salzburg xmas market

Has anybody visited the xmas market? What was it like, any tips?

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Very good! I have been there several times. Very charming and atmospheric, with music (choirs sing carols from the steps of the cathedral), food, and beautiful crafts.

I highly rcommend it.

Will you be there on Christmas Eve? I can then provide even more tips if you are...

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Thank you kjones it sounds really good. There is a group of about 6 of us going, unfortunately we will be at work on Xmas Eve so will be going late Nov or early Dec. It seems to be pretty sraightforward getting from the airport to the city centre. Did you find it so?

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Another Salzburg xmas market fan chiming in here - and yeah, I%26#39;m trying to persuade some of my workmates to come with too! But I guess I%26#39;ll end up going on my own as usual - and no worries since I always have a lovely time. It%26#39;s a very traditional market with particularly good eats ... yum yum! I like the main market on the Domplatz best ... the one at the Mirabellplatz I didn%26#39;t think was so good. I%26#39;ve not been to the one at Hellbrunn - does anyone have any views on that? I go the first weekend of the markets in mid-Nov and let%26#39;s hope there isn%26#39;t a blizzard again this year ... :)

It is easy getting to town from the airport - I usually take the bus (which means changing at the Hauptbahnhof). It cost me last year I think 1.70 euros including the onward journey ... tho I usually shell out 3.00 euros for a 24hr ticket so I can ride the buses all over town. There%26#39;s an automatic ticket machine that gives change (and i think takes notes) by the bus stop (if you walk out of the terminal, cross the carpark, the bus stop to town is pretty much bang in front of the main entrance to the terminal). I used a taxi once and got stuck in traffic and it was quite dear - about 18 euros - so I prefer the buses (stuck in the same traffic at a much lower price!)

When I used to live in cambridge I would go on a daytrip to the markets flying out of Stansted on Ryanair. THat was a bit tiring but not bad (arrive about 9.30am and depart about 9pm). Now I live in mangy Oxford with the looong hideous coach journey to STN, I usually stay o/night if poss.

Take a gigantic bag with you for all your purchases. And check out the Billa supermarket on the Griesgasse by the Kai for lovely cheap stollen, chocolate, tiroler Zelten .... slaver! I always load up there before heading home :)

xrol

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Thank you, Roley, for the information on getting into the city from Salzburg airport.

As I am in the US, I usually fly into Munich, not Salzburg, so I could not provide any information in that regard.

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Oh, and yes, I meant the Christmas market at the Domplatz (In front of the Cathedral).

I have a sister who sings in the chorus (and some small roles) of the Landestheatre opera company. I highly recommend this, too, as evening entertainment, if you are at all musical.

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This all sounds rather exciting. I think you%26#39;ve both made my mind up that it will be Salzburg this year. We fly out of Stansted as well. Last year we went to the market in Stuttgart, that was very good with lovely stalls food and architecture. Transfers from the airport were easy on the train(about 1/2 hour) the station is in the airport and stops in the city centre. I would recommend it.

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Hi my wife %26amp; I are going to SalzburgChristmas market frm 24th -27th Nov. Can you give me as much information as possible about it (frm your own experiences!)

Also i intend to see as much historical sights as possible. can you please recommend any?

my wife is vegetarian (she eats fish but NOT seafood!) Can you recommend very good reasonably priced restaurants?

I

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Hi kjones,

My wife and I are planning to attend Salzburg%26#39;s christmas markets on Christmas Eve. We are actually planning to stop there on our way from Vienna to Zell am See.

Could you please elaborate on the tips you had mentioned above, regarding the markets on Xmas eve?

Also, can someone please let me know if the main market is near the city center? What would be a good place to park our car for a couple of hours so that we can walk/take a bus to the market?

Thanks a lot!

Subbu

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I will try to answer queries from the two posts above. Salzburg Christmas Markets are spectacular and during the Advent season the city is magical. The main two markets are on Domplatz (cathedral square) and Residenzplatz which is right next door. The goods on offer include: Christmas decorations, clothes, jewellery, foodstuffs, leather and sheepskin items, wood crafted gifts, wrought iron ware, toys, and much more. There are foodstalls selling roast chestnuts, wurst and gluhwein. There are also street entertainers.

Decorations in the streets and shops are more tasteful and subtle than in other parts of the world and lend a sophisticated air.

It should be noted that on Christmas EVE the markets close at 3.00pm. This night is the most special for Austrians (rather than Christmas Day) so the stall holders will be wanting to pack up and get home to their families.

Things not to miss in Salzburg include: The Dom (cathedral); the fortress (take the funicular to the top); St Peter%26#39;s cemetery (very pretty, especially at Advent); Mirabelgarten (even in winter it is lovely). There are very many restaurants for all tastes and budgets. Stiftskeller St Peter (right next door to the cemetery) is spectacular at Christmas. It is the oldest eating place in Europe (dating from 803) and the courtyard is built into the rockface of the Monchsberg. At Christmas this is decorated with lights and candles and is a wonderful, atmospheric place to have a drink. Inside the restaurant is wonderful with different rooms to eat in. Austrians eat a lot of lake fish so there should be something on the menu for your wife.

In Mozartplatz there is an ice rink. It%26#39;s a nice place to stop for a hot drink and watch the skaters.

A short busride from the city is Schloss Hellbrunn. There is a small market there too. The palace and grounds are beautiful.

Here is a link giving some information on the markets in the city (have the sound turned up on your computer). The site is in German but you can click on the British flag to get info in English. Click the heading %26quot;Bildergalerie%26quot; at the top to see pictures:

http://www.christkindlmarkt.co.at/

This next link is to a hotel%26#39;s site but it gives photos of the Hellbrunn Christmas Market:

hotelfriesacher.com/en-salzburg-advent.shtml

I hope this helps.

Liz.

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Thanks for the information Liz, much appreciated.

John Harold