Rattenberg
47°26′ N 11°54′ ETownPop. 448Tyrol
Rattenberg is a medieval glassmaking town on the Inn of about 450 people, counted as the smallest town in Austria, and its candlelit Advent weekends suit couples and anyone who wants a quiet market, though it opens only Friday to Sunday. In 2026 the Rattenberger Advent runs from 20 November to 20 December on those days, plus 8 December.
Photo Dr Bob Hall from Birmingham, England · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Rattenberg is small enough to walk end to end in minutes, and a night here lets you see its candlelit lanes after the Saturday crowd has gone home. Alpbachtal Tourismus covers the town and the valley around it, and Innsbruck is a train ride west. The Rattenberger Advent runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 20 November to 20 December 2026, plus Tuesday 8 December.
Rattenberg was founded in the 14th century under the Rat mountain and still fits inside about 10 hectares. On market weekends the town turns down its electric lights and keeps its glass studios open. Wind players and Anklöpfler singers walk the lanes on Friday and Sunday afternoons.
The mountain blocks direct sunlight from the town for much of the winter, so the afternoon greys over early and the candles carry the evening. Arrive in the late afternoon to watch the lanes change from daylight to firelight.
Worth knowing
- Go on a Friday or on 8 December for a calmer visit than Saturday evening.
- Arrive by train at Rattenberg-Kramsach and walk in.
Quick answers about Rattenberg
Is Rattenberg the smallest town in Austria?
Yes. Rattenberg counts as Austria's smallest town, with about 400 inhabitants on an area of 10 hectares. Wikidata gives 448 residents for 2021.
Is Rattenberg a good place to stay?
Rattenberg is small enough to walk end to end in minutes, and a night here lets you see its candlelit lanes after the Saturday crowd has gone home. Alpbachtal Tourismus covers the town and the valley around it, and Innsbruck is a train ride west. The Rattenberger Advent runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 20 November to 20 December 2026, plus Tuesday 8 December.
