Quick answer
Amberg's Christmas Market fills the Marktplatz of this walled Oberpfalz town, Nov 26 – Dec 23, 2026, with a horse-drawn carriage on select afternoons, a historic steam carousel, and a live nativity scene — a quieter, more local alternative to Nuremberg or Regensburg, both under an hour away by train.
- Best for
- Travelers who want a smaller, local Christmas market experience than Nuremberg or Regensburg — a manageable rail day trip from either city.
A Christmas market on Amberg's market square, with a horse-drawn Christmas carriage running select afternoons.
Amberg's Weihnachtsmarkt occupies the Marktplatz of this walled Oberpfalz town, historically famous for the twin-tower gate reflection known as the Amberg spectacles. A horse-drawn Weihnachtskutsche gives rides around the old town on select afternoons, adding a bit of extra charm to an otherwise classic small-city market — check the market's official schedule for current days.
The full story
Amberg's Christmas Market occupies a single square — the Marktplatz — inside one of Bavaria's best-preserved medieval town walls, framed by the Gothic Rathaus and the Basilika St. Martin. The 2026 run is November 26 through December 23, with a historic steam carousel, a live nativity scene, and a horse-drawn Weihnachtskutsche giving rides around the old town on select afternoons — check the market's own schedule for current days before planning a visit specifically around the carriage.
Roasted almonds, Lebkuchen, waffles, and Glühwein round out the food stalls, and a live stage runs concerts and community performances throughout the season. A short walk from the Marktplatz, the Stadtbrille — a 1454 water gate whose twin arches reflect in the Vils river to resemble a pair of glasses — gives visitors a specific, photogenic landmark most similarly-sized markets lack.
Amberg sits roughly 55 km from Nuremberg and 50 km from Regensburg, both connected by regional rail in under an hour, making this a manageable day-trip alternative for travelers who've already done one of the region's larger, more crowded markets — including Regensburg's Thurn und Taxis Christmas market — and want a quieter, more local version of the same tradition.
Eat & Drink Nearby
- Local specialty
- Standard Christmas market fare on Amberg's Marktplatz, in a walled Oberpfalz town famous for the twin-tower gate reflection known as the Amberg spectacles.
- Pair it with
- Amberg's own restaurants for a sit-down meal beyond the market.
- Itinerary fit
- Catch the horse-drawn Weihnachtskutsche, which gives rides around the old town on select afternoons — confirm the current schedule with the market before planning around it.
Frequently asked questions
- When does the horse-drawn carriage run?
- On select afternoons during the market — the exact schedule is confirmed by the market organizers each season, so check the official Amberg Christmas market site before planning a visit around it.
- How far is Amberg from Nuremberg or Regensburg?
- About 55 km from Nuremberg and 50 km from Regensburg, both roughly an hour away by regional rail, with Amberg's station a short walk from the Marktplatz.
- Is there anything to see beyond the market?
- The Stadtbrille — a 1454 water gate whose two arches reflect in the Vils river to form the shape of a pair of glasses — is a five-to-ten-minute walk from the Marktplatz.
- Free entry