Quick answer
The Augsburger Christkindlesmarkt runs November 23 – December 24, 2026 on Rathausplatz and the surrounding streets, in front of Augsburg's Renaissance town hall, with roots the city documents to the 15th century. Its signature feature is the nightly Engelesspiel, when costumed "living angels" appear in the town hall's windows Friday through Sunday at 18:00.
- Best for
- Visitors basing a Munich trip who want an easy day-trip Christmas market with a genuinely old-town setting and a signature evening spectacle.
Augsburg's Renaissance town hall square hosts one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets, famed for its illuminated angel performances.
Spread across Rathausplatz and the surrounding Maximilianstraße, Augsburg's Christkindlesmarkt traces its written history back to the 15th century. Its signature moment is the nightly Engelesspiel, when costumed angels appear in the town hall's windows to a recorded narration - check the schedule for showtimes if that's the draw.
The full story
History
Documented references to a Christmas market in Augsburg reach back to the 15th century, making it one of Germany's oldest — the city's own archives cite conflicting first dates (1466 and 1498), which have not been reconciled.
Eat & Drink Nearby
- Local specialty
- Standard Christkindlesmarkt fare across Rathausplatz and Maximilianstraße — Glühwein and Lebkuchen from a market with written history back to the 15th century.
- Pair it with
- Augsburg's Altstadt restaurants for a full meal beyond the market.
- Itinerary fit
- Time a visit for the nightly Engelesspiel, when costumed angels appear in the town hall's windows to a recorded narration — check the schedule for showtimes.
Practical tips
The English-language details German fest pages usually skip.
- What to wear
- Standard winter layers, comfortable shoes — the market spreads across several connected streets and squares.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Engelesspiel?
- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 18:00, with a special finale on December 23 when the angels descend to the town hall's portal.
- Is the Augsburg Christmas market the oldest in Germany?
- Augsburg's own city archives document a Christmas-season market back to the 15th century, though the exact first year is disputed even within the city's own records (1466 vs. 1498) — it's genuinely old, but not verifiably "the" oldest.
- How do I get there from Munich?
- Direct trains run roughly every 15 minutes, with express services as fast as 20–25 minutes.
- Is admission free?
- Yes.
- Free entry