Once every decade, in the small Bavarian town of Oberammergau, a unique event takes place. It’s known as the Passion Play and involves up to 2,000 locals re-enacting the story of Christ’s crucifixion.
One year out from the next performance I’ve already received emails from Holidays to Europe readers asking me how to buy tickets and what is the best Oberammergau Passion Play tour to do.
Sadly, the 2020 edition of the Passion Play was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the event will now take place in 2022.
With interest in the event already high – and individual tickets hard to get hold of – I have put together a summary of the different tour operators that are offering Passion Play 2020 tours.
But first, a bit more about the Oberammergau Passion Play history.
Back in 1633 the residents of Oberammergau, like many other towns and cities across Europe, were struggling with the ravages of bubonic plague.
After the death of around 100 local residents, the people vowed to God that if they were spared further death from the plague they would put on a play depicting the life of Jesus.
Their prayers were answered and, true to their word, the people of Oberammergau have staged the play ever since. Normally held every ten years, the 2022 performance will be the 42nd occasion the play has been staged.
>> Read more on the 2022 Passion Play in this article: Things to do in Oberammergau, Germany – the Passion Play town <<
[This post may contain compensated links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.]
Oberammergau Passion Play 2022 dates
The Play will be staged over five months in 2022 with the opening performance scheduled for May 14 and the final performance to be held on October 2.
Oberammergau Passion Play 2022 tours
After contacting the major tour operators in Australia prior to the scheduled 2020 event, I put together the following summary (in no particular order) of the various companies who were offering Oberammergau Passion Play 2020 tickets as part of their upcoming tour itineraries.
Many of the tours were also to visit other popular destinations close to Oberammergau including the royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, and the towns of Fussen and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
NOTE: This article will be updated with 2022 tour info and dates as details are released, but the following information will give you an indication of the itineraries that are likely to be available.
Quick summary of tour companies previously offering itineraries which included Oberammergau Passion Play tickets:
- Albatross Tours – 6 tours ranging from 5 to 23 days
- Collette Tours – 7 tours ranging from 9 to 12 days
- Insight Vacations – 5 tours ranging from 10 to 15 days
- Trafalgar Tours – 8 tours ranging from 9 to 13 days
- Globus – 11 tours ranging from 8 to 14 days
- Cosmos – 1 tour, 7 days
- Evergreen Cruises and Tours – 3-day cruise add-on
- Scenic – 2 itineraries, 6 and 8 days
- APT/Travelmarvel – to be advised
- Viking River Cruises – 1 cruise itinerary of 10 days
Read on for further details about each of the tour companies and the key selling points they will offer on their Oberammergau 2022 tours and to determine which are the best Oberammergau tours for you.
Albatross Tours
- An Alpine Adventure plus the Oberammergau Experience – 20 days
- Black Forest, Bavaria & the Tyrol plus the Oberammergau Experience – 17 days
- East Germany & the Czech Republic plus the Oberammergau Experience – 20 days
- Italian Lakes & Tuscany plus the Oberammergau Experience – 23 days
- Salzburg, Bavarian ‘Fairytale’ Palaces plus the Oberammergau Experience – 7 days
- Innsbruck, Bavarian ‘Fairytale’ Palaces plus the Oberammergau Experience – 5 days
Price range: To be advised.
Age group: 40+
Oberammergau inclusions:
- Includes 2 nights in first class, centrally location Oberammergau accommodation
- Premium category ‘1’ best in house’ seating for the Passion Play
- Services of a highly experienced Tour Manager
Key selling point/point of difference:
- Travel with the Passion Play Specialists
Operating European tours successfully for well over 20 years, this will be the third Oberammergau Passion Play series we have operated! In 2020, we will be offering over 40 departures from May to October. - Guaranteed best seats for the Passion Play
We have reserved premium seating CATEGORY 1 for all performances to make sure you have the best possible seats for the Passion Play! - Relaxed pace with longer stays
Our tours are always designed to have a more leisurely pace with 2, 3 and even 4 night stays in each captivating city or region. - Small, more intimate groups
Enjoy a more personal experience travelling with a small group of like-minded travellers. Our group sizes range from just 10 to 28. - Genuinely inclusive
Albatross tours are genuinely inclusive and already include special excursions, feature dinners and sightseeing for you – even your ‘end of tour’ tips are included! We assure you there are NO ‘optional’ activity costs. - ‘My Time’ Guaranteed!
On every itinerary we ensure adequate, well planned ‘My Time’. This enables for more time for you to relax, to explore at your own pace as well as more time to immerse yourself in each destination you have travelled so far to see!
Are bookings open yet? Yes.
Other relevant information:
Albatross Tours’ Oberammergau Passion Play tours brochure is now available. Order your brochure now.
Collette Tours
Collette Tours’ Oberammergau 2020 itineraries:
- Discover Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria with Oberammergau Passion Play – 9 days
- Austrian Delight with Oberammergau Passion Play – 9 days
- Imperial Cities with Oberammergau Passion Play – 10 days
- Classic Danube River Cruise with Oberammergau Passion Play – 9-10 days*
- Germany’s Romantic and Fairy Tale Roads with Oberammergau Passion Play – 12 days
- Exploring the Alpine Countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland with Oberammergau Passion Play – 12 days
- Alpine Explorer – 11 days
*includes a 6 night Danube River cruise
Price range: from $5,500
Age group: 40+
Oberammergau inclusions:
- Excellent seating options, pre-booked meal during the interval, conveniently located hotels
Key selling point/point of difference :
Collette is the #1 Passion Play Tour Company
1. Collette had the largest allotment of tickets in 2010
2. We run tours to Oberammergau year round so we know the destination
3. Collette’s tours will feature 4 star accommodations*
4. Our seating options will be among the best available
5. We are one of the industry’s oldest and most trusted companies
6. Even with Collette, tickets will be limited
7. Available to book space now!
Are bookings open yet? Yes
Insight Vacations
- Road to Rome (with Oberammergau) – 12 days
- Easy Pace Italy (with Oberammergau) – 13 days
- Best of Germany (with Oberammergau) – 10 days
- Italian Elegance (with Oberammergau) – 15 days
- Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland and Austria (with Oberammergau) – 11 days
Price range: from $4,025
Age group: from 5 years of age
Oberammergau inclusions:
- Every Insight Vacations that goes to Oberammergau includes Signature Experiences, Included Highlights, Authentic Regional Flavours or Signature Dining, Stays at the best addresses, additional 5 star services
Key selling point/point of difference :
- Guests travelling with Insight Vacations are guaranteed signature accommodation, staying in the heart of the destination at handpicked.
- Also as previously stated, the spectacular Passion Play that has made this town famous can be watched from your premium seat as local villagers perform as they have since 1634 in this once in a decade event. An emotive and critically acclaimed performance depicting Christ’s last days.
Are bookings open yet? YES
Trafalgar Tours (including CostSaver)
Trafalgar Tours’ Oberammergau itineraries:
- Great Italian cities with Oberammergau (Trafalgar) – 13 days
- Sound of Music with Oberammergau (Trafalgar) – 9 days
- Imperial Europe with Oberammergau (Trafalgar) – 12 days
- Best of Germany with Oberammergau (Trafalgar) – 12 days
- European Whirl with Oberammergau (Trafalgar) – 12 days
- Switzerland and Austria with Oberammergau (Trafalgar) – 13 days
- Jewels of Italy with Oberammergau (CostSaver) – 10 days
- Imperial Highlights with Oberammergau (CostSaver) – 11 days
- European Experience with Oberammergau (CostSaver) – 12 days
Price range: from $2495
Age group: from 5 years of age
Key selling point/point of difference:
- Every Trafalgar Oberammergau 2020 trip includes a Be My Guest Experience, Local Specialists and a Travel Director.
Are bookings open yet? Yes
Other relevant information:
Best of Germany with Oberammergau and Imperial Europe are the current top sellers.
Globus
- German Vista with Oberammergau – 8 days
- Munich, Salzburg & Vienna with Oberammergau – 8 days
- Bavarian Highlights with Oberammergau – 9 days
- Catholic Central Europe with Oberammergau – 9 days
- The European Reformation with Oberammergau – 11 days
- Imperial Splendours with Oberammergau – 12 days
- German Highlights with Oberammergau – 12 days
- Top of Switzerland with Oberammergau – 9 days
- The Best of Switzerland with Oberammergau – 12 days
- Spectacular Switzerland with Oberammergau – 12 days
- The Best of Austria and Switzerland with Oberammergau – 14 days
- Grand Catholic Italy with Oberammergau – 13 days
Price range: from $2949
Are bookings open yet? Yes
Cosmos
Cosmos’ Oberammergau 2020 offering:
- Shrines of Alpine Europe & Oberammergau – 7 days
Price range: from $2239
Key selling point / point of difference:
- Final itineraries and price guarantees are available now.
Oberammergau inclusions:
- Cosmos guests will enjoy first-class seating. Comfortable accommodation is conveniently located in the heart of the town.
Are bookings open yet? Yes
European River Cruises with Oberammergau Passion Play add-ons
Evergreen Tours and Cruises
Evergreen are offering guests on their 2020 Emerald Waterways European river cruises* the opportunity to experience the Oberammergau Passion Play. (*Selected departures only.)
Price range: Add onto your cruise fare from $1,785 per person* twin share
VERY LIMITED DATES AND AVAILABILITY: 23 May 2020 / 20 June 2020 / 4 September 2020 / 12 September 2020 – SOLD OUT! Waitlist only
What’s included:
- Transfer from airport to 4-star Munich hotel*
- 1 night stay in Munich, 1 night stay in Oberammergau
- Welcome drink when arriving to your hotel
- Short orientation walk in Munich
- Transfer from Munich hotel to Oberammergau
- Breakfast and dinner daily at the hotel in Oberammergau
- 1 days admission to the Passion Play
- Transfers to your Emerald Waterways ‘Star-Ship’ to embark your cruise
Scenic
In 2020, Scenic will be offering various itineraries (both river cruises and stand-alone coach tours) that will feature Passion Play and stay near the town of Oberammergau.
Itineraries available include:
- Bavarian Highlights and Oberammergau – Munich to Vienna – 5 night land tour (one departure in May 2020)
- Bavarian Encounter – 6 days –
- Alpine Discoveries – 7 days-
- Bohemian Sojourn & Oberammergau – 7 days
- Gems of the Danube with Bavaria & Oberammergau (river cruise) – 11 days
- Jewels of Europe with Bohemian Sojourn & Oberammergau (river cruise) – 21 days
APT
Touring and river cruise company APT Group, which includes APT and Travelmarvel, have released details of their itineraries that will include the Passion Play Oberammergau in 2020.
- Oberammergau Passion Play with Magnificent Europe cruise (Frankfurt to Amsterdam) – 24 days
- Oberammergau Passion Play (Frankfurt to Munich) – 11 days
- Oberammergau Passion Play with Magnificent Europe cruise (Munich to Amsterdam) – 21 days
- Oberammergau and Castles of Bavaria (Travel Marvel) – 10 days
Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises are offering their passengers the opportunity to witness the Passion Play as part of their 10 day Munich to Budapest river cruise.
Departures between June 19 and September 17, 2020 will include an overnight stay in Oberammergau with tickets to the Passion Play and a traditional dinner during the three-hour intermission.
Prices start from $6,195 per person twin share and Viking’s ‘Fly to Europe for $995 pp’ offer is available in conjunction with this cruise.
Visit website
Avalon Waterways
Three cruise itineraries featuring the Oberammergau Passion Play will be offered by Avalon Waterways in 2020.
- Romantic Rhine with Oberammergau – 12 days –
- Romantic Rhine with 2 nights in Innsbruck and Oberammergau – 13 days
- Danube Dreams with Oberammergau – 12 days –
Individual Oberammergau Passion Play ticket prices
Passion Play 2020 tickets will range in price from €30 each (Category 6) to €180 each (Category 1). Tour companies purchasing tickets in conjunction with local accommodation have first preference and any unsold tickets, as at March 2019, will be sold individually via the official Passion Play website.
Independent travellers wondering how to buy tickets for the Passion Play earlier than March 2019 can purchase a pre-arranged package through a travel agent.
Prior to March 2019 it is not possible to buy Oberammergau Passion Play tickets only – they are only sold in conjunction with overnight accommodation.
Now that you’ve decided you’d like to witness the once-every-decade Passion Play, you have plenty of options to choose from. Whether you decide to take an escorted Passion Play tour or purchase a package or individual tickets to the Passion Play, you certainly won’t be alone.
Over 500,000 visitors from around the world visit the once-every-decade event. Will you be joining them in 2022?
