Looking for Christmas wishes for Canadian troops and veterans that actually feel Canadian? This list of 45 original messages honours the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, the veterans who served before them, and the military families waiting at home. From heartfelt gratitude to lighthearted laughs, every wish carries a distinctly Canadian touch. Whether you are writing a card for a CAF member deployed overseas, a veteran at your local Legion, or a military family spending Christmas with an empty chair at the table, you will find the right words here. Copy them into cards, letters, or care packages — and remember that a simple message can mean the world to someone serving far from home. Every message below was written fresh for this list — no recycled lines, no generic boilerplate. Just genuine Canadian warmth: poppies, toques, double-doubles, and all. Let us make sure every CAF member and veteran feels remembered this Christmas. Last updated: September 28, 2026 Jump t...
Christmas in Regensburg is Bavaria at its most magical: a UNESCO World Heritage old town of medieval towers and pastel patrician houses, straddling the Danube and glowing with Advent lights. This compact city packs four distinct Christmas markets into one walkable old town, from a centuries-old Christkindlmarkt to a torch-lit Romantic Christmas Market in a palace courtyard.
Markets typically run from late November through December 23 or 24. Here are the 15 best things to do at Christmas in Regensburg.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
Jump to: The Four Christmas Markets • Bavarian Food & Drink • Old Town Sights • Day Trips & Tips • FAQ
The Four Christmas Markets of Regensburg
Four markets, four moods, all within a 20-minute walk. Do all of them.
Families, couples, and budget travelers — quick picks
Families: Neupfarrplatz for the carousel; the magic forest at Thurn und Taxis. Couples: the torch-lit Romantic Christmas Market after dark. Budget: three of the four markets are free.
1. Wander the Christkindlmarkt on Neupfarrplatz
The Regensburger Christkindlmarkt is the main and oldest Weihnachtsmarkt, with 18th-century roots. Stalls ring the Neupfarrkirche, and around 40 varieties of Glühwein are poured. Go regional: blueberry mulled wine from the Bavarian Forest or apple Glühwein from Upper Palatinate.
2. Step into the Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Palace
The Romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt in the courtyard of Schloss St. Emmeram is unforgettable. Torches and fire pits light the castle grounds after dark; stalls serve wild boar on a spit and Kartoffelsuppe im Brotlaib (potato soup in a bread loaf). Admission is charged only here (weekdays cost less).
3. Browse handmade crafts at the Lucrezia Market
Across Haidplatz and Kohlenmarkt, the Lucreziamarkt is the artisan market: local craftspeople selling their own ceramics, hand-blown glass, wood carvings, and handmade soaps. For unique gifts, come here — with live music through Advent.
4. Escape the crowds at the Spital Advent Market
Cross the 12th-century Stone Bridge for the smallest, coziest market: the Adventmarkt im Spitalgarten on the Danube's far bank. Bonfires, a beer-garden mood, artisanal spirits, Feuerzangenbowle, with the cathedral lit across the water.
Bavarian Christmas Food and Drink Worth the Trip
You do not come to a Bavarian Weihnachtsmarkt just to look — come hungry.
5. Sip your way through the Glühwein stalls
Walk the full Neupfarrplatz loop before committing to a mug. Beyond the standard red, try Eierpunsch (eggnog-style hot drink) or alcohol-free Apfelpunsch. Note the Pfand deposit on the mug — return it or keep it as a souvenir.
6. Try the Original Regensburger Bratwürste
Tiny grilled sausages in a dark rye roll with sauerkraut and sweet mustard — what locals queue for. The Historische Wurstkuchl by the Stone Bridge has grilled over charcoal for centuries. Order a Knackwurstsemmel "mit allem" (with everything) like a local.
7. Warm up with Bavarian winter dishes
Reiberdatschi (crisp potato pancakes with apple sauce), Kartoffelsuppe im Brotlaib at Thurn und Taxis, and Bratapfel (baked apple with nuts and raisins). Substantial, fairly priced, perfect on a freezing evening.
8. Stock up on Lebkuchen and sweet treats
Lebkuchen — firm, chewy German gingerbread, often almond-topped — is the classic edible souvenir, sold alongside roasted almonds, Stollen, and Marzipankartoffeln (marzipan shaped like tiny potatoes).
Old Town Sights Dressed for Christmas
Roughly 1,500 medieval buildings turn the stone streets and Danube waterfront into a film set each Advent.
9. Visit Regensburg Cathedral (St. Peter's)
The twin spires of St. Peter's Cathedral dominate the skyline; in Advent, candlelight services and concerts fill the nave.
10. Walk across the Stone Bridge
The Steinerne Brücke, the 12th-century Stone Bridge, has crossed the Danube for nearly 900 years. Cross at dusk for the classic view — cathedral and old town spires lit up across the water.
11. Get lost in the UNESCO-listed old town
The Altstadt is the point of Regensburg: crooked lanes, Italianate patrician houses with their towers, shopfronts decorated for Advent. Drift from Neupfarrplatz toward the Danube — by day and again after dark.
12. Take an evening stroll along the Danube
After the markets wind down, the riverside promenade stays magical — the water reflects the old town lights. Bring a takeaway Glühwein.
Day Trips and Easy Planning Tips
The Hauptbahnhof (main station) is a 10-minute walk from Neupfarrplatz — Regensburg works as a base or a day trip.
13. Day trip to Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt
Nuremberg — home of Germany's most famous Christkindlesmarkt — is about an hour by direct train. Pair them: Nuremberg for the grand spectacle, Regensburg for the cozy multi-market evening.
14. Day trip to Bamberg
Bamberg, another UNESCO old town, is an easy rail trip with its own Advent markets and famous Rauchbier (smoked beer) taverns.
15. Plan like a local: trains, cash, and timing
Arrive by train — no reason to drive into the old town in December. Carry cash, since not all stalls accept cards. Markets typically run from late November through December 23, so early-to-mid December guarantees everything is open — but confirm exact 2026 dates on the official city tourism site before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Regensburg
What does "Frohe Weihnachten" mean?
"Merry Christmas" in German (pronounced "FROH-eh VY-nakh-ten") — the standard greeting at every Weihnachtsmarkt.
When are the Regensburg Christmas markets open in 2026?
Typically late November through December 23 or 24. Confirm exact 2026 dates on the official city tourism site before you go.
How many Christmas markets does Regensburg have?
Four, all within walking distance: Neupfarrplatz's Christkindlmarkt, the Romantic Market at Thurn und Taxis Palace, the Lucrezia artisan market, and the Spital Advent Market.
Is the Thurn und Taxis Christmas market free to enter?
No — the only Regensburg market charging admission, priced by day (weekdays cheaper). Not all stalls take cards.
What makes Regensburg's old town special at Christmas?
The entire Altstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the lights and stalls sit inside a genuinely historic setting.
What day trips can I take from Regensburg at Christmas?
Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt (~1 hour by train), Bamberg's Advent markets and smoked-beer taverns, or Munich's big-city markets (~90 minutes).
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