weihnachtsmarkt tegernsee

Visiting the Christmas Markets at Tegernsee 2023

With a new Christmas market or Glühwein stand opening on every corner, residents and visitors in Munich and Upper Bavaria are more than spoilt for choice. The Christmas Markets along the shores of Lake Tegernsee are a particular highlight and our favourite destination for an Advent trip close to Munich.

The romantic Weihnachtsmärkte in Tegernsee, Rottach-Egern and in Bad Wiessee exude an almost magical Christmas atmosphere and despite attracting ever more visitors, really cannot be missed. Take the train to avoid the traffic and look forward to a Glühwein or two with pictuesque views on the edge of the Bavarian Alps.

The Markets

Tegernsee boasts not one but three Christmas markets, making for a particularly festive atmosphere around the lake just 1 hour south of Munich. The Tegernsee Castle Christmas Market on the square in front of the famous Bräustüberl, Rottacher Advent on the south shore in Rottach-Egern and the Seeadvent Bad Wiessee are open every weekend throughout Advent.

Experience age-old Alpine traditions with performances from the Perchten (similar to the Krampus). Gather around the fire pit at Rottacher Advent. Don’t miss the Bavarian Whisky Punch and the ice sculptures at the Seeadvent Bad Wiessee, the smaller of the three markets. Smell the punch and hot roasted chestnuts and toasted almonds. And watch the twinkling lights reflect on the water from the boat back to Tegernsee.

Food at the Tegernsee Christmas Markets

Everything we’ve tried here has been great. Generally you can expect typical Christmas Market food such as steak rolls and Bratwurst of all varieties. Families with kids love the fresh waffles. Our favourite is the raclette bread with cranberry sauce (Rottacher Advent).

Those with plenty of time can tag on a tasting of local specialities at the boathouse at Hotel Terrassenhof (Bad Wiessee). From local craft beer (Hoppe-Bräu), to gins (Lantenhammer) and whiskys (Slyrs), there’s something different on offer each weekend from 4-6pm. Tickets are available from München Ticket.

For Kids

You won’t find much more Christmas magic for kids than here at Tegernsee. The location itself is fantastic. Add to that a horse drawn carriage ride along the promenade, watching ice sculptures being carved… Not to mention watching the performance of the Perchten in Bad Wiessee and catching some music from the Alpine horn blowers (Rottach and Wiessee). The boat ride in the dark across the water is the perfect way to end the day.

Getting to the Tegernsee Christmas Markets

By Train
If you can, take the Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) train from Munich to Tegernsee. The journey from Munich Hauptbahnhof takes a little over 1 hour. During the Advent season, the trains will be running half-hourly on the weekends with a few exceptions – check the BRB website for up to date information.

By Car
For those arriving by car, parking can be found at the Central Car Park, Tegernsee Castle Car Park opposite the Bräustüberl as well as the supermarket car park at Edeka 5 minutes walk from the station. Traffic around Tegernsee is bad on any weekends, you can expect the queues to be particularly long during Advent.

Travelling between the markets is easy using the Tegernsee boat service. The public boat shuttle connects all three markets and runs from 2pm to 7pm. A day ticket costs €15. It’s possible to walk from Rottach back to Tegernsee but the boat is faster and a magical experience you won’t want to miss. As you can imagine, the queues are long and can take up to an hour the later it gets.

Alternatively, you can take the RVO bus line A & B (9559) departing every 30 minutes both in the direction of Tegernsee and Bad Wiessee. An extra Christmas Market Shuttle Bus will also be running. Considering the traffic situation around the lake, it’s unlikely that the bus is any faster than the boat.

Tickets
A day ticket for adults costs €15. Kids 14 and under travel free with an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the Tegernseer Tal Tourismus GmbH stand at the markets. Please make sure you have purchased a ticket before you join the queue for the boat. It is not possible to buy a ticket on board.

Day tickets for the shuttle boat can also be used to travel on the RVO buses Ring A und B as well as the Christmas Market Shuttle Bus.

Opening Hours Christmas Markets Tegernsee 2023

All three Christmas Markets are open every weekend during Advent. The markets are closed during the week.

02.12 & 03.12 from 2pm – 7pm
09.12 & 10.12 from 2pm – 7pm
16.12 & 17.12 from 2pm – 7pm
23.12 & 24.12 from 2pm – 7pm

Summary

What a magical Christmas atmosphere. Romantic boat ride across the glistening lake, cold mountain air and enough Glühwein to sink a ship. Better take the bus on the way home after all! Whatever happens, plan plenty of time, as it can get really, really busy. Don’t forget: the temperatures drop fast down here on the edge of the mountains. Make sure to bring an extra layer or two if you plan on staying late.

Tips for Winter near Tegernsee

If you’re headed in the direction of Schliersee, check out the best Christmas markets close to Munich at Servus Schliersee. Here in the neighbouring valley you can also find great cross-country skiing.