Kirchheim Advent 2026 – Bad Kleinkirchheim Advent Market

Millstätter See. Bad Kleinkirchheim. Nockberge. Official tourist portal

Bad Kleinkirchheim Advent Market | The Star Trail and the Warmth Trail in the Advent Village | Attractions for children | Frequently asked questions

Warm the heart – during Advent in Bad Kleinkirchheim

– Highly recommended by the Christ Child –

Hundreds of lights, the scent of punch and a path leading to tranquillity: from 27 November to 20 December 2026, the Kirchheimer Advent will transform Bad Kleinkirchheim into its very own little Advent village – complete with an Advent market, the Star Trail, the Path of Warmth and a programme for the whole family.

Kirchheim Advent 2026 – the facts

Where: Village square in Bad Kleinkirchheim, directly opposite the St. Kathrein thermal spa
Period: 27 November – 20 December 2026, Fridays to Sundays
Additional opening days: Monday 7 December & Tuesday 8 December 2026 (public holiday)
Opening hours: 4.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Exhibitors: Advent market featuring over 30 Advent huts selling arts and crafts and regional specialities
Themed walks: Star Trail (700 m through the spa gardens) and Path of Warmth (to St Kathrein’s Church)
Family programme: Pony farm, horse-drawn carriage rides, llama and alpaca walks, a visit from St Nicholas
Within walking distance: St. Kathrein Thermal Spa and Römerbad Thermal Spa

Holzschmied verrichtet seine Arbeit mit einer Familie im Hintergrund am Bad Kleinkirchheimer Advent

Kirchheim Advent Market, Bad Kleinkirchheim – Crafts & Culinary Delights

In the hut village on the village square, opposite the St. Kathrein thermal spa, the Advent atmosphere is in full swing: over 14 market days, more than 30 stallholders showcase distinctive handicrafts and delicacies – Swiss stone pine wood, felt, ceramics and floral arrangements, beekeeping products, traditional incense, as well as fish and salmon products. Local clubs serve tea, mulled wine, mulled cider and children’s punch, as well as Carinthian delicacies.

Genussland Kärnten features celebrity chef Marco Krainer serving up delicious Advent cuisine on selected Saturdays.

Marco Krainer bei seiner Kochshow Advent Bad Kleinkirchheim

Regionale Kunsthandwerker begeistern Groß und Klein

Verschieden Produkte des Holzhandwerks am Kunsthandwerks-Advent

Besinnliche Stimmung am Marktplatz gegenüber der Therme St. Kathrein

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Romantische Pferdekutschenfahrten am Alpinen Thermen-Advent

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Horse-drawn carriage rides at the Kirchheim Advent

A horse-drawn carriage ride through the Advent village of Bad Kleinkirchheim – a magical experience for the whole family.

When: 5, 12 and 20 December, regular departures from around 4.00 pm (book on the spot)
Pick-up/drop-off: Advent market, Teichstraße next to Hotel Kolmhof – a tour through the Bach district
Price: €10 per person (aged 12 and over), €5 for children under 12

The Star Trail & The Path of Warmth – two paths, one Advent spirit

The Star Trail

A 700-metre walk through the wintry landscape offers a world of stars and gentle sounds. Small refreshment stops along the way invite you to linger with Alpe-Adria specialities, hot chestnuts, punch and mulled wine.

A particular highlight for families is the Christmas playground and Trattler’s Pony Farm, where children can groom and cuddle the ponies and accompany them on guided rides through the wintry landscape.

Sternennacht mit Schneefall beim Kirchheimer Advent

The Path of Warmth

It leads past the St. Kathrein Thermal Spa and the Badewandl, continuing along Thermenstraße past the Thermenwelt Hotel Pulverer and the Ronacher Thermal Spa Hotel, until it reaches St. Kathrein’s Church via an atmospherically lit path. The church was once built over a healing spring, the water from which is still collected in the crypt today – and during Advent it itself serves as a venue for concerts and church services. Light installations, a spot to warm up and the scent of Swiss stone pine, lavender and spruce needles accompany you along the way to your destination.

To Bad Kleinkirchheim during Advent

Highly recommended by the Christ Child

Mutter, Vater & Kind stehen auf dem Eislaufplatz und haben Spaß

Familie schaut sich die verschiedenen Stände, des Bad Kleinkirchheimer Advents an

Available from 28 November 2026 to 21 December 2026 from 179€

From 2 nights | 3 days at an accommodation of your choice in Bad Kleinkirchheim
A visit to the Kirchheim Advent Market and taking part in the Advent programme with all its highlights
1 full-day spa pass, including use of the sauna, at one of the two spas – Thermal Römerbad or the St. Kathrein Family & Health Spa

book now

Skiing in the morning, a spa in the afternoon, and Advent to round off the day

Fun on the slopes in the Bad Kleinkirchheim ski resort, soothing warmth in the thermal baths and an atmospheric stroll through the Kirchheim Advent market as the first lights come on. One day, three experiences – perfectly in keeping with the ‘Let it slow’ philosophy.

Family programme – Advent magic for young and old alike

Around the village square and along Sternenweg, a special Advent programme awaits the children:

- Christmas playground & nativity scene with animal figures and light displays
- Baking biscuits at the Weissensteiner bakery (selected dates, booking required)
- Children’s creative workshop with face painting, glitter tattoos and balloon modelling
- Magic fun
- Pony farm along the Star Trail
- Horse-drawn carriage rides through the wintry landscape
- Llama and alpaca walks to delight children
- A visit from St Nicholas – an annual highlight for the little ones

Whether it’s your first encounter with an alpaca or the moment when Father Christmas himself pays a visit: the Kirchheim Advent creates memories that will stay with families long after the Advent season is over.

Adventfenster mit gebastelter Krippe am Adventmarkt in Bad Kleinkirchheim

Familie streichel Alpaka am Kirchheimer Advent

Festliche Kinderschminken-Trends: Glitzernde und bunte Designs für den Advent © Annet van Niehoff

Spas & Winter Moments

Schneeschuhwander-Routen Nockberge© Mathias_Praegant_MBN Tourismus

It’s the combination that makes it so appealing: the ski season kicks off in early December, almost at the same time as the Kirchheim Advent – the first turns on the Ski resort Bad Kleinkirchheim, Warmth at the St. Kathrein Thermal Spa and the Römerbad Thermal Spa.

Quieter paths lead into the UNESCO Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve – ideal routes for snowshoe walks and winter strolls.

Skifahrer fahren die frisch präparierte Piste in Bad Kleinkirchheim hinunter

FAQs about the Kirchheim Advent

Kirchheimer Advent is the Advent village in Bad Kleinkirchheim (Carinthia): an Advent market on the village square, complemented by the Star Trail, the Path of Warmth, a wide-ranging programme of family activities, and its proximity to two thermal spas and the ski slopes in the World Cup resort.

From 27 November to 20 December 2026, Fridays to Sundays, and also on 7 and 8 December 2026. Opening hours: daily from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

On the newly redesigned village square in Bad Kleinkirchheim, opposite the St. Kathrein thermal spa.

A Christmas playground with a nativity scene, the daily children’s creative workshop (including biscuit baking, face painting and craft activities using natural materials), a pony farm, llama and alpaca walks, horse-drawn carriage rides on selected dates, and a visit from St Nicholas on 5 December.

For the most part, yes: the paths are mostly flat and well-lit. In wintry conditions, sturdy, non-slip footwear is recommended.

Yes: On several Saturdays during Advent, Advent services with musical accompaniment take place at St Kathrein’s Church, starting at 5.30 pm on each occasion. Please see the programme for exact dates.

Yes: As a World Cup resort, Bad Kleinkirchheim remains open for skiing even during Advent – you can combine a morning on the slopes with a visit to the market and the thermal baths in the afternoon and evening, all in a single day.

Getting there & parking at the Advent market

The village square is opposite the St. Kathrein thermal spa.

Take the train to Spittal/Millstätter See or Villach Central Station (ÖBB), then continue by bus or on the Kärnten station shuttle to Bad Kleinkirchheim. The on-demand Nockmobil shuttle takes guests and locals comfortably from their accommodation or home to the market – as the service ends at 8 pm every day, just like the market, it’s worth booking the last journey (at least 60 minutes in advance) whilst you’re still at the market.

All connections and bookings: → Transport in the region

Take the B 88 to Bad Kleinkirchheim. The nearest car park is by the Maibrunnbahn; from there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the village square.

Regionale handgemachte Produkte vom Bad Kleinkirchheimer Advent

Familie steht am Kirchheimer Advent und schaut sich aum

Advent in Kirchheim: The Advent Village in Bad Kleinkirchheim