The Christmas Markets of Austria with Chef Gale Gand

Written By Claudia Royston

About this trip

In this carefully curated tour, Chef Gale Gand will lead you on a unique tour of Austria’s Advent and Christmas markets. Special foods (from seasonal lebkuchen to savory snacks) and unique gift shopping await the traveler at entrancing advent markets in both vibrant city and charming rural markets, with a magnificent castle thrown into the mix. 

Add a generous helping of art and music (not to mention warming drinks, spiked or not), and you have the perfect recipe for a pre-holiday trip. Throughout your journey, don’t forget to collect each market’s specially decorated mug as a memento. 

We’ll participate in a Krampus Parade in a mountain village, a uniquely Austrian tradition. This is not your average Christmas market tour, and you will return loaded down with singular gifts for friends and family (and yourself!)

Chef Gale Gand is a pastry chef and was the former owner of the famed two-star Michelin restaurant, Tru, in Chicago. She has hosted Food Network’s show “Sweet Dreams”, has written 8 cookbooks, and worked with Julia Child on her book and PBS series, “Baking with Julia”.

 

DATES & PRICES
December 1-10, 2025

Cost:
$5,340 per person (sharing)
$5,840 per person (single)

Book Here

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Vienna

Upon arrival in beautiful Vienna, perhaps the ultimate European capital for savoring the holiday season, check into the centrally located Hotel Indigo Naschmarkt.  Tonight we’ll enjoy a dinner at a nearby local favorite restaurant. 

Day 2: Vienna

We will explore Vienna’s diverse history in the old city center and see the main highlights of the city: The Vienna State Opera, Parts of Vienna’s Ringstrasse, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, The Graben and “Plague Column”stopping at the Christmas Market at St Stephen’s Square (with a short tour of the Stephansdom Cathedral).  After lunch at one of Vienna’s one of oldest restaurants, we will continue to two historic markets in the squares of Am Hof and the Freyung.  From there it is a short walk to the Rathaus, a large and lively marketplace with its own ice rink. 

Day 3: Vienna

Explore Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and the adjacent market in Maria-Theresia Platz.  Enjoy lunch at one of the most beautiful cafes in the world, the Cupola in the museum’s heart (not included).  You next have free time for a few hours to explore the museum or its sister across the square, the Natural History Museum.  We start the evening at Karlsplatz, home to one of the largest markets, capping with a performance of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” inside of Karlskirche (St. Charles’ Church), one of the most glorious baroque buildings in the world. 

Day 4: Vienna

Today you will have time to explore Vienna on your own. Return to your favorite spots or tick one of those “must see” items off your list.

We’ll meet at the Leopold Museum in the center of Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier at 3:00 PM. During a private guided tour, we’ll see the most eminent Egon Schiele collection and major works by Gustav Klimt, including his beautiful square-shaped landscape paintings. Afterwards, we’ll visit a market of Vienna’s “Outer” neighborhoods, Spittleberg, named after the Vienna public Hospital which had fields and vineyards in this part of the city from 1525.
We’ll spend some time exploring the market as the sun sets, taking in the wonderful “blue sky” that appears after dusk. Afterwards, we’ll sit down to dinner at a trend-forward restaurant in the district. Today it is a lively, multicultural district, one of the city’s quaintest, with cosy restaurants, small shops and studios.

Day 5: Bad Ischl

Today, we depart Vienna and travel to Bad Ischl. En route, we’ll visit a small traditional market in Lower Austria at Castle Grafenegg. Only open for four days a year, Advent at Grafenegg creates a special kind of Christmas atmosphere. The magnificent castle and festive park provide the setting for a much-beloved destination market for the Viennese as well as locals. Then we continue to Bad Ischl, traveling through the Salzkammergut region, the location of some of Austria’s most captivating villages, with local traditions galore, and never more so than before Christmas.

After a scenic bus ride, we will arrive in Bad Ischl, summer home to the Imperial Court, which will be our base. There we will see their indoor market and experience the unique Krampusaulf where St. Nicholas and his demon minions’ parade through town, perhaps spanking those of you who have been naughty (and hand out candy for the rest). A local dinner will be had at our inn, the Goldener Ochs. Advent is the most atmospheric time in Upper Austria, where customs are writ large. Here you will find all the events of the Advent season: Advent markets, Krampus parades, nativity scene displays, and carol singing.

Day 6: The Salzkammergut: Austria’s Lake District

This morning we will drive to two picturesque villages in the Lake District of Austria: St. Wolfgang and St. Gilgen.

St. Wolfgang is a little town on the lake and the setting for a very special Advent market, regarded as one of Austria's most beautiful where traditional crafts are alive and flourishing. Devoutly Catholic, the Salzkammergut region in Austria has a long tradition of detailed, hand-carved nativity scenes, depicting not just the manger, but often local landscapes and the lives of people in the region. St Gilgen will have several, and in Bad Ischl there is a museum of Nativity Scenes.

Our next stop is St. Gilgen to see the delightful Baroque interpretations of the St. Nicholas story on the church square. Hopefully, we will catch the traditional bellringers showcase (the time varies every year). After at lunch (included) we will return to Bad Ischl around 3:00 PM and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Day 7: Salzburg

This morning, after check-out, we’ll make our way to Salzburg.

Our first stop is a cooking class where we will learn how to prepare apple strudel, the ultimate Austrian dessert. During this class you’ll be guided by your experienced chef in making and stretching out the strudel dough, which is not as hard as it looks. While the strudel is baking, we’ll prepare a favorite Austrian Christmas cookie, vanilla Kipferl, buttery, crumbly crescent cookies. We’ll also enjoy a light lunch of homemade soup. At the end of class, the whole room will be filled with Christmas fragrances, finishing with our handmade, delicious desserts.

For the rest of the afternoon, wander through Old Salzburg’s twisting streets to find your favorite shop.  We recommend two stores dedicated to the holiday spirit, Candela and Christmas in Salzburg.  

This evening dinner will be at Salzburg’s premier rooftop restaurant with views overlooking the city.

Day 8: Salzburg

Today, take some time to explore the town on your own or enjoy the local Sound of Music tour. There is also the Mozart Museum, Mirabel Palace, the Marionette Theater or return to the illuminated markets to soak up some more atmosphere.

Later this afternoon, culinary and musical delights combine high above the town on Salzburg Mountain. We’ll take the funicular up to the fortress a little early and visit its own delightful Advent market which enchants visitors with its unaffected charm and authentic music. After a delicious three-course dinner in their festively decorated restaurant overlooking the town, we’ll be entertained by musical treasures of the Fortress Orchestra.

Day 9: Return to Vienna

After checking out of the hotel we will begin our journey back to Vienna. En route, we will stop at Wenschitz Chocolate Factory where you will make room in your luggage for sweet stocking stuffers and more.

Our final stop is a surprise market before we arrive in the city.

Afterwards, we return to the hotel and end our evening together at a farewell dinner.

Day 10: Departure

This morning, after check out, say goodbye to your new friends and to Austria as you head to the airport for your flight home, presents and packages in hand.

Merry Christmas!

Claudia Royston
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