Innsbruck is the capital of the Tyrol state in Austria and is beautifully set among the mountains of the Alps. The city is famous for its mixture of modern and Imperial architecture, including the Golden Roof, an emperor’s museum and the 16th-century Ambras Castle, with its art and armor museum. The Gothic Court Church is another fascinating visit, with its fancy imperial tombs. However, Innsbruck is more popular as one of the top destinations in Europe for winter sports. The city features the Bergisel Ski Jump, a sports facility, and the Nordkette funicular designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid. While in summer, Innsbruck is the place to be for hiking in the beautiful mountains, winter is spectacular here at the various ski resorts. The city comes to life during the festive season, when visitors can enjoy the most delightful Christmas markets in Innsbruck, Austria.
1. Old Town Christmas Market
The Christmas Market in Old Town Innsbruck is a traditional and beautiful affair. Right next to the iconic Golden Roof, a huge Christmas tree can be seen, sparkling in the winter air. Visitors can enjoy traditional Glühwein (mulled wine) while watching the trumpet players serenading the crowd with traditional Austrian Christmas songs on an elevated platform. Below, people stroll through around 70 market stalls, backed by the beautifully preserved medieval buildings, where they will be 28 life-size characters from popular legends and fairy tales standing tall. In Riesengasse (Giant’s Alley), four giants stand tall to celebrate the season. Say hello to Father Christmas, who stands with an old street organ, handing out sweets and biscuits to his younger fans. Drop some money into his tin to receive hidden gifts. Meanwhile, the stalls are packed with delightful hand-crafted gifts, including jewelry, arts and crafts, candy and more.
Old Town Christmas Market
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Website: Old Town Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 15 to Dec 23: 11am - 9pm (daily)
2. Maria Theresien Street Christmas Market
Maria Theresien Street is the main shopping street in Innsbruck, with many stores selling everything from fashion to jewelry to houseware. During the festive season, this lovely street is turned into a twinkling paradise, with colorful lights in the trees and modern lighting displays throughout the market. Here visitors will find approximately 30 stalls, selling a range of international gifts, along with some of the most delicious treats to be found in the city. Even better, this market isn’t just open until Christmas Day. It stays open until Epiphany on January 6.
Maria Theresien Street Christmas Market
Address: Maria-Theresien-Straße, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
Website: Maria Theresien Street Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 25 - Jan 6: 11am - 9pm (daily)
3. Wiltener Platz Christmas Market
The Wiltener Platz Christmas Market is ideal for those looking for unique and genuine craftsmanship in the way of art and craft gifts. The Christmas Market also features a cultural program of music, puppet theater, and mini-concerts during the festive season and in the run-up to Christmas Day. Visitors can snack on delicious treats from Sardinia, Italy and quaff organic Glühwein (mulled wine) along the way. Enjoy browsing the stalls, tasting the finest cuisine in Innsbruck and go home with the perfect Christmas gifts for all your loved ones.
Wiltener Platz Christmas Market
Address: Wiltener Platz, Leopoldstraße 31, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
Website: Wiltener Platz Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 25 - Dec 21: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 8pm; Sat: 2pm - 8pm (closed on Sun)
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4. Market Square Christmas Market
The Christmas Market in Marktplatz is ideal for the whole family and offers many attractions, such as a carousel, puppet shows, friendly ponies and the Jaufenthaler Nativity Scene, a moving delight which fascinates the children. The scene consists of 15 motors, moving 28 figures, ring church bells and including a waterfall for effect. The 68 stalls sell a colorful range of gifts, craftsmanship and tasty food including Christmas specialties. Everything surrounds a beautiful, 14-meter (46 feet) high Christmas tree, laden with over 170,500 Swarovsky crystals.
Market Square Christmas Market
Address: Marktplatz Innsbruck, Innrain 4, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
Website: Market Square Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 15 - Dec 23: 11am - 9pm (daily)
5. Hungerburg Christmas Market
Catch the Hungerburg mountain railway from the center of Innsbruck, where you will visit the fascinating station designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. Enjoy panoramic views from Hungerburg, as it stands high on a hill overlooking the city. The stalls at the Hungerburg Christmas Market offer a wide variety of sumptuous Christmas food and hot punch, as well as many other items relating to the holiday, including the perfect Christmas decorations.
Hungerburg Christmas Market
Address: Hungerburg, Innsbruck, Austria
Website: Hungerburg Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 16 - Dec 23: Mon - Fri: 1pm - 7pm; Sat, Sun, holidays: 12pm - 7pm
6. Bergisel Christmas Market
Bergisel Christmas Market is the newest of the Innsbruck festive markets and is located on Bergisel Hill, underneath the Bergisel Olympic Ski Jump. The market has been dubbed Kaiserweihnacht (Emperor’s Christmas). The market mainly sells local arts and crafts along with seasonal delicacies and the famous Glühwein (mulled wine) brewed according to the traditional Austrian recipe. The children can enjoy Kinderpunsch, their own non-alcoholic version of Glühwein. The Bergisel Christmas Market will be available each weekend between November 22 to December 22.
Bergisel Christmas Market
Address: Bergisel Hill, Innsbruck, Austria
7. St. Nikolaus Christmas Market
The Christmas market at St. Nikolaus Church in Hans Brenner Platz is a smaller, quieter, more contemplative affair. Peaceful festive music is played, stalls sell arts, crafts and Christmas decorations as well as home-made cookies. This is one of the quieter ways for the whole family to celebrate advent in the lead up to the main event.
St. Nikolaus Christmas Market
Address: Hans Brenner Platz, Innsbruck, Austria
Website: St Nikolaus Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 22 - Dec 23: 4pm - 9pm (daily)
Christmas markets nearby Innsbruck
8. Advent Market in Hall in Tirol
Advent Market runs from November 22 to December 24 and features all kinds of Tyrolean delicacies to eat and plenty of hot punch to warm visitors up. Perfect for the whole family, food stalls offer local treats such as maroni (roasted chestnuts), kiachl (filled open fritters), krapfen (doughnuts), bruschetta (roasted garlic bread), all washed down with punch for the children and Glühwein (mulled wine) for the adults. Stalls also sell gifts and Christmas-related items from local vendors and other areas. The family can listen to choirs and brass bands, while children have fun with pony riding and an interactive zoo. December 6 will see Father Christmas and his entourage arriving at the market to deliver his Christmas message and join the festivities.
Advent Market in Hall in Tirol
Address: Oberer Stadtpl., 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
Website: Advent Market in Hall in Tirol
Opening hours: Nov 22 – Dec 23: Mon - Fri: 3pm - 8pm; Sat: 10am - 8pm; Sun: 1pm - 9pm; Dec 24: 10am - 1pm
9. Christmas Market in Kitzbühel
The Christmas Market in Kitzbühel is in a beautiful setting, with wooden stalls displaying Christmas decorations and fairy lights. The market features more than 30 stalls, offering traditional crafts and tasty Tirolean specialties to enjoy. Children can get involved in baking bread, make-and-take sessions, or can enjoy pony riding, storytelling, a quaint carousel and a nativity exhibition in St. Catherine’s Church by the Kitzbühel Art School. At 8pm, the traditional chimes ring out from the bell tower of the church. December 6 sees St. Nicholas visiting the market to hand out sweets to all the well-behaved children. Visitors are entertained on December 7 by the Wilten Boys Choir performing Christmas carols.
Christmas Market in Kitzbühel
Address: Altstadt, Kitzbühel, Austria
Website: Christmas Market in Kitzbühel
Opening hours: Nov 11 - Dec 23: Wed - Fri: 2pm - 8pm, Sat - Sun: 11am - 8pm; Dec 24: 10am - 2pm; Dec 25 - 26: 2pm - 6pm
'Frohe Weihnachten' in Innsbruck, Austria
Have an enjoyable time exploring this beautiful, historic city, gazing at the views of the surrounding snow-capped Alps, and heading to some of the most delightful Christmas markets in Innsbruck, Austria. After you have purchased all those great gifts for the whole family and your friends, it’s “Frohe Weihnachten” (Merry Christmas) as you head home again.
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