From 15 November, the first Innsbruck Christmas markets, Austria open their doors for delicious punch, Christmas kitchen smells and shopping for the festive season.
In total, there are seven Christmas markets with over 200 stalls that invite you to stop by in the run-up to Christmas. During Advent in Tyrol, a visit to the mountain Christmas market in Innsbruck is certainly one of the most beautiful highlights: From the Golden Roof up to the Bergisel and the Hungerburg 300 metres above the city. With more days you can even explore the South Tyrol villages in Italy.
Why visit Innsbruck at Christmas?
- Innsbruck is located in an ideal setting, surrounded by the Alps and the mountains, which are probably already snow-capped at this time of year.
- Innsbruck‘ s Christmas markets close in January , making it one of the top destinations for Christmas markets at the end of the year and in January, coinciding with the start of the ski season.
- The Bergweihnacht Innsbruck captivates with its unique combination of traditional Christmas magic in the centre of the city and impressive Alpine scenery. The modern Christmas lights tempt you to stroll around the 7 themed markets, which are easily accessible on foot or on the nostalgic Christkindlbahn railway.
- In addition to celebrating Advent, the city schedules several events for the end of the year. Innsbruck is a popular winter holiday destination in the country, which is why it is one of the liveliest cities at this time of year.
- In addition to all the Christmas events, Swarovski has a very interesting museum-experience in Innsbruck, LUMAGICA.
- The Krampus is one of the characters of Christmas in the Tyrol and appears in various parades in the area, also in Innsbruck.
List of Innsbruck Christmas markets
Innsbruck’s charm is undeniable and even more so when the snow begins to cover the peaks and the market lights illuminate the main squares and the lights of the markets illuminate the main squares and villages. In Innsbruck you can visit seven charming Christmas markets.
Christmas Market Old Town
- German: Christkindlmarkt Altstadt
- Dates: From 15 November to 23 December 2024
- Opening hours: 11:00 to 21:00
Located in front of Innsbruck’s popular Goldenes Dach (‘Golden Gables’), Christmas Market in Old Town has about 60 Christmas chalets where you can browse Advent crafts and many typical Tyrolean handicrafts among the medieval buildings in the centre. The downtown market also extends along the Kiebachgasse, which runs parallel to the Erzherzog-Friedrich-Straß.
Of course you will also find the popular chalets with Advent food such as gingerbread biscuits, grilled meats and sausages and mulled wine, ideal for warming up when the sun goes down and the temperatures drop.
Advent Market on Markplatz
- Dates: 15 November to 23 December 2024
- Opening hours: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Every year, a charming Christmas market with a Tyrolean village atmosphere is held on the Market Square (Christkindlmarkt Marktplatz) by the river Inn. During the festive season, the market also offers a varied children’s programme with puppet shows and storytelling.
This charming market also has a Christmas fair with a beautiful traditional carousel with carved figures. The 14-metre-high Swarovski crystal tree will be in the centre of the market . Swarovski also organises Christmas experiences in the Swarovski Crystal Worlds and LumagicaInnsbruck.
Christkindlmarkt Maria-Theresienstraße
- Dates: From 25 November 2024 to 6 January 2025
- Opening hours: 11:00 to 21:00. On 24/12 from 11:00 to 15:00/ 31/12 from 11:00 to 19:00.
Innsbruck’s most popular shopping street, Maria-Theriesen-Straße, also has a Christmas market, this time with a modern illumination of the trees along the promenade with small sparkling lights. Of course, there is no shortage of craft stalls, ideal for finding a special gift for someone.
The market in the centre of Innsbruck is still open after Christmas. You can get your mulled wine here until 6 January. Between St Anne’s Column and the old town centre, you will find handicrafts, Kaiserschmarrn and punch under a large glowing rock crystal. The beautiful, glowing artificial Christmas trees are a real eye-catcher.
Hungerburg Mountain Christmas Market
- Dates: 22 November 2024 to 6 January 2025
- Opening hours:
Monday to Friday from 13:00 to 19:00, Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 19:00; 24 December from 12:00 to 15:00; 31 December from 12:00 to 17:00; 25 December to 6 January 2025, Monday to Friday from 13:00 to 18:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00.
For the best views of Innsbruck and its spectacular mountain setting, don’t miss the Christmas market in Hungerburg Mountain (Christkindlmarkt Hungerburg). To get there, take the funicular from the Congress ski lift station in the city centre to Nordkettenbahnen.
It’s a fairly quiet market with a good atmosphere and plenty of stalls selling hot punch, grilled sausages and mulled wine.
Christmas market in the St. Nicholas Quarter
- Dates: From 22 November to 23 December
- Opening hours: 16:000 to 21:00
The Christmas market in the St. Nikolaus district of Innsbruck is a quieter, more intimate affair. It is located on the other side of the river Inn, on the small Hans-Brenner-Platz on the Innstrasse.
There is no shortage of Christmas stalls with lots of biscuits and cakes, as well as a programme of small concerts.
Wiltener Platz Christmas market
- Dates: 24 November to 23 December
- Opening hours: 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
This is one of Innsbruck’s little Christmas markets, ideal for warming up when the cold weather sets in. It specialises in local gourmet products, but also those from other countries. By the way, the mulled wine here is organic.
As usual in Innsbruck, the flea market also offers short, small concerts to liven things up. There are also activities for the little ones.
Imperial Christmas at Bergisel
- Dates: 15 November to 22 December
- Opening hours: 14.00 – 20.00; Saturday and Sunday from 11.00 – 20.00
If you’re looking for a flea market with a good view of the mountains, the Kaiserweihnacht flea market is one of Innsbruck’s most charming. Located on Bergisel, a 746-metre-high mountain where the popular jumping trampoline of the same name is located, you’ll have a beautiful view of Innsbruck from here.
In Kaiserweihnach you will find chalets with typical handicrafts from local producers, an ideal place to find a small gift and, of course, also chalets with food and drink. There is also a music programme at the flea market.
Victorian Christmas market
- Dates: 6 to 22 December
- Location: Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz
The Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz Christmas market in Innsbruck will be a new addition to the Innsbruck market and will be characterised by its Victorian style that will transport you back to 19th century London.
The flea market is a tribute to Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, the story of the embittered old man Ebenezer Scrooge, haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, has long been known throughout the world. The play will also be performed at the Theatre in Telfs in Innsbruck for the first time this year.
Other special things
A wonderful world of light in LUMAGICA
LUMAGICA is the magical light park that will be enriching Innsbruck’s Christmas season from winter 2020. As part of LUMAGICA, Innsbruck’s Imperial Garden will host a one-kilometre-long circular route from 15 November to 2 February, where you can see colourful flowers, butterflies and works of art to create a magical moment.
The event is light-coded to avoid light pollution. Among other things, this involves dimming the light motifs after a certain time of day. Visitors hardly notice it, but it makes a big difference to the environment and the animals.
Swarovski Kristallwelten
- Location: Kristallweltenstraße 1, 6112 Wattens
Another highly recommended attraction in Innsbruck is the Swarovski Kristallwelten (Swarovski Crystal Worlds). Opened in 1995 to mark the centenary of the Swarovski company, it was designed as a place of fantasy by the multimedia artist André Heller. From 16 November until 2 February you can visit the Christmas version of this space where light is the protagonist.
A magical New Year’s Eve
In addition to the Christmas celebrations, Innsbruck also offers a varied and exciting New Year’s Eve programme. The little ones will have a great time at the Children’s New Year’s Eve (30 December 2024) in Innsbruck’s Old Town. In particular, various games and craft stalls will be set up on the Landestheatervorplatz.
One day later, ‘the grown-ups’ can prepare for the turn of the year with live music and a DJ on the Landestheatervorplatz before the countdown to the spectacular fireworks display over the Nordkette mountain range begins.
Afterwards, the biggest New Year’s Eve party in the SILVESTERBEATS indoor area awaits everyone who wants to dance until late into the night.
Special illumination for New Year’s Eve and January
From 29 December 2024 to 6 January 2025, innovative 3D light projections by international artists will be displayed on four facades of prominent Innsbruck buildings, including the Imperial Palace and the Mariahilf row of houses, as part of the Alpine New Year’s Eve.
In addition to the wide range of products on offer at the markets, the shining streets and decorated squares and alleyways, the most beautiful thing about the markets is the peaceful meeting of the many different people from near and far, of different age groups and origins.
Enjoy Innsbruck at Christmas!
