Christmas markets in the Alps 2025/26: where to combine skiing with festive spirit

People heading to the Alps before Christmas these days are not only after kilometres of pistes and après-ski bars. More and more of them treat a December trip as a way to feel the festive mood earlier than at home: to stroll in the evening between wooden stalls, drink a mug of mulled wine and buy something regional rather than yet another airport magnet. The day starts in the morning with the first gondola, followed by a few hours on well-groomed slopes and a quick lunch on the mountain, and in the afternoon comes the run down to the valley, a shower, a warm jacket and a walk round the market. In many resorts the markets stand literally a few dozen metres from the valley stations of the lifts.

Below is an overview of Alpine towns and villages where in the 2025/26 season you really can combine proper skiing with a Christmas atmosphere: from a quiet forest clearing in Mayrhofen to the illuminated centre of Kitzbühel and the double market in Zell am See.

Saas-Fee: a car-free Christmas village

Even without Christmas trees, Saas-Fee looks like a ready-made set for a Christmas film. It is a car-free village of wooden buildings and narrow lanes, with snow lying on the roofs and a panorama of the glaciers surrounding the valley. In December life moves to the Dorfplatz, the main square by the church, where the wooden market chalets are set up. In the evenings the fairy lights come on, candles appear in the windows and gentle carols and local tunes play from the loudspeakers.

The stalls are dominated by regional classics: cheese from local farms, local cured meats, chocolate, Christmas baking and handicrafts, from simple wooden decorations to textiles sewn in the valley. This is not a big, noisy funfair but rather an intimate market that suits the character of the village. Children can join simple workshops, decorating biscuits or making Christmas tree ornaments, and on one of the evenings Santa Claus appears, strolling between the stalls and handing out small sweets. Sometimes a choir or a local brass band performs on a small stage next to the church.

From a skier's point of view the set-up is ideal. After a day on the glacier or on the pistes above the village, you ski down, leave your skis in the hotel ski room, change your boots and a few minutes later you are on the Dorfplatz with a mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate in your hand.

Address: Dorfplatz, Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Dates: 12 to 13 December 2025

Zell am See-Kaprun: lights over the lake and a festive old town

In Zell am See it is hard to find a better backdrop for a market than the lake with snow-covered mountains behind it. In December there is a festive “duo” here: the Star Advent market in Elisabethpark by the lake and the market on the Stadtplatz in the old town. By the water, paths are laid out between wooden stalls, with garlands of lights hanging above them, and right next to them light installations are reflected on the surface of the lake. In the evening it looks like a ready-made shot for your Christmas holiday photos.

In Elisabethpark the atmosphere is more about strolling. People stand at tall barrels instead of tables, drinking mulled wine and local punches and trying roasted almonds, cheeses and small snacks. A small band or duo often plays here, setting the mood without drowning out conversation. The market in the centre, on the Stadtplatz, is more traditional. Stalls with ornaments, ceramics, textiles and Christmas decorations take up much of the square, a Christmas tree stands in the middle and beneath it is a stage where something happens practically every day in December: a choir concert, a school band, fairy tales read for children, evening carol singing.

For the youngest there is usually a small carousel or a Christmas “train” running around the square. It is not a full-scale funfair with a giant Ferris wheel, but it is enough for the kids to have their own “corner” while the parents enjoy a hot drink in peace. Illuminations appear on the facades of the town houses, fairy lights in the trees in the park and lights along the lakeshore.

For skiing it is a strong address. From the town itself you reach the Schmittenhöhe in a few minutes, Kaprun gives access to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, and in the evening (without changing into a suit or a dress) you can go straight to the market in your ski jacket. It is one of those resorts where “skiing + Christmas” really does fit into the daily routine.

Address: Elisabethpark and Stadtplatz, Zell am See, Austria. Dates: 20 November to 31 December 2025 (Elisabethpark), 19 November to 21 December 2025 (Stadtplatz)

Obertauern: a snow-sure resort with a market between the hotels

Obertauern has long been regarded as snow-sure, and for several seasons now it has added a very pleasant bonus in Advent: the Tauernadvent. The market is set up practically in the centre of the resort, by the tourist information office and the Latschenhof hotel.

The whole thing has a very “skiing” feel. On one side is the market, on the other you can see the lower sections of the pistes, with the lights of hotels and guesthouses overhead. The stalls are stocked with what Tyrol does best: local cheeses, cured meats, cakes, Christmas baking, hot soups, mulled wine and punch in several versions. There are also handicraft stalls, from simple wooden decorations to woolly hats and socks.

In the evenings several fires are lit, and people gather round them with mugs in hand and simply talk instead of rushing from one attraction to the next. Local bands play regularly on a small stage, choirs appear, and sometimes ski schools put on short shows. For children there is a small activity corner, on some days a mini carousel or ponies, and on one of the Advent weekends there is a much-heralded visit from Santa Claus, who arrives by sleigh or horse-drawn carriage.

It is not the kind of large funfair you know from big cities, but a mountain resort does not need attractions like that. What is more, the market runs on all four Advent weekends, so on a typical December trip of a few days there is a good chance you will catch one of the evenings with a full programme.

Address: near the Tourist Office and Hotel Latschenhof, Obertauern, Austria. Dates: 28 to 30 November, 5 to 7 December, 12 to 14 December, 19 to 21 December 2025

Kitzbühel: pastel town houses and festive afternoons after skiing

Kitzbühel is one of those places that looks like a postcard all year round, but only in December does it fully live up to its potential. In Advent the medieval centre, with its pastel town houses, cobbled streets and church on the hill, turns into the Kitzbüheler Advent, a market stretching along the Hinterstadt and around the town park.

During the day it is still the main pedestrian street with boutiques and cafés, but in the afternoon stalls appear selling regional products, Christmas sweets, handicrafts and woollen accessories. The air smells of Krapfen, roast chestnuts and mulled wine. A Christmas tree stands in the middle, next to a small stage where something happens almost every day, from concerts by local brass bands to school choirs. Children gather round a small train or a simple carousel, which draws a sizeable crowd of youngsters every year, although compared with giant winter amusement parks it is more of a token feature than a full-scale funfair.

The market opens in the second half of November and closes after Christmas, which makes it easy to fit into a ski trip. In the morning you can warm up on the Kitzbüheler Horn, then do some runs around the Streif on the Hahnenkamm, and in the afternoon head down to the centre and lose yourself in the festive crowds. Kitzbühel is where “premium skiing” meets a very pleasant, local Christmas setting, without overdoing the fairground side.

Address: Hinterstadt and Stadtpark, Kitzbühel, Austria. Dates: 19 November to 26 December 2025

Mayrhofen: a quiet Advent in the forest

Mayrhofen approaches Christmas differently from most big resorts. Instead of putting the market right in the centre, it moves it to the Waldfestplatz, a forest clearing on the edge of the village. In December the spot becomes the Mayrhofner Advent: wooden stalls stand between the trees, strings of lights hang above them, fires burn in several places and the music is more background than main attraction.

This market is noticeably calmer. There are stalls with local produce, cheeses, baking, homemade jams and cured meats, mixed in with handicrafts, including lots of nativity scenes, carvings and items made of felt and wool. Guests stand at tall tables, warm themselves by the fire and chat, while in the background a brass band or a small choir plays and sings traditional Advent songs.

For children there are calm activities: ornament-making workshops, biscuit baking and a small corner with colouring books and simple games. There are no big carousels, Ferris wheels or spectacular funfair here. That is precisely why the Mayrhofner Advent is often chosen by families who, after a full day on the slopes, prefer a quiet fire and a festive forest to a loud party in the centre.

For skiing, Mayrhofen makes its case with the best of what it has in the Zillertal: the Penken with its wide pistes and snow park, the quieter Ahorn, and within reach of the ski bus the whole region, from the Spieljoch to Hochzillertal. Back in the village you can leave your skis at the hotel and walk, or drive a few minutes, to the Waldfestplatz to end the day in a more contemplative, festive mood.

Address: Waldfestplatz, Mayrhofen, Austria. Dates: from 29 November 2025 on selected Advent days

Innsbruck: a city of markets

Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol and one of those places where skiing meets city life in winter. Several ski areas are scattered around the city, including Nordkette, Patscherkofel, Axamer Lizum, Kühtai and the Stubai Glacier, but in December the centre itself plays an equally important role. Within a walk of a dozen or so minutes you will find several different markets here, each with a slightly different character.

The most popular is the classic Christkindlmarkt in the Altstadt, right below the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof). Wooden stalls are set up between the medieval town houses, crowds of visitors stand beneath them holding mugs of punch, and above it all tower the Christmas tree and the intricately decorated oriel with its gilded roof. During the day the square has its own rhythm, and in the evening it becomes a thoroughly festive centre: bands play, choirs sing, groups from nearby villages take the stage, and in the breaks you can eat something hot.

For children, a big treat is the fairy-tale lane, where shop windows and house windows turn into mini scenes from classic stories. On the Marktplatz there is a smaller, more family-oriented market with a simple carousel and a few extra attractions for the youngest. On Maria-Theresien-Strasse the festive touches blend with a more urban feel, and at the Hungerburg, the upper station of the funicular above Innsbruck, there is a small but picturesque market with a view over the whole city.

As a ski base it is very convenient. In the morning you can take the cable car up the Nordkette and ski with a view over the city rooftops, or catch the ski bus to Patscherkofel or Axamer Lizum. In the afternoon you return to the centre and take your pick: the classic market below the Goldenes Dachl, the family one on the Marktplatz or the more modern feel along the main street.

Address of the main market: Altstadt, near the Goldenes Dachl, Innsbruck, Austria. Dates: 15 November to 23 December 2025

Cortina d’Ampezzo: Christmas on the Corso Italia after a day in the Dolomites

Cortina d’Ampezzo is a different world: the Dolomites, elegant boutiques, cafés and long evening strolls along the Corso Italia. In December the wooden stalls of a Christmas market appear on the main pedestrian street, but everything stays in keeping with the character of the town.

In the stalls you will find local products reflecting the region's cultural mix: Tyrolean cured meats, cheeses and strudels, but also Italian sweets, chocolates, wines and olive oils. There is plenty of handicraft too, with jewellery, woollen accessories and small homeware items that easily fit in a suitcase. In the evening garlands light it all up, festive projections are reflected on the buildings, and skiers who have just come down from the Tofane or Faloria wander between the stalls.

Cortina does not go in for a loud funfair. It is more about a relaxed stroll, short stops at the tables, a glass of wine, coffee and dolce. That mood suits the character of the whole resort.

Address: Corso Italia, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Dates: 22 November 2025 to 6 January 2026

Bourg-Saint-Maurice / Les Arcs: skiing up top, the market in the valley

Les Arcs is one of the main resorts of the Paradiski area, but you will find the Christmas market further down, in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The town is linked to Arcs 1600 by a funicular that brings skiers down to the valley in a few minutes. In December a traditional Christmas market is set up on the square by the town hall, surrounded by typically French buildings.

It is more of a market “for the locals”, but tourists are very welcome. The stalls are dominated by Savoyard cheeses, local cured meats, takeaway fondue, wines, honey and jams, plus Christmas sweets and simple handicrafts. There are also activities for children, workshops, short shows, a meeting with Santa Claus and evening concerts or performances by local groups.

For skiers it is a treat too. In the morning the gondolas and the pistes of 1600, 1800, 1950 or 2000, in the afternoon back to Arcs 1600, down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice by funicular and a walk to the market. That way, in one place, you get both a fully fledged ski resort and a small local market with real Savoyard food.

Address: Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France. Dates: 19 to 21 December 2025

Carezza Dolomites / Tiers am Rosengarten: a small market in the Dolomites

Carezza Dolomites and nearby Tiers am Rosengarten are for those who like smaller, quieter places. The local Christmas market, held under the banner “Mountaineer’s Winter”, takes place not in a big city but in a mountain village, on a square surrounded by Dolomite peaks. It is an event for people who value local atmosphere more than a spectacular setting.

Anywhere from a handful to a dozen or so wooden stalls appear on the square. In them you will find traditional South Tyrolean products: cheeses, cured meats, wines, juices, baking and hot local dishes. There are also handicrafts, wooden figures, nativity scenes, decorations and ceramics. In the evening it is all lit up by simple garlands. This is not a market with a Ferris wheel or a big funfair. Children won't have ten carousels to choose from here, but they can feel the atmosphere of a small mountain community where Christmas is celebrated in an ordinary way, without fireworks.

During the day you can ski the pistes in Carezza with views of the Rosengarten and Latemar massifs, and in the evening drive over to Tiers for a short walk. It is for those who like the Dolomites in a natural, less “photoshopped” version.

Address: the square in Tiers am Rosengarten, Italy. Dates: 6 and 27 December 2025

Merano: festive atmosphere near Val Senales

Merano is an exceptional option in South Tyrol, because it combines an Alpine landscape with the rhythm of an Italian town. In Advent the promenade along the Passirio river, Piazza della Rena and the square by the spa turn into a long, illuminated space for strolling. Wooden stalls stand in neat rows, the air smells of spices, almonds and mulled wine, and between the stalls of handicrafts, ceramics and textiles there are small rest areas and heated “domes” where you can shelter from the cold for a while. In the evenings there are street concerts, short parades, family activities and winter illuminations. There is also an ice rink on Piazza delle Terme, which by its looks alone puts you in a festive mood. Children have their own workshops and biscuit baking, while adults can stroll calmly under the arcades and stop at stalls with local specialities. It is one of those markets that is not in one spot but “spills over” the whole town.

Merano has one more advantage: it is a great base for skiing nearby. Val Senales (Schnalstal), with its ski area at Maso Corto, is about 40 kilometres away by road, usually a 40 to 50 minute drive, so a morning trip to the glacier and an afternoon return to the market in the town centre is not a long expedition. If you are planning a quieter day, on the way to Val Senales you can stop briefly at Lake Vernago and then continue up the hairpin bends to the foot of the glacier. Val Venosta, with smaller, family-sized resorts, is close by too, but Maso Corto is the main draw of the area.

Address: the promenade along the Passirio river, Piazza della Rena and the square by the spa, Merano, Italy. Dates: 28 November 2025 to 6 January 2026

Agnieszka Kaszuba / skionline.pl