Bamberg Christmas Market: Germany’s Best December Secret
This travel guide covers my visit to the Christmas Market in Bamberg, one of Germany’s most fun and festive holiday destinations.
Visiting Bamberg over Christmas
With its scenic setting on the banks of the River Regnitz and its picturesque old town, the German city of Bamberg is well worth a visit at any time of year.
Christmas is however an especially good time to make a trip to Bamberg, as this Bavarian city is particularly charming in December.
Bamberg not only has a great Christmas market but also an excellent Nativity Museum full of Christmas cribs that will put you in the holiday spirit.
If you’ve had your fill of mulled wine at the Christmas market, you’ll be pleased to learn that Bamberg is one of Germany’s most renowned beer-brewing cities, home to an impressive 12 breweries and its own beer speciality, Rauchbier (smoked beer).
Bamberg Christmas Market
Each year, the Bamberg Christmas Market is held on Maximilian Square (Maximiliansplatz), the city’s largest and most prominent square.
The Bamberg Christmas Market typically runs from the last week of November until 23rd December, though it’s always wise to confirm the dates and opening times before heading to Bavaria.
Besides the main Christmas Market on Maximilian Square, you will also find some market stalls in the surrounding pedestrianised streets of the city centre.
The Christmas market is similar to others in Germany, with wooden stalls offering a variety of Christmas decorations, trinkets, and toys.
Of course, the Christmas market also features plenty of stalls offering seasonal delicacies, including Glühwein (mulled wine), Lebkuchen (gingerbread), and Gebrannte Mandeln (roasted almonds).
What sets Bamberg’s Christmas Market apart from others in Germany is its low-key vibe, with the overwhelming majority of visitors being locals, unlike the better-known markets in cities like Nuremberg and Cologne which see a huge influx of foreign tourists.
The people here in the north of Bavaria – a region known as Franconia – are a friendly bunch, and while sipping your mulled wine, you might easily be drawn into a nice chat with your table neighbours.
Food and drinks at the Christmas market
Christmas markets in Germany are not just about mulled wine and gingerbread, as there is also a wide variety of other delicious food and drinks to enjoy.
If you’re after something with a bit of alcohol, you can try some grog or punch while there are also plenty of non-alcoholic options available such as hot chocolate to get you into the winter spirit.
At the Christmas market in Bamberg, you’ll also find numerous food stalls offering international delicacies, such as Spanish churros or Hungarian lángos.
Needless to say, German staples are also easily found, with the regional speciality of Nürnberger Rostbratwurst (Nuremberg-style grilled sausage) being a local favourite.
Nativity Museum
If you visit Bamberg around Christmas, it is an absolute must to see the excellent Nativity Museum, which houses an amazing collection of Christmas cribs from all around the world.
Bamberg’s Nativity Museum (Bamberger Krippenmuseum) is the kind of small museum you can’t help but love, featuring exhibits lovingly curated by Erk Baumann, who spent 40 years assembling an impressive collection of Christmas cribs.
Inside the museum, you’ll discover nativity scenes from places as far apart as Africa and Bavaria.
The styles of the Christmas cribs are equally varied, ranging from beautifully crafted Baroque designs to charming paperboard cut-outs.
Rauchbier
If you need a break from the Christmas markets and sightseeing around Bamberg, you can always warm up in one of the city’s many bars and enjoy the excellent selection of locally brewed beers.
Although Bamberg’s 12 breweries offer a great array of beers, ranging from lager to weizen and kellerbier, you simply must try the local speciality, Rauchbier (smoked beer), which somewhat tastes like smoked meat.
Schlenkerla, with its magnificent hobbit-like interior, is perhaps Bamberg’s most famous brewpub where you can try Rauchbier, although the true beer aficionado should also visit other brewery pubs, such as Fässla, Mahr’s Bräu, and Brauerei Spezial, to name a few.
These brewery pubs all serve excellent German food and are great places to sample local dishes.
Note that many of Bamberg’s bars feature communal tables, as is customary in this part of Germany, so if there is no spare table, you can (and should) politely ask if you can take some of the empty seats at a table, and you can expect others to ask the same if you occupy a large table with available seats.
Nearby sights
Bamberg’s central location makes it an excellent base for exploring northern Bavaria and taking day trips to nearby destinations.
Nuremberg, Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Bayreuth can all easily be visited by train on a day trip from Bamberg, and each of these destinations features excellent Christmas markets as well.
Buying a Bavaria Ticket – or a Deutschlandticket if you plan to travel by train over several days – makes a lot of sense if you want maximum flexibility and the lowest prices.
Conclusion
While you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to high-quality Christmas markets in Germany, the one in Bamberg stands out for several reasons.
Not only does Bamberg’s Christmas Market boast a wonderful location in the heart of the picturesque old town, with its half-timbered buildings and stately houses, but it also offers a great deal of local charm that’s hard to find at the more touristy Christmas markets like those in Nuremberg and Cologne.
What makes Bamberg such a great December destination isn’t just its Christmas market, but the entire package of sights and activities, such as the excellent Nativity Museum, packed with Christmas cribs from around the world, and the city’s cosy brewery pubs.
Explore some other destinations with us!
In our trip report section, you can find multiple reports of holidays across the world which could give you some inspiration for your next trip.
These trip reports include destination guides as well as reviews of hotels, airlines, trains, and other modes of transport.
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