As the days grow shorter, the Raurisertal lights up with magic, and the first snow blankets the landscape, a special time begins here at Hotel Alpina – a time many guests consider the most wonderful of the year: the Alpine Advent season.
Amidst tradition, customs, and cozy winter magic, Rauris awakens with a unique blend of tranquility, light, and ancient power.

Rauris authentically embraces its customs – and that’s precisely what makes a stay at Alpina an experience you don’t just see, but truly feel.

From December 18, 2025, you’ll also have the chance to experience living traditions at Hotel Alpina: We’re reopening our hotel doors and bringing a wealth of customs with us!

Rauris begins to glow at the end of November.
The first stars hang in the windows, lights already twinkle along the market street, and at Hotel Alpina, the atmospheric Advent decorations are lovingly arranged.

In the warm hotel ambiance, where the scent of fir and freshly baked cookies fills the air, that special pre-Christmas atmosphere emerges, drawing guests back year after year.

Krampus in Rauris: the Wild Side of Advent

On the evening of December 5th, accompanied by St. Nicholas, they appear: the Krampusse.
With heavy bells, elaborate masks, and a tremendous roar, they move through Rauris – a custom authentically preserved here. They go from house to house with St. Nicholas, driving away evil from Raurisertal. The Krampus in Rauris is recognizable by a carved mask and a sheepskin coat. A red cloth tongue hangs from the mask’s mouth, and each mask is uniquely painted in red, white, or black. Each Krampus mask is unique and often carved by the young men who wear them.

The Rauris Krampusse parade through the streets at the same time every year: on the 5th, / 6th, and 7th of December, they are out and about throughout the valley. And if you listen closely enough, you’ll hear their loud cries and the clanging of the bells tied around their waists. All children, big and small, who weren’t so well-behaved in the past year are startled and admonished by the Toifin. With the birch branches they hold, particularly naughty children are gently reminded of their good behavior. The Krampus’s rod is an ancient symbol of admonition – a gentle reminder that sometimes small improvements are beneficial.

All information about these customs can be found on our tourism association’s website: https://www.raurisertal.at/de/region/tradition-und-brauchtum

The Pre-Christmas Season in Raurisertal

Besides St. Nicholas, Krampus, and the Perchten, the Rauris Advent Markets are among the most beautiful experiences in December. They are a cozy meeting point for families, guests, and locals, featuring Advent music, hot drinks, regional delicacies, gift ideas, children’s programs & performances. The Advent markets in Rauris take place on three weekends – each starting at 1:00 PM in Voglmaierpark. The final Advent market on December 20, 2025, is especially interesting for our guests, as we reopen our hotel doors on December 18, 2025, and welcome guests to our cozy premises and rooms.

The Rauris Advent Markets – Pre-Christmas Magic in Voglmaierpark

December 6, 2025 – St. Nicholas Market

• 3:00 PM Arrival of St. Nicholas with his Toifin (Rauris Krampus)
• Culinary delights: Fleischkrapfen (meat doughnuts), Bosna, chestnuts, Klotzbrot, donuts, stick waffles, hot drinks, and much more.
• Cuisine by: Parents’ Association MS Rauris & VS Wörth
• Exhibitors include:
  • Annette’s Little Treasures – Frankincense
  • A.C. Gems – Jewelry
  • ByClara – handmade sewn items

December 13, 2025 – Shepherd & Anklöckler Market

• 3:00 PM Shepherd’s Play by VS Wörth
• 5:30 PM Anklöckler Wörth
• From 6:00 PM Weisenbläser (traditional brass music)
• Culinary delights: Bosna, chestnuts, donuts, stick waffles, hot drinks, alpaca hike with Sabine
• Cuisine by: Die Pützbaum & Schwammert Mötn, Parents’ Association VS Wörth & Kindergarten
• Exhibitors include:
  • A.C. Gems – Jewelry
  • Das Wohnherz – Lamps & Cuddly Toys
  • Roswitha Langreiter – Felt Products
  • Zoe Schindele – Wooden Products
  • Maria & Thomas Althuber – Pine Products

December 20, 2025 – Advent Magic & Shepherd’s Play

• 3:30 PM Shepherd’s Play by MS Rauris
• 5:00 PM Anklöckler Rauris
• From 6:00 PM Weisenbläser (traditional brass music)
• Culinary delights: Leberkäsesemmerl (meatloaf rolls), Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancake), donuts, stick waffles, hot drinks, and much more.
• Horse-drawn Carriage Rides & Carvings
• Children’s Tea Blend with Theresa Sommerbichler at the Tourist Office
• Cuisine by: Heimatgruppe Rauris, Marina Gerstgraser, VS Wörth
• Exhibitors include:
  • Gabriele Reiter – Natural Products
  • Hilda Gerstgraser – Handmade Items
  • Maria & Thomas Althuber – Pine Products
  • Martin Strasser – Honey

👉 The Advent markets support needy families from Rauris with small donations.

A Celebration that Stays in your Heart

Whether it’s the Krampus procession, St. Nicholas, Perchten, the Advent market, or simply a quiet evening stroll in the snowfall –
the Christmas season in Raurisertal is full of small wonders.

And at Hotel Alpina, this time becomes more than just a holiday: It becomes a warm, genuine, unforgettable Christmas feeling.

✨Christmas Magic at Hotel Alpina – your Celebration in the Mountains with your Loved Ones✨

For those who can’t experience Advent in Raurisertal, we have a very special Christmas offer: Enjoy up to 15% off your stay during the Christmas season.

Christmas Magic in the Mountains

Valid from December 18, 2025 to December 28, 2025

• Overnight Stay at Hotel Alpina with Pampering Half Board
• 1 afternoon with punch and Christmas baking and decorating the Christmas tree together
• Gala menu on Christmas Eve with welcome drink in a festive setting
• Large breakfast buffet with regional delicacies corner
• Daily afternoon snack for refreshment between meals
• 6-course evening menu of your choice, local delicacies, various themed buffets (daily salad buffet, cheese board)……
• Including National Park Winter Card
• Tips for great activities in the beautiful Hohe Tauern National Park for your unique vacation
• free use of all Alpina extras such as indoor pool, infrared cabin, saunas and much more…
• Free use of the fitness room with new Techno-Gym equipment
• Free sledges to borrow from the hotel

👉🏻 Discover your Winter-Christmas offer here: https://www.hotel-alpina-rauris.at/angebot/weihnachtszauber-in-den-bergen/

Rauris Perchten Procession – January 6, 2026

If you want to experience the Rauris Krampus outside of Advent season, you can on the 6th of January get another taste of Rauris customs. On January 6, 2026, the Rauris Perchten Procession traditionally takes place. The number and variety of participating Perchten is truly impressive: from Hans Wurscht, who leads the procession, to Schön- and Tafelperchten, Dachsmandl, Korbmandl and -weibl, Ölträger, Kaminkehrer, bears with drivers, the Habergeiß, Zapfenmandl, Bamwercher, Frau Percht with her two faces, and finally, the well-known Rauris Toifin and Schnabelperchten. The silver crown is carried by the mountain miners.

The Perchten masks were faithfully and lovingly recreated by hand. After two years of research and preparation, the Perchten procession was re-staged in 2015 for the first time since the late 19th century and takes place every two years here in Rauris.

Experience Winter in Raurisertal

Want to experience the Perchten procession with the Schön- and Schiachperchten, including the Rauris Krampus, up close?

Our Winter Experience Package is perfect for you: From January 4, 2026, not only will you fully experience the Perchten procession, but you’ll also discover the magic of Raurisertal in other ways:

Experience Winter

Valid from January 4, 2026 to March 29, 2026

Inclusive services & highlights:

• 4 nights in a cozy double room (SUN to THU)
• Alpina Indulgence 3/4 Board with breakfast buffet & evening choice menu
• 1 x Gala Dinner with welcome prosecco
• Free use of our wellness area with sauna, infrared cabin & relaxation room
• Including free detailed program (see below)

Detailed Program of the “Winter Experience” Package

Mondays: Tobogganing in the valley head of Rauris
Meeting point: 9:40 AM Hochalmbahn parking lot – Ride the cross-country ski bus to Bodenhaus parking lot,
then take the toboggan taxi to the Naturfreundehaus in the Kolm Saigurn valley head including 1 free hot drink + toboggan rental,
then independently toboggan down to the Bodenhaus parking lot and return with the cross-country ski trail bus

Monday at Hotel Alpina = Sauna evening from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Horse-drawn carriage ride + forest bathing on Tuesdays
Meeting point for horse-drawn carriage ride: 10:00 AM, departure at the Seidlwinklstraße playground to the Landgasthaus Weixen with the option of lunch and back again
Duration: approx. 3 hours (1.5 hours pure driving time)
Afterwards at 2:00 PM Winter Forest Bathing – experience mindfulness & nature in the Krumltal.
Meeting point: 2:00 PM, Krumltal parking lot in Bucheben
Duration: approx. 2 hours

Wednesdaysguided snowshoe hike with the National Park Ranger team
Meeting point: 9:40 AM, Hochalmbahn parking lot—take the cross-country ski trail bus to the Bodenhaus parking lot
From there, guided snowshoe hike and back again with the cross-country ski trail bus
Duration: approx. 4.5 hours (pure walking time: 2.5 hours)

Book or inquire now: https://www.hotel-alpina-rauris.at/angebot/winter-erleben/