Austria Holidays 2026: Best Travel Dates & Local Advice for your Salzburg Trip
General Opening Hours
| Day / Service | Standard Opening Hours & Details |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | Shops: 08:00 – 19:00. Restaurants: 11:30 – 21:00 (extended until midnight during the Salzburg Festival in July–August). Cafés: usually close 18:00 – 20:00. Note: Most places do not close for a midday break. |
| Saturday | Reduced hours; stores typically close early between 17:00 and 18:00. |
| Sunday | Most retail stores are closed. Museums, cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops in Salzburg's Old Town remain open. |
| Seasonal Resorts | In ski resorts (Dec–Apr) and Lake Salzkammergut (Jun–Sep), selected supermarkets open on Sundays (typically 09:00 – 13:00). |
| Banks | Closed on weekends and public holidays. Currency exchange is available on weekdays only. |
Grocery Stores Open on Sundays in Salzburg
| Store | Location | Sunday Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BILLA | Old Town embankment | 11:00 – 15:00 |
| SPAR | Mozart House | 14:00 – 18:00 |
| SPAR | Salzburg Main Station | 09:00 – 22:00 |
Local Tip: National holidays and long weekends are among the busiest times to visit Salzburg. If you'd rather avoid the crowds, consider exploring the surrounding Alps on a private panoramic tour, where you'll discover spectacular scenery away from the busiest tourist areas.
School Holiday Calendar (2026)
Austria operates on a two-semester system. Holiday dates vary by region:
| Holiday Period | Salzburg, Tirol, Burgenland, Carinthia, Vorarlberg | Vienna, Lower Austria | Upper Austria, Styria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester Break | 07.02 – 15.02 | 31.01 – 08.02 | 15.02 – 22.02 |
| Easter Holidays | 28.03 – 06.04 | 28.03 – 06.04 | 28.03 – 06.04 |
| Pentecost | 23.05 – 25.05 | 23.05 – 25.05 | 23.05 – 25.05 |
| Summer Holidays | 11.07 – 13.09 | 28.06 – 06.09 | 11.07 – 13.09 |
| Autumn Holidays | 24.10 – 02.11 | 24.10 – 02.11 | 24.10 – 02.11 |
| Christmas & Winter | 23.12 – 06.01 | 23.12 – 06.01 | 23.12 – 06.01 |
Public Holidays: Descriptions and Traditions
| Date & Holiday | Status | Description & Traditions |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 New Year (Neujahr) |
Public Holiday | A day of rest and preparation for the working days ahead. In the heart of Salzburg, a New Year’s market offers delicious food and drinks, while various bands perform on stage at Kapitelplatz, presenting folk, classical, and jazz music. Read more: New Year's Eve in the Old Town of Salzburg |
| January 6 Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) |
Public Holiday | Honors the Three Wise Men. Groups of carolers (Sternsänger) visit homes singing carols and collecting charitable donations. They write the blessed chalk symbols C + M + B (Christus Mansionem Benedicat) above doorways. |
| April 5 & 6 Easter Sunday & Monday (Ostern) |
Public Holiday | The most important Christian holiday. Easter Eve features church fires/candles and blessing of festive foods (lamb cakes, cheeses, sausages, eggs). Families gather for breakfast, and traditional Palm Sunday processions take place. Read more: Austria Easter Customs |
| May 1 Labor Day (Staatsfeiertag) |
Public Holiday | Celebrates workers’ solidarity and marks the start of the agricultural season. In rural areas, it is customary to erect a traditional maypole. Read more: Maypole Raising |
| May 14 Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) |
Public Holiday | Commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension to Heaven 40 days after Easter. Parishes typically celebrate First Communion for children on this day. |
| May 24 & 25 Pentecost Sunday & Monday (Pfingsten) |
Public Holiday | Celebrates the founding of the Christian Church with festive processions releasing doves. Parishes commonly hold confirmation ceremonies during this weekend. |
| June 4 Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) |
Public Holiday | Feast honoring the Eucharist dating back to the 13th century. Churches are decorated with flowers and birch trees, followed by solemn street processions led by priests, local youth, and brass bands. |
| August 15 Assumption of Mary (Mariä Himmelfahrt) |
Public Holiday | Commemorates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, celebrated in Alpine communities with the blessing of medicinal herbs and traditional root decoctions. |
| October 26 National Day (Nationalfeiertag) |
Public Holiday | Commemorates Austria’s 1955 declaration of permanent neutrality. Government offices open their doors to the public, accompanied by special civic and military events.
Local Tip: Late October offers some of the last warm autumn days. It's a great opportunity for an excursion to Berchtesgaden and Lake Königssee before high mountain passes close for the winter.
|
| November 1 All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen) |
Public Holiday | A solemn day honoring Christian saints. Families gather at cemeteries to light candles and decorate graves. Note: On Nov 2 (All Souls' Day), students and state employees have off, but regular shops remain open. |
| December 8 Immaculate Conception (Mariä Empfängnis) |
Public Holiday | Catholic feast day celebrating the Virgin Mary. Special Note: Despite being a public holiday, major retail shops are legally allowed to open for Christmas shopping. |
| December 24 Christmas Eve (Heiliger Abend) |
Half-day schedule | Final preparations for Christmas, gift exchanges, and traditional family dinners (goose, carp, or Tafelspitz). Stores close early (~13:00); central Christmas markets close around 15:00.
Local Tip: The lakeside Christmas markets in St. Wolfgang and St. Gilgen are truly unique. Consider arranging a Salzkammergut Lake District tour earlier in December, as these regional markets close earlier than those in the city center.
|
| December 25 Christmas Day (Weihnachten) |
Public Holiday | A peaceful family day for church services, festive meals, or winter walks. Salzburg’s main Christmas Market remains open until 18:00, though regular shops and businesses are closed. Read more: Christmas Traditions and Events in Salzburg |
| December 26 St. Stephen's Day (Stefanitag) |
Public Holiday | The second day of Christmas, usually reserved for visiting extended family and friends. Rural regions often host traditional horse blessings (Stefaniritt). |
| December 31 New Year's Eve (Silvester) |
Half-day schedule | Shops close early (typically by 13:00). In Salzburg, the evening is celebrated with outdoor street stands, music, and fireworks over the historic center.
Local Tip: New Year's Eve is one of the busiest times for local transport. If you plan to travel around the region, make sure to organize your private transfer well in advance.
Read more: New Year's Eve in the Old Town of Salzburg |
