Best time to go to Austria

Krampus 2024

Scary evil Santa twin occupies Austria, looking for bad, naughty kids

Dates: December 5

Krampus
Krampus
Krampus

Krampus is the evil twin of Santa. When good kids get presents from St. Nicholas and Santa, those who were naughty should be scared of Krampus. Krampus's appearance includes a goat's beard, horns, an oxen's tail, and the devil's face.

What to expect?

Krampus 'comes by' in December, before St. Nicholas Day . Young men wear fur, tails, and devil masks, take branches as a weapon and go through the cities looking for bad boys and girls. There are even special processions, called Perchtenläufe. These are really scary but spectacular performances of pagan rituals.

Where to go?

One of the biggest performances is held in Henndorf near Salzburg. Other places to get a glimpse of Krampus include Obertauern, Bad Gastein, Klagenfurt, and Graz. But in these areas, ​this show can take place in late December, closer to Christmas.

Find hotels and airbnbs near Krampus (Map)

Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin