Final Up to date on December 19, 2022 by Nellie Huang
Having lived in Europe for over 12 years, I’ve visited loads of Christmas markets and have discovered these to be one of the best Christmas markets in Germany.
It’s starting to look quite a bit like Christmas! The aroma of candy mulled wine and gingerbread fills the air, and festive music floods the streets. In Europe, Christmas markets and are a critical affair. Primary squares get remodeled into large Christmas villages dotted with a whole lot of stalls, Christmas bushes and decorations.
For Europeans, Christmas markets mark the beginning of Introduction. These markets often keep open for 4 weeks main as much as Christmas. They first began in Germany in the course of the Late Center Ages, earlier than spreading round Europe. It’s no surprise the German Christmas markets are the largest, brightest and most festive.
After we lived in Amsterdam, we went to Germany each winter because it was only a quick drive away. Right here I’ve handpicked a few of the greatest Christmas markets in Germany so that you can absorb the festive environment.
Greatest Christmas Markets in Germany
What to Do at a Christmas Market
For Christmas fanatics, going to a Christmas market in Germany is like being let unfastened in a sweet retailer! There’s a lot magic and grandeur in every little thing, from the picket Nutcracker to the Nativity scene and large pyramids.
Christmas markets in Germany are additionally nice locations to attempt conventional German meals just like the Lebkuchen Christmas cookies. I by no means go away a Christmas market with out having a bratwurst (grilled sausage) and glühwein (sizzling mulled wine). If you happen to’re questioning what to eat in Germany, right here is my detailed German meals information.
German Christmas markets are the locations to go for the greatest journey items. Conventional artisan merchandise just like the colourful nutcracker and handcrafted picket incense smoker collectible figurines make nice journey items for youths. One other wonderful memento to carry house is the collectible market mug that the glühwein is served in. You’re requested to pay 2-4 euros as a deposit for the mug which you’ll be refunded if you return it. Or you possibly can merely preserve the mug as a memento!
Which German Christmas Market Ought to I Go to?
There are a whole lot of Christmas markets in Germany, even small villages have their very own little Christkindlmarkt. So how do you resolve which Christmas market to go to?
The preferred German Christmas markets are present in Cologne, and obtain over 4 million guests every year. The Christmas markets in Dortmund are available at second place, with greater than 3.5 million guests scouring their 300 stalls. Subsequent hottest ones are in Stuttgart and Frankfurt.
Take a look at the numbers and you may think about how well-liked these German Christmas markets are. Don’t let that deter you from visiting although, you simply have to plan your journey to keep away from the group. I’ve included the opening dates and instances for every market, in addition to the closest resort to the market under.
Suggestions for Visiting a Christmas Market in Germany
- Christmas markets in Germany often open for the 4 weeks main as much as Christmas. Most finish on the twenty third December.
- To keep away from the crowds, I like to recommend planning your journey near the top of November to coincide with the opening of the German Christmas markets.
- Go to the Christmas markets within the morning and also you’ll are likely to have the markets to yourselves. Most markets open round 10am and shut at 10pm.
- Bank cards are usually not accepted in most German Christmas markets, so be ready with some money (euros)!
- In main cities, there are often greater than 1 Christmas market. A few of them even have Christmas market trains that present a hop-on hop-off service connecting the markets.
- The meals on the Christmas markets are wonderful, but in addition overpriced.
Greatest Christmas Markets in Germany
Right here’s a take a look at one of the best Christmas markets in Germany on a map.
1. Dresden Christmas Market*
Dresden‘s Striezelmarkt was first held in 1434 and is taken into account the primary real German Christmas market. Right this moment it’s probably the most visited Christmas markets of Germany, drawing in about 2 million individuals every year.
This was additionally the primary Christmas market we ever visited, and it’s nonetheless our favourite up to now! Not solely is it the oldest Christmas market in Germany, the Striezelmarkt additionally showcased the world’s tallest Christmas pyramid in 1999.
The Striezelmarkt’s title truly comes from the phrase ‘Striezel’, which refers to a cake made at the moment of yr referred to as a ‘Stollen’. It’s a conventional German meals from the area and one thing you could attempt if you’re right here!
Dates: 27 Nov – 24 Dec 2019
Occasions: 10.00-21.00
Location: On the Altmarkt sq. within the centre of Dresden
The place to Keep: Gewandhaus Dresden Autograph Assortment
2. Leipzig Christmas Market
Nearly an hour west of Dresden is Leipzig’s lesser-known previous city Christmas market. We completely cherished the Christmas market right here and had so many enjoyable evenings right here with our native pal!
Greater than 300 exhibitors arrange store in the marketplace sq. and within the close by streets. At weekends (1pm and 5pm), the sound of trumpeters rings out from the balcony of the Outdated City Corridor, including to the festive environment. Youngsters can discover the fairytale forest or benefit from the elves’ workshop.
The market’s primary characteristic is the large Christmas pyramid by the Nikolaikirche (St Nicholas Church), which is a formidable masterpiece. The festive concert events carried out by the Thomaner choir within the Thomaskirche are additionally wonderful.
Dates: 26 Nov – 23 Dec 2019
Occasions: 10.00-21.00 (Solar-Thurs); 10.00-22.00 (Fri-Sat)
Location: On Marktplatz within the coronary heart of Leipzig
The place to Keep: Steigenberger Grandhotel Handelshof Leipzig
3. Cologne Christmas Market*
The world-famous Am Dom Markt is probably the most visited Christmas market in Germany, receiving round 4 million individuals every year. Located on the foot of the UNESCO World Heritage Cologne Cathedral, the Am Dom Markt has a spectacular setting.
The 150 stands that make up this Christmas market is ready across the largest Christmas tree in all the Rhine. Discover its glittering picket pavilions, attempt some scrumptious German meals and discover handmade items together with wooden carvings and tree decorations.
Different Christmas markets I like to recommend visiting in Cologne are Angel’s Market in Neuwmarkt Sq. and the Outdated Market at Alter Markt. We’re heading again this yr and can be writing extra about it!
Dates: 25 Nov – 23 Dec 2019
Occasions: 11.00-21.00 (Solar-Wed); 11.00-22.00 (different days)
Location: On Roncalliplatz subsequent to Cologne Cathedral
The place to Keep: Excelsior Resort Ernst am Dom
4. Munich Christmas Market*
Munich is my favourite metropolis in Germany — we celebrated New 12 months’s Eve right here as soon as and it was critically our greatest ever! What I really like most about Munich is the robust Bavarian tradition and traditions. It’s actually the greatest place to go to in Germany to expertise the standard aspect of Germany.
Held within the well-known Marienplatz, the Munich Christkindlmarkt is really a standard German Christmas market surrounded by historic buildings together with the New and Outdated City Halls. The pedestrian coronary heart of town turns into a large market every year.
Don’t miss the Center Ages Market at Wittelsbacherplatzhis recreates the environment of what the unique Munich Christmas markets should have been like, with music, handmade stalls and stallholders wearing clothes from the Center Ages.
Dates: 27 Nov – 24 Dec 2019
Occasions: 10.00-21.00; 10.00-14.00 on Christmas Eve
Location: On Marienplatz and the primary purchasing centre streets
The place to Keep: BEYOND by Geisel
5. Heidelberg Christmas Market
One other private favourite, Heidelberg is well amongst Germany’s most lovely cities. However to see the picturesque previous city and the citadel illuminated by fairy lights in the course of the Christmas season is the icing on the cake.
The Christmas market in Heidelberg is an ideal mix of custom and romance. It’s unfold out throughout seven places within the previous quarter: within the pedestrian space and on Bismarckplatz, Anatomiegarten, Universitätsplatz, Marktplatz and Kornmarkt, probably the most lovely sq. of all.
There are many issues to do in Heidelberg: Head to the inside courtyard of Heidelberg citadel that gives a picturesque setting for one more Christmas market. Beneath the citadel, you possibly can go ice skating and luxuriate in full of life music on the ‘Christmas on Ice’ rink at Karlsplatz sq..
Dates: 25 Nov – 22 Dec 2019
Occasions: 11.00-21.00; Karlsplatz ice rink 10.00 – 22.00 till Jan 2020
Location: On Hauptplatz within the coronary heart of Heidelberg
The place to Keep: Hip Resort
6. Dortmund Christmas Market
The Dortmund Market is lauded as one of many greatest Christmas markets in Germany, with over 300 stalls packed round a big Christmas “tree” that stands 45 metres (148 ft) tall. Actually, it’s not only one tree — it’s made up of 1,700 particular person fir bushes, lit up by 13,000 mild bulbs.
What I like in regards to the Dortmund Christmas Market is the way it caters to households. Day-after-day there’s a colourful present program by the Alter Markt Theatre Firm and a puppet or magic present for youths of all ages.
The Dortmund Christmas Market is cut up throughout ten totally different sections, all inside Dortmund Metropolis Centre. They’re all shut to one another and solely about 10 minutes’ stroll from the Dortmund Prepare Station.
Dates: 21 Nov – 30 Dec 2019 (closed on 24 & 25 Dec)
Occasions: 10.00-21.00 (Mon-Thurs); 10.00-22.00 (Fri-Solar)
Location: The primary part is at Hansaplatz
The place to Keep: Espresso Fellows Resort Dortmund
7. Frankfurt Christmas Market
Frankfurt, as a serious monetary centre with skyscrapers marking the surroundings, has a status as a booming fashionable metropolis. However within the previous city, you possibly can nonetheless really feel the robust historical past of old-world Germany.
Drawing in round 3 million guests every year, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is a single massive market within the historic quarter of town round Römerburg and Paulsplatz. It stretches from the Hauptwache Sq. to the quayside on the river.
Over the centuries, the Frankfurt market has developed its personal speciality and it’s develop into well-known for its baked marzipan (a confection manufactured from sugar and almond).
Dates: 25 Nov – 22 Dec 2019
Occasions: 10.00-21.00 (Mon-Sat); 11.00-21.00 (Solar)
Location: On Römerburg
The place to Keep: Motel One Frankfurt-Römer
8. Stuttgart Christmas Market
I’ve by no means been an enormous fan of Stuttgart, however the Stuttgart Christmas Market positively received my coronary heart because it’s probably the most distinctive within the nation.
Firstly, the Stuttgart City Corridor transforms into a large Journey calendar (from 1 December onwards). Home windows of the constructing symbolize the dates and every quantity is revealed per day up till Christmas.
One other distinctive characteristic of the Stuttgart Christmas Market is the rooftop decor on the stalls. Virtually each stall has whimsical shows of teddy bears, large nutcrackers, mechanical reindeer that go all out to impress.
Dates: 27 Nov – 23 Dec 2019
Occasions: 10.00-21.00 (Mon-Thurs); 10.00-22.00 (Fri-Solar)
Location: The primary part is at Marktplatz
The place to Keep: Residence Central 11
9. Esslingen Medieval Christmas Market*
Simply 12km away from Stuttgart is a small, charming metropolis that was voted the ‘Greatest Christmas Metropolis‘ in 2018. The time-warped city oozes with character and attraction, particularly so throughout Christmas. It’s additionally dwelling to the oldest row of half-timbered homes in Germany.
The Esslingen Medieval Christmas Market is what the city is most well-known for. Retailers in historic clothes provide their items on the market throughout 80 stalls, simply as they did a whole lot of years in the past. Craftsmen like blacksmiths and rope-makers exhibit their craftsmanship.
Famend performers from throughout Europe additionally be part of within the leisure program which adjustments each day. Anticipate to see puppet exhibits, hearth exhibits and storytelling classes.
Dates: 26 Nov – 22 Dec 2019
Occasions: 11.00-21.30 (Thurs-Sat); 11.00-20.30 (Solar-Wed)
Location: The primary part is at Rathausplatz
The place to Keep: Buroma-Aside Suites Esslingen
10. Nuremberg Christmas Market
Poised within the heart of the Outdated City, the gold-hued Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt oozes with historical past and Bavarian custom. Greater than 180 market stands have on show conventional Christmas ornaments of all sizes and shapes, together with the native gold-foil angel, “Zwetschgenmännle”.
Nuremberg Christmas market is most well-known for its regional German meals. Be sure you order a drei im weggla (three in a roll) Nuremberg Bratwurst or the well-known Lebkuchen (gingerbread).
Professional tip: Climb to the highest of the Church of our Woman to see the crimson and white cubicles on the streets under.
Dates: 29 Nov – 24 Dec 2019
Occasions: 10.00-21.00; 10.00-14.00 on Christmas Eve
Location: On Hauptmarkt within the coronary heart of Nuremberg
The place to Keep: Sorat Resort Saxx Nürnberg
11. Berlin Christmas Market
Germany’s capital metropolis, Berlin, is dwelling to over 70 Christmas markets and they’re as various as town itself. They vary from heat indoor markets to out of doors enjoyable festivals and markets with historic themes.
The historic Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market is my favourite and possibly probably the most well-known. It’s a small tent metropolis with a whole lot of stands as and greater than 1,000 fairy lights enhancing the environment.
The nostalgic Christmas market on the Opernpalais has a formidable array of artisans from everywhere in the world. You’ll additionally discover amusement rides and conventional culinary delights comparable to roasted almonds.
Dates: 25 Nov – 1 Jan 2020
Occasions: 11.00-22.00; 11.00-18.00 on Christmas Eve; 11.00-01.00 on NYE
Location: On Gendarmenmarkt
The place to Keep: Titanic Gendarmenmarkt Berlin
12. Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market
Situated within the Franconian heartland of Germany, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a type of candy fairy-tale cities that you must see to imagine. Whimsical timbered homes line the cobblestone lanes that weave previous bell towers and old-world church buildings.
Step again in time on the Rothenburg Reiterlesmarkt, and benefit from the festive season amidst its magical setting. If you happen to’re there for the opening ceremony, look out for the looks of the “Reiterle” determine. The determine was believed to be an envoy from one other world that introduced the souls of the deceased at winter time. Now it’s been remodeled right into a pleasant character.
Additionally, make sure you attempt Rothenburg’s trademark Schneeball biscuit, a form of fried dough lined in powdered sugar or melted chocolate. Rothenburg ob der Tauder is unquestionably one of many greatest locations to go to in Germany all yr spherical.
Dates: 29 Nov – 23 Dec 2019
Occasions: 11.00-19.00 (Mon-Thurs); 11.00-20.00 (Fri-Solar)
Location: On Grüner Markt within the coronary heart of town
The place to Keep: Resort Reichs-Küchenmeister
Are you planning to go to a German Christmas market? Which of those Christmas markets in Germany do you need to go to?
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