Christmas in Austria: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Festive Markets

Day 1

Arrival in Vienna,
Stay at Hotel Sacher Wien 5*

Welcome to Vienna. On arrival at Vienna Airport, meet your private driver for the transfer to Hotel Sacher Wien 5*, one of the city’s best-known luxury hotels, located beside the Vienna State Opera and within easy reach of the historic centre.

Later, enjoy a traditional horse-drawn Fiaker ride through central Vienna as the city’s Christmas lights illuminate the historic streets. Relax beneath warm blankets while enjoying Austrian mulled wine and Christmas cookies as you pass through the festively decorated centre.

The remainder of the evening is at leisure, with the option to visit one of the nearby Christmas markets or enjoy dinner in the city.

Overnight: Vienna

Day 2

Imperial Vienna, Belvedere and the Christmas Markets

After breakfast, meet your private guide for a morning exploring Vienna’s historic centre. Begin around the Hofburg, the former imperial residence of the Habsburgs, before continuing along Kohlmarkt and Graben towards St Stephen’s Cathedral. Along the way, hear more about Vienna’s imperial history, court life and the buildings that shaped the centre of the city.

There will also be time to visit some of Vienna’s traditional Christmas markets, with their seasonal stalls, decorations and local specialities. After lunch at leisure, visit the Upper Belvedere at your own pace. The palace is home to an important collection of Austrian art, including Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. Afterwards, spend time at the Christmas market in front of the palace before returning to your hotel.

The evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Vienna

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna Pastries and Imperial Lights

This morning, visit Schönbrunn Palace and explore the imperial apartments and ceremonial rooms at your own pace, discovering more about the Habsburgs and life at their former summer residence. Afterwards, spend time at the Christmas market in front of the palace, where you can browse the stalls and enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.

In the afternoon, enjoy a private experience centred on Vienna’s pastry and coffeehouse traditions. Visit selected cafés and local favourites while tasting several Viennese pastries, including classics such as Apfelstrudel and Sachertorte.

Later, return to Schönbrunn for Imperial Lights (entry included) and follow the illuminated route through the palace grounds. Afterwards, you may wish to attend an optional classical concert or opera performance, subject to the programme during your stay.

Overnight: Vienna

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

By Train to Salzburg,
Stay at Hotel Sacher Salzburg 5*

Today, leave Vienna behind and continue your Christmas journey west. Following breakfast, a private transfer will take you to the station for your first-class Railjet journey to Salzburg. On arrival, continue by private transfer to Hotel Sacher Salzburg 5*, beautifully set beside the Salzach River and close to the historic centre.

Leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy time for lunch before spending the afternoon at your own pace at the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt in Domplatz and Residenzplatz, where the historic squares are filled with Christmas stalls, lights and seasonal decorations.

Take time to browse the traditional stalls, sample a seasonal speciality and enjoy Salzburg's historic centre as the squares begin to glow with Christmas lights.

Overnight: Salzburg

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Salzburg Old Town, Hohensalzburg Fortress and Advent Concert

After breakfast, meet your private guide and begin at Mirabell Gardens before crossing the Salzach River into Salzburg’s Old Town. Walk along Getreidegasse and through the cathedral quarter, where Baroque façades, church bells and the scent of Christmas stalls give the city a wonderful sense of occasion at this time of year.

As you explore, hear more about Mozart’s life in Salzburg and the musical traditions that still shape the city today. Later, continue to Hohensalzburg Fortress, where views stretch across the rooftops to the surrounding mountains. During Advent, its historic courtyards are filled with festive stalls, lights and seasonal music.

Return to the hotel with time to relax before heading back to the fortress in the evening for a Mozart Advent concert, a beautiful way to end a winter day in Salzburg. A dinner-and-concert experience can also be arranged.

Overnight: Salzburg

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Wolfgangsee Advent and the Salzkammergut

After breakfast, your private guide will collect you from the hotel for a full-day excursion into the Salzkammergut. Travel first to St Gilgen, set on the shores of Wolfgangsee, and spend time exploring the village and its Advent market.

Continue by boat across Lake Wolfgangsee to St Wolfgang, enjoying views of the surrounding mountains along the way. On arrival, explore the historic centre and waterfront, where the Advent market, festive decorations and traditional stalls create one of the most atmospheric Christmas settings in the region.

Enjoy lunch in St Wolfgang and try some of the local seasonal specialities before returning to Salzburg in the late afternoon.

Boat services operate according to the seasonal Advent timetable and are subject to weather conditions.

Overnight: Salzburg

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

By Train to Innsbruck,
Stay at Hotel Das Innsbruck 4*

After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to the station for your journey through the Austrian Alps to Innsbruck, where snow-dusted mountains frame one of Austria’s most beautiful historic cities.

On arrival, continue by private transfer to Hotel Das Innsbruck 4*, close to the heart of the Old Town. Later, meet your private guide and begin exploring Innsbruck’s historic centre, from the Golden Roof and colourful old townhouses to elegant Maria-Theresien-Strasse.

As daylight fades, wander through Innsbruck’s Christmas markets, where festive stalls, glowing lights and the surrounding mountains create a wonderfully Alpine setting.

Overnight: Innsbruck

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8

Nordkette and Seefeld in Winter

This morning, set out for one of Innsbruck's most memorable winter experiences. From the city centre, travel by funicular and cable car towards the Nordkette, rising quickly above the rooftops to Hungerburg and, weather permitting, higher to Seegrube. From the mountain terraces, enjoy wide views across Innsbruck and the surrounding Alpine ranges. Take time for a warm drink or an early lunch while taking in the winter scenery.  

In the afternoon, continue by private vehicle to Seefeld, where chalet-style buildings, winter scenery and a traditional Christmas market create a very different atmosphere from Vienna and Salzburg. You may also wish to try tobogganing, subject to local conditions. 

If mountain conditions prevent the Nordkette visit, the programme can instead include Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens before continuing with the day according to local conditions.

Nordkette cable-car operations and winter activities are subject to weather and operating conditions.

Overnight: Innsbruck

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9

Departure

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning in Innsbruck before checking out from the hotel and meeting your private driver for the transfer to Innsbruck Airport.

As you leave the city and its mountain backdrop behind, take with you the memories of Vienna’s elegant streets, Salzburg at Christmas and the snow-covered landscapes of Tyrol.

For guests with more convenient international connections from Germany, a private transfer to Munich Airport can be arranged instead.

Meals included: Breakfast