Christmas markets in smaller towns?

I probably shouldn't post this, but a total "backdoor" Christmas market/experience I attended last weekend: Bergadvent am Hartkaiser at Ellmau. It's an advent event held on Friday and Saturday evenings in December on a mountain top used for skiing during the day. Catch the cable car to the top of the mountain. The event includes a very small Christmas market, a candle-lighted trail to follow on the mountain, an elevated lookout at the top of the mountain (climb 2-3 flights of stairs to get there), a small live band (harp and brass) playing in the woods next to a Punsch/Glühwein stand, and food at the restaurant used by those who ski during the day. I did not hear a single word of English spoken except for a few employees in the cafeteria who helped my non-German-speaking companion get food; I had to help him order soup because the soup lady in the cafeteria did not speak English. Saint Nicolas and Krampus made an appearance in the restaurant. There was plenty of snow. Of note, this is a mountain top, so mobility limitations would pretty much preclude someone from attending because participants will definitely slide at some point on the snow.

We have visited small towns and villages on 2 Advent Market trips. We enjoyed these.

We based in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden:
Berchtesgaden
St. Gilgen
St. Wolfgang
Strobl
Hallein
Spend an afternoon on a lakeship on the Wolfgangsee to see St. Wolfgang and Strobl.

We based in Ramsau am Dachstein:
Radstadt.
Altenmarkt I’m Pongau
The Dachstein cable car trip was INCREDIBLE!.

By Innsbruck we have stayed in nearby Hall in Tirol. Charming, local feeling markets. Love Innsbruck also. Especially during the advent markets.

Oh wow Dave that sounds amazing. I'm happy for you that you found it! My husband has a bad knee though, so I think it might be challenging for him.

Paul, we stumbled across the Wolfgangsee towns in our research this weekend. It sounds perfect. I'd love any more details you'd like to share? Did you stay locally? We are planning 2 nights in Salzburg, and maybe two nights around St Gilgen or one of the other towns. Can you do it without a car? We usually rent one, but are planning to do an open jaw, probably starting in Munich and ending in Vienna, so dropping the car in a different country is usually a hassle.

Will definitely also look up Ramsau am Dachstein area.

Check out Szentendre.

You could always return the car in Freilassing, Germany, a suburb of Salzburg.

Don’t split your nights staying in both St. Gilgen and Salzburg. Way too close together to move.

We have stayed 5 times in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden for trips that include Salzburg and the Wolfgangsee, even visits to Hallstatt.

www.mayringerlehen.de

We also loved our stay in Ramsau am Dachstein.

www.pensionhausmaria.com

I would not discount Innsbruck! There are plenty of locals there and various markets. I would consider contacting the tourist office there for help. I did not seek out Weihnachtsmarkt around Innsbruck while there but did see many smaller markets that were only open for a Saturday or weekend with only a handful of stalls (Stubaital). I did take a train to Sterzing, IT for a visit while the Weihnachts Markt was there. If you are in the area 5-6 December I would inquire about Krampus and St. Nicholaus too. You could also check into the Inn valley (Inntal) east and west, Hall in Tirol, Pfaffenhofen a. d. Ilm. etc. Just a quick search this year (you can change to English): https://www.tirol.at/reisefuehrer/veranstaltungen/events/1
https://www.freizeit-tirol.at/freizeit-events/eventkalender/dauerveranstaltungen/
https://www.innsbruck.info/brauchtum-und-events/veranstaltungskalender.html

Mr E, Szentendre in Hungary? I was there in October a few years ago, and it was lovely. Seemed to have a lot of local products in the small shops, and very pretty. We do hope to get to Hungary this year, but everything I heard about the Christmas market in Budapest made me think there's a better time to see Budapest! (After all, you don't need a special occasion to get langos or chimney cakes when in Budapest!) But I can see Szentendre being a different story...

Paul thanks for the links, and the idea about Freilassing. Definitely food for thought.

Mchpp, wow, great links. There seems to be a lot of options, and the events look to be pretty small and natural; will definitely explore.

JoAnne, I haven't been to enough christmas markets to say how Budapest ranks, buy they always get excellent reviews.

Either way, Budapest is waiting....

Yeah... I think a bad knee would preclude my recommendation.

I just spent three nights in Wolfgangsee exploring the Christmas markets of Strobl, St. Wolfgang and St. Gilgen. It sounds like exactly what you are looking for. I suggest sleeping in St. Gilgen and taking the ferry to the other villages.

Thanks Emily, really good to have your impressions!