Salzburg in an Easter spirit: discover the most beautiful Easter markets

Easter markets do not have as much of a tradition in Austria as christmas markets. Nevertheless, there are Easter markets at a few locations on a few weekends, where mainly local crafts and food are sold. Unfortunately, there are no Easter markets in the city of Salzburg, but there are several Easter markets in interesting places in the province of Salzburg that are worth a visit even without an Easter market. We briefly present the most interesting ones here!

Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf

From 05.04. - 21.04.2025 there is a small Easter market every day at the Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf farm. Visit the animals, buy Easter products and get an idea of the important work of the animal welfare organization. The highlights of the Easter program are the palm bush tying on the Saturday before Palm Sunday as well as the food consecration, Easter stories and Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday.

The Salzburg Open-Air Museum in Großgmain, not far from the city of Salzburg, is hosting an Easter market on 12.04.2025. Here, people from the region will be demonstrating regional crafts such as carving Holy Spirit doves, tying palm bushes or the artistic painting of blown-out eggs. The products can also be purchased. Local farmers also sell their products such as bread, ham, bacon, butter, honey and much more for a hearty Easter snack.

Mauterndorf Castle

The annual Easter market takes place at Mauterndorf Castle on two weekends with a colorful program. In addition to stalls selling local crafts and products, there is also traditional food and music. There is an “Easter bunny workshop” for children to make and decorate palm bushes and Easter decorations. There is also a palm consecration ceremony in the castle courtyard.

Since 1967, one of the most renowned classical music festivals in the world, the Salzburg Easter Festival, has been held annually around the Easter holidays. The performances take place in the Grosses Festspielhaus and the “Szene Salzburg”. World-renowned conductors and orchestras will once again do the honors this year and perform orchestral and choral works as well as the opera “Khovanshchina”. A ballet, Finnish tango and electronic music round off the program.

The 2025 Easter Festival will take place from 12.04.-21.04.2025. 

On 16.04.2025, a craft workshop for children aged 4 and over will take place in the art laboratory of the Domquartier Salzburg. For a material contribution of €4, children can make and design as they please with egg cartons, paper, feathers and much more.

Easter egg show - House of Nature

On April 15, 16 and 17, 2025, an Easter egg show for children will take place at 11:00 and 14:30 at the Haus der Natur in Salzburg. In the show, children will learn all kinds of interesting facts about eggs. Please be aware that the show is only in German.

Easter nest making - House of Nature

On April 15 and 17, 2025, children can make Easter nests at the Haus der Natur in Salzburg from 10:00 - 15:30 and learn all kinds of interesting things about nests and the animals that build them.

Easter egg hunts are the favorite activity of children and the young at heart on Easter Sunday. In addition to private family Easter egg hunts and Easter egg hunts in some parishes after holy masses, there are also public Easter egg hunts in the Salzburg region in which children can take part.

• Salzburg Open Air Museum - An Easter egg hunt takes place here on Easter Sunday from 09:00 to 15:00. The Easter bunny has hidden Easter eggs all over the museum and as a special highlight, Sumsi the bee from the Raiffeisenverband Salzburg will be helping with the search.
• Salzburg Hellbrunn Zoo - There is an Easter egg hunt at the zoo on Easter Sunday at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. Children can search for Easter eggs in a separate area near the African huts. There is also an exciting program with commented feedings and Easter egg puzzles.

Despite all the joyful activities, it should not be forgotten that Easter is based on a Christian tradition that goes back thousands of years and that Easter is the most important festival in Christianity.

For this reason, many particularly elaborate masses and devotions are held in all of the country's churches during this time.

Church service in Salzburg Cathedral

In Salzburg Cathedral, there are masses with musical contributions from various choirs and ensembles for all the important celebrations of Holy Week and Easter Sunday. The Resurrection Mass takes place on Holy Saturday at 21:00.

Mass in the collegiate church of St. Peter

Several masses are also held in this church with music from the collegiate choir, the vocal ensemble, the collegiate orchestra and various soloists. The Resurrection Mass takes place on Easter Sunday at 5:00 in the morning.

In connection with Easter, there are a number of traditional customs in Austria that are upheld by many families and parishes. Even though the importance of Christianity in the everyday lives of Austrians is diminishing, such traditions are still cherished. Two important symbols of Easter are the Easter bunny and the egg. They can be seen in supermarkets and shop window decorations weeks before Easter itself. Some families also have blown-out and painted Easter eggs or bunny figures as decorations in their homes and gardens.

Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and the townspeople laid palm leaves at his feet. To commemorate this event, so-called palm bushes are made the day before from palm catkins or willow catkins, juniper, cedar, boxwood or other branches. These are then consecrated on Palm Sunday during Holy Mass or in a procession beforehand and then hung above the front door or placed behind the crucifix. This is to protect against threats. Palm Sunday is the beginning of the so-called Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday

The Last Supper of Jesus and his apostles took place on Maundy Thursday. On this day, people prefer to eat green dishes. Spinach with a fried egg is particularly popular. On the evening of Maundy Thursday, the church bells fall silent as they are not rung during Jesus' death.

Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and is a day of mourning. Fasting is taken even more seriously on this day than during Lent. Many people refrain from eating meat.

Easter bonfire

On Holy Saturday after dark, the first celebrations begin in anticipation of the resurrection of Jesus. In many places, an Easter bonfire is usually lit after the “Resurrection Mass” or simply as a cozy gathering of the village community.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is the most important holiday in Christianity, the day of Jesus' resurrection. After he was crucified on Good Friday, declared dead and buried in a rock tomb, he conquered death on the night of Easter Sunday and rose from the dead. Many people attend church on this holiday and have food such as eggs, bread, ham and “Easter lambs” blessed. These days, Easter lambs are rarely real lambs, but rather cakes in the shape of a lamb.

More popular than the church aspect of the holiday, however, is the tradition of the Easter bunny. He hides Easter eggs, boiled, brightly colored eggs, chocolate and small gifts for the children in the garden or at home. The eggs found are then eaten or used to play “Eierpecken”. A game in which two eggs are knocked together. Whose egg cracks first loses.