps not worth the price. Dinner was ok, and drinks/tip not included. Then the concert began. Fantastic musicians.”
Spend Christmas Eve in Oberndorf and the Stille Nacht Chapel, with a guided coach ride, markets, carols, and mass.
“Great way to spend Christmas Eve. The Chapel was beautiful and the service was something I will remember. Highly recommended!”
A 4-hour Christmas Eve walk from Salzburg to Oberndorf, candlelit carols, and the birthplace of Silent Night, led in English or German.
“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.”
Private 4:30 pm Vienna Christmas Markets walk with door-to-door pickup, Hofburg sights, and top market atmosphere for up to 8.
“My wife and I are quite familiar with Vienna as we've visited the city several times and have grown to love the beautiful Christmas markets. To make our latest visit even more special, we decided to book a private tour of the markets with a local guide. Our goal was to experience the holiday atmosphere like true locals, gain some insights, and learn about the differences between the various markets. Luckily, we were able to book Brigitte as our guide. From the moment we met her in the hotel lobby, we felt like we were meeting an old friend. Brigitte took us to five different markets, and along the way,…”
Salzburg Christmas Market walking tour with a local guide, Silent Night at the cathedral, St. Peter sights, and tastings.
“Don't do this on the weekend if at all possible. The crowds were terrible but the tour was very informative.”
Late-afternoon Vienna Christmas markets walking tour past major landmarks with small groups and multiple markets, guided in English by Dace Schaerf.
“Outstanding tour. Dace our guide was fantastic, and ensured we all saw as much as we could. Dace was also very knowledgeable and made the tour so interesting. Highly recommend.”
Enjoy Mozart and Advent Christmas chamber music at Fortress Hohensalzburg in Salzburg, with included funicular rides for an easy, festive night.
“An awesome venue for a wonderful evening of music. I was by myself and met the people around me who we were so friendly. You can get a glass of wine before the music starts and I thought that was a nice touch. I also loved that we had time to explore the fortress before the show.”
3-hour Vienna Christmas markets and shopping tour with a local guide, Swarovski stop, Cafe Central treats, and a finish on Neubaugasse.
“Nicoleta was great. She went over and above to ensure a great tour. She showed us a local’s view of Vienna.”
Pick the kind of day you want and start at the top of the list.
