There is something special about a mountain view Christmas market. That’s why the Innsbruck Christmas markets are great spots from where to wrap your hands around a warm cup of glühwein (mulled wine) while keeping an eye on snow-covered Alpine peaks.
Our visits to the Innsbruck Christmas market are somewhat predictable. In fact, it has become an annual outing for my birthday. We start with lunch at Restaurant Posidonas, a Greek restaurant near the old town, before spending the afternoon and early evening at the three markets in the historic old town.
Here is my Innsbruck Christmas market review to convince you there is nothing better than a mountain view Christmas market in the Austrian Alps. After reading and (better still) visiting, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s right up there with the best Christmas markets in Europe.
The Innsbruck Christmas markets
1. Innsbruck old town
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15 November to 23 December 2019 Daily between 11:00 and 21:00 |
The Christmas market in the heart of the Innsbruck old town makes traditionalists like me happy. How can it not with a giant Christmas tree sparkling right next to Innsbruck’s most famous sparkling object – the Golden Roof with its 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles. I mean, one would think Kaiser Maximillian had it built especially for Christmas.
A great time to be in front of the Golden Roof with a Glühwein is around 17:00 from 24 to 28 December. That’s when groups of trumpeters appear on surrounding balconies to play traditional Austrian Christmas songs. There is even a viewing platform from where to enjoy the music away from the hustle and bustle around the 70 market stalls.
Allow yourself time to simply stroll through the narrow alleys of the Innsbruck old town. Don’t forget to look up at the beautifully preserved facades of the medieval buildings, because you might miss the 28 life-size characters from fairy tales and legends looking down at you. On the other hand, the four giants of Riesengasse (Giant’s Alley) are hard not to notice.
Innsbruck Christmas Market = Generous Father Christmas
Watch out for the Father Christmas/Santa Claus with his beautiful old street organ. He is very generous when it comes to handing out biscuits and sweets to his small fans. He even hides some gifts in the basket under his organ. Simply drop a few cents into his tin.
Of all the Christmas markets in Innsbruck, the old town market is where we normally have something to snack on. My favourite is the sweet Kiachl (deep-fried dough with a place for a filling in the middle), while C likes the savoury one with Sauerkraut. M enjoys the strawberries dipped in chocolate and we all can’t get enough of the sugar-coated nuts.
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EVENT TIP: A highlight of the Innsbruck Christmas Market is the Christ Child procession. More than 500 local children accompany the Christ Child with shepherds, angels, and sheep through the old town – from Maria Theresa Street via the Marktgraben to the Landestheater. The Christ Child or Christkind is the one who secretly brings the presents to Tyrolean homes on Christmas Eve, which is officially Weihnachten (Christmas) in Austria. For the procession in Innsbruck, the angelic-looking figure travels in a beautiful carriage. |
2. Market Square Christmas Market
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15 November to 23 December 2019 Daily between 11:00 and 21:00 |
The Christmas market next to the Inn River on the market square or Marktplatz is where children feel most at home. An old-fashioned carousel and a 14-metre tall Swarovski crystal Christmas tree lend a nostalgic flair to this market. It’s just a beautiful setting in general with the row of colourful houses across the river and the mountains in the background.
Read more: Your complete Innsbruck sightseeing guide
We always start our Christmas market tour at the Marktplatz, partly because it’s closest to the Posidonas and partly because M will drive us crazy if we don’t. He loves to play the duck fishing game next to the carousel. Each plastic duck he pulls out of the water has points attached to it. He may choose a prize from a selection, depending on the number of points he gets. This doesn’t come cheap, with the starting price being €5 for four ducks 🙄 .
Apart from the general food, drinks and craft stalls, the market square is also home to a petting zoo and a puppet theatre.
Accommodation tip: Staying in the Innsbruck old town while visiting the Christmas markets is great but you may want to consider a hotel on the outskirts of all the action. The Hotel Goldene Krone opposite the Triumphal Arch on the far side of Maria Theresa Street is a good option. Or you can consider Hotel Central in a quiet side street.
3. Maria Theresa Street Christmas Market
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25 November 2018 to 6 January 2019 Daily between 11:00 and 21:00 (until 15:00 on 24 December,19:00 on 31 December, and closed on 25 December) |
Just up the road from the Golden Roof, there are another 30 or so market stalls in the pedestrian zone of Maria Theresa Street. I always get the idea this is where the locals hang out. From here, you have some beautiful views of the Nordkette mountains.
The Maria Theresa Street Christmas market is close to two shopping centres – The Kaufhaus Tyrol and the Rathaus Gallerien. You also can’t miss the two impressive sets of knights’ armour looking at you from the second-floor window of the Hardrock Cafe Innsbruck.
4. Hungerburg Christmas Market
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25 November to 23 December 2019 Monday to Friday between 13:00 and 19:00 and from 12:00 on weekends and public holidays |
With its prime location about 300 metres above Innsbruck, this is a small and intimate mountain view Christmas market specializing in handmade Austrian Christmas decorations.
The market at the Hungerburg station of the Nordkette cable car offers fantastic views of Innsbruck, the Inn Valley, and the Alps. The Congress station of the cable car, from where it’s less than 15 minutes to Hungerburg, is a 5-minute walk from the Golden Roof. You can buy the ticket online here but it’s also included in the Innsbruck Card.
If you’re in Innsbruck around 5 or 6 December, the Hungerburg Christmas market is also where you’ll meet Sankt Nikolaus and (if you’re brave enough) a Krampus. While Nikolaus and his angels hand out sweets to the kids, the Krampuses are set on frightening them (and their parents).
The Krampus “show” is held in the parking area at the Hungerburg. Get there early to get stand in the front row to watch the spectacle of around 20 devils running around a huge bonfire. They make a big racket with the cowbells hanging from their waists. Afterward, they join the crowds at the Christmas market and are happy to pose for photos.
5. Wilten Christmas Market
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27 November to 23 December 2019 Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 20:00, and 14:00 to 20:00 on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. |
Organic glühwein and Sardinian delicacies, of all things, are the big attraction on the Wiltener Platzl, a small square on the corner of Leopold and Liebenegg Streets. However, there are also handicrafts and short concerts and puppet shows planned to keep visitors entertained.
6. St Nikolaus Christmas Market
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24 November to 23 December 2019 Daily from 16:00 to 21:00 |
The St. Nikolaus district is on Hans Brenner square across the Inn River. It is a quiet market known for its festive music and home-made biscuits. On Fridays and Saturdays in December, a vintage tram called the “Innsbruck Christkindlbahn” takes children on free rides from 15:30 to 19:00.
Read more: If you’re in Innsbruck in December you may also want to read about the 9 ski resorts in the Olympia Region
Practical tips for your Innsbruck Christmas market visit
- Traditional Austrian Christmas decorations, handcrafted products, and local seasonal delicacies are sold at the market stalls of all the different Christmas markets in Innsbruck.
- There is an information counter in front of the Ottoburg restaurant (where you enter the Innsbruck old town from the river) where you can ask the friendly angels everything you want to know about the Innsbruck Christmas market.
- If you’re visiting the Innsbruck Christmas market with kids, it’s best to go in the afternoon before it gets too cold and too crowded.
- In Tyrol, a Christmas market is called a Christkindlmarkt.
- The price of a glühwein at the Christmas markets in Innsbruck is generally €3,20 with a mug deposit of €3. So don’t get a fright if your first glühwein costs €6,20. You’ll get almost half back when you return the mug. However, if you like the mug, keep it as a souvenir!
Kinderpunsch and Glühwein time! - I’m a white wine girl and while most people associate glühwein with red wine, a white wine version is also available at most stalls. Try it.
- Warm fruit punch is the kids’ version of glühwein.
- Remember to dress warmly. Feet, hands, and ears quickly get cold when standing around outside. A pair of gloves with fingers that come off are great for handling money and mugs of glühwein.
Look out for the Silver Lady in front of the Golden Roof (and her little dog peacefully lying in his basket at her feet). She may wink or blow you a kiss if you put a few cents in her basket.
I hope my Innsbruck Christmas market review convinced you that this is one of the best mountain-view Christmas markets in Austria. If you like the Christmas markets in Innsbruck, you will also like the Christmas market in Hall in Tirol. It is only 15-minutes away and set in the biggest medieval old town in Tyrol.
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I am not sure if and when I will get to go to Innsbruck but you have taken me on a virtual tour of these lovely Christmas markets. If I ever plan to be there, I would now plan to come around Christmas time.