A visit to the German Christmas markets is on many people’s bucket list. Thanks to our expat life in Europe, Germany is practically in our backyard and so we try to plan a trip to a different Christmas market each year.
We combined our trip to the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt (Nuremberg Christmas Market) with one day in Regensburg.
You can get between the two cities by train in about an hour. We found Regensburg to be a charming winter destination in Germany that totally exceeded our expectations.
Read on for some highlights from our visit and learn why Regensburg is worth visiting in winter.
The Regensburg Christmas Markets
If you visit Regensburg in December, the Christmas markets are a must-see. Here are some of the highlights from the Regensburg Christmas Market.
1. Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz
Germany in winter is synonymous with Christmas Markets and Regensburg is no exception. The market at Neupfarrplatz was compact but had everything you could possibly want: glühwein, crafts, and mouthwatering sausages.
2. Christmas market at the Spitalgarten
We visited a second Regensburg Christmas Market in Spitalgarten. This one was located along the Danube River and seemed a bit more upmarket and foodie oriented.
We tried some German craft beer and a bowl of pumpkin soup served in a bread bowl – a winning combination on a cold day.
3. Romantic Christmas Market at the Thurn and Taxis Palace
The Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace costs 13.50 € on Saturdays just to enter. Sunday is Family Day. The adult entry fee is 9.50 €, but children under 16 can enter for free. Depending on whether or not you have children, you may decide to go for it on Sunday or steer clear of the crowds. The entrance fee is also 9.50 € on Tuesdays through Fridays. For a more economical option, visit this Christmas market on Mondays for 6.50 €.
I must say we had our misgivings because of the cost. Still, we’d heard great things about the market and decided to check it out. Despite the steep cost of entry, the place was still extremely crowded on a Saturday night.
Now I understand why they needed to charge admission–the crowds would have been unbearable if entry was free. We sampled beer and potato pancakes in a regal courtyard before ambling about the atmospheric palace grounds.
🔎 Did you know that you can take a guided tour of the Regensburg Christmas Markets?
4. Frosted Mugs
I’ve mentioned in previous posts that we collect Christmas Market mugs. In fact, I’m drinking my coffee from one right now.
I was excited to see something a bit different in Regensburg. We were served glühwein in a local frosted glass. This souvenir will be perfect for sipping beer back home.
5. 1/2 Metre of Sausage!
We’ve noticed that most German Christmas markets have their signature ‘thing’. For Nuremberg, it’s: ‘prune men’, lebkuchen, and Nürnberger sausage.
In Regensburg, it’s sausage by the half-meter. That’s 18 inches of deliciousness. We just had to try it. The sausage was quite good, just a bit unwieldy in the crowded market.
Things to do in Regensburg in Winter Beyond the Christmas Market
Of course, there is a lot more to Regensburg than just the Christmas market. Regensburg is a thriving mid-size German city of 150,000 people, after all. Read on for things to do and see on a vibrant Regensburg city break.
6. Pastel Old Town
When we arrived in Regensburg, we alighted at the Hauptbahnhof and walked into town. We were immediately impressed by the charming pastel facades in the old town.
In contrast to Nuremberg, which was heavily damaged by Allied bombing in World War II; Regensburg emerged mostly unscathed. The medieval core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
7. Old-Fashioned Neon Signs
I also noticed the more-modern-than medieval neon signs which added an old-fashioned charm to the town.
8. A Walk Across the River
Regensburg sits on the banks of the Danube and it’s possible to take a walk along and across the river. The sun was shining on the cold winter’s day of our visit, so we took the opportunity to explore. Gorgeous!
9. Inside the Dom
In most German cities, the Cathedral features prominently and once again Regensburg is no exception. When visiting Regensburg in winter, the Dom is a good place to go to warm up slightly while exploring.
We admired the Regensburg cathedral inside and out in all its Gothic glory.
10. Quirky Sculptures
Sometimes it’s the little details that are most memorable about a new city. For me, Regensburg’s quirky statues made me smile. I saw a little hot-pink gnome in the church yard behind the Dom. He sat facing a rather serious-looking king.
Overall, Regensburg is definitely worth a visit during Christmas market season particularly if you are looking to escape the crowds of more popular neighbor, Nuremberg.
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