10 Things to Do in Salzburg in Winter

During the cold months of the year, Salzburg is a magical place. The city blends a passion for classical music, a stunning winter landscape, iconic cultural and leisure destinations. You will find a wide range of activities to enjoy alone, with friends or with your family.

The best things to do in Salzburg in winter include visiting the Christmas markets, celebrating Mozart week and enjoying ice sports. You can also discover a different perspective of the city on a guided tour, among other things.

If your trip to Salzburg is around 27 January and the first week of February, you can celebrate the anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birth. For one week the whole city pays homage to the composer. You will see his name everywhere.

You can enjoy a real Mozart concert tour in Salzburg, organised annually by the Mozarteum Salzburg Foundation. You'll find chamber music, theatrical performances, orchestral concerts, dance productions, concertante opera and more.

The options for getting to know Mozart' s musical legacy are varied. For example, here are some of the places you can visit:

• Salzburg Cathedral Square. There, you will be able to watch some open-air performances.
• The Mozart House-Museum, with exhibits on the daily life of the composer and on his musical works.
• The Hohensalzburg Fortress, where some galas of the Mozarteum Orchestra are held.

You can certainly buy tickets for a Mozart concert in Salzburg at any time of the year, but nothing beats Mozart Week. This festival brings together the world's best artists to perform the wind and brass compositions of the genius creator, Mozart.

Any time is the right time to take a stroll through Salzburg' s Old Town and discover its hidden gems. However, if you want to avoid the annoying crowds, then the winter season is a convenient time for your visit, as it is a period of low tourist traffic.

This is one of the best tours of Salzburg, allowing you to stroll through the narrow streets of the city centre without rushing. You'll enjoy the medieval architecture, picturesque squares and the Salzach River that divides the city between the old and new areas.

You can take this tour on your own or connect with a guided tour of Salzburg. Whichever you choose, you will walk through must-see places in the city such as the following:

• Mirabell Palace and its imposing gardens, which in this season are dotted with snow and offer a nostalgic atmosphere.
• Salzburg Cathedral, where Mozart was baptised.
• St. Peter's Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in rococo style.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the tour starts at approximately 159€ per person.
• Duration: two to six hours.

Perhaps your one-day visit to Salzburg in the winter coincides with Valentine's Day on 14 February. If so, you can celebrate the date in a special way by leaving a love lock on the Makartsteg Bridge.

This bridge connects Salzburg' s old town with the new part of the city. You can approach this iconic structure at any time of the day and place a symbolic red padlock with your and your lover's initials on it, so that your romance will last forever.

Also, if you go to the bridge at sunset, you will be amazed by the romantic and nostalgic atmosphere of the place. You will see the last rays of the sun covering the snowy landscape of the city and generating a series of contrasts, shines and shadows on it.

You will enjoy a different panoramic view of the Salzach river flowing under the bridge, the medieval architecture of the old town and the Austrian Alps, which guard the city from afar. Afterwards, you can complement this magical experience by attending a Mozart concert with dinner in Salzburg at the Hohensalzburg Fortress.

The arrival of winter in Salzburg from mid-December to mid-March is accompanied by low tourist numbers and therefore low prices for most goods and services. While you're in town, take advantage of the sales during the cold months and do some shopping.

This adventure can be done at your own pace. Just head to Getreidegasse, which is the main shopping street in the city. There, you will find everything from traditional shops to international chains. You can buy handicrafts, fashion, leather goods, jewellery, perfumes, antiques and more.

And, if you are in Salzburg in December, you can do some shopping at the Christmas markets, some of them being the following:

• The Christkindlmarkt, considered one of the oldest markets with a history dating back to the 15th century. You will enjoy a little more than 100 stalls with mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, handicrafts, natural products, etc.
• The Mirabell Square flea market has a fairytale setting, due to its location next to the impressive Mirabell Gardens, usually incorporated in the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg.

Another thing you can do in Salzburg during the colder months of the year is to be amazed by its stunning winter scenery. Just visit a few local viewpoints on your own to get a different perspective of Mozart's city.

The city's main viewpoints include the following:

• The Hohensalzburg Fortress on the Festungsberg, which offers a 360° panorama of the city.
• The towers of Salzburg Cathedral, with its particular early Baroque style. From the top of these structures you will have a breathtaking view of the old town.
• The Capuchin Hill, from where you will see the rooftops of the city dotted with snow.
• The Museum of Modern Art, located on Mount Mönchsberg and with a privileged view from the building's terrace.

These destinations are easy to reach, so you won't have any trouble getting there. In fact, if you wish, you can take a tour on the Salzburg sightseeing bus, since among its approximately 15 free stops, it incorporates these viewpoints.

The annual Winterfest takes place in Salzburg. It is a circus show with more than 20 years of tradition in the region, which will transport you to a magical world full of acrobatics and extravagant humour.

The festival takes place in December until the first days of January in the grounds of the Salzburg Volksgarten sports park. There, you will be amazed from the very first moment by the beautiful winter scenery surrounding the tent, which is illuminated by dozens of coloured lights.

During the show you will enjoy the performance of several international circus companies presenting their latest productions. You will be immersed in a series of amusing stories where acrobatics and poetry take centre stage. All of this is accompanied by an immersive soundtrack.

You will also find a wide range of seasonal cuisine, including roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and other dishes. You can delight your palate and soothe the effect of the low temperatures of the coldest season of the year.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of admission varies from year to year.
• Duration: about two hours.

There is nothing like a good mulled wine to warm you up during the winter season in Salzburg. So if you happen to be in Mozart's city during the coldest time of the year, from mid-December to mid-March, you can take part in a guided wine tasting tour of some of the city's wine bars.

This is an experience that you can do on your own, but it's even more worthwhile if you take it in the company of a professional guide. You will have the opportunity to learn about the city's wine history, which dates back to Roman times.

Among the places that stand out as favourites for this type of activity are the wine shops De Gustibus, WEIN & CO Salzburg Platzl, the Salzburg Tasting Studio, among others.

At any of these destinations you can taste a wide selection of Austrian wines, some of which are sparkling and others non-alcoholic. All this, accompanied by an aperitif.

Useful information

• Price: the average cost is €34 per person.
• Duration: the experience lasts approximately 45 minutes.

The winter cold in Salzburg is no obstacle to enjoy the carnival in the city. Be part of this local tradition that has accompanied the Salzburgers since the mid-18th century and enjoy the colourful street performances and parades.

Throughout the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, i.e. around 22 February, you will find an infectious atmosphere of celebration in the city. You will see musicians and dancers on Salzburg Cathedral Square and in streets such as Getreidegasse, the main shopping street in the historic centre.

On the third day of the carnival, you will also have the opportunity to watch the Parade of Fools. Thousands of people dressed in colourful costumes parade through the streets of the city, accompanied by floats , musical bands, acrobats and dancers.

If you are enthusiastic about ice skating, then during your 2-day trip in Salzburg or longer, you will have the opportunity to glide freely on the rink of the Eisarena Salzburg Sports Stadium. You will have a different and fun time.

When you arrive at this sports centre where the Salzburg professional hockey team usually trains , you will find an open-air ice rink available for the enjoyment of locals and tourists. Just rent a pair of skates and immediately start having fun on your own.

Also, if your trip coincides with the beginning of the winter season, i.e. from mid-December onwards, you will be surrounded by a celebratory atmosphere: Christmas carols, Christmas decorations, colourful lights. And, if you're lucky, you might even see Father Christmas gliding down the slope. Ideal if you still don't know what to do in Salzburg with children.

Useful information

• Price: Admission can cost around €5 per adult and around €4 for children under 18.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 16:30. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7.15pm to 8.30pm.
• Location: Hermann-Bahr-Promenade 2, 5020 Salzburg.

The start of the Chinese New Year is a celebration that does not go unnoticed in Salzburg. Although Mozart's city does not have a Chinatown, this is not an impediment to celebrating oriental traditions. At the beginning of February, you will have the opportunity to discover part of the legacy of this culture.

You can enjoy traditional Chinese music in the Mozart House or in the Hohensalzburg Fortress, as on the occasion of the beginning of the New Year there is usually a chamber concert in some of these places.

You can also go on a gastronomic tour of the city's Chinese restaurants. Such is the case of Mr Wen Asia Food, An Bing, Rong Yao, among others. In this way, you will be able to taste the famous rice balls, dumplings, fish, spring rolls, among other preparations that during the Chinese New Year promote prosperity and abundance.

In the so-called Mozart city of Salzburg, the winter months are generally not very busy. From mid-December to mid-March, low temperatures prevail, accompanied by rain and snowfall. For these reasons, you won't find crowds of tourists on the streets.

During this time, prices drop significantly for flights, accommodation and restaurants. This is certainly good for your budget. Plus, during your stay you won't have to worry about waiting in long queues to get to a concert, monument or attraction.

Winter in Salzburg is quite cold, with precipitation and snowfall. Therefore, it is not enough to wear warm clothes during this season. Also, throughout the day you should consume some warm drinks and food in the local bars, restaurants and street markets. This will help you maintain a good body temperature.

You should also include indoor activities in your itinerary to protect you from the rain and cold. For example, buy tickets for the Magic Flute at the Salzburg Marionette Theatre, or join one of the hop-on hop-off bus tours in Salzburg, among others.