Few know about this Christmas market deep in the forests of Germany. It's one of the most enchanting Christmas markets we have ever visited, thanks to the unique vibe and location.
This dreamy seasonal advent market should be on your bucket list if you are looking for a new special experience.
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TL;DR about the Christmas Market
The Christmas market is known as Halsbach Waldweihnacht in German, and it's located in a forest in Southern Germany, near Salzburg and Austria.
As you drive through the countryside in the winter fog, passing by tiny Bavarian villages, you feel as if you have entered a lost mystical world. At the end of it, hidden from all civilization, hides this fairy-filled Christmas market.
Here you will find small stores selling artisanal handmade items from the regions and true local food and drink stalls.
Throughout the vast, maze-like, market area, you will discover something unusual or magical.
Small masked fairy children run through the crowds making mischievous sounds, and old-world music is played to the crowds; that's just some of the wonderful oddities that we encountered on our journey to this mesmerizing Christmas market.
I would rather not give it all away; therefore, I invite you to discover this Christmas market for yourself!
Things to Know
- The vibe: Medieval, magical, fairy Christmas feeling of the region.
- The crowd: Local Germans and Austrians with their families. We didn't encounter any tourists. At certain bottleneck junctions it can get crowded, but the place is huge, so there is enough space for everyone.
- The weather & what to wear: It gets freezing cold in the forest, and the rural fog accentuates it. Wear your warmest winter clothes!
- The stalls: Most stalls are carefully curated and offer handcrafted goods from the region. From leather, wood, glass, metal, and clay, here you'll be able to discover unique gifts and useful items, which are difficult to come by anywhere else in 2025.
- The food and drink: Besides the common mulled wine and sausage in a bun options, you'll also encounter a good variety of different foods and drinks. A few are rather unique, such as blood sausage or the open fire-cooked waffles.
Opening Hours & Prices 2025
28th November up to 14th December
From Monday to Friday, 5 pm to 9 pm
Saturday, Sunday, and 8th December, 1 pm to 9 pm
Entry: €8 per adult; kids below the age of 12 are free of charge.
Getting There
The market is situated right in the forests of the village of Halsbach, which in turn is located about 1 hour north of Salzburg.
I recommend booking a rental at the Salzburg airport or organizing a taxi ride there. A taxi might be pricier than hiring a car.
The huge parking lot is outdoors, located right next to the market, and it's technically farmer fields, so be prepared that it can get muddy. It's also free of charge.
This is a pretty rural area, and direct public transport from Salzburg is not really much of an option. You can hop on regional buses from Salzburg to Burgkirchen, and the Christmas market offers a free shuttle from the Burchkirchen town center to the market every 20 minutes or so.
If you intend to travel by public transport, I recommend booking a room in a medieval town nearby called Burhausen (get a taxi). The town is worth a visit as well!
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