Events worth planning a trip around

Plan a trip around a festival, concert, match or tour, with dates, where to stay near the venue and how to get there.

Some trips start with an event: a concert, a music festival, a cup match or a tour date in a city you would not otherwise visit. The pages in this category are built for that decision. Each page covers the dates, where to stay near the venue and how to reach it from the nearest airport or train station. Browse by Music, Festivals, Follow a tour, Culture or Sport to find the type of event you want to travel for.

Book early when an event is large or runs for several days, since hotels near the venue can fill before the rest of the city. Check the dates against your flights and time off, and allow a buffer before a ticketed start time if you travel in from another city. Confirm ticket prices, entry rules and resale terms with the official seller before you pay for a room or a flight. If the event is in a smaller city, check the last train or bus home before you book.

Big events in December

Dates checked with the organisers

Christmas market with people and festive lights

Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 · Dom- und ResidenzplatzSalzburg ChristkindlmarktThe Salzburg Christkindlmarkt is the Advent market on the Dom- und Residenzplatz, the square between the cathedral and the Residenz in the old town. It runs in Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Entry to the market area is free, and food, drink and goods are paid for at the stalls. The old town is a short walk from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, the main train station, and taxis and buses also run there from the airport. The market is busiest on weekend evenings, so an earlier visit in the day gives more space. The program includes a Krampus procession on 5 December at 18:30, a Nikolo and children's Krampus event on 6 December at 15:30, and a Perchtenlauf on 21 December at 13:00. Opening hours change over Christmas and New Year, so the hours row below lists each day. The old town is compact, which makes it easy to combine the market with the cathedral, the Residence and the Getreidegasse shopping street.Read the event guide