Krampus, a character said to visit naughty children during Advent, appears throughout Germany and Austria during the holiday season. Although often expressed in statues and dolls, Krampus costumes are worn in parades and by playful teens, who sometimes chase children through the streets.

Those traveling to Austria and southern Bavaria during Advent will find many outdoor Christmas markets with local artisans selling their wares.

These locations are among many that carry on the tradition that stems from the Middle Ages:

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Innsbruck, Austria — Known internationally as a winter sports center, this city of 117,916 is located in the state of Tyrol. In addition to hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, Innsbruck contains many landmarks of interest to tourists throughout the year.•

Munich, Germany — Munich is the capital of Bavaria and with 1.35 million residents, is the country's third largest city after Berlin and Hamburg. The city's many tourist sites include the Marienplatz, a town square in the heart of the city with a famous glockenspiel (a musical instrument) that features lifesize statues that dance when the glockenspiel chimes. Munich also is home to The Hofbräuhaus, a beer garden visited by travelers worldwide.•

Oberammergau, Germany — This Bavarian city of 5,364 is home to the world-famous passion play performed every 10 years. The village is also known as the home of a long tradition of woodcarving. Oberammergau also is known for its many woodcarver shops and frescoes on many of its buildings.•

Salzburg, Austria — Although Salzburg often appears quaint when shown in scenes from "The Sound of Music," the city of 150,269 is the country's fourth-largest. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and is noted for its baroque architecture.