A lot of the fun of living in Bavaria comes from its traditions, and many of them are easiest to see in winter. Here I explain the customs visitors ask me about most: Krampus and Perchten runs, St. Nicholas Day on 6 December, Advent and the Christkind, Christmas markets and what happens on New Year’s Eve. For each one, I’ll tell you what it is, when it happens and how to see it with kids.
Krampus runs, for example, mostly take place around 5 and 6 December, when St. Nicholas makes his rounds. Our Krampus runs guide has the 2026 dates for Bavaria and Tyrol, and our guide to German Christmas markets covers the rest of the Advent season.
Updated October 2026. Dates below are for the 2026 season. Short answer: Most Krampus runs happen around 5 and 6 December, when St. Nicholas makes his rounds. In 2026 the […]
