With its bustling Christmas markets, snow-frosted baroque palaces and Alpine adventures, SalzburgerLand is the ultimate festive getaway

With summer coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to start planning your next escape, and SalzburgerLand is the ideal winter wonderland.

Set high on the banks of the ancient River Salzach, the charming city and its surrounding countryside is famous for being the hometown of Mozart and the von Trapp family – but if you really want to experience it at its best for yourself, the festive season is the time to go.

The celebrations kick off in mid-October with the Jazz & the City festival (22-26 October 2014) and run well into the New Year with the International Mozarteum Foundation’s Mozart Week (22 January-1 February 2015). But it’s when the city’s historic Christmas markets are in full swing that the atmosphere is at its best: be lured by the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread filling the air at the Advent Market in the courtyard of the Hohensalzburg Fortress or the weekly market in Residenzplatz. The newly opened DomQuartier Salzburg, with its exhibits and stunning views of the city, is also worth a visit, as is Mirabell Palace, where you can see the famous gardens glistening with snow.

If you’re feeling adventurous, why not head to the hills to stay in a cosy rustic hut set against the backdrop of stunning Alpine scenery? With 2,500km of slopes, skiers of all standards will find a piste to suit their style. Beginners should start on the gentle slopes of Obertauern to build their confidence, while pros can venture up Kitzsteinhorn in Zell am See to test their skills. What’s more, no matter when you visit, there’ll be fresh powder as over 85 per cent of the slopes are kitted out with snowmakers to top up the runs.

Foodies should embark on Via Culinaria’s hut-lovers tour, where guests visit 19 carefully selected ski huts and chalets that are renowned for their award-winning cuisine to sample local dishes – all with stunning mountain views. Or, for those who like a walk on the wild side, why not try a torch-lit hike to see the mountains illuminated at night? If you prefer a cosier way to enjoy the landscape, snuggle up under warm blankets with a loved-one while you ride in a horse-drawn sleigh across the snowy scenery.

All this is less than a two-hour plane ride away from London Heathrow: British Airways flies to Salzburg nine times a week during the Christmas season. Plus, the handy new SalzburgCard, which gives you free admission to the city’s museums, as well as discounts on concerts and theatre tickets, for 24, 48 or 72 hours, means that all these delights can be at your fingertips the moment you arrive.

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This article has been tagged Destination, Culture