Regensburg Christmas Markets | The Ultimate Guide

Regensburg is a historic city in Bavaria, Germany. During the Christmas season, Regensburg hosts four Christmas markets, and one of them, the Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace, is often sited to be the most beautiful in Germany.

We loved visiting Regensburg. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making the list for its historic architecture, much of which survived WWII relatively unscathed. It is the largest medieval city north of the Alps. Even without its festive Christmas markets, Regensburg is a joy to visit.

But come November, Christmas markets open up on various market squares throughout the city, making this one of the best Christmas market destinations in Germany.

In this guide, we cover all four of the Regensburg Christmas markets plus a few things to see and do in the city.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

The Regensburg Christmas Markets

There are four Regensburg Christmas markets. These are located throughout the historic city center, and strolling from market to market is one of the city’s best experiences, because the cobblestoned streets are beautiful.

If you are on a day trip to Regensburg, it can be challenging to visit all four, because they are spread out over town. But if you spend a night or two in Regensburg (which we recommend), you will have time to get to all of them.

Regensburger Christkindlmarkt

Open: November 25 to December 23, 2024
Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 10 am to 8 pm; Thursday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm
Location: Neupfarrplatz
Website: Christkindlmarkt-regensburg.de

On Regensburg’s main square, surrounding the Protestant Neupfarrkirche church, is Regensburg’s oldest and most popular Christmas market. Open most of the day, this market offers regional specialties like the “Original Regensburger Bratwürste” and the ½ meter long Regensburger sausage!

This market sells a nice mix of food, drinks, and locally produced gifts, such as hats and gloves, jewelry, and Christmas decorations. It has a beautiful setting, with the church illuminated in pink and the brightly lit market stalls.

Here are a few photos.

Regensburger Christkindlmarkt Food Stall

Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace

Open: November 22 to December 23, 2024
Hours: Monday through Thursday 3 pm to 10 pm; Friday 3 pm to 11 pm; Saturday 12 pm to 11 pm; Sunday 12 pm to 10 pm
Location: Thurn and Taxis Palace
Website: wm-tut.de

This is our favorite Christmas market in Regensburg. It is also one of the few markets in Germany where you must purchase a ticket. They are for sale on the official website and onsite, at the entrance into the market.

The Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace wraps around the St. Emmeram Palace, making it the largest market in Regensburg and one of the largest markets that we visited in Germany.

This market has a little bit of everything and it’s definitely worth the admission fee.

Romantic Christmas Market Thurn and Taxis

When you enter the market, you will first see the market stalls that line the outside of the palace. There is a nearby children’s area, with a few rides and a puppet theater.

On the top of Prince’s Hill is the Noble Champagne Pavilion, which is a place to sip on champagne and apple cocktails while warming up by its heaters. You also get a nice view overlooking the market from this spot.

Champagne House Romantic Christmas Market

Inside the Noble Champagne Pavilion

The Romantic Christmas Market is one of the best markets to visit if you want to try local Bavarian foods. Not only do the market stalls sell a wide variety of foods, but there is also a café in the courtyard (this does not open until 8 pm) and several heated cabins and loghouses where you can sit, have a bite to eat, and get warm (some of these need to be reserved in advance, which you can do on the official website).

Foods to try include traditional Bavarian specialties like wild boar on a spit, potato soup in a bread bowl, and “Regensburger Knackersemmel (a Regensburg sausage served in a bun).” We enjoyed fresh pizza on homemade sourdough bread. And, like other Bavarian Christmas markets, there is glühwein (mulled wine) and feuerzangenbowle (mulled wine served with a rum-soaked sugar cube that is lit on fire). This is a good market to save for dinner, since there are so many foods to try.

Market stalls also sell an assortment of ornaments, jewelry, pottery, glass blowing, decorations, sweets, and more. Additionally, firepits, enormous Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and wreath decorations add to the festive atmosphere.

At the end of the market is the historic Malturm. The remains of this medieval defense are turned into a bar for the Christmas market. With its old stone building, wooden timbers, and open fire pit, this cozy atmosphere will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fantasy novel.

A visit here lasts several hours, and you could easily linger here all afternoon, sipping on mulled wine, sampling local delicacies, and shopping at the market stalls.

Lucrezia Arts and Crafts Market

Open: November 29 to December 23, 2024
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11 am to 8 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am to 9 pm
Location: Haidplatz and Kohlenmarkt
Website: Lucrezia-markt.de

The Lucrezia Market in Regensburg has two locations, one at Haidplatz and one at Kohlenmarkt, each a 3-minute walk from each other. This market showcases a variety of artisan’s work, from ceramics to paper to metal.

This is a very small market and most of what is for sale are arts and crafts, including ceramics, jewelry, candles, handpainted crafts, clothing, and much more. There are some beautiful things for sale here, making this one of the best markets to visit if you want to shop for gifts for friends and family.

There are also a few market stalls selling food and drinks, to keep you fueled up and warm as you work your way through the Regensburg Christmas markets.

Advent Market at Katharinenspital

Open: November 25 to December 23, 2024
Hours: Monday through Friday 4 pm to 10 pm; Saturday 11 am to 10 pm; Sunday 11 am to 9 pm
Location: Spitalgarten in Stadtamhof
Website: stadmaus.de

Sitting on the banks of the Danube River sits the Katharinenspital market. Simply walking here over the Old Stone Bridge is a must, as you get a beautiful view of the city, with clock towers rising above the colorful historic buildings.

Advent Market at Katharinenspital Regensburg

A view of the market from the Old Stone Bridge…you can get an idea of how small it is.

This market is the smallest in Regensburg, but it’s also very cozy, hopping with stalls selling glühwein, rum and gin drinks, churros, local Bavarian foods, plus a few shops selling handmade crafts.

It feels like a place to party and hang out with friends and family, all with a great view of Regensburg.

Things to Do in Regensburg

During the Christmas season, visiting the Regensburg Christmas markets is the #1 thing to do in town, but there are also a few historic sites and places to see.

Historic Old Town

Regensburg is famous for its well-preserved architecture and setting on the Danube River. This city survived World War II with very little damage, and its medieval city center is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Strolling through Regensburg’s Old Town is a wonderful experience. With large cobblestoned squares and narrow alleyways running between Bavarian buildings, there is always something new to find. Streets are lined with colorful buildings hosting cozy restaurants, delicious cafes, and quaint shops.

Be sure to take some time to wander through Regensburg’s beautiful city center, photographing its picturesque streets and landmarks.

Old Stone Bridge

A true wonder of the world during the middle ages, the Old Stone Bridge was constructed in the 12th century as the region’s reliable crossing of the Danube River. It is a tribute to medieval engineering and served as a model for Prague’s Charles Bridge.

You get a beautiful view of Regensburg when walking across the Old Stone Bridge…even on a chilly, rainy day.

The walk across the Stone Bridge is one of the most rewarding undertakings in Regensburg, as it provides sweeping views of the city’s old town cathedrals, towers, and colorful buildings.

On the opposite side of the river from the old town is Stadtamhof, a quieter and less touristy part of Regensburg.

Cathedral of St. Peter’s

Regensburg’s cathedral soars over the city center as one of Bavaria’s most impressive pieces of Gothic architecture. It has a detailed facade and a large interior, beautifully decorated with stained glass and a hanging organ.

Thurn and Taxis Palace

The Thurn and Taxis Palace is Germany’s largest privately inhabited castle, with well over 500 rooms. The palace emerged from the Imperial Abbey of St. Emmeram, and the oldest components of the magnificent palace date back to the 12th century. Today the palace remains the ancestral seat of the famous and noble family of Thurn and Taxis.

If you visit the Romantic Christmas Market, you will get to see the palace, but to visit the interior, you must take a tour. Tours will take visitors to see the medieval cloister of the monastery, the crypt chapel, the state rooms of the princely family, the former stables with the carriage collection, and the lavish treasury.

You can either purchase tickets on site, or you can book tours ahead of time at the official website.

Basilika St. Emmeram

This abbey church was built in the 8th century at the grave of martyr St. Emmeram, making it one of the oldest monasteries in Bavaria. Since that time, it has been partly destroyed and rebuilt, but today its white interior is stunning with ornate gold and frescos.

Basilika of the Nativity of Our Lady Regensburg (The Old Chapel)

While this church may not look impressive on the outside, stepping inside is sure to amaze you. The church is a masterpiece of rococo decoration, with heavily gilded features, religious frescos, and detailed sculptures creating a beautiful interior to appreciate.

Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)

Regensburg’s 13th century Altes Rathaus is an impressive gothic and baroque structure that serves as the city’s tourist information center. Visitors can take guided tours of the town hall and of the torture chamber below.

How Much Time Do You Need in Regensburg?

If you simply want to visit the Regensburg Christmas markets, one day is sufficient. Regensburg can be visited on a day trip from Munich or Nuremberg, traveling by train or by car.

We spent one night in Regensburg. I’m glad we did, because it rained our first day here, but on the following morning, the skies cleared, just for a little bit, and we spent an hour or two strolling Regensburg’s quiet streets.

An overnight stay is ideal, as it allows you to visit all of Regensburg’s Christmas markets without feeling like you are in a race.

How to Get to Regensburg

With its handy train station, it is easy to visit Regensburg while traveling by train through Germany. The train station is located south of the historic old town (1 km, a 12-minute walk).

If you are traveling by car, the most convenient place to park is at Parkhaus Petersweg, which is located just outside of the city center (a 5-minute walk).

Where to Stay in Regensburg

We stayed at Hotel Rote 19 and loved it. This small hotel is located across the street from Parkhaus Petersweg (the parking garage) and less than a 5-minute walk to the Regensburger Christkindlmarkt on Neupfarrplatz. We had a room on the top floor of the hotel, which gave us a nice view of the Regensburg rooftops. There is no elevator at this hotel, so keep that in mind when making your hotel reservation and packing your bags. Overall, we had a great experience here, having a large room, fast wifi, and very comfy beds. Plus, the location is excellent.

Hotel Das Regensburg, Bohemian Hotel, and Hotel Rosi are all hotels that get excellent reviews and are also located in the city center.

Premier Inn Regensburg City Centre is a mid-range hotel that gets excellent reviews and is located near the train station (a good pick if you are traveling by train but don’t want the hassle of getting your luggage from the train station to the city center).

For budget travelers, Hostel am Ostentor is a hostel in the city center that gets very good reviews.

More Christmas Markets in Germany

We visited Regensburg as part of a bigger trip through Germany and France. Our itinerary included Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, Esslingen, and the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market, before continuing on to Colmar and Strasbourg.

If you have any questions about the Regensburg Christmas markets, let us know in the comment section below.

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