The Rothenburg Christmas market, known locally as the Reiterlesmarkt, runs from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026 on the Marktplatz between the town hall and St. Jakob’s church. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small walled town on the Romantic Road, and in December its half-timbered houses, towers and cobbled lanes look much as they do on the postcards. The market is one of the oldest in Germany, with roots going back to the 15th century.
Most visitors come for the day from Nuremberg or Würzburg. Radical Storage has no locations in Rothenburg itself, so leave your bags near Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof before you set off and travel light.
Rothenburg Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Name | Rothenburger Reiterlesmarkt |
| Dates | Friday 20 November – Wednesday 23 December 2026 |
| Opening hours | Sunday–Thursday 11:00–19:00, Friday–Saturday 11:00–20:00 (the tourist office’s calendar lists 11:00–20:00 on some days, so check before you go) |
| Totensonntag (22 November) | Usually closed; confirm with the tourist office |
| Where | Marktplatz and the surrounding squares in the old town |
| Entry | Free |
| Nearest station | Rothenburg ob der Tauber, about 15 minutes’ walk from the Marktplatz |
| Luggage storage | None in Rothenburg; nearest Radical Storage options in Nuremberg and at Ansbach station |
What Makes the Reiterlesmarkt Special
The market takes its name from the Reiterle, a rider from old Germanic folklore. In the old stories he was an eerie figure who carried souls between worlds, and over the centuries he turned into a friendly bringer of light. Today the Reiterle rides across the Marktplatz on horseback to open the market.
The stalls spread from the Marktplatz towards the Grüner Markt, the Kirchplatz by St. Jakob’s and the town hall courtyard. It’s compact, so the Rothenburg Christmas market works best as part of a day spent wandering the town: walk a stretch of the medieval wall, look down on the Tauber valley from the castle garden and take the classic photo at the Plönlein, the little square where two lanes fork around a half-timbered house.
Christmas All Year Round
Rothenburg is also home to Käthe Wohlfahrt’s Christmas Village, a huge shop of decorations open all year, and the German Christmas Museum. If the market stalls aren’t enough, this is where you’ll find hand-painted glass baubles, nutcrackers and wooden incense smokers. The museum is a good warm place to spend an hour on a cold afternoon.
What to Eat and Drink
- Schneeballen (“snowballs”): strips of shortcrust pastry shaped into a ball, fried and dusted with sugar or coated in chocolate. Rothenburg’s best-known treat, sold at the market and in bakeries all over town.
- Glühwein, including Franconian wine versions, and hot punch for children.
- Franconian Bratwurst in a bread roll, the standard market lunch in this part of Bavaria.
- Lebkuchen and roasted almonds, with Nuremberg’s gingerbread tradition just up the road.
How to Get to the Rothenburg Christmas Market
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nuremberg | Regional trains, changing in Ansbach and Steinach | About 1h15–1h45 |
| Würzburg | Regional train to Steinach, then the branch line to Rothenburg | About 1h–1h15 |
| Munich | Train via Ansbach or Treuchtlingen and Steinach | About 3 hours |
| Rothenburg station | Walk through the Rödertor gate to the Marktplatz | About 15 min |
| By car | The old town is closed to most traffic; use the car parks outside the walls | Varies |
The last leg is a short branch line from Steinach, so check connections before you travel, especially for the return trip in the evening. Opening times and any changes are published by the Rothenburg tourist office.
Tips for Visiting
- Arrive in the morning. Tour buses tend to arrive around midday, and the lanes around the Marktplatz fill up quickly on Advent weekends.
- Stay until dark. The market closes earlier than big-city markets, but the lit-up towers and walls after 16:30 are the reason many people come.
- Join the evening Night Watchman’s tour if you have time. It starts at the Marktplatz and is an easy way to hear the town’s history.
- Bring proper shoes. The cobbles are uneven and can be icy.
- Book accommodation early if you want to stay overnight. Rooms inside the walls go quickly in December.
Luggage Storage for Your Rothenburg Day Trip
Rothenburg is small, and its old town is all steps, cobbles and narrow gateways. Rolling a suitcase from the station to the Marktplatz and back is hard work, and there’s nowhere convenient to leave it once you’re inside the walls.
Radical Storage doesn’t have a partner in Rothenburg yet. If you’re coming from Nuremberg, drop your bags with one of our verified partners near Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof before you leave and collect them when you’re back. If you’re changing trains on the way, there’s also a 24-hour locker at Ansbach station, which most Nuremberg trains pass through. Every bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free and travellers rate the service 4.8/5.
Rothenburg Christmas Market FAQ
The Reiterlesmarkt runs from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026 on the Marktplatz in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
The tourist office lists Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 19:00 and Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 20:00. Some days in its calendar show 11:00 to 20:00, so check before you travel.
It is named after the Reiterle, a rider from old Germanic folklore who was once a feared messenger between worlds and later became a friendly figure of light. The Reiterle rides across the Marktplatz to open the market.
Take a regional train to Steinach (b. Rothenburg) and change to the short branch line to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. From Nuremberg the trip usually takes 1h15 to 1h45 with changes in Ansbach and Steinach.
Schneeballen are Rothenburg’s signature pastry: strips of shortcrust dough shaped into a ball, fried and dusted with sugar or covered in chocolate.
Radical Storage has no locations in Rothenburg itself. Day-trippers can leave bags with partners near Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof or in a 24-hour locker at Ansbach station on the way, with protection up to €10,000 per bag.
