Season guide · Salzburg · Austria
Salzburg in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Christmas markets and Advent concerts in December, then cold, quiet weeks with low prices, Mozart Week and nearby skiing. Expect highs up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 33 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -4°C (25°F) to 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 33
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C (37°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 11 | 8.8 h | 2/5 |
| February | 5°C (41°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 10 | 10.2 h | 2/5 |
| December | 3°C (37°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 12 | 8.4 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 4°C (39°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 33 of the year's roughly 147 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Mozart Week — concerts around Mozart's birthday (usually late January)
- February: Carnival (Fasching) balls and parades (usually February)
- December: Christkindlmarkt on Cathedral and Residenz squares (usually through the Christmas holidays)
- December: Salzburg Advent Singing at the Festival halls (Advent weekends)
- December: Krampus runs (early December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Airport
Hangar-7
Combine it with an airport arrival or departure; it is next to the terminal.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Altstadt
Mozart's Birthplace
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 in the third-floor apartment of this yellow house at Getreidegasse 9 and lived here until 1773.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
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Museum · Right-bank old town
Mozart Residence
It is less crowded than the birthplace, so allow time for the audio guide.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Altstadt
Salzburg Cathedral
The early-Baroque cathedral, consecrated in 1628, has a white-and-stucco interior under a high dome and the font where Mozart was baptised.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Palace · Altstadt
DomQuartier and the Residenz
Allow at least two hours; the route is long and one-way.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in winter
- Hallein Salt Mine (About 25 minutes by S-Bahn, then bus) — Miners' overalls, a mine train, wooden slides and a raft across an underground salt lake make this salt mine tour popular with families; the Celtic museum in Hallein's old town adds context.
- St. Wolfgang and Lake Wolfgang (About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus) — Lake Wolfgang's villages of St.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Salzburg?
It is a trade-off: Christmas markets and Advent concerts in December, then cold, quiet weeks with low prices, Mozart Week and nearby skiing. The best months overall are May–June and September.
+What is the weather like in Salzburg in winter?
Highs of up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 33 rainy days over the season.