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For a small city, Salzburg has a wide spectrum of stores. The specialties are traditional clothing, like lederhosen and loden coats, jewelry, glassware, handicrafts, confectionary, dolls in native costume, Christmas decorations, sports equipment, and silk flowers. A Gewürzsträussl is a bundle of whole spices bunched and arranged to look like a bouquet of flowers (try the markets on Universitätsplatz). This old tradition goes back to the time when only a few rooms could be heated, and people and their farm animals would often cohabitate on the coldest days. You can imagine how lovely the aromas must have been—so this spicy room freshener was invented.
At Christmas there is a special Advent market on the Domplatz and the Residenzplatz, offering regional decorations, from the week before the first Advent Sunday until December 26, daily 9–8. Stores are generally open weekdays 10–6, and many on Saturday 10–5. Some supermarkets stay open until 7:30 on Thursday or Friday. Only shops in the railway station, the airport, and near the general hospital are open on Sunday.
As the Imperial Court Jeweler and Personal Jeweler to Emperor Franz Josef I, the Köchert goldsmiths have crafted such world-renowned treasures as the Austrian imperial crown and the diamond stars adorning Empress Sisi's hair in her famous portrait. Today's sixth-generation jeweler creates modern pieces using traditional techniques, replicas of the "Sisi Stars," and offers stunning antique jewelry in the firm's small Salzburg outpost.
If you're looking for the kind of Mozartkugeln (chocolate marzipan confections) you can't buy at home, try the store that claims to have invented them in 1890. It still produces the candy by hand, according to the original (and secret) family recipe. When here—or at the cafés of its three other locations around town—you can also stock up on the Bach Würfel (coffee, nut, and chocolate truffle) and other delicacies.
Rooms of gorgeous Christmas-tree decorations—notably an abundance of hand-painted blown egg ornaments for all holidays—fill this charming year-round shop.
This is a favorite among elegant Salzburgers for trachten, the traditional Austrian costume including lederhosen and dirndl (region-specific dresses with white blouse, printed skirts, and apron). You can also get high-quality field and hunting gear, and unique home decorations.
Find chic European traditional to modern-style home design and accessories at this centrally located furniture store.
Explore the finely crafted, hand-etched, traditionally blown glass pieces in this specialty shop.
A good selection of loden coats and dirndln in the signature "Lanz cut" can be found at this famous Salzburg trachten maker, known for leading the modern revival of traditional Austrian clothing.
Tucked away around the southeast tip of the Mönchsberg, this shop has an impressive collection of mid-20th-century furniture, contemporary design pieces, and delicate porcelain and glassware, all celebrating the tradition of European craftsmanship and offered at a variety of price levels.
Flair and elegance distinguish the traditional Austrian designs here.
Salzburg ladies choose fabrics for their custom made dirndln from the store's floor-to-ceiling wall of colorful linen, silk, and cotton. They can also outfit their homes with locally produced ceramics, hand-stenciled linens, and regional cookbooks at good prices.
Leave room in your suitcase for a few bottles from the excellent selection of house brands and locally produced distilled Austrian schnapps, liqueurs, brandies, festive punch, spirits, and wines at this fourth-generation family-owned shop and tavern. Locals look forward to the Christmas markets so they can warm up from the inside with their annual fix of orange-flavored Sporer Punsch, which you can purchase year-round in the store. Chat with the friendly owners and regular customers at the small bar while you sample the wares.
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