Wolfgangsee Advent schedule

This is a great choice. I would suggest starting with this website which provides a good overview - https://www.wolfgangseer-advent.at/en

Essentially, there are markets in the three villages bordering the lake - St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen and Strobl - each with a different theme. I suggest taking the 150 bus from the Salzburg train station to Strobl. The bus take about an hour. Once in Strobl, explore the market and then board the boat for St. Wolfgang. I recommend taking the Christmas train up to the top of the mountain while you are there. St. Wolfgang is the largest village and has the largest market. Then take the boat to St. Gilgen. The sun will go down around 4 pm, so maybe plan to board the boat around this time so you can see the lights on the lake. Enjoy St. Gilgen and then hop on the bus back to Salzburg.

You buy your bus tickets from the driver. The buses may be crowded, but we always found a seat. You buy the boat tickets from the kiosks by the docks. You can buy the tickets for the Christmas train up the Schafberg in advance.

This is the information I was looking for. One question, can we get a bus back to Salzburg from the last town, St Gilgen or do we have to make our way back to Strobl (where we arrived from Salzburg). Not sire how dar away these towns are from each other.

Also, what is the Christmas Train?
Thanks again.

You take the 150 bus from St. Gilgen back to Salzburg. You do not go back to Strobl (that's the wrong direction). I suggest you look at Google Maps to become familiar with the area. Here is a link to the 150 bus schedule - https://salzburg-verkehr.at/downloads/regionalbus-150-salzburg-koppl-hof-fuschl-st-gilgen-strobl-bad-ischl/

The Christmas Train - https://www.5schaetze.at/en/schafbergbahn/events-and-experiences/advent-rides-schafbergbahn.html

Emily,

Thanks for the great info! I am planning on doing this also. It hadn't occurred to me to start in Strobl vs. St. Gilgen, but that's a great idea!

Yes - you also could do things in reverse - get off the 150 bus in St. Gilgen, boat to St. Wolfgang, boat to Strobl and then 150 bus from Strobl to Salzburg. But I always tend to go to the farthest point first and work my way back.

Hi Jane,

Emily has given you great info. I don’t have anymore to add but just wanted to comment on St. Wolfgang. We stayed at Salzburg a few times, and our last time, we also stayed two nights in St. Wolfgang - not winter but a September. It was such a charming location, and I always thought it would be so special to be there during the winter! I hope you have a wonderful time there!

It sounds like that whole area during the winter is beautiful! Thanks for your input.

You can also start and end in St. Gilgen. Nothing wrong with that. That’s what we did on another Advent Market trip and it’s our plan for this coming December. We will be in Salzburg area (actually Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden) for 3 nights, leaving on the morning of the 6th. The Krampus Run in Salzburg Old Town Market is the evening of Dec. 5th and we plan on seeing that.

https://www.salzburg.info/en/events/events-calendar/krampus-run-in-the-old-town_event_25191067

Taking the ship to St. Gilgen, Strobl and St. Wolfgang is SO worth it! One of the best days we spent during our last Advent trip in Austria!

Just a follow-up question to Emily's great suggestion on managing a day trip to the Wolfgangsee area. I am trying to figure out the timing of this day trip so we can be on the boat as she recommended around 4:00 (looks like her suggestion is to get on the boat around 4:00 in St. Wolfgang to Strobl) to see the lights after dark. If we do the train in St. Wolfgang, how long does it take to get to the top? Trying to estimate the duration of the train (coming and going) as well as in each village to put us on the boat from St. Wolfgang to Sankt Gilgen so we can see everything lit up from the boat.

Also, how long is the boat ride typically from town to town?
Thanks.
Jane

If we do the train in St. Wolfgang, how long does it take to get to the top?

The ride is about 30 minutes, but the train does not go to the very top in winter.
See here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/wolfgangsee-advent-activities-1-day#2366402

Wow, all this info is GOLD!!! I was looking for exactly all you've said, everyone! Bless you!