Tölzer Christkindlmarkt

The Market Street – Bavaria's Most Beautiful Advent Backdrop

The Marktstraße in Bad Tölz is considered one of the most beautiful main streets in Bavaria: 250 meters of gently sloping cobblestone path, lined with burgher houses from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, adorned with intricate Lüftlmalerei (traditional Bavarian facade paintings). When this backdrop is framed by thousands of lights, decorated wooden huts, and fir greenery during Advent, it creates a Christmas magic that is known far beyond Bavaria's borders. The Tölzer Christkindlmarkt traditionally takes place here from the Friday before the 1st Advent until December 24th.

50 Huts, Nativity Art, and Bavarian Traditions

Around 50 lovingly decorated and illuminated huts gather traders and craftspeople from the Isarwinkel region and all of Upper Bavaria. The offerings are diverse: wood carvings from the Tölz and Mittenwald workshops, horn jewelry, fine woodturning, Bavarian musical instruments (zither, dulcimer), porcelain dolls, colorful ceramics, Christmas angels, and tree ornaments. Culinary delights are dominated by Tölz mulled wine, roasted almonds, freshly baked gingerbread, bratwurst from charcoal grills, and fried pastries (Auszogne, Krapfen).

Krampus Run, St. Nicholas, and Stage Music

A special feature of Tölz is the traditional Krampus run on Advent Saturdays: frightening Krampus figures with hand-carved masks and heavy bells parade down the market street – an Alpine tradition that has been practiced for centuries in Tyrol, Salzburg, and Upper Bavaria. On weekends, St. Nicholas visits the children. Music groups and ensembles from the Isarwinkel play contemplative folk music and brass melodies on the stage at the end of the market street daily.

Storytelling Hours, Carriage Rides, and Ice Sculptors

The accompanying program is extensive: storytelling hours for children, children's theater, a children's carousel, romantic carriage rides with horse-drawn sleighs through the historic old town, live ice sculptors chiseling sculptures from ice blocks, and evening Christmas carols create the festive atmosphere. The concept is classic and traditional – no loud pop music, but folk music, customs, and crafts.

Bad Tölz in Advent – A Spa Town with Atmosphere

Bad Tölz itself, outside the main season, is a quiet spa and health resort town with salt baths, brine thermal spas, and gentle views of the Bavarian Prealps. During Advent, the town transforms into a cozy winter fairy tale: restaurants like the Kolberbräu, the Eckweber, or the Schwaighofer Hof serve Christmas Bavarian specialties. Visitors to the Tölzer Land during the Advent weeks can ideally combine a visit to the Christkindlmarkt with a stay in one of the traditional guesthouses or a wellness day at the Tölz salt baths.