Christmas Events for Kids in Innsbruck (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

9 min read · Auf Deutsch lesen

For 2026, we confirmed 12 Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck. The season opens on November 13 with Christkindlmarkt at the Marktplatz with Children's Program (Bergweihnacht Innsbruck) and runs until January 6 with Märchengasse and Riesengasse (Fairy-Tale Lane and Giants' Lane) at the Old Town Christkindlmarkt. Of these, 2 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Austria.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Innsbruck and Hall in Tirol: 12
  • First: Christkindlmarkt at the Marktplatz with Children's Program (Bergweihnacht Innsbruck), Innsbruck, November 13
  • Free events: Märchengasse and Riesengasse (Fairy-Tale Lane and Giants' Lane) at the Old Town Christkindlmarkt and Rundum Weihnacht: Family Afternoon at the Zeughaus (Familiennachmittag im Zeughaus)

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck

Kids’ Christmas events
12 confirmed for 2026
Towns
Innsbruck and Hall in Tirol
Season
November 13 to January 6
Free events
2
Last checked

Free 2Ticketed and paid 10

Free Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck

Christmas marketFree

Märchengasse and Riesengasse (Fairy-Tale Lane and Giants' Lane) at the Old Town Christkindlmarkt

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The Christkindlmarkt in Innsbruck's old town is the oldest and largest in the city and sits directly under the mighty Christmas tree in front of the Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl). Especially exciting for children is the Märchengasse (Fairy-Tale Lane): there are 20 partly interactive and newly redesigned stories and figures to discover. Right next to it, the giants in the Riesengasse (Giants' Lane) lead into the world of legends and myths around Innsbruck.

The Bergweihnacht with all the Innsbruck Christkindlmärkte runs from Nov 13, 2026, to Jan 6, 2027. At the more than 65 stalls there are crafts and Christmas tree ornaments, and from a viewing platform you can look out over the market bustle. For families, a stroll through the Märchengasse followed by a detour to the market at the Marktplatz is a good plan.

Parent tip: The Märchengasse combines well with the family-friendly market at the Marktplatz, and the two are close together.

Host
Innsbruck Tourismus (opens in a new tab)
Where
Christkindlmarkt in der Altstadt, Herzog-Friedrich-Straße, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Innsbruck Tourismus (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 11 more Innsbruck events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Innsbruck.
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Coming up on this page

  • 7 Zoos and museums
  • 5 Story time
  • 4 Lights
  • 4 Shows
  • 2 Free

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Christmas showFree

Rundum Weihnacht: Family Afternoon at the Zeughaus (Familiennachmittag im Zeughaus)

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On Christmas Eve, the Museum im Zeughaus opens its doors for the traditional family afternoon “Rundum Weihnacht.” From 2 to 5 pm there is a rich program of music, theater and creative workshops, plus warm drinks. The aim is to make the shared wait for the Christkind (Christ Child, who brings the gifts) shorter for young and old.

Admission is free, and the event is for adults and children alike. For families looking for an outing on the afternoon of December 24 before the gift-giving begins at home, it is one of the nicest options in Innsbruck. The Zeughaus is on Zeughausgasse, east of the city center. You can come and go any time between 2 and 5 pm, and no registration is planned. That leaves enough time to be back home for the gifts.

Parent tip: Free admission, just drop by between 2 and 5 pm.

Host
Tiroler Landesmuseen (opens in a new tab)
Where
Museum im Zeughaus, Zeughausgasse 1, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tiroler Landesmuseen (opens in a new tab)

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

The #1 spot Event hosts: free events are listed first. One featured spot puts your event at the very top of this page.Ask about the #1 spot

Christmas market

Christkindlmarkt at the Marktplatz with Children's Program (Bergweihnacht Innsbruck)

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Of Innsbruck's seven Christkindlmärkte, Tirol Werbung especially recommends the market at the Marktplatz for families. There is a large children's offering here, from Kasperl puppet theater (the classic Austrian hand-puppet clown) to story hours to a virtual carriage ride. In the middle of the square stands the 17.5-meter-high Christmas tree made of Swarovski crystals, which for many children is worth a visit all on its own.

The Innsbruck Bergweihnacht with all the markets runs from Nov 13, 2026, to Jan 6, 2027. Exact show times for Kasperl and the story hours are not given in advance, so it is worth asking on site or at Innsbruck Tourismus. The Marktplatz is only a few minutes' walk from the old town, so a visit combines well with the Märchengasse (Fairy-Tale Lane) at the Christkindlmarkt in the old town.

Parent tip: Ask Innsbruck Tourismus in advance about show times for Kasperl and the story hours. The old town with the Märchengasse is a short walk away.

Host
Innsbruck Tourismus (opens in a new tab)
Where
Christkindlmarkt am Marktplatz, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Innsbruck Tourismus (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Hänsel und Gretel (Hansel and Gretel)

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“Hänsel und Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck is one of the most popular operas for families during Advent. The Tiroler Landestheater stages the fairy-tale play in three scenes as a family opera, in German with German surtitles, on the stage of the Großes Haus. It is recommended for ages 6 and up, and there is an intermission.

The premiere is on Saturday, December 5, at 7 pm. More evening performances follow on December 12 and 20. For families with younger children, the afternoon performance on St. Stephen's Day (Stefanitag), December 26, at 3 pm is especially convenient. There are more dates in January. Tickets cost between €12 and €74 depending on category, and discounts are possible. The curious can get a taste on November 22 at 11 am at the free matinee in the foyer.

Parent tip: The afternoon performance on December 26 at 3 pm suits younger kids. Free matinee on November 22 at 11 am. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Tiroler Landestheater (opens in a new tab)
Where
Tiroler Landestheater, Großes Haus (main stage), Rennweg 2, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tiroler Landestheater (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story time

Advent Tours at the Alpine Zoo

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On the four Advent Sundays, the Alpenzoo Innsbruck invites you to a reflective lantern walk at 4 pm each time. Accompanied by Christmas music and Advent stories, the group moves through the festively lit zoo. For children especially, it is a special experience to discover the animal enclosures at dusk with their own lantern.

The meeting point is the Schaustall, and advance registration is not necessary. Important: you bring your own lanterns. Afterward the evening winds down cozily with Kiachl (fried Tyrolean pastries), chestnuts, mulled wine and punch. The dates are Nov 29 and Dec 6, 13 and 20. If you would like to experience Advent at the zoo with small children, this is a calm counterpart to the busy Christkindlmärkte in the city. Because the walks take place on all four Advent Sundays, you can also join more than once.

Parent tip: Bring your own lantern, and no registration is needed. The meeting point is at the Schaustall.

Host
Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)
Where
Alpenzoo Innsbruck, Treffpunkt beim Schaustall (meeting point at the Schaustall), Weiherburggasse 37a, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Theater-Traum: Herbert & Mimi, Ochs & Esel (Theater Dream: Herbert & Mimi, Ox & Donkey)

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Mimi does not really like winter because she is always too cold, but she is very much looking forward to Christmas. Herbert, too, gets a warm feeling inside at the thought of the holiday. There is still plenty to do, though: rehearsing Christmas carols, baking cookies, finding presents and setting up the nativity scene (Krippe).

It goes without saying that the preparations of this scatterbrained clown duo do not go smoothly, and sometimes the two look as bewildered as the ox and donkey in the nativity scene. The play, part of the Theater-Traum series, is theater for people ages 3 and up and is performed on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, at 4 pm at the Treibhaus. Tickets are available online through the Treibhaus.

Parent tip: Get tickets online at treibhaus.at, there is only one performance. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Treibhaus Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)
Where
Treibhaus, Angerzellgasse 8, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Treibhaus Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story time

Family Nativity Scene Tour: Animals, Shepherds & a Little Child on Hay and Straw (Familien-Krippenführung)

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Who visits the baby Jesus in the manger, what do the ox and donkey have to say, and which surprising figures are hiding among the shepherds, angels and kings? On this family tour at the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum, kids and their companions explore the museum's artful nativity scenes and hear stories about the Christmas story.

The tour is meant for kids ages 5 and up with an adult and costs €5 per person. Dates are at 11 am on December 5, 12 and 19, the Saturdays of Advent, and again during the Christmas break on December 28, 29 and 30. The museum is on Universitätsstraße, right next to the Hofkirche in the city center. The museum does not say whether registration is needed.

Parent tip: There are also dates during the Christmas break, handy for the days between the holidays. Expect the tour to be in German.

Host
Tiroler Landesmuseen (opens in a new tab)
Where
Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum (Tyrolean Folk Art Museum), Universitätsstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tiroler Landesmuseen (opens in a new tab)

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Visit with Santa

Saint Nicholas Comes to the Alpine Zoo

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At the Alpenzoo Innsbruck there is a special visitor on the day before Saint Nicholas Day. On Dec 5, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) walks through the zoo from 11 am to 3 pm and surprises the young visitors with gifts and tasty little things. The zoo describes it as a pre-Christmas experience for the whole family.

Since Saint Nicholas is out and about on the grounds for several hours, you can combine the visit in a relaxed way with a walk to the Alpine animals. If you want to enjoy Advent at the zoo for longer, you can join the lantern walk of the Advent tour the following Sunday at 4 pm. Regular zoo admission applies. Warm clothing is advisable because most of the zoo is outdoors.

Parent tip: On the following Sunday, Dec 6, there is the Advent tour with lanterns at 4 pm. Bring your own lantern.

Host
Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)
Where
Alpenzoo Innsbruck, Weiherburggasse 37a, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Kids' Workshop: Building Peep-Box Nativity Scenes (Kinderwerkstatt: Guckkastenkrippen bauen)

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The Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum has many Christmas nativity scenes (Krippen) made of paper, wax and wood to discover, and every figure tells its own story. In this kids' workshop, children get inspired by them and then make small peep-box nativity scenes, a miniature world with figures and scenery.

With imagination, cardboard, paint, wire, and gold and silver foil, their very own nativity scene takes shape step by step in a shoebox. The workshop takes place on Saturday, December 12, from 2 to 4:30 pm, is for kids ages 7 and up, and costs €7 per child. Registration at +43 512 588882-0 is required. It is held together with the VHS Tirol. Kids can of course take their finished nativity scene home, a nice gift for grandparents or for their own Christmas table.

Parent tip: Registration required at +43 512 588882-0. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Tiroler Landesmuseen (opens in a new tab)
Where
Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum (Tyrolean Folk Art Museum), Universitätsstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tiroler Landesmuseen (opens in a new tab)

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Family Christmas event

Winter Christmas Tours at the Alpenzoo (Winter-Weihnachtsführungen im Alpenzoo)

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How do Alpine animals spend the winter, and how do they cope with cold and snow? On the winter Christmas tours at the Alpenzoo Innsbruck, families learn fascinating things about animal life in the cold season and discover how differently the animals adapt to winter.

The tours take place on December 23, 24 and 25, 2026. The meeting point is the beaver pond (Biberteich) at 2 pm each day. The tour fee is €5 per person, and kids and teens up to age 17 are free. No registration is needed. Especially on Christmas Day (Christtag), it is a nice idea for a family outing in the fresh air. Regular zoo admission applies on top of the tour fee. The tours take place outdoors with the animals, so dress warmly.

Parent tip: No registration needed, just come to the beaver pond at 2 pm. Expect the tour to be in German.

Host
Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)
Where
Alpenzoo Innsbruck, meeting point at the beaver pond (Biberteich), Weiherburggasse 37a, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas crafts

Christmas Baking at the Alpine Zoo (Die Weihnachtsbäckerei im Alpenzoo)

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On December 24, the Alpenzoo is busy getting ready, and it is all for the animal residents. At the Christmas baking session, kids help prepare special Christmas food for the animals. Along the way they learn what to keep in mind when feeding animals at the zoo. It is an animal-filled Christmas experience for little animal lovers, and a relaxed morning for parents before the gift-giving at home (Bescherung).

The program runs from 9 am to 12 pm and is for kids ages 7 to 13. It costs €25 per child, and a maximum of 15 children can take part. Registration by email at m.klammer@alpenzoo.at is required, and with so few spots it is best to sign up early. Parents can use the time to pick up any last errands.

Parent tip: Only 15 spots, register by email at m.klammer@alpenzoo.at. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)
Where
Alpenzoo Innsbruck, Weiherburggasse 37a, 6020 Innsbruck (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Alpenzoo Innsbruck (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Hall in Tirol

Christmas market

Hall Advent Market (Haller Adventmarkt) (Hall in Tirol)

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Just a few kilometers east of Innsbruck, the medieval old town of Hall in Tirol turns into an atmospheric Advent market. The date numbers are projected onto the building facades on the Oberer Stadtplatz, creating a giant Advent calendar. In the lanes, stars made of mirror shards sparkle and are lit in color in the evening.

There is plenty for kids to do: they can visit the animals in the petting zoo, go ice skating or be carried off to fantasy worlds by storytellers. Every day from 6 pm, brass groups and choirs play Christmas music. The market runs from November 20 to December 24, 2026 and is organized by the Hall-Wattens tourism association. For families from Innsbruck, the market is a worthwhile outing by S-Bahn (regional train) or car.

Parent tip: Ask the TVB Hall-Wattens for the exact storytelling times, tel. +43 5223 45544-0. Expect the storytelling to be in German.

Host
TVB Hall-Wattens (opens in a new tab)
Where
Oberer Stadtplatz (Upper Town Square), 6060 Hall in Tirol (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with TVB Hall-Wattens (opens in a new tab)

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More Christmas events for kids in Austria

A story for the trip home

Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cozy story to share on the way home after a big day out.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.de (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck?

For 2026, we confirmed 12 Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck, each on its host’s own page: Advent Tours at the Alpine Zoo, Christkindlmarkt at the Marktplatz with Children's Program (Bergweihnacht Innsbruck), Märchengasse and Riesengasse (Fairy-Tale Lane and Giants' Lane) at the Old Town Christkindlmarkt and 9 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Innsbruck?

Yes, 2 of the 12 events here are free: Märchengasse and Riesengasse (Fairy-Tale Lane and Giants' Lane) at the Old Town Christkindlmarkt and Rundum Weihnacht: Family Afternoon at the Zeughaus (Familiennachmittag im Zeughaus). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Innsbruck?

Where to see Santa: Saint Nicholas Comes to the Alpine Zoo. Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Innsbruck?

Christmas story times on this page: Advent Tours at the Alpine Zoo and Family Nativity Scene Tour: Animals, Shepherds & a Little Child on Hay and Straw (Familien-Krippenführung).

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

The story of Christmas in Innsbruck

Innsbruck at Christmas feels like a storybook set against the Alps. A Christmas tree has stood in front of the Golden Roof since 1934, two little lanes hold fairy-tale figures and giants, and the zoo, the opera house and the folk art museum all put on something for children. Here is what a visiting family can expect.

How Innsbruck celebrates Christmas, and why it suits visiting families

Innsbruck's Christmas season is called Bergweihnacht, which means mountain Christmas, and it spreads across several Christmas markets in the city. The oldest one sits in the old town in front of the Golden Roof, a famous balcony with a gilded roof. It started in the early 1970s with just ten little stalls that the merchants had to take down every single evening. Today around 70 huts stand there all season, between the old painted facades.

For a family, the charm is that everything is close together and built for children. Two small lanes off the market hold life-size fairy-tale figures and giants, and the Marktplatz market has puppet shows and a big crystal tree. Brass players called the Amraser Turmbläser play Christmas songs from the Golden Roof every day.

What your kids will meet: the Christkind, St. Nicholas and a lot of nativity scenes

In Innsbruck, children talk about the Christkind, the Christmas figure everyone waits for on Christmas Eve. Shortly before Christmas it walks through the old town, followed by hundreds of children dressed as angels and shepherds. In 2025 about 400 children joined, along with a flock of sheep. On Christmas Eve afternoon, a free family event at the Zeughaus museum helps shorten the wait for the Christkind.

St. Nicholas arrives in early December, and so do the Krampus figures, who ran through the old town on December 6 in 2025. Smaller children may prefer to watch those from a little distance. Nativity scenes are a local specialty too. The Tyrolean Folk Art Museum shows beautiful ones and runs family tours with stories about the ox, the donkey, the shepherds and the angels.

For snacks, look for Kiachl, a local pastry sold at the markets. It is also served with punch after the zoo's lantern walks.

Planning a Christmas visit to Innsbruck with kids

The big Bergweihnacht season runs from November 13, 2026 to January 6, 2027, so you can visit well before or after the busiest Advent weekends. The fairy-tale lane, the giants' lane and the children's program at the Marktplatz market all start on opening day. Nearby Hall in Tirol has its own Advent market from November 20 to December 24, with a petting zoo, ice skating and storytellers.

Many things are free, including walking the fairy-tale lanes, visiting the markets and a Christmas Eve family afternoon at the Zeughaus museum. Others are ticketed and some need registration, such as the Christmas Eve baking morning at the Alpenzoo for kids aged 7 to 13. Alpenzoo has a whole run of seasonal events: St. Nicholas on December 5, lantern walks on the four Advent Sundays and winter tours from December 23 to 25.

Indoor options help on cold days. There is a German-language family opera of Hansel and Gretel, a Christmas clown show for ages 3 and up, and a kids' workshop building shoebox nativity scenes.

A few stories only locals tell

Here is something to share with your kids. After Christmas, the city's Christmas trees go to the Alpenzoo, where the animals eat them. The Golden Roof is covered in 2,657 gilded copper shingles, and Emperor Maximilian I had the balcony built around the year 1500. In the giants' lane there are four giants from Tyrolean legends, though only three were planned at first. The crystal tree at the Marktplatz is 17.5 meters tall and carries 17,500 crystals.

Traditions today

  • The Christmas tree at the Golden Roof: Since 1934 the city has put up its biggest tree in front of the Golden Roof, up to 20 meters tall and lit with 1,300 to 1,500 LED lights.
  • Tower brass players: Every day of the market the Amraser Turmbläser play traditional Christmas songs from the Golden Roof, usually when it gets dark.
  • Fairy-tale lane and giants' lane: Life-size fairy-tale figures hang in the Kiebachgasse lane, a tradition since 1998, and four giants from Tyrolean legends stand nearby. A little fairy-tale stage is part of it.
  • The Christkind procession: Shortly before Christmas, hundreds of children dress as angels and shepherds and walk through the old town with the Christkind. In 2025 about 400 children and a flock of sheep took part.
  • Krampus and St. Nicholas in early December: Krampus figures run through the old town in early December, and St. Nicholas is escorted to the cathedral. Smaller children are best off watching from a little distance.
  • The market on the mountain: Since 2007 the Hungerburg funicular carries families up to the panorama market, the highest of the city's markets at 860 meters above sea level.

A fact for kids

After Christmas, the Christmas trees of Innsbruck go to the Alpenzoo, where the animals get to eat them.

Questions about Christmas in Innsbruck

Is Innsbruck worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes, it is easy to do with children. The old town markets have fairy-tale figures and giants to find, the Marktplatz market has puppet shows and story hours, and the Alpenzoo hosts St. Nicholas and lantern walks. Many of these are free or cheap, and everything is within walking distance in the center.

When do the Christmas markets in Innsbruck open in 2026?

The Bergweihnacht season runs from November 13, 2026 to January 6, 2027. In 2025 the old town and Marktplatz markets opened on November 15, with the tree lighting at the Golden Roof that evening. Nearby Hall in Tirol has its own Advent market from November 20 to December 24, 2026.

What is the fairy-tale lane in Innsbruck?

It is a small lane called the Kiebachgasse where life-size fairy-tale figures hang above you. It began in 1998 with four figures, including the Frog King and Rapunzel, and has grown since. Kids can hunt for the characters, and some of the 20 figures are interactive. It opens on November 13, 2026.

Who are the giants in the Innsbruck old town?

Four giants from Tyrolean legends stand in the giants' lane next to the fairy-tale lane. Two of them are named Haymon and Frau Hitt. Because they stand right at ground level, kids can walk up close, and the giants tell local legends.

Where can kids meet St. Nicholas in Innsbruck?

On Saturday, December 5, 2026, St. Nicholas visits the Alpenzoo Innsbruck from 11 am to 3 pm and surprises children with small gifts and treats. Zoo admission applies and the price was not listed. The zoo's lantern walks on Advent Sundays are a good follow-up.

What is the Christkind?

The Christkind is the Christmas figure children in Innsbruck wait for on Christmas Eve. Shortly before Christmas it walks through the old town, followed by children dressed as angels and shepherds. In 2025 around 400 children and a flock of sheep joined the walk on December 21.

Who is Krampus, and is he scary for small kids?

Krampus figures run through the Innsbruck old town in early December. In 2025 they came on December 6, and on December 7 St. Nicholas was escorted to the cathedral. Young children often watch from a safe distance, so it is worth thinking about where to stand.

Are there free Christmas events in Innsbruck?

Yes, quite a few. The markets are free to enter, and so are the fairy-tale lane and the giants' lane. On Christmas Eve afternoon there is a free family event at the Zeughaus museum, and there is a free morning matinee of the opera Hansel and Gretel on November 22, 2026. The Hall in Tirol Advent market is free too.

Are Christmas events in Innsbruck in English?

Most events are in German, including the family opera of Hansel and Gretel and the puppet and clown shows. Wandering the markets and lanes needs no language at all. If you want a tour or a workshop, check with the host about English.

What can kids do in Innsbruck on Christmas Eve?

There is a free family afternoon at the Zeughaus museum from 2 to 5 pm on December 24, 2026, with music, theater and craft workshops. In the morning the Alpenzoo offers a baking workshop for kids aged 7 to 13, where they make festive food for the animals. It costs 25 euros per child and needs registration, and winter tours run on the afternoons of December 23 to 25.

Where can children see nativity scenes in Innsbruck?

At the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, next to the Hofkirche. Family tours with stories about the ox, donkey, shepherds and angels run on Saturdays December 5, 12 and 19 and from December 28 to 30, 2026, at 11 am for 5 euros per person. A shoebox nativity workshop for ages 7 and up is on December 12.

Is there a Christmas show for children in Innsbruck?

Yes. The Tyrolean State Theater shows the fairy-tale opera Hansel and Gretel in German, recommended from age 6, with performances from December 5 to 26, 2026. Younger children can try a Christmas clown show at Treibhaus on November 29, recommended for ages 3 and up. The opera tickets range from 12 to 74 euros.

What are the lantern walks at the Alpenzoo?

On each Advent Sunday at 4 pm, a lantern walk with Christmas music and Advent stories goes through the lit-up zoo. In 2026 the Sundays are November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20. Afterward there are Kiachl and punch, and the meeting point is at the show stable.

What happens to the big tree after Christmas?

The city's trees go to the Alpenzoo, where they are fed to the animals. The large tree in front of the Golden Roof stays up for a while, and in 2021 it was removed in early February. The lights come down after January 6 and are checked and repaired until the end of March.

How old is the Christmas market at the Golden Roof?

It began in the early 1970s with ten stalls, and in 2023 it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The tree in front of it is even older, standing there since 1934. Today about 70 huts sell jewelry, handmade goods, regional wood carvings and Kiachl.

Is there a Christmas market up in the mountains near Innsbruck?

Yes, the panorama market on the Hungerburg, which sits 860 meters above sea level and is the highest of the city's markets. The Hungerburg funicular has run to it from the Congress station since 2007, the same year the market began.

What is Hall in Tirol, and is it worth a trip?

Hall in Tirol is a medieval town near Innsbruck. Its Advent market on the Upper Town Square, from November 20 to December 24, 2026, turns the facade into a giant Advent calendar and offers a petting zoo, ice skating and storytellers. Entry is free, and there is music every day from 6 pm.

What is the Golden Roof?

It is a late Gothic balcony in the old town that Emperor Maximilian I had built around the year 1500. Its roof is covered with 2,657 fire-gilded copper shingles. It has been the city's landmark since the end of the 19th century, and in Advent the big Christmas tree stands in front of it.

What are the Amraser Turmbläser?

They are a group of brass players who play traditional Christmas songs from the Golden Roof during the Christmas market. They play every day, usually when it gets dark. They also played on November 15, 2025, when the tree lit up for the first time that season.

Is there a Christmas ride or carousel for children?

In 2025 the Marktplatz market had a nostalgic carousel, a puppet theater and a virtual carriage ride, and the whole children's program was free on opening day. The historic Christkindlbahn ran on Fridays and Saturdays from November 28. Check for 2026 details when you arrive.

Can we see animals at Christmas in Innsbruck?

Yes, the Alpenzoo hosts several seasonal events. Winter tours on December 23, 24 and 25, 2026 at 2 pm explain how alpine animals cope with cold and snow. They cost 5 euros per person, with children and teens up to 17 free, plus zoo admission.

What is Bergweihnacht Innsbruck?

It is the name for Innsbruck's Christmas season, made up of seven Christmas markets around the city. The old town market is the oldest, the Marktplatz market is second oldest and the Hungerburg market is the highest. The season for 2026 starts on November 13.

Sources

  1. Ein funkelndes Jubiläum: 45. Christkindlmarkt in der Innsbrucker Altstadt, ichkoche.de
  2. 25 Jahre Märchengasse, Innsbruck Tourismus (Blog)
  3. Ein grüner Riese: Christbaum thront ab sofort wieder vor dem Goldenen Dachl, Tiroler Tageszeitung
  4. Bergweihnacht Innsbruck: ein Blick hinter die Kulissen, Innsbruck Tourismus (Blog)
  5. Innsbruck Tourismus: Adventkalender 2025 (Medienmitteilung, 6. Oktober 2025), Innsbruck Tourismus / primcom
  6. Lichter, Glühwein und Kiachln: Das sind die sieben Christkindlmärkte in Innsbruck, Tiroler Tageszeitung
  7. Goldenes Dachl, Wikipedia
  8. Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum, Wikipedia
  9. Weihnachtsvorbote: Prachtvoller Christbaum für die Innsbrucker Altstadt, Tiroler Tageszeitung
Kelsey Cecil
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