Salzburg- Where best to see Krampus

Actually the big Krampus run is Dec5, with another run on the 6th. They take place around 5-6 pm in the OldTown, on the pedestrian streets. Getreidegasse, Residenzplatz, and Domplatz. A friend and I got unexpectedly "switched" by a Krampus just moments after leaving the cathedral. We had forgotten the timing of the parade.

I was in Salzburg for their Krampus run on Dec 5, 2025.

There was the "big" run on the streets that CJean has named. I went too late to the big run to be in a good viewing position.

There was a much smaller and more low key "run" on Linzer Gasse Street (a pedestrian only, shopping street) just around the corner from my Hotel Trumer Stube, on Bergstrasse, on the other side of the river. The Krampus characters on Linzer Gasse seemed to be interacting in a more casual way with pedestrians, except perhaps for daring young souls who taunted them! Father Christmas was being escorted by some of the Krampus ghouls, taking pictures with the little kids.

I could roam freely and interact as much (or as little) as I wanted with the characters. When I timidly approached one character, they were very low-key and even agreed to a selfie.

ETA: my Krampus photos on Linzer Gasse were taken between 5:21pm (when I first heard the commotion, which had started earlier, nearer to the river) and ended at 6:01pm when the Krampus characters took off their ghoulish hats and revealed (in one case) her mid-twenties, not-at-all-scary, female actor!

I was there on Dec 3, 2025 and it was very much like what both CJean and CWSocial have described. The parade must be for multiple nights. If you want to see a few pictures I did a scrapbook for the Munich, Salzburg, Vienna tour and you should be able to find it in the tours sections on this website. Looks like my tour was a few days before CWSocial’s!

That is exactly what I was interested in learning. Thank you!

You will certainly hear them coming and they can get a bit wild.
As mentioned old town streets which are quite narrow so not much room to get out of way.

In the case of my timing, after the run had started, the old town streets were so jammed that (coming from the side of the river) you couldn't get anywhere near Getreidegasse. It was lined with people and various lanes leading to it were packed 15 people deep. And the river side lanes were downhill from Getreidegasse, so you couldn't see over the heads of the crowds in front.

Linzer Gasse was never crowded, though it also wasn't the main event. I liken it to going to Oktoberfest in Erfurt (which I loved!) rather than Munich. All the right pieces, in miniature and without the crowds. But not the same as going to Munich.

The words you are looking for - Krampuslauf and/or Perchtenlauf. There is one in St. Wolfgang on Dec. 6 and a few others in this link:

https://www.salzkammergut.at/erleben/winter/advent-und-brauchtum/krampus/krampusveranstaltungen.html

They do not wander around the Christmas markets - this is a separate event. Be warned, and I am not exaggerating, it can be violent. I have had bruises on my legs from the chains.

Emily, as ALWAYS, a very hearty, "Thank You"

Also take a look at
Salzburg.info for this and other helpful ideas.