Sopron lights up from November 28 to December 24, 2025, rolling out a full slate of festive programs across multiple venues. Locals and visitors can enjoy a month of concerts, guided walks with steaming cups of mulled wine, and even a charming mini train looping from the city’s Main Square. Plan for cozy evenings, choral harmonies, and plenty of reasons to linger in the historic streets just an hour from Vienna.
Key Dates and Must-Do Events
Mark your calendar for the Sopron Advent 2025 season running November 28–December 24. The first big weekend, November 29, features three crowd-pleasers: an Advent walk with mulled wine, the Sopron Gospel Advent Concert, and the debut of the Advent Mini Train. The train departs from the Main Square (Fő tér) at 16:00, 16:30, and twice at 17:00, and the ride is free. Can’t make it? The train returns on December 6–7, December 13–14, and December 20–21, always with the same departure times from the Main Square and always at no charge.
On December 7, the calendar is packed: an Advent concert with the Spontaneous Choir (Kórus Spontánusz) inside St. Emeric Parish Church (Szent Imre plébániatemplom), plus the Advent Concert – Soloist Parade, offering a night of standout vocalists. The season caps on December 21 with the Goldmark Vocal Ensemble’s Advent concert, filling the city with full-bodied harmonies right before Christmas week.
Where to Stay: Old Town, Green Hills, or Family-Run Comfort
Choices abound with 47 listings across the city. Adorján Guesthouse (Adorján Vendégház) spreads across two levels with seven rooms from singles to triples—part of a family-run cluster of guesthouses accommodating up to 32 people. You can walk to the city center in about 10 minutes, yet you’re sleeping in the leafy Lövérek (Lővérek) district near the pool, in quiet, independent buildings built for rest.
Alpokalja Guesthouse (Alpokalja Vendégház) sits in a peaceful Sopron neighborhood, 20 minutes on foot from the historic core. Alsó-Lövérek Apartment (AlsóLővér Apartman) offers a freshly created setup in Lower Lövérek (Alsó Lővérek): one apartment for two with a double bed, kitchenette, and bath, and another for four with a double bedroom, lounge corner, bath, and fully equipped kitchen. Units are self-catering and fully comfortable, ideal for longer stays.
Anita Apartment Sopron is a reliable base at Hungary’s western border at the foot of the Alps, about 37 miles from Vienna. Prefer a pine-scented walk? A long-time favorite pension in the Lövérek (Lővérek), 15 minutes from the center, puts you at trailheads for the hiking district. In winter, Lower Austrian ski resorts roughly 37 miles away lure powder-chasers with versatile runs and tourist-friendly services.
Closer to the action, Atrium’s young team welcomes guests just a few minutes’ stroll from the historic Old Town. Bastion Guesthouse (Bástya Panzió) literally leans on history: the hotel hugs Sopron’s 700-year-old outer city wall near a small bastion at the corner of Vienna Street (Bécsi utca) and Stream Street (Patak utca), rising on the slopes of Coronation Hill. If a central but quiet nook is your dream, an Old Town–adjacent apartment house sits 150 meters from the medieval quarter, easily accessible by car and perfect for soaking in the ambiance.
Belvárosi Guesthouse Sopron (Belvárosi Vendégház Sopron) gathers options under one roof: a family apartment with 2×3 beds and a fully equipped, separate kitchen; a triple guestroom; and a two-person studio apartment. Each unit has its own bathroom, delivering privacy for groups and couples.
Eat, Drink, and Warm Up Between Carols
Sopron pairs its Advent mood with modern tastes. A brand-new beer garden promises atmosphere plus quality specials and a steady stream of events—yes, they know you’re coming, because there’s always a reason. For laid-back afternoons, a board game spot stocks 200+ games, from breezy party hits to serious strategy titles, and the staff is happy to teach the rules. The drink list is broad enough to keep every round interesting.
Coffee Clinic pours quality espresso and more, with breakfast and brunch covered: sandwiches, classic morning plates, sweet pastries, and vegan desserts—plus a terrace when the winter sun peeks out. Diana Guesthouse (Diána Panzió) in the heart of the Lövérek (Lővérek) offers high-standard rooms and a guarded car park if you want lodging and comfort in one stop.
For traditional flavors, White Rose Restaurant and Inn (Fehér Rózsa Étterem és Fogadó) serves homemade Hungarian dishes with friendly, fast service. Pizza lovers should head to the cozy spot at 34 King Matthias Street (Mátyás Király utca 34): specialty pies in three sizes with countless variations, backed by a wide selection of freshly cooked mains. Dine in, or order to go and let Fortuna’s spirit find you.
Raise a Glass: Blaufränkisch, Rosé, and Vineyards With a View
Wine is in Sopron’s DNA, and you’ll taste why. Seek out a terrace with a knockout panorama to sample Sopron Blaufränkisch (Soproni kékfrankos), a lighthearted rosé, or a rich red alongside a fragrant white. A family winery cultivates nine hectares, long championing reds but crafting whites for easy pairings. Their tastings introduce grape varieties, and with a bit of planning you can pair them with lunch or dinner: think oven-crisped suckling pig or traditional Hungarian fare, all by prior arrangement.
They also host private events—friends’ gatherings, company dinners, business meetings, press conferences—designing unique programs in a one-of-a-kind setting. Book a cellar tour, a wine dinner, or a guided tasting, then buy your favorites at cellar prices in their vinotheque. If folklore is your flavor, there’s even a wine bar whose name nods to a legend: visitors who came to the Lövérek (Lővérek) for healing and stepped into what used to be called the Cellar Wine Bar (Pinceborozó) left healed—hence today’s name. The bar spans nearly 3,230 square feet across three rooms, ready for winter warmth and long conversations.
Sweet Finish
Complete the evening at Karl Harrer’s dream-come-true chocolatier, where an Austrian confectionery dynasty pampers Sopron with exquisite sweets. It’s an Advent must: one more truffle, one more choir, one more loop on the little train.
The organizers reserve the right to change times and programs.
