These Are the Traffic Jam Hotspots During the Christmas Holidays

The period around Christmas and the days following it will be characterized by highly fluctuating traffic loads, according to the ARBÖ information service. While shopping traffic burdens the roads in the days before Christmas Eve, travel traffic towards winter sports and holiday regions increases significantly from the holidays onwards.

Every Year Again: Exchange Madness and Vouchers Cause Traffic Chaos

In addition to holiday travel traffic, the exchange of Christmas gifts, the redemption of vouchers, and the FIS Ski World Cup at Semmering also cause additional traffic peaks. On several days, traffic jams and longer delays are expected both around shopping centers and shopping streets as well as on transit routes.

On Monday, 22.12.2025, and Tuesday, 23.12.2025, as well as on the morning of Christmas Eve, Wednesday, 24.12.2025, heavy shopping traffic is expected. Particularly affected are the access roads to shopping streets, shopping centers, and retail parks.

Traffic Jams in the State Capitals

In Vienna, there are very strong delays expected on the Southern Motorway (A2) between Vienna and Wiener Neudorf, the Southeast Tangent (A23), the Vienna Northern Bypass (S2), as well as on Altmannsdorfer Straße and Triester Straße. Within the city, a similar picture will emerge on the Gürtel, on the Zweierlinien, and around large shopping centers and shopping streets.

In Graz, Linz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, traffic jams and intense parking search traffic are also expected around shopping centers. Particularly affected are the Southern Motorway (A2) and the Pyhrn Motorway (A9) in the Graz area, the Western Motorway (A1) between the Linz junction and Haid, as well as between Salzburg-North and the Salzburg junction. In Innsbruck, the Inntal Motorway (A12) at the Innsbruck-East and Kranebitten exits and entrances, as well as Innsbrucker Straße (B174), are among the areas prone to traffic jams.

Start of the Christmas Holidays Occupies Austria's Roads

The Christmas holidays officially begin on Wednesday, 24.12.2025. Traditionally, traffic volume remains moderate on this day. Many families spend Christmas Eve in the closest family circle, with larger travel movements occurring only sporadically. On Christmas Day, 25.12.2025, and St. Stephen's Day, 26.12.2025, visits to relatives and friends are traditionally on the agenda, so a calmer traffic flow is expected on the highways.

On Saturday, 27.12.2025, the big departure for the Christmas holidays to ski resorts and other holiday destinations traditionally takes place. This day is one of the most traffic-intensive of the entire Christmas season. The heaviest loads are expected between the early morning hours and early afternoon. In addition to travel traffic, there is also the arrival traffic for the Women's Ski World Cup at Semmering in the east of the country.

The focus in travel traffic, according to ÖAMTC experts, will again this year be the transit traffic from Germany towards the Balkans and Romania, and in the opposite direction on the return journey. On the routes from the Upper Austrian border crossing Suben - A8 - A1 - A21 - S1 - A4 to the Nickelsdorf border or A8/A9 Voralpenkreuz junction - A9 to the Spielfeld border, heavy traffic is expected in sections.

These are the Traffic Jam Hotspots in December

Driving Bans in Tyrol and Vorarlberg

To keep traffic flowing on the Arlberg expressway (S16), entry and exit bans have been imposed on selected, high-travel Saturdays until February 28, 2026. They apply during the Christmas holidays for all vehicles on December 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The affected junctions are Bings, Braz-West, Braz-East, and Langen am Arlberg.

The driving bans for alternative traffic in Tyrol are in effect until Easter Monday, April 6, 2026, on weekends and public holidays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the districts of Kufstein, Reutte, and Imst. For the district of Schwaz, they apply exclusively on Saturdays until March 28, 2026. In the districts of Innsbruck and Innsbruck Land, the transit bans start on December 27 and end on March 1, 2026. Additionally, metering traffic lights are used at critical points.

Salzburg is foregoing entry and transit bans along the Tauern motorway (A10) this winter. Due to the elimination of tunnel construction sites, less traffic congestion is expected.

No Rest in Shopping Centers Even After Christmas

In addition to holiday travel traffic, there will again be heavy traffic around shopping and retail centers on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Many use this day to exchange Christmas gifts or redeem vouchers. Especially in the late morning and afternoon, traffic jams and quickly filled parking spaces are expected on the access roads to large shopping centers. The situation is expected to be similar to the days before Christmas.

"Shopping trips should be scheduled for the early morning hours, and sufficient time reserves should be planned for holiday trips on Saturday. For visiting the Ski World Cup at Semmering, the signposted park-and-ride options, as well as shuttle buses or the train, are recommended. The ARBÖ traffic service and ORF teletext on page 431 provide continuously updated information on traffic jams, closures, and construction sites," according to the ARBÖ information service.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.