One day in Salzburg: the Krampus run at 6.30 p.m. among the stalls
The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt runs from 19 November to 1 January 2027 on Dom- and Residenzplatz. On Saturday 5 December the stalls open at 9 a.m., the Krampus run follows at 6.30 p.m. and the market closes at 9 p.m.
On Saturday 5 December the stalls on the Domplatz in Salzburg open at 9 a.m. It is the day of the Krampuslauf, the Krampus run, which starts at 6.30 p.m. On Saturdays the market closes at 9 p.m. On Fridays it closes at 9 p.m. as well, but opens only at 10 a.m. From Monday to Thursday it is open from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m., and on Sundays and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
This year the market starts on Thursday 19 November at 10 a.m. and runs until 1 January 2027. The stalls stand on Dom- and Residenzplatz and on parts of Kapitelplatz, in the middle of the Old Town, a World Heritage site. The market has existed in its current form since 1974. Almost a million visitors come every year, from all over the world. The organisers call it one of the most beautiful and oldest Christmas markets in the world.
The programme around the stalls is mostly musical. There are choirs singing in front of the cathedral, traditional tower blowing and young wind players on the Domplatz. The Salzburg Christkind makes appearances. There is also free choir singing, where anyone may join in. A nativity exhibition stands in the Residenzhof.
Three dates are fixed in the calendar. On Saturday 5 December the Krampuslauf starts at 6.30 p.m. On Sunday 6 December Nikolo and the children’s Krampus follow at 3.30 p.m. The Perchtenlauf takes place on Monday 21 December at 1 p.m., on the first Rauhnacht.
This is what an ordinary December day looks like. On Sunday 6 December the stalls open at 9 a.m., Nikolo and the children’s Krampus arrive at 3.30 p.m. and the market closes at 8.30 p.m. On Monday 21 December it opens at 10 a.m., the Perchtenlauf is at 1 p.m. and the day ends at 8.30 p.m. On Tuesday 8 December the market is open from 9 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
The stalls sell handcrafted items made from wood, metal and textiles, offered by long-standing exhibitors from Salzburg and the surrounding area. There are also regional treats and traditional Schmankerl. On New Year’s Eve a few food and drink stands stay open until 1 a.m.
On special days the hours differ. On 8 December the market is open from 9 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. and on 24 December from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On 25 and 26 December the stalls open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. From 27 to 30 December the hours are again 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. On 31 December the stalls open at 10 a.m. and the retail stalls stay open until at least 6 p.m. On 1 January the market is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Alongside the market, Ice Magic runs on Mozartplatz from 12 November 2026 to 31 January 2027. The Old Town New Year’s celebration takes place on Kapitelplatz on 31 December and 1 January.
Practical
Location: Dom- and Residenzplatz and parts of Kapitelplatz, Salzburg
Runs until: 1 January 2027 (starts 19 November 2026)
Open: Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-8.30 p.m., Fri 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun and public holidays 9 a.m.-8.30 p.m.
Krampuslauf: 5 December, 6.30 p.m.; Nikolo and children’s Krampus: 6 December, 3.30 p.m.; Perchtenlauf: 21 December, 1 p.m.
Info: christkindlmarkt.co.at