Christmas Markets with Kids in Germany: Our Family Favorites for 2026

Updated 31 October 2026. Dates and times checked against the organizers’ 2026 programs.

Short answer: The best German Christmas markets for kids in 2026 are the ones with something to do, not just something to buy: Nuremberg’s Kinderweihnacht (carousels, a steam train and craft huts), Rosenheim’s family Wednesdays (puppet shows and free carriage rides), Regensburg’s Wednesday kids’ days, Hamburg’s flying Santa and the markets with ice rinks, like Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Landshut.

We’re a family of four, and our boys have been “testing” Christmas markets since we moved to Bavaria. 🎄 One of the boys still has his Kinderpunsch mug from our first Christkindlmarkt evening in Rosenheim, and Shauna and one of our boys love the Ferris wheel. So yes, we take this topic seriously.

What makes a Christmas market good for kids?

Almost every German Christmas market welcomes families, but some are much better for children than others. Here’s what I look for:

Rides: an old-fashioned carousel, a mini Ferris wheel or a little train.
Things to make: craft huts where kids can bake cookies, dip candles or build something.
A program: puppet shows, St. Nicholas visits, a Christkind (the golden-haired Christmas angel who brings presents in southern Germany) or a parade.
Space: a market spread over several squares is easier with a stroller than one packed into a single small square.

Our favorite Christmas markets for kids in 2026

1. Nuremberg: the Kinderweihnacht (children’s Christmas market)

Next to the famous Christkindlesmarkt, the Kinderweihnacht on the Hans-Sachs-Platz is a whole market just for children. There’s a grand two-level carousel, a mini Ferris wheel and a little steam train, plus huts where kids can bake, make candles and do crafts. The Christkind gives free carousel rides at 14:30 from Tuesday to Friday. It’s open from 27 November to 30 December 2026, daily 10:00 to 21:00 (24 December until 14:00, closed 25 December, 11:00 to 20:00 from 26 December). More in our Nuremberg Christmas market guide.

2. Rosenheim: family Wednesdays

Our home-region favorite. On the Rosenheim Christkindlmarkt, every Wednesday in Advent (2, 9, 16 and 23 December) is a family day, with Kasperl puppet shows at 14:00 and 15:00 and free carriage rides (the carriages also run on the Advent Sundays, 12:00 to 15:00). On opening day, Friday 27 November, there’s a children’s fairy-tale parade from the Salingarten at 16:00, and St. Nicholas arrives on Saturday 5 December at 16:00. Rosenheim is under an hour from Munich by regional train.

3. Regensburg: Wednesday kids’ days

On the Regensburg Christkindlmarkt on the Neupfarrplatz, every Wednesday is kids’ day, with St. Nicholas at 14:00 and 16:00 and cheaper carousel rides. Entry is free.

4. Hamburg: Santa flies over the market

At the Hamburg Christmas market on the Rathausmarkt, Santa flies over the stalls in his sleigh every day at 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00. There are Christmas parades on the Advent Saturdays too. Kids talk about the flying sleigh for weeks.

5. Berchtesgaden: a Christmas tree maze

The Berchtesgadener Advent has a kids’ area with a maze made of 300 Christmas trees, plus a lantern trail above town. With the Watzmann mountain all around, it feels like a picture book. It runs until 3 January 2027.

6. Munich: the Chinese Tower in the English Garden

Of the Munich markets, the Christmas market at the Chinese Tower is the most relaxed with kids. It’s in the park, it has a kids’ program and curling lanes (Eisstockschießen), and there’s room to run around. More ideas in our Munich Christmas markets guide.

7. Markets with ice rinks: Garmisch, Landshut, Heidelberg and Cologne

Garmisch-Partenkirchen has a 300 m² ice rink in the park, and the market runs until 5 January.
Landshut has a nostalgic Ferris wheel and an ice rink for skating and curling.
Heidelberg has an ice rink on the Karlsplatz, below the castle, open until 6 January.
In Cologne, Heinzels Wintermärchen has ice skating on the Heumarkt.

8. Castle and boat markets for older kids

Older kids love the “adventure” markets. At the Burghausen Burgweihnacht (11 to 13 December) inside the world’s longest castle, there’s a fire show and stories, and under-18s get in free. The Fraueninsel market in the Chiemsee starts with a boat ride to the island. At the Thurn und Taxis palace market in Regensburg, there are torches and craft workshops, and kids’ tickets (€3.50) are free on Sundays. The medieval Christmas markets are a hit with this age too.

Our tips for Christmas markets with kids

Order Kinderpunsch. It’s the alcohol-free hot fruit punch for kids, and it comes in the same pretty mugs as the Glühwein. Kinderpunsch is a big favorite in our family. You pay a deposit (Pfand) on the mug, and you get it back when you return the mug. Our Christmas market food and drinks guide explains how it works.
Go in the afternoon. Weekday afternoons are the calmest. Friday and Saturday evenings are the most popular times, and with little ones that can be a lot.
Think about the stroller. In the big-city markets, a baby carrier is often easier. Strollers work fine at park markets like the Chinese Tower in Munich or in Garmisch.
Dress in layers. Standing still outside gets cold fast, even when walking felt fine. Warm boots and gloves make the biggest difference. Our guide to what to wear to German Christmas markets has a full packing list. Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte Kleidung (there’s no bad weather, only the wrong clothes)!
Bring small change. Carousel rides and treats are usually paid in cash, and toilets often cost a little too.
Agree on a meeting point. The lit-up Christmas tree or the carousel works well, in case anyone gets separated.
Look for St. Nicholas Day. On 6 December, many markets have a visit from St. Nicholas (Nikolaus). In Bavaria and Austria, Krampus might come along too, which can be scary for small kids. Our Krampus guide explains what to expect.

For dates and times of every market, check our Christmas market calendar. Most markets open in the second half of November; here’s when each one opens in 2026.

Viel Spaß (have fun)! Pfiat di, Brian

FAQ

What is the best Christmas market in Germany for kids?

For small children, Nuremberg’s Kinderweihnacht is hard to beat: it’s a separate children’s market with carousels, a steam train, a mini Ferris wheel and craft huts, open from 27 November to 30 December 2026. Rosenheim’s family Wednesdays and Regensburg’s Wednesday kids’ days are great too.

What do kids drink at German Christmas markets?

Kids drink Kinderpunsch, a hot, alcohol-free fruit punch. It’s served in the same mugs as Glühwein, with a deposit (Pfand) that you get back when you return the mug.

Can you take a stroller to a German Christmas market?

Yes, but the big city-center markets get crowded in the evenings and on weekends, so a baby carrier is often easier. Park markets like the Chinese Tower in Munich or Garmisch-Partenkirchen are more relaxed with a stroller.

Are German Christmas markets free for kids?

Most German Christmas markets have free entry for everyone. A few ticketed markets have kids’ prices: at the Thurn und Taxis palace market in Regensburg, kids pay €3.50 and are free on Sundays, and at the Burghausen Burgweihnacht under-18s are free.

Sources

Checked on 31 October 2026:

Top photo: Superbass, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.