Top Christmas Markets Near Ski Resorts in the Alps

Skiing isn't the only holiday tradition born in the Alps.

Decorated fir trees, gingerbread houses and many other Christmas customs got their start in this corner of Europe, and many of them can be traced back to its famous Christmas markets. These Advent celebrations have lit up town squares across Austria, Germany and the Italian Dolomites for centuries.

The best part is that many of the most magical markets sit right near the ski slopes or just a short drive away. Sip hot mulled wine, snack on roasted chestnuts and Christmas sweets, listen to carols and watch St. Nicholas parade through town. It's a feast for the senses, and it pairs perfectly with a few days on the slopes. Our Mountain Travel Experts can work a Christmas market visit into your ski vacation, so all you have to do is show up hungry and ready to shop.

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Innsbruck, Austria

From mid-November through the first week of January, the entire capital of Tyrol is awash in Christmas festivities. Still, the most popular and charming Innsbruck neighborhood is the Altstadt, which features Medieval houses. On the narrow Kiebachgasse Street, Brothers Grimm characters peer down from the windows and tickle the imagination of children and the young at heart. Vendor booths are laden with festive goods like gingerbread, wooden toys and delicate, hand-blown glass ornaments.

Every day at dusk, trumpeters perform traditional carols on the 500-year-old Golden Roof. Don’t miss Kiachln, a traditional Advent doughnut, served hot with cranberry sauce. Ride the Nordkette cable cars up to Hafelekar for bird's-eye views of the twinkling city below.

This is just one of seven Christmas markets in Innsbruck, so the wintertime exploration feels endless in the capital.

Val Gardena, Italy

Tucked in the heart of the Dolomites, Val Gardena goes all-in on the holiday season with two charming Christmas markets.

Ortisei

From late November through early January, Ortisei, the picturesque capital of the valley, becomes a snow-covered winter fairy tale. Its Christmas Village blends Val Gardena's long-standing traditions with cozy wooden huts filled with original gifts, Christmas cakes, fine liqueurs and South Tyrolean wines. Local groups and musicians perform throughout the season, so you can sip and shop to a festive soundtrack.

Selva

From late November to early January, Selva's "Mountain Christmas" market fills the village center with a ski-town twist on the holidays. Strands of lights stretch overhead, and hanging from them are wooden lift cabins handcrafted as art. Warm up with mulled wine and traditional pastries, then stroll the market as the evening lights come on. Weekday shops open in the afternoon, so it's an easy stop after a day on the slopes.

Kitzbühel, Austria

From late November to late December, Kitzbühel’s historic, Medieval village center is transformed to resemble a festive scene from an old-fashioned Christmas card. The month-long market features daily events as well as weekly concerts and parades. Don’t miss the free choral concert at St. Andreas Church. To get a real taste of this long-standing tradition, watch the St. Nicholas and Krampus procession. The anti-St. Nicholas, Krampus is a devilish pagan figure sent to punish naughty children with “swats” and coal. Warning: young children may find Krampus frightening.

Enjoy regional Christmas delicacies, like homemade bread with various spreads, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Garmisch

From late November through late December, the Richard-Strauss-Platz in Garmisch ski resort base village is a glowing homage to the most wonderful time of the year. Here, you’ll find traditional Alpine music playing, decorated booths, handmade traditional crafts and culinary specialties.

Partenkirchen

At the end of November and into early December, Partenkirchen’s historic Ludwigstrasse becomes a winter wonderland of miniature wood huts decorated with lights and festive trimmings. The scent of freshly baked Christmas cookies and spiced wine tantalizes the senses.

Vienna, Austria

Christmas markets in Vienna date back to the 13th Century. The tradition has grown into over a dozen markets, but the most popular are Rathausplatz, in front of the neo-Gothic City Hall, and Spittelberg, near the MuseumsQuartier of the city. At Rathausplatz, visitors peruse more than a hundred booths, which offer miniature wooden houses, puppets, gingerbread hearts, leather clothing and woolen hats. Spittelberg is ideal for arts and crafts shopping, as it features hand-blown glass, silverware and ceramics.

Talk to your Mountain Travel Experts about adding a trip to Vienna onto your ski vacation to Austria.

Bolzano, Italy

Located in the Italian Dolomites of South Tyrol, the Bolzano Christmas Market is Italy's largest and it's just an hour's drive from Val Gardena and 1.5 hours from Alta Badia. South Tyroleans share common cultural traits with Austria, and much of South Tyrol speaks German, so the market has a distinctly Austrian feel. At the Bolzano Christmas Market, the beautiful Piazza Walther is decorated in Advent splendor from late November through the first week of January. The Market will be closed on Christmas Day.

Salzburg, Austria

Dating back to the 15th Century, the Salzburg Christmas Market sits at the foot of the Hohensalzburg fortress near the Cathedral of Salzburg. Choirs and brass players fill the cathedral square with Christmas carols. The market is held from mid-November through December, and features merchants selling Christmas decorations, crafts, toys, jewelry and treats, including sweets, coffee, mulled wine and punch.

Ski vacationers headed to Zell am See and Bad Gastein often fly into Salzburg, making it an easy option to spend a day at the Salzburg Christmas Market on either leg of your journey. Your Mountain Travel Expert can customize your travel plans to fit this memorable experience into your itinerary.

Now that you know how to enhance the level of festivity on your holiday ski trip to the Alps, start planning your holiday ski trip. Our well-versed Mountain Travel Experts will take the guesswork out of planning your trip so you can start dreaming of ski slopes and Alpine powder. They'll build you a custom itinerary and book your flights, rental cars, lodging and more.

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