Salzburg is worth a visit at any time of year, but in winter the city welcomes its visitors in particularly glamorous splendor. The pre-Christmas period naturally offers a particularly atmospheric ambience, but the time after the turn of the year also has a charm all of its own, when the crowds of tourists are fewer and you can get to know the city of Mozart from a quieter side. Then the focus is more on winter sports in the surrounding regions. 

During Christmas season, Salzburg is bathed in a unique glow of lights that heightens the anticipation of Christmas. The numerous Christmas markets in and around Salzburg invite you to store and linger. Cultural events, such as the famous Salzburg Advent Singing in the Large Festive Hall, frame the pre-Christmas period with festive sounds and make guests' hearts beat faster.  

If you would like to hand over the planning of your Christmas vacation to specialists, Salzburg Panorama Tours is the right place for you: we offer various packages - there is sure to be the right one for you. 

Spending two days in Salzburg in winter? We will show you how to make the most of these two days to see as much of Salzburg as possible. 

The city shines in warm colors in autumn, when the leaves of the trees on the Kapuzinerberg and Mönchsberg mountains glow in all shades of yellow and red. Enjoy the view of the autumnal landscape of Salzburgerland from the numerous vantage points.

If you visit Salzburg in the run-up to Christmas, you absolutely must visit the beautiful and atmospheric Christmas markets. All of them are located next to special sights in the city, so you can combine your Christmas market visit with a bit of sightseeing. One of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the Alpine region is located on Residenzplatz Square, surrounded by the Old and New Residence of Prince Archbishop, Salzburg Cathedral with Domplatz Square and the adjacent Mozartplatz.  The Salzburg Fortress Advent takes place in the courtyard of Hohensalzburg Fortress where you can enjoy your mulled wine with a wonderful view of the city. The Christmas market on Mirabellplatz is located directly in front of Mirabell Palace with the adjacent Mirabell Gardens. Close to the famous Getreidegasse, the Sternadvent around the Sternbräu offers a cozy Christmas atmosphere. A little further outside the city, the Hellbrunn Advent Magic invites you to a romantic Christmas market in the inner courtyard of the famous Hellbrunn Palace, in whose garden you will also find the famous gazebo from the film “The Sound of Music”. 

Younger visitors also get their money's worth in Salzburg: 

• kids can practise their skating skills at the ice magic on Mirabellplatz 

• the ice arena in the Volksgarten or the ice rink in front of the Europark shopping center 

• the Christmas markets offer numerous treats for children, such as children's punch, roasted almonds and much more, and the Hellbrunn Advent Magic even has its own children's Christmas world to make children's eyes light up

• Salzburg Zoo is also open in winter and offers exciting insights into the lives of animals in winter 

• If the weather is not so good, you can spend exciting hours in the Toy Museum or the House of Nature. 

In the evening, Salzburg offers a variety of events during Advent, which further increase the anticipation of Christmas. You can choose between the Salzburg Advent Singing in the Grosses Festspielhaus, the Salzburg Advent in the Andräkirche, the Salzburg Shepherd's Advent in the Great Hall of the University and much more. But it doesn't necessarily have to be traditional Austrian folk culture. If you fancy something a little more unusual, the Winter Festival in Salzburg's Volksgarten could be just the thing for you. This festival for new circus in Salzburg is the largest festival for contemporary circus in the German-speaking world. Experience internationally renowned circus companies and marvel at their artistic performances. 

Have you already explored the sights of the city of Mozart on your own on your first day? Then it's time to make yourself comfortable in the warm sightseeing bus and let Panorama Tours chauffeur you to the most interesting places in and around Salzburg. There really is something for everyone here:  

In the snow, a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow-covered Salzburger Land makes hearts beat faster. But the absolute highlight - should you be spending December 24th in Salzburg - is the festive tour to Oberndorf, where the world-famous Christmas carol “Silent Night, Holy Night” originated and where a romantic Christmas market and the Silent Night Chapel await you today. 

• If you want to get to know Salzburg and its surroundings, we recommend a tour to Hallstatt or Berchtesgaden. For fans of the Oscar-winning, world-famous film “The Sound of Music”, we accompany you on the Original Sound of Music Tour to the most important original locations of the film, while a trip to Berchtesgaden or the famous salt mines is great fun for young and old alike.  

Let the impressions of these two wonderful days sink in over a cozy dinner in one of Salzburg's restaurants and enjoy typical Austrian delicacies in the cozy, warm dining rooms of the city of Mozart. 

Celebrating the turn of the year in Salzburg? If so, you can look forward to a varied program. In addition to top-class New Year's Eve and New Year's concerts and special New Year's Eve menus and parties in the restaurants and bars, the city around Salzburg Cathedral offers a great backdrop for this special night. You will be accompanied by live music, the New Year's shooting of the Festungsprangerschützen (fortress marksmen), the gun salute of the Citizens' Guard and much more before the bells of Salzburg Cathedral ring in the New Year at midnight and a spectacular firework display is set off at Hohensalzburg Fortress. Celebrate the start of the new year with live music on Salzburg's Residenzplatz. The numerous food stalls will take care of your physical well-being. 

Salzburg Panorama Tours offers a special New Year's Eve package and will be happy to help you book your individual package. 

If you visit Salzburg after the turn of the year, you have the chance to explore the city at a very special time. The crowds of tourists are fewer and you get a completely different view of the sights, away from the crowds.  

Those interested in culture will get their money's worth during Mozart Week: the world's leading Mozart festival takes place every year in January on the occasion of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birthday and brings outstanding artists and ensembles to Salzburg to honor Mozart's work in numerous concerts and events. 

Are you spending your winter vacation in one of Salzburg's ski resorts such as Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun, Zell am See, Saalbach Hinterglemm, Leogang, Obertauern, Grossarl, Bad Hofgastein or similar? How about a trip to Salzburg in between to round off your ski vacation? Salzburg Panorama Tours has put together some tips for you: 

• Get to know Salzburg and its sights on your own. With the Salzburg Card you can use public transport free of charge and have free admission to many sights. 

• Hop on one of our heated buses and be chauffeured to the most beautiful destinations in Salzburg's surroundings in the utmost comfort. How about a visit to the world-famous town of Hallstatt or the idyllic Berchtesgadener Land?