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+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Salzburg above the Salzach in winter

Austria: Christmas Traditions of Salzburg and Vienna

Salzburg, Oberndorf, Mariazell, Melk and Vienna

Eight days in Advent, with three nights in Salzburg and the Silent Night Chapel at Oberndorf, then Mariazell and Melk Abbey on the way to four nights in Vienna and its Christmas markets.

Departures

Current Tours to Austria

Upcoming departures to Austria. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Five stops between Salzburg and Vienna

Three nights in Salzburg with a morning at the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, then Mariazell and Melk Abbey on the way to four nights in Vienna, all by motorcoach.

Itinerary · EU_AT-8D-01

The Austria Christmas Traditions Itinerary

An eight-day Advent pilgrimage from Salzburg to Vienna, with Mass at St. Peter’s Abbey, the Silent Night Chapel at Oberndorf, the basilica at Mariazell and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and free time at the Christmas markets of both cities. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 2

Departure and arrival in Salzburg

Salzburg and the Hohensalzburg Fortress above the Salzach
Salzburg and the Hohensalzburg Fortress above the Salzach
Day 1

Departure from Home

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight from the United States to Munich. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2

Arrival in Salzburg

Our tour escort meets the group at Munich Airport and accompanies us by motorcoach across the border to Salzburg. After check-in we gather for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Salzburg.
Day 3 – 4

Salzburg in Advent

A stall at the Salzburg Christmas market
A stall at the Salzburg Christmas market
Day 3

St. Peter’s Abbey and the old city

We celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s Abbey, a Benedictine house founded around 696 and one of the oldest continuously inhabited monastic sites in the German-speaking world. A walking tour follows through the old city, past the Archbishop’s Residence on the Domplatz, the gardens of Mirabell Palace, the Baroque cathedral, Nonnberg Abbey and Mozart’s birthplace on the Getreidegasse. The afternoon is spent at Hellbrunn Palace and its trick fountains.Overnight in Salzburg.
Day 4

The Silent Night Chapel and the Salzburg markets

We travel to Oberndorf for Mass at the Silent Night Chapel, raised on the site of the old Nikolauskirche where Silent Night was first sung on Christmas Eve in 1818 and consecrated in 1937. The afternoon is free at the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt and the Hellbrunner Adventzauber, two of the city’s Christmas markets.Overnight in Salzburg.
Day 5

Mariazell, Melk and on to Vienna

Melk Abbey above the Danube
Melk Abbey above the Danube
Day 5

Mariazell, Melk Abbey and on to Vienna

We cross the Austrian mountains to Mariazell, the foremost place of pilgrimage in the country, for Mass at the basilica before the small wooden statue of Our Lady venerated there since 1157. We continue to Melk, where the Baroque abbey rises above the Danube and holds the relics of St. Coloman, and end the day in Vienna.Overnight in Vienna.
Day 6 – 8

Vienna in Advent

A Christmas market stall in Vienna
A Christmas market stall in Vienna
Day 6

St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn

We celebrate Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the great Gothic landmark of Vienna, and venerate the image of Our Lady of Mariapócs, brought here in the seventeenth century after it was reported to weep. We tour Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburg summer residence, including the Hall of Mirrors where a young Mozart played for the imperial family, and close at the Belvedere grounds and the Church of St. Charles Borromeo on the Karlsplatz.Overnight in Vienna.
Day 7

Peterskirche and the Christmas traditions of Vienna

Mass at Peterskirche, one of the oldest church sites in central Vienna, opens a half day given to the Christmas traditions of the city, including a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the festive streets. A farewell dinner closes the evening.Overnight in Vienna.
Day 8

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the intercession of Our Lady of Mariazell and Our Lady of Mariapócs, we transfer to Vienna Airport for the return flight home.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
The Silent Night Chapel<Mass is celebrated at the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, raised on the site where the carol was first sung on Christmas Eve in 1818.
Photograph to come · Oberndorf and the Silent Night Chapel
Dates

Your group travels on its own Advent dates.

Tell us the week of Advent you have in mind and the size of your group. We build the itinerary and the price around your dates, inside the weeks the markets are open.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The Salzburg Christmas market at night
The Salzburg Christmas market at night
Salzburg at dusk, the fortress above the old city
Salzburg at dusk, the fortress above the old city
The Advent market before the basilica at Mariazell
The Advent market before the basilica at Mariazell
Mariazell and its basilica in the Styrian mountains
Mariazell and its basilica in the Styrian mountains
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When does this pilgrimage travel?

In Advent. The route is built around the Christmas markets of Salzburg and Vienna, which open in mid to late November and run to Christmas Eve, and around the Silent Night Chapel at Oberndorf. Tell us the window you have in mind and we set the dates against the published market dates for that year.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate, with winter footing. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, on cobbles and in old towns, in temperatures near freezing and with early dusk. Tell us about anyone with limited mobility and we plan the hotels and the coach drop-offs around them.What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Austria?

A US passport valid for at least three months beyond your return date is required, and we recommend six. Austria is in the Schengen area, so no visa is needed for a stay of this length. Requirements change from time to time, so we confirm what applies with your group before you travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in leading an Advent pilgrimage?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseA choir pilgrimageChristmas markets and AdventWorld Youth Day Seoul 2027Somewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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