Alpine Christmas Delights

This holiday season join RTT on an overnight adventure into the Alpine region of Austria where we spend two days visiting the Christmas wonderland of Innsbruck and Salzburg and 6 different Christmas Markets, each with their own charm and magic!  If you are looking for the perfect escape, jam packed with Christmas joy, look no further!

Day 1: Welcome to the beautiful city of Salzburg, nested in the magnificent snowcapped peaks of the Eastern Alps.  Our first stop brings us to Hellbrunn Castle, a very well-known filming location for the Sound of Music and our first of many Christmas Markets today! While at the castle, enjoy the beautiful sight of over 700 conifers, all decorated with tens of thousands of brilliant red Christmas baubles and sparkling lights, creating a glowing festive fairy tale forest.  After a thorough exploration of the grounds and Market, we will continue on to our hotel for check-in, before we head into Salzburg for a walking tour. 

Our walking tour begins at the hotel, passing Castle Mirabel Gardens and its magnificent Christmas Market where we make a quick stop, before crossing the Salzach River into Altstadt (Old Town).  During our walking tour your guide will point out some of the amazing sights you can later explore.  We will wind our way through the impressive medieval and baroque buildings, enjoying the chorus of church bells that ring throughout the city, to the venerable Cathedral of Salzburg and base of Festungberg Hill.  Here, we board the funicular, which will slowly lift us up to Castle Hohensalzburg where a stunning view of the sparkling city and another Christmas Market awaits. 

The remainder of the day is yours to independently explore the castle grounds, shop for treats and trinkets at the Christmas Market and visit Castle Hohensalzburg Museum.  When you are ready, journey back down into the bustling city square below where you will find the Christkindl Market of Salzburg, one of the most beautiful and long-standing markets in Austria. Numerous decorated stalls offer a wide selection of seasonal culinary treats as well as locally made arts and crafts, and the perfect chance to purchase unique Christmas gifts for friends and family.  There are plenty of other activities to temp you such as a visit to the birthplace of Mozart, or a romantic ride around town on a horse drawn carriage.

As the evening draws near the city prepares for a dark and delightful tradition.  Local legend tells that in the days leading to the eve of Saint. Nicholas day, horned, cloven hooved, hairy, and devilish looking figures known as "Krampusse"  join Saint Nicholas and roam the streets of Salzburg. Each represents what is "good and bad"; Saint Nicholas, represents the purest good and gives out candies to well behaved children, while the Krampus represents all that is bad and carries a willow rod to punish the lesser behaved ones.  This local and unique Christmas custom is something not to be missed during your time in Europe!

Day 2: After breakfast, and hotel checkout, we continue our tour of Austrian Christmas markets traveling south-west to Innsbruck, the beautiful capitol of Tyrol. Flanked on all sides by the majestic Alps, the mountains are fondly referred to as Innsbruck’s natural Skyscapres and visible from almost every corner in town. The crisp alpine air paired with the stunning mountain scenery create a delightful ambiance, guaranteed to fill your heart with Christmas delight.  Woven throughout the charming medieval buildings is a beautifully decorated Christmas Market, filled with treasures, handicrafts and decorations to adorn your Christmas tree.  

Wrap your hands around a hot mug of Glühwein (mulled wine) and take in the scent of spices and sweet seasonal snacks, while you stroll down to the river.  Here you will find the magnificent 50 foot tall Swarovski Chrystal Tree as the shinning centerpeice of our final Christmas Market.  After soaking up as much merry magic as possible, it’s time to return home with Christmas batteries fully charged.