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Christmas Markets in Bavaria 2026: 6 Historic Towns

Bavaria's Advent season spans world-famous squares in Nuremberg and Munich alongside Renaissance and UNESCO medieval old towns in Augsburg, Regensburg, Bamberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

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On the map49.45° N, 11.08° ENurembergApproximate city locationView section

Map data: Natural Earth · Place data: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0, modified

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4 places

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  1. Nuremberg (Approximate city location)
  2. Bamberg (Approximate city location)
  3. Munich (Approximate city location)
  4. Regensburg (Approximate city location)

Location coordinates: Nuremberg, Bamberg, Munich, Regensburg.

Picking a Franconian or southern Bavarian market base

Split Bavaria into two easy rail clusters rather than zigzagging across the state. Nuremberg sits less than an hour by regional train from UNESCO-listed Bamberg and within reach of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, while Munich pairs effortlessly with Augsburg (around 30 to 45 minutes by train) and Regensburg.

Watch the opening calendar closely. Munich and Rothenburg start on 20 November 2026 (closing on Sunday 22 November for Totensonntag), Augsburg and Regensburg open on 23 November, Bamberg on 24 November, and Nuremberg on 27 November.

  • Franconia rail base: Nuremberg paired with Bamberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
  • Southern & Danube rail base: Munich paired with Augsburg and Regensburg.
  • Closing day note: Bamberg, Regensburg and Rothenburg end on 23 December; Munich, Nuremberg and Augsburg close at 2 pm on 24 December.

Nuremberg and Bamberg in Franconia

Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt runs on Hauptmarkt from Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, open daily from 10 am to 9 pm (opening Friday until 10 pm; 24 December until 2 pm).

Forty-five minutes north by regional rail, Bamberg's Christmas market runs on Maximiliansplatz and Grüner Markt from Tuesday 24 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026 (Monday to Thursday 9.30 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 9.30 am to 9 pm, Sunday 11 am to 8 pm), accompanied by Bamberg's multi-church nativity trail (Krippenweg).

  • Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt: 27 November-24 December 2026.
  • Bamberg Weihnachtsmarkt: 24 November-23 December 2026.

Sources: Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt 2026, Bamberger Weihnachtsmarkt 2026, Deutsche Bahn Timetables and Connections

Munich Marienplatz and Augsburg Rathausplatz

Munich's Christkindlmarkt runs around Marienplatz from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 (closed 22 November; Mon-Sat 10 am to 9 pm, Sun 10 am to 8 pm, 24 December until 2 pm).

West of Munich, Augsburg's Christkindlesmarkt runs from Monday 23 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 in front of the Renaissance Town Hall. Opening night runs from 6 pm to 9.30 pm, followed by Sunday to Thursday 10 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday (plus 23 December) 10 am to 9.30 pm, and 24 December 10 am to 2 pm, highlighted by the weekend Engelesspiel angel performance on the Rathaus facade.

  • Munich Christkindlmarkt: 20 November-24 December 2026 (closed 22 November).
  • Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt: 23 November-24 December 2026.

Sources: Münchner Christkindlmarkt 2026, Augsburger Christkindlesmarkt

Regensburg old town and Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Regensburg's municipal Christkindlmarkt on Neupfarrplatz runs from Monday 23 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026 (Sunday to Wednesday 10 am to 8 pm, Thursday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm) with free entry, alongside the artisans' Lucrezia market on Haidplatz and Kohlenmarkt (from 29 November) and the ticketed courtyard market at Thurn und Taxis Palace (20 November to 23 December).

In western Franconia, Rothenburg ob der Tauber's Reiterlesmarkt runs from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026 (closed 22 November; Sun-Thu 11 am to 7 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am to 8 pm). Stay overnight inside the town walls to enjoy the cobbled lanes after day-trip coaches depart.

  • Regensburg Neupfarrplatz: 23 November-23 December 2026.
  • Rothenburg Reiterlesmarkt: 20 November-23 December 2026 (closed 22 November).

Sources: Christkindlmarkt Regensburg, Rothenburger Reiterlesmarkt

Bavaria Advent planning tips

Regional day tickets in Bavaria cover unlimited off-peak regional rail trips after 9 am on weekdays and from midnight at weekends, ideal for pairing Nuremberg with Bamberg or Munich with Augsburg.

  • Book Thurn und Taxis courtyard tickets in Regensburg online ahead for weekend evenings.
  • Check the 22 November Totensonntag closure if travelling on the first opening weekend.
  • Combine Franconian or Upper Bavarian markets with an Alpine spa stay in the Allgäu.

Sources