Bamberg Christmas Market
Advent magic in the UNESCO World Heritage old town between Maximiliansplatz and Obstmarkt
2026
About Christmas Market Bamberg
Christmas Market Bamberg — edition 2026
The Bamberg Christmas Market 2026 officially opens on November 24, 2026, and runs until December 23, 2026. The venue is the pedestrian zone from Maximiliansplatz, via Grüner Markt, to Obstmarkt in Bamberg's city center. The organizer is the Bamberg City Administration Office.
The stalls offer Christmas decorations, wooden toys, glass baubles, nativity figures, handicrafts, and gift ideas. Culinary offerings range from Franconian bratwurst and Schäufele to gingerbread hearts, roasted almonds, and pastries, as well as Bamberg's mulled wine varieties and winter beers from Bamberg breweries. The market will be closed on December 24.
Those who wish to combine the market visit with a city experience can book winterly World Heritage tours or take advantage of the "Winterly World Heritage" package, which combines a market visit with a city tour and mulled wine tasting.
Highlights Christmas Market Bamberg 2026
- Advent market in Bamberg's UNESCO World Heritage old town
- Wooden stalls from Maximiliansplatz via Grüner Markt to Obstmarkt
- Franconian bratwurst, gingerbread, and mulled wine
- Can be combined with winterly World Heritage tours
- Free admission – open daily (except December 24)
Programme Christmas Market Bamberg 2026
Opening Hours 2026
- Monday to Thursday: 9:30 AM–8:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 9:30 AM–9:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
- December 24, 2026: closed
Stall Offerings
- Christmas decorations, glass baubles from Lauscha, wooden toys from Erzgebirge
- Nativity figures, handicrafts, and gift ideas
- Franconian bratwurst, Schäufele, gingerbread, roasted almonds
- Mulled wine, punch, Bamberg brewery beers
Accompanying Program
- Winterly World Heritage tours through Bamberg's old town
- Concerts in the city center churches (separate program)
- Ice skating on temporary rinks in the city center
Prices Christmas Market Bamberg 2026
Admission to the Bamberg Christmas Market is free. Food and drinks are paid for directly at the stalls – a Franconian bratwurst in a bun costs approx. €4, a cup of mulled wine €4–5 (plus deposit for the collectible mug of approx. €3). Gingerbread and gift items are priced according to size and quality.
Practical information — Christmas Market Bamberg
Getting There
By train: ICE stop Bamberg Hauptbahnhof, 10 minutes walk from the station to Maximiliansplatz. By car: A70 (exit Bamberg) or A73 (exit Bamberg-Süd), parking garages near the old town. Park-and-Ride at Geisfelder Straße.
Admission
Admission to the Christmas market is free.
Opening Hours 2026
Monday to Thursday 9:30 AM–8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 9:30 AM–9:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM–8:00 PM. Closed on December 24.
Contact
Bamberg Tourism & Congress Service, Geyerswörthstraße 5, 96047 Bamberg, Tel. +49 951 297-6200, [email protected].
Advent Market in the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town
Every year during Advent, the Bamberg Christmas Market transforms the heart of Bamberg's old town into a classic Upper Franconian Christkindlmarkt. The venue is the pedestrian zone from Maximiliansplatz, via Grüner Markt, to Obstmarkt – right in the heart of Bamberg's UNESCO World Heritage site, which has been a World Cultural Heritage site since 1993.
Wooden Stalls with Franconian Character
Numerous wooden stalls line the market, offering Christmas decorations, wooden toys, glass baubles, nativity figures, and handicrafts. The aroma of roasted almonds, Franconian bratwurst, gingerbread hearts, and mulled wine fills the air, making a stroll through the stalls a sensory experience. Bamberg's brewing heritage – the city is known for its nine breweries and unique smoked beer – is also present at the Christmas market in the form of Bamberg's mulled wine varieties and winter beers.
The Setting: UNESCO World Heritage Bamberg
What makes the Bamberg Christmas Market unique is its setting. The stalls are located in the middle of one of Europe's best-preserved medieval city centers. Bergstadt, Inselstadt, and Gärtnerstadt – Bamberg's three historic districts – along with the Imperial Cathedral, the Old Town Hall on the Regnitz island, and the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque burgher houses, form a backdrop that no other German Christmas market can match. Bamberg is located in the Bamberg district in Upper Franconia (Bavaria).
Culinary Delights and Gift Ideas
Culinary-wise, the market covers the full spectrum of Franconian winter tradition: bratwurst grilled over beechwood fires, Schäufele (pork shoulder) and sauerkraut, gingerbread from neighboring Nuremberg, roasted almonds, and pastries. For gift ideas, the selection ranges from traditional Erzgebirge wooden toys and Bamberg ceramics to handmade Christmas baubles from Lauscha.
Organizers and Atmosphere
The Bamberg Christmas Market is organized by the Bamberg City Administration Office. Admission is free. For those who want to experience more, winterly World Heritage tours can be booked, connecting the city and the market. A visit on weekdays is recommended: the Upper Franconian market attracts day-trippers from all over Bavaria and Thuringia on Advent weekends.
Where it takes place Christmas Market Bamberg
Christmas Market Bamberg at a glance
History of Christmas Market Bamberg
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