The 15 Best Christmas Tours in Austria

1.Christmas & New Year’s Concert in St. Peter’s Church

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 763 reviews · 1 hour · from $57Our pick

Spend one hour with the Classic Ensemble Vienna in St. Peter’s Church, a Baroque masterpiece in central Vienna. The program can include Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and works by Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, and Schubert. Choose your seating section, arrive early for the best spot, and dress warmly.

“The concert was amazing. Very talented musicians. Great view of the stage in amazing surroundings. Seats were a bit uncomfortable.”

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2.Salzburg Christmas Cookies and Apple Strudel Cooking Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 183 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72Top rated

In a small Salzburg cooking school built into a cliff, a chef guides you through apple strudel and Vanilla Kipferl cookies. You stretch pastry, season apples, bake your desserts, and eat goulash soup while they cook. The 90-minute English class includes tastings and extra cookies to take home. Leonardo, Johan, Nonna, and Ishmail have led sessions.

“If you are looking for something fun and active to do in Salzburg, this is it! Our group of six ranged from 13-58 years old and each of us enjoyed our time making strudel and Christmas cookies. The hosts were detailed in their demonstration and then provided assistance as each group about to make our own strudel. Everything turned out delicious and we left with the ability to replicate the strudel at home. So fun! We’d definitely take another of their classes if we had a chance.”

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3.Christmas and New Year Concert at St. Peter’s Church in Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 155 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $59

Spend about an hour with the Classic Ensemble Vienna in St. Peter’s Church, a baroque landmark near St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Expect a string quartet and classical favorites by Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Strauss, and others. The program may not include traditional Christmas songs, and seating can be narrow, so arrive early and dress warmly.

“Nice . Church is beautiful. Music is good. Overall not really worth the price though . They did not start on time And it was very cold”

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4.Christmas/Advent Concert & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 154 reviews · from $93

Ride Salzburg’s funicular to Fortress Hohensalzburg, dine above the old town, and hear Mozart, Bach, Haydn, and Vivaldi performed by the Salzburger Advent Ensemble. Choose Classic or VIP dining, with VIP seating offering the best concert positions. Allow 3.5 hours, and note that drinks cost extra.

“Such a magical experience! The perfect way to spend Christmas Eve on a beautiful date with my husband. The music was incredible with such a stunning location. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal as well.”

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5.Christmas Horse-Drawn Sleigh/Carriage Ride from Salzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 154 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $151

Leave Salzburg at 9:00 am for Ramsau am Dachstein, a mountain village at more than 3,700 feet. Enjoy free time for lunch, then settle under warm blankets for a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Guides such as Walter, Daniel, Leo, and Lisa add local stories along the way. Snow conditions vary, so the ride can be magical or simply scenic.

“Even though it was unseasonably warm and there was no snow, that didn't take away from the fun and romance of a sleigh ride in the Alps. The mountains had plenty of snow to make for great photography. The lunch in Ramsau was outstanding. Leo the guide and Roland the driver were both exceptional, kept everyone entertained and safe.”

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6.Christmas Markets Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 99 reviews · from $98

Walk about 2 kilometers through four Vienna Christmas markets with a local English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect holiday stalls, handicrafts, Viennese treats, mulled wine, cookies, and stories about local customs. Guides such as Rita, Andreas, Sophie, and Kamil are praised for making the tour personal and helping visitors find markets they might miss alone.

“Raining and cold, but we had a good time anyway, The guide made it as pleasant for us all as possible considering the weather was not helping. Saw some great things went back the day after to go further when the weather was better. Great guide, did all she could for us over the whole walk. I had issues with a bad leg and it was not too much for me so just about anyone should enjoy the time.”

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7.Christmas Concerts in Capuchin Church

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 81 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Spend about an hour with a professional string quartet, soprano, and trumpet in Vienna’s intimate Capuchin Church near the State Opera. Expect familiar classical pieces, Christmas carols, and strong acoustics in a candlelit setting. A combo ticket adds the Imperial Crypt, home to Habsburg tombs including Maria Theresa, Franz Joseph, and Sisi.

“Excellent concert, but image published on your site and their own show a more Christmassy scene. However, that said well organised, great music and overall a very nice experience”

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8.Christmas/Advent Concert at Fortress Hohensalzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 54 reviews · from $49Best value

You’ll ride the funicular from Festungsgasse to Hohensalzburg Fortress for a 90-minute Christmas concert by the Salzburger Advent Ensemble. Expect Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, and Salzburg Advent music in a decorated castle hall, with city views before and after the performance. Concerts begin at 8 pm, with extra shows at 5 pm and 8 pm on December 25 and January 1.

“Easy to get to as the funicular ride was included. Having booked it online 24 hours earlier, my tickets were waiting at the door on arrival. The castle was warm, atmosphere was beautiful with Christmas decorations up.”

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9.Christmas Market Vienna Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 53 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $103

Explore four Vienna Christmas markets in 2 to 3 hours with a local English-speaking guide. Sample Glühwein, rum-spiked punch, cookies, and traditional snacks while hearing stories about Austrian Christmas customs. The route includes Spittelberg, MuseumsQuartier, and Maria-Theresien-Platz, with groups capped at 20 people.

“There is quite a bit of walking and the markets are very crowded. The food/drinks tastings are amazing. Guide very knowledgeable and friendly. The final market, however, he just dropped us off at the entrance and then said good-bye. Was expecting a final tour or tasting given the price. Outside of that, highly recommend!”

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10.Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concert with Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 36 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $102

Ride the funicular up to Fortress Hohensalzburg, dine in the Panorama Restaurant, then hear a chamber concert of Mozart, classical works, and traditional Salzburg Christmas music in historic fortress rooms. Choose classic, VIP, or Golden VIP dining. Drinks are extra on most options, and smart-casual dress is expected.

“Restaurant was nice. A set menu with little options. Small portions but tasty food. Wine a bit on the expensive side. Good table service. Concert was excellent. Drinks at a good value there. If doing again I would just book the concert and eat elsewhere before.”

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11.Salzburg Christmas Eve Tour to the Silent Night Chapel

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 35 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $90

Travel by coach from Mirabellplatz to Oberndorf, where the carol *Silent Night* was first performed. You’ll visit the chapel, see the Christmas market, and attend a multilingual Christmas Eve service outdoors. Guides including Naomi Mogil, Thomas, Kylie, and Hacky have led the trip. Expect crowds, cold weather, and plenty of standing.

“We had a great tour to the Silent Night chapel. The 4 buses that left were all pretty crowded. Thankfully, we had the best tour guide, Naomi Mogil , and she spoke in both English and German. She gave us all the interesting facts as we headed to Oberndorf. There were a lot of people at the service but not as many as I had thought. The market shops were nice but there were only a few of them. The view from the river was spectacular and we had a wonderful sunset. The service was done mostly in German and Silent Night was only sung in German (we heard the…”

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12.Silent Night Oberndorf Christmas Eve Tour from Salzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 32 reviews · 4 hours · from $88

Spend four hours on Christmas Eve traveling from Salzburg to Oberndorf, walking snowy paths beside the Salzach, and joining candlelit festivities at the Silent Night Chapel. An English or German-speaking guide, including guide Kylie on some departures, explains the carol’s origins before it is sung in several languages. Dress warmly, as the chapel holds only 12 to 15 people.

“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.”

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13.Private Christmas Markets Walking Tour Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Start at your hotel, vacation home, or another agreed point at 4:30 pm for a private 2.5-hour walk through Vienna’s Christmas markets and old town. Guides such as Brigitte, Walter, Daniela, Sabine, and Alexander add history, food tips, transport advice, and local shortcuts as you walk from Karls­kirche to Rathausplatz.

“Our guide, Daniella, was perfect for our group. She was engaging and full of interesting information about the history of Vienna. She kept the tour moving at a nice pace and filled in information about the Christmas markets too. Would highly recommend.”

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14.Salzburg Christmas Market & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $348

Walk Salzburg’s decorated old town with an English-speaking guide, visiting the Residenzplatz market, cathedral, St. Peter’s, Getreidegasse, and Alter Markt. You’ll hear local Christmas stories, learn about Mozart and Silent Night, taste gingerbread, and take home a Salzburg Christmas mug. Ursula may lead the walk.

“I was so excited to book this tour because I've always dreamed of making it to this Christmas Market in Salzburg. I got more than I expected. Ok, I may not have purchased a lot from the market. My husband kept reminding me that we were traveling light. The atmosphere, the everything about it was simply amazing. Our tour guide, Ursula, is from Salzburg - about as local as you can get - and very well versed in the history of the city. We were treated to Glühwein and some of the local foods. We went to sites that would otherwise have been overlooked if left alone to explore. She…”

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15.Vienna Christmas Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $87

Join guide Dace Schaerf for a two-hour English walking tour through Vienna’s Christmas markets and grand central sights. With groups capped at 10, you’ll visit Freyung, Am Hof, Rathausplatz, and Karlsplatz, while learning about Austrian holiday customs. Food, drinks, and purchases cost extra.

“We thoroughly enjoyed this trip on our first day. WE WERE VERY LUCKY as 2 people cancelled and the guide continued kindly with us like a private tour! We had a brief look at the cathedral while waiting for the others who never came. We then enjoyed a walking tour in the sun, but chilly! a great introduction to the city centre plus a few Christmas markets. As the light faded the Christmas lights/markets had atmosphere, very festive!Our friendly guide even showed us a great café to get the Viennese coffee and cake.”

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