December is Innsbruck's Christmas month: the Christmas markets are open every day until 23 December 2026, the ski areas open one after another, and the year ends with Bergsilvester on 30 and 31 December. Expect city days around 4 °C and nights just below freezing, with snow on the ground on about 11 days of the month in town and much more on the mountains. Come in the first three weeks for the markets at their fullest, or from 26 December for skiing and New Year.
Over 1991 to 2020, December in Innsbruck (measured at the university, 578 m) averaged a daytime high of 4.4 °C, a night-time low of minus 2.2 °C and a mean of 0.4 °C. It brought 53 mm of rain and snow, snow on about 4 days, snow lying on the ground on about 11 days and around 19 cm of fresh snow over the month. There are about 90 hours of sunshine, the fewest of any month from November to April.
Those are values for the valley floor. The ski areas between 1,600 and 3,200 m are much colder and snowier, and the Stubai Glacier, open since 9 October 2026, is the surest snow in the region.
Stubai Glacier from Innsbruck 2026/27: season dates, ski pass prices and the bus
1 to 6 December: all the Christmas markets are open. St Nicholas walks into the old town on Friday 4 December at 17:00 and hands out treats on the Marktplatz on Saturday 5 December. Krampus groups from East Tyrol run through the old town on Thursday 3 December at 18:30, and the Hungerburg market has St Nicholas and a Krampus run on Sunday 6 December at 17:00.
7 to 13 December: Perchten run at the Maria-Theresien-Strasse market on Monday 7 December at 18:00. Tuesday 8 December is a public holiday; the Kaiserweihnacht at the Bergisel opens 11:00 to 20:00 with music and a carol singalong. The Patscherkofel ski area opens on 12 December, and the Gundolf family plays an Advent concert at the Messe Innsbruck that afternoon.
14 to 20 December: the last full week of the markets, and the last Kaiserweihnacht weekend (18 to 20 December). On Sunday 20 December at 17:00 the Christ Child procession walks down Maria-Theresien-Strasse with more than 400 children dressed as shepherds and angels.
21 to 27 December: the Old Town, Marktplatz, Wilten and St. Nikolaus markets close on 23 December, the day the Peace Light is handed out at the Spitalskirche. On 24 December shops close at 14:00; 25 and 26 December are public holidays.
28 to 31 December: the Maria-Theresien-Strasse and Hungerburg markets stay open, the Four Hills Tournament starts on 28 December (it reaches the Bergisel on 2 and 3 January 2027), and Bergsilvester fills the old town on 30 and 31 December.
Christmas in Innsbruck 2026: traditions, what's open on 24 to 26 December and where to stay
GetYourGuide · 5.0/5 from 3 reviews
A private Advent walk through Innsbruck's Christmas markets with a licensed guide who knows the stories behind them: the old town market by the Golden Roof, nativity scenes, the Swarovski crystal tree and the lit avenue on Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
Departs from Your hotel lobby in central Innsbruck, the car and coach park or the station · About 1.5 hours
Our take on each: Innsbruck Christmas market tour with a licensed guide.
By December the ski areas around Innsbruck are opening one after another. The Nordkette, straight above the city, runs from 20 November 2026, and Axamer Lizum opens its Hoadl House on 20 November with a ski opening event on 27 November. Schlick 2000 in the Stubai valley starts on 28 November, Hochoetz in the Ötztal on 4 December and the Patscherkofel, the city's home mountain, on 12 December. Kühtai is planned from 27 November (a secondary source; confirm with the lift company).
The SKI plus CITY Pass covers all 12 areas around Innsbruck and the Stubai valley plus 23 city sights. A 2-day adult pass costs 162 euros in 2026/27, and it is valid from 10 October 2026 to 25 April 2027.
Skiing in Innsbruck 2026/27: ski areas, SKI plus CITY Pass prices and where to stay
Where to stay for this
City centre, by the Hauptbahnhof, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars · 88 rooms
By the station, with ski buses leaving daily from the stop in front.
A family-run four-star two minutes from the Hauptbahnhof, with a proper Tyrolean restaurant; for skiers, families and rail travellers.
From £132 a night
Igls · 3 stars
Igls bed and breakfast with a free winter ski bus to several areas.
Family-run three-star bed and breakfast with apartments on the sunny Igls plateau; good for families, hikers and longer stays.
From £114 a night
Evenings start early in December, and the city fills them with light. LUMAGICA turns about 1 km of the Hofgarten into a light trail from 13 November, 17:00 to 20:30. ICE MAGIC on Landhausplatz has winding skating paths from 12 November, Monday to Friday 14:00 to 21:00 and weekends and holidays from 10:00. Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens shows Tord Boontje's crystal figures in its lit winter park from 11 November.
On colder days, the Hofburg opens daily 09:00 to 17:00, the Bergisel ski jump Wednesday to Monday, and Ambras Castle, closed in November, is open again daily 10:00 to 17:00. The Tyrolean evening with the Gundolf family makes a warm night in.
Things to do in Innsbruck when it rains: museums, Swarovski, thermal pools and cafés
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 817 reviews
The easy way to see Swarovski Crystal Worlds without a car: entry and a return seat on the shuttle bus from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof on one ticket.
Departs from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, Südtiroler Platz · Valid for one day; allow half a day including the bus
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 253 reviews
Book this if you like history, art or simply curious things: Archduke Ferdinand II's castle holds one of the earliest museum collections anywhere, with armour, oddities and over 200 Habsburg portraits.
Departs from Schloss Ambras, Schlossstrasse 20, Innsbruck; bus M to Schloss Ambras or bus 540 from the Hauptbahnhof · At least 1 hour, more with the park
GetYourGuide · 4.7/5 from 1163 reviews
The classic night out in Innsbruck for anyone who wants to hear yodelling, see the slap dance and listen to instruments you will not meet anywhere else, all in one evening.
Departs from Alpensaal an der Messe, Ingenieur-Etzel-Strasse, Innsbruck (first floor); tram 1 or S-Bahn to Messe · Show about 1.5 hours (20:30 to about 22:00); 3 hours with dinner
Our take on each: Swarovski Crystal Worlds tickets with shuttle from Innsbruck · Ambras Castle tickets (Schloss Ambras Innsbruck) · Tyrolean evening in Innsbruck with the Gundolf family.
Pack for frost in town and deep cold on the mountains. A warm, waterproof coat, hat, gloves and a scarf will see you through evenings at the markets, when temperatures sit around freezing. Shoes with a good grip matter more than you might expect on cobbled old town lanes after snow.
For the Nordkette or a ski day, add thermal layers and sunglasses or goggles, since the light on snow is bright even in midwinter. Swimwear is worth bringing too, for hotel pools and saunas.
Market and sightseeing costs are modest: the Christmas markets are free to walk round, an IVB 24-hour ticket for the city's trams and buses costs 7.30 euros and the Hungerburgbahn return to the panorama market 14 euros for an adult. Top of Innsbruck, the cable car return to the Hafelekar, costs 56 euros. LUMAGICA costs 19.90 euros online for adults (22.50 euros at the box office) with a 2 euros surcharge in the Christmas holidays, and an ICE MAGIC skating ticket 12 euros.
The Innsbruck Card costs 79 euros for 48 hours on its 2026 tariff, valid until 31 December, and includes one return trip on the Nordkette and the Patscherkofel, public transport and 22 museums and attractions.
Innsbruck Card: prices, what's included and whether it is worth it
GetYourGuide · 4.7/5 from 576 reviews
The best-value way to see Innsbruck if you plan a full day or two of sightseeing: the Nordkette cable cars, Swarovski Crystal Worlds with its shuttle, the museums and all the city buses and trams on one card.
Departs from Innsbruck Information, Burggraben 3, at the entrance to the old town
GetYourGuide · 4.8/5 from 1194 reviews
The one mountain trip almost every visitor should make: from the old town to 2,256 m in about 20 minutes, with the whole of Innsbruck below you and the Karwendel behind.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station, next to Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; the ride up takes about 20 minutes, allow half a day
Our take on each: Innsbruck Card with public transport · Nordkette cable car tickets (Top of Innsbruck).
The Austrian school Christmas holidays run from 24 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, so book hotels for those dates early. The weeks from mid November to 20 December fall before the holidays and give you every market, the Krampus runs and the Christ Child procession.
Buy timed tickets online where it saves money: LUMAGICA is 2.60 euros cheaper online, Swarovski Crystal Worlds 25 euros online against 27 euros on site, and Ambras Castle 12 euros online against 16 euros. A combo ticket links LUMAGICA and Swarovski Crystal Worlds on different days, valid 13 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
GetYourGuide · 4.5/5 from 1544 reviews
The right ticket if you are driving, already staying near Wattens or have your own way there: it is entry only, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Departs from Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Kristallweltenstrasse 1, 6112 Wattens · Valid for one day; most visits take 2 to 3 hours
Our take on each: Swarovski Crystal Worlds tickets (Wattens).
For a market trip, stay in or near the old town so you can walk between the stalls, your hotel and dinner. For a mix of skiing and Christmas, the hotels by the station have ski buses at the door, and a spa hotel makes the early dark evenings a pleasure.
Hotels near the Innsbruck Christmas markets
Where to stay for this
Altstadt (old town), Innsbruck old town · Hotel
Small old town inn with Tyrolean cooking, steps from the Golden Roof market.
A small family-run inn in the old town, with Tyrolean cooking downstairs and breakfast on the terrace; best for couples.
From £148 a night
City centre, edge of the old town, Innsbruck city centre · Hotel · 51 rooms
Family-run hotel at the old town edge with ski storage.
Family-run city hotel three minutes from the Golden Roof, with ski storage and a pine breakfast room; suits skiers and city breaks.
From £130 a night
Pradl, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars · 50 rooms
Pradl four-star with a free rooftop sauna and a tram at the door.
A family-run four-star in Pradl with a free rooftop sauna and a tram at the door; for couples, families and skiers.
From £155 a night
Igls · 4 stars · 73 rooms
Village four-star in Igls with indoor pool, near the Patscherkofel.
A four-star village hotel in Igls with indoor pool, sauna and mountain views from every room; for couples, families and skiers.
From £123 a night
Often, but not always in the city. Over 1991 to 2020, snow lay on the ground in town on about 11 days in December, with about 19 cm of fresh snow over the month. The ski areas above 1,600 m are far snowier, and the Stubai Glacier is open from October.
In the city the average December high is 4.4 °C and the average low minus 2.2 °C, based on 1991 to 2020 data. It is much colder on the mountains, so dress in layers for a cable car trip.
The Old Town, Marktplatz, Wilten and St. Nikolaus markets close on 23 December 2026. Maria-Theresien-Strasse and the Hungerburg stay open until 6 January 2027.
Yes. The Nordkette runs from 20 November 2026, Schlick 2000 from 28 November and the Stubai Glacier since October. Hochoetz opens on 4 December and the Patscherkofel on 12 December.
For Christmas markets, Advent traditions and early skiing it is one of the best months. Come before 20 December for every market and event, or after Christmas for skiing, New Year's Eve and the Four Hills Tournament.
Sources: dataset.api.hub.geosphere.at, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, nordkette.com, nordkette.com. Checked October 2026.
