Salzburg: Christmas Sleigh Ride & Alpine Village Day Trip

Summary

Horse-drawn sleighs, alpine air and Christmas bells near Salzburg

You’ll step out into crisp mountain air near Dachstein, glide through snowy Ramsau by horse-drawn sleigh (with bells!), share laughs over lunch at a local inn, and take in quiet winter scenes you might not expect so close to Salzburg. It’s a day trip that lingers long after you’re back in town.

What’s the experience like?

We were already half-awake from the drive out of Salzburg, watching the frost blur past the window, when our guide Franz pointed out a church steeple poking through the mist. The coach wound along the Salzach River valley — you could see ski lifts blinking on distant slopes — and then suddenly we were climbing. My ears popped as we reached Ramsau, this little pocket of snow tucked under Dachstein’s glaciers. I didn’t expect it to smell so clean up there, like pine needles and woodsmoke.

The horses wore red tassels and jingled their harnesses as we loaded into the sleigh. I tried not to laugh at my own clumsy attempt to greet the driver in German (he grinned anyway). The sleigh runners made this soft shushing sound over the snow — honestly, it felt like time slowed down for a bit. We passed old wooden barns and kids throwing snowballs behind fences. At one point, Franz handed around little gingerbread cookies from his backpack; I’m still not sure if that was part of the tour or just him being nice.

Lunch was at an inn with fogged-up windows and heavy wooden tables. My cheeks stung from the cold but the soup tasted like something someone’s grandmother would make. We had about an hour before heading back out — enough time to watch locals chatting in dialect I couldn’t catch, but their laughter filled in any gaps. On the way home, we took a different route through Filzmoos; pink light hit the peaks just right and for a second everything felt hushed except for someone’s phone camera clicking away behind me. So yeah, I still think about that view sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Horse-drawn sleigh ride in Ramsau

• Travel from Salzburg to Ramsau
• Enjoy lunch at local inn
• Take 1-hour horse-drawn sleigh ride
• Return via scenic Filzmoos route

Top questions

How long is the horse-drawn sleigh ride from Salzburg?

The horse-drawn sleigh ride lasts about 2 hours during your day trip from Salzburg.

Is lunch included on this Salzburg Christmas sleigh tour?

Lunch is not included; you can buy lunch at one of the local inns in Ramsau.

What villages do you visit on this Salzburg day trip?

You’ll visit Ramsau near Schladming and return via Filzmoos.

Are guides provided on this Christmas sleigh ride tour?

Yes, a professional guide accompanies you throughout the tour.

Does this Salzburg sleigh ride include hotel pickup?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; transport is by climate-controlled coach from Salzburg.

Is this tour suitable for families with small children?

Yes, infants and small children are welcome; they can sit on an adult’s lap or use a stroller.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transport by climate-controlled coach from Salzburg, a professional local guide who shares stories along the way, plus approximately two hours gliding through Ramsau’s snowy landscape by horse-drawn sleigh or carriage. Lunch at a cozy village inn is available for purchase before returning via scenic Filzmoos.