Month guide · Salzburg · Austria
Salzburg in December
What December is really like in Salzburg: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cezar Suceveanu, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -3°C (27°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 8.4 hours of daylight. Christmas markets, Advent concerts and possible snow make December one of the busiest months; book hotels early.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Salzburg: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about -3°C (27°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with November (8°C (46°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 3°C (37°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:51
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:16
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Christmas markets and Advent concerts in December, then cold, quiet weeks with low prices, Mozart Week and nearby skiing.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christkindlmarkt on Cathedral and Residenz squares (usually through the Christmas holidays)
- Salzburg Advent Singing at the Festival halls (Advent weekends)
- Krampus runs (early December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Museum · Right-bank old town
Mozart Residence
In 1773 the Mozart family moved to a larger apartment in the Tanzmeisterhaus on Makartplatz, where Wolfgang lived until 1781.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Altstadt
Salzburg Cathedral
Listen for the noon organ recitals or Sunday mass music, a free way to hear the cathedral's organs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Palace · Altstadt
DomQuartier and the Residenz
A single ticket leads through the prince-archbishops' Residenz state rooms, where the young Mozart performed, the Residenzgalerie of European paintings, the gallery above the cathedral nave and the museums of the cathedral and St.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Experience · Andräviertel
Salzburg Marionette Theatre
Check the programme before you travel; performances are not daily.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
- Art
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -3°C and 12 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Salzburg?
A shoulder-season month, with 3 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Salzburg in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Salzburg?
It is a shoulder-season month. Christmas markets, Advent concerts and possible snow make December one of the busiest months; book hotels early.
+How warm is Salzburg in December?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Salzburg in December?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.