A market that stays into January
The Berchtesgadener Advent opens on 20 November 2026 and runs until 3 January 2027. There’s time to visit after Christmas too. It closes on Christmas Day, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
| 20 November – 23 DecemberMonday to Friday | 12:00–20:00 |
|---|---|
| Weekends until 23 December | 11:00–20:00 |
| 26 December – 3 JanuaryMonday to Friday, except New Year’s Eve | 12:00–19:00 |
| Weekends after Christmas | 11:00–19:00 |
| 24 and 31 December | 10:00–16:00 |
| 25 December | Closed |
A walk above the rooftops
The lantern walk starts at Weihnachtsschützenplatz and takes you over the Kalvarienberg and Soleleitungssteg to the Kirchleitn Chapel. From up here, you look across Berchtesgaden towards the Watzmann on a clear day. Start before dusk and give yourselves time at the chapel, then return through the Nonntal to Schlossplatz.
The lantern walk
Up to the Kirchleitn Chapel
- Distance
- 2.1 km · around 80 m ascent
- Walking time
- About 1 hour, plus stops
Around 70 wooden lanterns line the route. Bring a torch as well, and shoes with good grip for the uneven ground. Snow and ice can affect the path.
Woodcraft and something to eat
Take your time between Schlossplatz and Weihnachtsschützenplatz. Woodturning, carvings and painted decorations have a long tradition here. Some of the familiar designs from Berchtesgaden folk art even appear as larger-than-life figures among the stalls.
For something to eat, we’d try a Bosna, a spiced sausage in a bread roll, followed by a Glühwein as you wander through the lanes.
Music from the church tower
On selected afternoons, brass players perform from the collegiate church tower. Find a spot on Schlossplatz to listen before walking up to the chapel. The performances are on eight specific dates, rather than every Advent weekend.
Tower brass music
- Dates
- 28/29 November; 12/13, 19/20 and 26/27 December
- Time
- 14:00–14:30 · free
The music carries down to Schlossplatz from the church tower.
The night watchman’s walk
- Meet
- Fridays, 17:00, castle arcades on Schlossplatz
- Price
- €10 per person
No booking is required for this historical tour. The tour is in German.
The wild side of Advent
On 5 and 6 December, Kramperl appear in the market by evening: masked figures in furs with large bells. They’re part of a longstanding local tradition, but can be frightening for small children. For a gentle family visit, choose another day.
There’s also a large procession on Saturday 5 December. St Nicholas, the straw-clad Buttnmandl and the Kramperl accompany the mountain troops from the Strub barracks at 14:00, reaching Schlossplatz at about 15:15. This procession is separate from the evening appearances in the market on both days.
An afternoon with the children
Come early in the afternoon and leave time for the children’s activities in Neuhausgarten. They can paint wooden figures in the workshop and explore a maze of around 300 Christmas trees on Schlossplatz.
| Painting workshopFree | Daily 14:00–18:00 |
|---|---|
| Carousel and miniature trainPaid rides · cash only | 12:00–19:00, Wednesdays until 20:00 |
| Christmas tree mazeSchlossplatz | Free |
From Lampllehen to the market
Allow about nine minutes by car to Berchtesgaden, plus time to park. The AlpenCongress underground car park at Maximilianstraße 9 is around a two-minute walk from the market. From Salinenplatz or Luitpoldpark, allow five to ten minutes uphill. Busy Advent weekends need a little more time.
You don’t need a ticket or reservation for the market. Bring some cash for smaller stalls and the children’s rides. The Glühwein mugs are sold rather than supplied against a deposit, and can be refilled afterwards.
Updated 31 October 2026
