Quick answer
Deggendorf's Christkindlmarkt fills the Oberer Stadtplatz in front of the Gothic-towered Altes Rathaus, Nov 27 – Dec 23, 2026, free to enter — with a separate Handgmochts craft market inside the town hall on two Advent weekends (Nov 27–29 and Dec 4–6) and a cultural program that includes touring Perchten folklore performances.
- Best for
- Travelers building a Lower Bavaria or Bavarian Forest itinerary who want an authentic, low-crowd market — best timed to one of the two Handgmochts weekends if craft shopping is a priority.
Deggendorf's Christmas market on the Oberer Stadtplatz adds a craft market weekend and Perchten performances to the usual stalls.
Deggendorf's Christkindlmarkt am Alten Rathaus fills the Oberer Stadtplatz with the standard mix of mulled wine and ornament stalls, but adds a dedicated Handgmochts craft market in the old town hall on two specific weekends and a cultural program that includes Perchten performances - a nod to the region's winter folklore traditions.
The full story
Deggendorf's Christkindlmarkt fills the Oberer Stadtplatz in front of the Gothic-towered Altes Rathaus with a modest, roughly 20–25-stall market — smaller and quieter than Bavaria's headline markets, and explicitly marketed regionally as "Advent auf gut Niederbayerisch." The 2026 run is November 27 through December 23, free to enter, with regional Bavarian Forest–influenced food (rösti, spiral potatoes, sausage sandwiches) and mulled wine in several flavors, including apple brandy and blueberry.
The market's most distinctive feature runs on a separate schedule from the main stalls: the Handgmochts craft market, a juried exhibition of regional artisans set up inside the wood-paneled rooms of the Altes Rathaus itself, open only two specific weekends — November 27–29 and December 4–6, 2026 — rather than the full market run. A free daily ice-stock curling lane (Eisstockbahn) with a light tunnel, and a Kinderweihnacht children's program in the old town, round out the family-facing side. The market's evening cultural program has also featured touring Perchten folklore performers in past years, though the specific 2026 date and group aren't fixed this far out.
Deggendorf sits on the A92/A3 corridor with its own Hauptbahnhof, making it a realistic day-trip stop en route between Munich or Regensburg and Passau — whose larger Christkindlesmarkt at the Cathedral, about 45 minutes away, is a natural pairing for a two-market Lower Bavaria day alongside Straubing's Christkindlmarkt.
Eat & Drink Nearby
- Local specialty
- Standard Christkindlmarkt fare on Deggendorf's Oberer Stadtplatz — mulled wine and ornament stalls around the Alten Rathaus.
- Pair it with
- Deggendorf's own restaurants for a sit-down meal beyond the market.
- Itinerary fit
- Time a visit for the dedicated Handgmochts craft market in the old town hall or the cultural program's Perchten performances — a nod to the region's winter folklore traditions.
Practical tips
The English-language details German fest pages usually skip.
- Kids / family
- A free, daily ice-stock curling lane (Eisstockbahn) with a light tunnel runs 14:00–20:00 throughout the market — equipment needs a €50 deposit or ID, and reservation is recommended.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Handgmochts?
- A separate, juried craft market of regional artisans set up inside the historic Altes Rathaus itself, running only two specific weekends (Nov 27–29 and Dec 4–6, 2026) — not the full market duration. Time your visit accordingly if handmade goods are the priority.
- Will there be a Perchten performance in 2026?
- The market's cultural program includes Perchten-style folklore performances in past years, but the specific 2026 date and performing group aren't fixed this far out — check closer to each Advent weekend.
- Is there a beer option at the market?
- The market itself is Glühwein-focused, not beer-focused. Deggendorf does have its own local brewery, Deggendorfer Brauhaus, as a nearby (not on-site) pairing — confirm current visiting hours before planning around it.
- Free entry