Updated October 2026
Short answer: The first big Alpine Christmas markets open on 13 November 2026 in Innsbruck. Salzburg follows on 19 November, Montreux and Garmisch on 20 November, and Bolzano, Merano and Annecy on 26 November. Many Alpine markets run past Christmas: Bolzano and Merano until 6 January 2027, Annecy until 3 January and Garmisch until 5 January.
Christmas markets in the mountains have something the city ones can’t copy: real snow on the hut roofs (most years), a peak lit pink behind the tree and a train ride home through the valley. We live right where the Alps meet Bavaria, so this is our favorite time of year. Kinderpunsch (the alcohol-free punch for kids) is a big favorite in our family 🎄.
I’ve grouped the markets by country and checked every date against the official site in October 2026. Hours can still change, so take one last look at the market’s own page before you go.
Which Alpine Christmas markets are best?
| Market | Country | 2026 dates | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innsbruck Old Town | Austria | 13 Nov – 23 Dec | About 65 stalls in front of the Golden Roof, tower music daily at 17:00 |
| Salzburg Christkindlmarkt | Austria | 19 Nov – 1 Jan | Cathedral square under the fortress |
| Montreux Riviera Noël | Switzerland | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 150+ chalets on Lake Geneva, the Flying Santa |
| Garmisch-Partenkirchen | Germany | 20 Nov – 5 Jan | In the Kurpark below the Zugspitze mountains |
| Berchtesgaden Advent | Germany | 20 Nov – 3 Jan | Old-town market with mountains on every side |
| Kufstein Town Park | Austria | 20 Nov – 20 Dec | Under the fortress, our neighbors over the border |
| Bolzano | Italy | 26 Nov – 6 Jan | South Tyrol’s oldest and largest, 70+ stands on Piazza Walther |
| Merano | Italy | 26 Nov – 6 Jan | Along the river promenade, next to the thermal baths |
| Annecy (Noël des Alpes) | France | 26 Nov – 3 Jan | Old town, lake quays and the Jardins de l’Europe |
Austrian Alps
Innsbruck
Innsbruck has several markets, all within walking or tram distance. The Old Town market in front of the Golden Roof is the oldest and biggest, with about 65 stalls and a 20 m tree. The Marktplatz market by the Inn River is the family one, with a carousel, a puppet theater and a crystal tree.
Old Town and Marktplatz
13 Nov – 23 Dec, daily 11:00–21:00
Maria-Theresien-Straße
25 Nov – 6 Jan, daily 11:00–21:00
Hungerburg (up the funicular)
20 Nov – 6 Jan, Mon–Fri 13:00–19:00, weekends 12:00–19:00
Bergisel
13 Nov – 20 Dec, Fri 14:00–20:00, Sat and Sun 11:00–20:00
St. Nikolaus
20 Nov – 23 Dec, daily 16:00–21:00
Entry
Free
My tip: come for the tower musicians on the Golden Roof at 17:00, then ride the Hungerburgbahn funicular up to the Hungerburg market for the view over the lights.
Salzburg
The main Christkindlmarkt fills Domplatz and Residenzplatz under the fortress. It’s open Monday to Thursday 10:00–20:30, Friday 10:00–21:00, Saturday 09:00–21:00 and Sunday 09:00–20:30, from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027. On Christmas Eve it closes at 15:00. Hellbrunn Palace has a calmer Advent market from 19 November to 24 December (closed most Mondays), and the fortress hosts a small one on Advent weekends.
Kufstein and Rattenberg (Tyrol)
These two are close to our home, so they’re the ones we know best. Kufstein’s Town Park market (20 November to 20 December) opens Wednesday to Friday from 16:00 and weekends from 13:00; it’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays except 8 December. Up in the fortress, Christmas Magic runs on the four Advent weekends from 11:00 to 19:00 (adults €7, family €16.50).
Rattenberg, a tiny medieval town about 25 minutes further up the valley, does Advent by candle and torch light with almost no electric lights. It’s open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 20 November to 20 December, plus 8 December.
Seefeld
Log-cabin huts in the pedestrian zone up on the plateau above Innsbruck, daily 14:00–21:00 from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. There’s a Krampus run in the village center on Friday 4 December at 18:00.
Swiss Alps
Montreux Riviera Noël
Montreux puts more than 150 chalets along the quays of Lake Geneva, just 200 m from the station. The Flying Santa sails over the market on weekdays at 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 (also 16:00 at weekends), and a cogwheel train climbs to Santa’s House on the Rochers-de-Naye (tickets needed).
Dates
20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026
Hours
Mon–Wed 11:00–21:00, Thu–Fri 11:00–22:00, Sat 10:00–22:00, Sun 10:00–20:00
Christmas Eve
closes at 17:00
Payment
card or Twint, mostly cashless (no American Express)
Entry
Free
Good to know: the organizer names Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays as the quietest days. Saturdays are the most popular, so go in the morning if a weekend is your only option.
Italian Alps (South Tyrol)
Bolzano
South Tyrol’s first Christmas market started here on Piazza Walther in 1991, and it’s still the region’s oldest and largest, with more than 70 stands. It opens on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 17:00 and runs until 6 January 2027.
Craft huts
daily 10:00–19:00
Food and drink
until 22:00 or 23:00 (to 23 Dec)
Christmas Eve
10:00–16:00
Christmas Day
closed
New Year’s Eve
10:00–18:00
Entry
Free
Merano
Merano’s market lines the river promenade in front of the Kurhaus, a few steps from the Terme Merano thermal baths, which makes a warm, happy pairing on a cold day. It runs from 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. Stalls open Monday to Thursday and Sunday 10:00–19:00, Friday, Saturday and holidays 10:00–20:00, and close on Christmas Day.
Bressanone/Brixen, Vipiteno/Sterzing and Brunico/Bruneck complete the five “original” South Tyrolean markets, all reachable by regional train.
French Alps
Annecy (Noël des Alpes)
Annecy’s market spreads through the old town, along the lake quays and into the Jardins de l’Europe from 26 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The stalls are generally open 11:00–21:00, later at weekends, with special hours on 24 and 31 December.
Bavarian Alps
Our side of the border has mountain markets too. Garmisch-Partenkirchen’s market in the Michael-Ende-Kurpark runs from 20 November 2026 to 5 January 2027, daily 12:00–21:00. Berchtesgaden’s Advent runs from 20 November to 3 January (closed Christmas Day). Mittenwald’s market is short and sweet: four days only, 10 to 13 December, around the painted baroque church. All the details are on our sister site’s German Christmas markets guide.
Can you visit Alpine Christmas markets by train?
Yes, and I’d recommend it, because you don’t have to worry about parking or snowy roads. Innsbruck, Salzburg, Kufstein, Bolzano, Merano, Montreux, Annecy, Garmisch and Berchtesgaden all have stations within walking distance of the market, or a short bus ride away. A few combinations work really well:
- Munich, Kufstein and Innsbruck on the main line through the Inn Valley.
- Innsbruck and Bolzano over the Brenner Pass, about two hours apart.
- Montreux and Annecy via Geneva.
See The Alps without a car for tickets and passes.
Christmas markets in the Alps: questions
When do Christmas markets in the Alps open in 2026?
Innsbruck opens first on 13 November 2026. Salzburg opens on 19 November, Montreux, Garmisch and Berchtesgaden on 20 November, and Bolzano, Merano and Annecy on 26 November.
Which Alpine Christmas markets stay open after Christmas?
Bolzano and Merano run until 6 January 2027 (both closed on Christmas Day), Garmisch until 5 January, Annecy and Berchtesgaden until 3 January, and Salzburg’s main market until 1 January.
What is the best Christmas market in the Alps?
For a classic mountain setting, Innsbruck’s Old Town market under the Golden Roof. For a lake setting, Montreux. For food and a bilingual Italian-Tyrolean mix, Bolzano. They’re all worth a visit, so pick the one that fits your route.
Is there snow at Alpine Christmas markets?
Often, but not always. The valley towns can be green in late November and snowy by mid-December. Higher places like Seefeld (1,200 m) have a better chance of snow.
Do I need cash at Alpine Christmas markets?
Bring some euros for the Austrian, Italian, French and German markets. Montreux is mostly cashless and takes cards or Twint, except American Express.
Sources (checked 19–20 October 2026)
- Innsbruck: christkindlmarkt.cc, innsbruck.info
- Salzburg: christkindlmarkt.co.at, hellbrunneradventzauber.at
- Kufstein: kufstein.com, festung.kufstein.at; Rattenberg: alpbachtal.at; Seefeld: seefeld.com
- Montreux: montreuxnoel.com, vaud.ch
- Bolzano: mercatinodinatalebz.it, bolzano-bozen.it; Merano: merano-suedtirol.it; South Tyrol: suedtirol.info
- Annecy: ville-annecy.fr, tourisme-haute-savoie.com
- Garmisch: gapa-tourismus.de; Berchtesgaden: berchtesgadener-advent.de; Mittenwald: alpenwelt-karwendel.de