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The Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz runs from Monday 23 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, and the ticketed Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Palace runs from Friday 20 November to 23 December 2026, closed on 22 November. Regensburg holds five Christmas markets in its old town and on the Danube, and all of them close before Christmas Eve.
This guide gives the confirmed 2026 dates, hours and ticket prices for each market, what to eat and buy, and how to get to Regensburg from Munich and Nuremberg.
When are the Regensburg Christmas markets in 2026?
The Regensburg Christmas markets run between 19 November and 23 December 2026, according to Tourismus Regensburg, the city’s official tourism office, and each market’s own organiser. The 2026 dates of all 5 markets are listed below.
| Market | Location | 2026 dates | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regensburg Christmas Market | Neupfarrplatz | 23 November – 23 December | Free |
| Romantic Christmas Market | Thurn und Taxis Palace (St. Emmeram) | 20 November – 23 December, closed 22 November | Ticketed |
| Advent Market at Katharinenspital | Spitalgarten, Stadtamhof | 23 November – 23 December | Free |
| Lucrezia Market | Haidplatz and Kohlenmarkt | 27 November – 23 December | Free |
| Count’s Christmas Market | Dörnbergpark (Rosarium) | 19 November – 20 December, Thursday to Sunday, closed 22 November | Free |
Sunday 22 November 2026 is Totensonntag, the Protestant day of remembrance for the dead. The Thurn und Taxis and Dörnbergpark markets close that day, and the Neupfarrplatz and Katharinenspital markets open the day after.
Where are the Christmas markets in Regensburg?
The Christmas markets in Regensburg sit in and around the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and four of the five are within walking distance of each other. Each market is described below with its 2026 hours.
Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz
The Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz is the city’s main market, set around the Neupfarrkirche in the centre of the old town. The tourism office dates its tradition to the 18th century and says it was voted the most popular Christmas market in Bavaria in a Facebook poll. Its 2026 hours are listed below.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday-Wednesday | 10:00-20:00 |
| Thursday-Saturday | 10:00-21:00 |
Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Palace
The Romantic Christmas Market fills the courtyard and grounds of St. Emmeram Palace, the home of the princely Thurn und Taxis family, at Emmeramsplatz 5. It is the only Regensburg market that charges admission. Open fireplaces line the stall streets, and the Children’s Magic Forest under old maple trees has nostalgic rides and, new for 2026, a petting zoo with native animals. Its 2026 hours are listed below.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday-Thursday | 15:00-21:00 |
| Friday | 15:00-22:00 |
| Saturday | 14:00-22:00 |
| Sunday | 14:00-21:00 |
| Sunday 22 November | Closed |
The food island around the campfire in the inner courtyard stays open one hour after closing time, according to the organiser.
Advent Market at Katharinenspital
The Advent Market at Katharinenspital is a small market in the hospital garden in Stadtamhof, at the foot of the Stone Bridge on the north bank of the Danube, with views of Regensburg Cathedral. The tourism office calls it the most family-oriented of the city’s markets, with a bonfire and handmade crafts. It opens Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 22:00, Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 21:00.
Lucrezia Market
The Lucrezia Market is a craft market on Haidplatz and Kohlenmarkt in the old town, with high-quality handmade work, a cultural programme on two stages and an art exhibition in the neighbouring buildings. The market marks 40 years in 2026, according to its organiser. It opens Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 20:00, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 21:00.
Count’s Christmas Market in Dörnbergpark
The Count’s Christmas Market (Gräflicher Christkindlmarkt) sits around the Rosarium in Dörnbergpark, west of the old town, and opens only from Thursday to Sunday. Entry is free. It opens Thursday and Friday from 16:00 to 22:00, Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 14:00 to 21:00, with live performances at weekends.
How much does the Thurn und Taxis Christmas market cost?
Adult tickets to the Thurn und Taxis Christmas market cost €6.50 ($7.50, £5.50) on Monday, €9.50 ($11, £8) on Sunday and Tuesday to Friday, and €13.50 ($15.50, £11.50) on Saturday, according to the organiser’s 2026 price list. The other ticket types are listed below.
- Children aged 6 to 16: €3.50 ($4, £3) from Monday to Saturday, and free on Sunday, the market’s family day.
- Children under 6: free on every day.
- Night-owl tickets: €5.50 ($6.30, £4.70) from Monday to Thursday after 19:00, and €6.50 ($7.50, £5.50) on Friday and Saturday after 20:00 and on Sunday after 19:00.
- Students, pupils and apprentices: €5.50 ($6.30, £4.70) on any day with valid ID, and every Tuesday entry plus one mulled wine costs €7.77 ($8.90, £6.60).
- Seniors aged 65 and over: €5.50 ($6.30, £4.70) on Monday.
- Visitors with disabilities: €6.50 ($7.50, £5.50) on any day.
All tickets are sold online through the organiser’s ticket shop, with a booking fee added. The organiser gives groups one free ticket for every 10 people.
What food and drink can you try at the Regensburg Christmas markets?
The Regensburg Christmas markets serve Bavarian and Upper Palatinate specialities alongside the usual mulled wine and roasted almonds. Listed below are the dishes and drinks the tourism office singles out.
- Original Regensburger Bratwürste: grilled sausages from Regensburg, served at the Neupfarrplatz market.
- Regensburger from the grill: the city’s own sausage, grilled and sold at the Neupfarrplatz stalls.
- Blueberry mulled wine: a fruit Glühwein made with blueberries from the Bavarian Forest.
- Apple mulled wine: a hot apple wine from the orchards of the Upper Palatinate.
- Wild boar on a spit: roasted over the fire at the Thurn und Taxis market.
- Old Bavarian potato soup in a bread loaf: served at the Thurn und Taxis market.
Mulled wine at German markets usually comes in a ceramic mug with a deposit (Pfand), which you get back when you return the mug or keep as a souvenir. For more of the country’s dishes, see our guide to traditional German food.
What can you buy at the Regensburg Christmas markets?
The Regensburg Christmas markets sell handmade crafts and Christmas gifts, and the Lucrezia Market specialises in higher-end craft work. The main things to look for are listed below.
- Regional handicrafts: handicrafts from the region at the Thurn und Taxis market, according to the palace.
- Handmade crafts: handmade items at the Katharinenspital market beside the Danube.
- Artisan craft work: high-quality handmade pieces at the Lucrezia Market on Haidplatz and Kohlenmarkt.
- Exclusive gifts: gift ideas and exclusive crafts at the Count’s market in Dörnbergpark.
- Craft market goods: gifts from the craft stalls around the Neupfarrkirche on Neupfarrplatz.
How do you get to the Regensburg Christmas markets?
Regensburg Hauptbahnhof is the gateway to the Regensburg Christmas markets, because the Thurn und Taxis Palace is a few minutes’ walk from the station and the old town markets are a short walk further north.
First, take the train. Regensburg has direct trains from Nuremberg (roughly 1 hour) and Munich (roughly 1.5 hours), so you can visit as a day trip from either city. Compare trains to Regensburg before you go.
Second, use the city buses. The organiser of the Thurn und Taxis market says many bus lines stop at the Hauptbahnhof bus area, a short walk from the palace.
Third, if you drive, park outside the centre. The organiser recommends the P+R West and P+R Jahnstadion park-and-ride sites, and the Petersweg multi-storey car park sits about 200-300 metres (650-1,000 ft) from the palace market. For a road trip across Bavaria, compare rental cars with DiscoverCars.
Where to stay near the Regensburg Christmas markets?
The old town around Neupfarrplatz and Haidplatz is the most convenient base, because four of the five markets are within walking distance, and the streets near the Hauptbahnhof put you next to the Thurn und Taxis Palace. For options in both areas, compare hotels in Regensburg and across Germany and book early for Advent weekends.
Regensburg pairs well with Bavaria’s two big cities. The Nuremberg Christmas markets and the Munich Christmas market are both a train ride away, and our round-up of the Christmas markets in Germany has the 2026 dates for the rest of the country.
Regensburg Christmas Market FAQ
How many Christmas markets are there in Regensburg?
Regensburg has 5 Christmas markets listed by the city tourism office: Neupfarrplatz, Thurn und Taxis Palace, Katharinenspital, the Lucrezia Market and the Count’s market in Dörnbergpark.
Do you have to pay to enter the Regensburg Christmas market?
No, the main Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz is free to enter. Only the Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Palace charges admission, from €6.50 ($7.50, £5.50) on a Monday to €13.50 ($15.50, £11.50) on a Saturday for adults.
When does the Regensburg Christmas market close in 2026?
The Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz closes on Wednesday 23 December 2026. The Thurn und Taxis, Katharinenspital and Lucrezia markets also close on 23 December, and the Count’s market closes earlier, on Sunday 20 December.
Is Regensburg or Nuremberg better for Christmas markets?
Regensburg suits travellers who want several smaller markets and a palace setting, while Nuremberg is the larger and better-known market. The two cities are roughly an hour apart by train, so one can be a day trip from the other, and our Nuremberg Christmas markets guide has Nuremberg’s 2026 dates for comparison.
What is special about Regensburg at Christmas?
Regensburg’s medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its Christmas markets spread across that setting, from the Neupfarrkirche to the princely palace of St. Emmeram and the Danube bank below the Stone Bridge.
WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips
The 4 tips below come from the organisers’ 2026 calendars and price lists, and each one changes when or how you visit.
- Visit Thurn und Taxis on a Monday if you are watching the budget. An adult ticket costs €6.50 ($7.50, £5.50) on Monday against €13.50 ($15.50, £11.50) on Saturday, and children aged 6 to 16 go free on Sunday.
- Keep Sunday 22 November free. The Thurn und Taxis and Dörnbergpark markets close for Totensonntag, and the Neupfarrplatz and Katharinenspital markets do not open until Monday 23 November.
- Plan the Count’s market for Thursday to Sunday. The Dörnbergpark market opens only on those 4 days each week and closes for the season on 20 December, three days before the others.
- Arrive late with a night-owl ticket. Entry to Thurn und Taxis drops to €5.50 ($6.30, £4.70) after 19:00 from Monday to Thursday, and the campfire food island stays open an hour after the market closes.
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About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers Germany for independent travellers, including Regensburg’s Christmas markets, the Thurn und Taxis palace market, hotels and trains worth booking, and updates this page when dates, prices and rules change.
