Salzburg is a beautiful baroque inspired city located in Eastern Austria. With a long tradition of merchants, craftsmen and powerful noble houses who have shaped the look of the city, Salzburg is one of the most rustic and at the same time eclectic looking cities in Europe.
In the last few years, it has become a popular tourist destination in all seasons, especially during Christmas. Despite all the thematic activities, events and Christmas markets, one will still wonder: is it a good place to visit during Christmas?
It really depends on how you look at it. Sure, Salzburg looks pretty and whimsical during the holiday season, but there are other aspects to take in consideration while planning your Christmas trip. Here is a top 5 negative aspects of Visiting Salzburg during Christmas.
- The schedule of the city’s services is catered around the Christmas season
Like every small to medium seized town, Salzburg is a very calm place during season. This fact becomes even more apparent in the days leading up to Christmas. Because of the big influx of classical tourists, many businesses adapt their schedule in accordance to the Christmas period. Shops close early during the Advent of Christmas and are not available from the afternoon of Christmas up until the 27th. As a result, Salzburg is not the place to visit if you want to get both the authentic Christmas atmosphere and enjoy a wild night life at the same time.
- It is very crowded
As expected, Salzburg is very crowded during the holiday season. Being a relatively small town and despite this, the infrastructure of the town can not handle a big influx of people, so it will feel very crowded in certain moments of the day.
If you are traveling to Salzburg via airplane, make sure to contact the affiliated professional Salzburg airport transfers services. If you are a newcomer and you are not accustomed to the city, it is best to make the necessary transportation arrangements, especially during this time of the year when the city can get pretty crowded.
- In a weird turn of events, it gets pretty empty and deserted once Christmas arrives
Like many places that offer an authentic Christmas experience, Salzburg gets empty and desolated starting from Christmas’s Eve on the 24th, up until the last day of Christmas, on the 27th. The majority of bars, supermarkets and shops are closed during this timeline, so you will have nothing else to do than sit in your hotel room and wait for something to happen.
- It can get very expensive
If you are not a native of Austria, visiting Salzburg during Christmas can be very expensive. Besides the cost of the actual trip and booking a hotel, which can cost double in this period of the year, all the shops and boutiques boast high prices for their products. So, if you are planning a low budget Christmas trip to Salzburg, you will be disappointed to find out that it can’t be done.
- The weather
Austria, an alpine country situated in Central Europe, can get very nasty during winter. Not only that, but Salzburg is situated in Eastern Austria, one of the coldest places in the country. The whimsical nature of winter can get pretty old, pretty fast after spending an entire day strolling around the streets of Salzburg in the search of the perfect gift. Even if the cold does not bother you that much in general, make sure to carry the appropriate winter clothing with you.
In conclusion, Salzburg, while a pretty good place to spend the Christmas in, has a few negative aspects that should be analyzed before planning the trip. Make sure to follow this guide and decide whether or not Salzburg is your kind of place.