During Advent, Bavaria’s large and smaller cities shine especially brightly. They invite you to stroll and marvel during a short holiday. A wide range of cultural activities and events await you, from a contemplative Nativity scene and organ music to festive live music.
10 x Culture and Events: Bavaria’s Cities in Advent
Munich: Nativity Scenes, Travesty and Commissars
Glittering lights and the scent of mulled wine throughout the city - from the Christmas Village in the Residenz to the alternative Tollwood Winter Festival. Something special: the world-famous Nativity exhibition in the Bavarian National Museum, a carriage ride through the wintry English Garden, travesty artists at the gay and lesbian Pink Christmas in the Glockenbachviertel.
Christmas Village | Tollwood | Nativity exhibition | Pink Christmas | (only in German)
Berchtesgaden: Brass and Firecrackers
The historic town centre with its Christmas market forms the backdrop for Berchtesgaden Advent. Daily shepherd and nativity plays create a Christmas atmosphere, as do historical market tours or the Christkindl shooting with firecrackers, every day during the week before Christmas Eve.
The tower musicians of the collegiate church (“Stiftskirche”) play traditional tunes on Saturdays and Sundays at 2.30 p.m. The Emmaus circular walk, illuminated by handmade lanterns, is also atmospheric. With genuine folk music and customs, the Christmas story will be told at AlpenCongress Berchtesgaden on 11th and 12th December.
24 November to 31 December 2022
berchtesgaden.de
Nuremberg: The “Christkind”, Carousel and Cathedral Boys' Choir
Visitors can learn interesting facts about the famous Christkindlesmarkt on a Christmas tour with a “night watchman”. Choirs, brass bands and children’s musicians get in the mood for the festival on the stage in front of the Frauenkirche Church.
And the Nuremberg “Christkind” (German for “Christ-child”, the traditional Christmas gift-bringer) visits the market every Tuesday to Friday at 3 p.m. Families with children are invited to the Children’s Christmas on Hans-Sachs-Platz, including a nostalgic carousel and steam train. You can experience the famous Regensburger Domspatzen (Cathedral Boys' Choir) on 18th December in the Meistersingerhalle.
Christkindlesmarkt: 25 November to 24 December 2022
christkindlesmarkt.de
Würzburg: Meditation, Christmas carols and Oratorio
The Christmas market on the Upper and Lower Market square is accompanied by a music programme. The singing and music school of Würzburg organises a big christmas concert on 4 December in the Congress Centrum Würzburg. Advent music and meditation in the Augustinerkirche each night at 5 p.m. On 17 December, Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio will be performed in the Franciscan Church. The city invites you to the Open Christmas Caroling on 18th December at 6 p.m. in the coutyard of the town hall. The songbook is available from the Christmas Market stalls and at the Tourist Information.
25 November to 30 December 2022
wuerzburg.de
Bamberg: Nativity Scenes and Handicrafts
The tradition of setting up nativity scenes has existed in Bamberg for more than 400 years. Today, a fantastic variety of creations can be admired in the town and its surroundings – small and large nativity scenes, historical and modern, Franconian and nativity scenes from all over the world. Guided tours are offered.
Individual discoveries are possible with a folding map or via smartphone navigation. “Die Herbergssuche zu Bamberg”, a theatrical city tour, will be performed in the alleys of the city from 19 November 2022 to 8 January 2023. Christmas markets are held at Maximiliansplatz and 'The Sand'.
22 November to 23 December 2022
bamberg.info
Passau: Festive Organ Sounds
A festive city of stalls welcomes visitors right in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The smell of gingerbread, mulled wine and fried sausages is in the air. On many days, folk music with zither and hammered dulcimer or polyphonic choral singing, but also modern sounds such as jazz or popular music can be heard on one stage.
Special musical experiences can be enjoyed in the cathedral: there, during the Christkindlmarkt, concerts are held on the world’s largest cathedral organ from Wednesday to Saturday at 12 noon. A route through the Old Town displays nativity scenes, from traditional to contemporary.
23 November to 23 December 2022
passauer-christkindlmarkt.de
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Regensburg: Advent on the Danube
The city on the Danube welcomes visitors with four Christmas markets in the Old Town. On a walk, also with a guide, along the Ecumenical Nativity Trail, you will discover exciting representations of the Christmas story, from historical to contemporary, from Bavarian to African.
Cruise liners invite you to Advent cruises on the Danube with mulled wine and stollen. The Regensburg Christmas Circus will be staging magical moments for the whole family from 15 to 31 December 2022. Musical highlights will be provided by the world-famous Regensburger Domspatzen with concerts on 20th & 27th November 2022 as well as on 4th, 11th and 18th December 2022 in the Cathedral at the Chapter Masses on the Sundays in Advent at 10 a.m. and at Christmas Mass.
21 to 23 December 2022
regensburg.de (only in German)
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Eging near Passau: It’s a Christmas Party!
German-American Christmas is the order of the day on Advent weekends in Pullman City in the southern Bavarian Forest between Deggendorf and Passau. The western town glows, glitters and sparkles on every corner. Musical Country Christmas shows provide an American atmosphere.
Children can get to know the western town on a torchlit hike. The Main Street is lined with stalls selling mulled wine, punch, culinary delights and handicrafts. A light show with music will be performed on the Karl May stage from 8 p.m.
11 November to 18 December 2022
pullmancity.de (only in German)
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Augsburg: Beautiful Renaissance Scenery
Augsburg’s Christkindlesmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, with its beautiful backdrop of the Renaissance town hall and Perlachturm tower. The popular Engelesspiel (Angel performance), performed by young Augsburg girls with the help of the mountain rescue team on the facade of the town hall, takes place at 6 p.m. every Friday through Sunday.
The Augsburg Puppet Box plays "How the little donkey looked for the Christ Child" from 11th December.
21 November to 24 December 2022
augsburgerchristkindlesmarkt.com
Lindau: Harbour Christmas
A highlight in the city’s calendar of events is the Lindauer Hafenweihnacht, the Christmas market along the lakeside promenade with the Mangturm tower at its centre. From Thursday to Sunday, a stage programme entertains the guests.
For children, for example, there is a hand puppet show, and in the afternoon and evening there is music, sometimes modern, sometimes traditional with alphorn or bagpipes. From Friday to Sunday, an Advent boat connects the Christmas markets of Lindau and Bregenz, departing at 2 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. You can explore Lindau on foot with special Advent city tours.
24 November to 18 December 2022
Thursday to Sunday
lindauer-hafenweihnacht.de (only in German)
Ingolstadt: Fairy Tales and Nativity Scenes
Festive lighting makes the theatre square and the city centre shine. A fairytale path winds through its streets, following in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm, and on the parade ground in front of the New Castle, a large ice rink invites visitors to ice skate. Storytellers and artists entertain young and old on Carrara Square, the “Junge Theater” (young theatre) every afternoon on its workshop stage. A special tip are guided tours of the artistic nativity scenes.
24 November to 23 December 2022
christkindlmarkt-ingolstadt.de (only in German)
