Altötting Christmas Market

In Advent each year, the Altötting Christkindlmarkt [Christmas market] conjures up a very special atmosphere in the centre of the pilgrimage town. The beautifully decorated stalls, the chains of lights and candles and the scent of mulled wine, hot chestnuts and cinnamon stars make the hearts of all visitors beat faster. It comes as no surprise that the market is a very special insider tip for Christmas markets in Bavaria.

The Altötting Christkindlmarkt 2019 takes place from 23 November to 15 December. The opening hours are as follows:

Monday – Thursday from 2 pm to 8 pm
Friday/Saturday/Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm

You can visit the Altötting Christkindlmarkt free of charge!

The grand opening is on 29 November at 6 pm following the blessing of the Advent wreath at the Stiftspfarrkirche at 5 pm. Music entertainment will be provided by the  folk music ensemble of the Max Keller School.

Every year, the Advent season is something very special, and particularly so for children who look forward to the daily visits of Santa Claus to the Altötting Christmas market. At around 5 pm, he and his group of angels always walk around Chapel Square, where he presents sweets to the waiting children, thus shortening their long wait for Christmas Eve.

It is not just the Altötting Christmas Market that is worth a visit each year, but also the numerous Advent concerts taking place during that season. For well over 50 years the Altötting Advent Choral Concert performed by the Liedertafel on Saturdays and Wednesdays during the Advent season has formed the musical framework. Many other local ensembles, such as the chapel boys’choir and the church girls’ choir, the Alötting traditional costume society or the Bach Choir know how to put listeners in the spirit of Advent during this most beautiful time of the year. However, not only the local choirs are inspiring. The Altötting Christmas market also draws many well-known guest stars to Altötting, such as the well-known singer Oswald Sattler who willperformat the Stiftspfarrkiche, and the renowned actress Senta Berger, who will visit the pilgrimage town and read contemplative and inspiring Advent stories as part of the Great Advent Concert by the famous Bad Tölz Boys’ Choir.

Beautiful Advent music cannot only be enjoyed at the churches in the vicinity of the Christmas market, but also on stage at the Altötting Christkindlmarkt where music groups, children's choirs and brass ensembles alternate daily at 5 pm and 7 pm, on Saturdays and Sundays even at 2 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm, thus creating a contemplative Advent atmosphere at this beautiful Bavarian Christmas market.