Exploring Germany’s Enchanting Christmas Markets
Germany, land of beautiful scenery, historic castles, and charming villages, offers some of the best Christmas markets in the world. Towns big and small transform themselves into winter wonderlands, each with its own charm and unique traditions.
The origin of Christmas markets can be traced back to medieval Germany and what is now current day Austria. Over hundreds of years, their popularity has spread around the world. For many visitors, the markets are nostalgic and remind them of simpler times and Christmases past.
From late November until Christmas Eve, town squares all over Germany celebrate the Advent season with stunning Christmas markets. Wooden stalls emerge in the main squares dressed up with dazzling lights. Covered in snow, they resemble a beautiful snow globe.
Experiencing the Christmas markets feels like a journey into a storybook world filled with magic and wonder. Twinkle lights illuminate the night, local brass bands play music in the town square and passersby greet you with “Frohe Weihnachten,” which means Merry Christmas in German.
Tantalizing aromas fill the air when wandering through the Christmas markets. They lead you to stalls selling foods like grilled meats, smoked sausages and crispy potato pancakes. Sweet indulgences include gingerbread, stollen, candied almonds, and roasted chestnuts.
When the cold and snow makes your fingers and toes go numb, head to the stalls that sell hot glühwein. It is a heavily spiced and mulled red wine. I believe one of the best German Christmas market keepsakes you can take home is a glühwein mug.
Shopping for Christmas gifts for your friends and family, as well as some souvenirs for yourself, it’s easy to fill your suitcase with meaningful and memorable gifts. From Christmas ornaments, toys, seasonal food specialties and kitchen wares, the markets have it all.
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Of the thousands of Christmas markets, how do you plan the ultimate holiday experience? Consider your budget and preferred travel style. Think about the cities you have always dreamed of visiting. Do you prefer a dramatic city like Munich? Or a historic town like Nuremberg? Or perhaps a small, perfectly preserved fairytale village like Rothenburg?
When your time for a winter holiday is limited, consider traveling to just one region of Germany. This way, you won’t feel too rushed. We have traveled to Germany often and Bavaria is special during Christmas with its fairytale castles and snow topped mountains.
If you have dreamed of visiting Germany’s Christmas markets someday, I have a few suggestions to add to your bucket list.
Munich
December is one of Munich’s most enchanting times to visit. If you haven’t been before, it is the perfect city to start a winter holiday in Germany. It has a major international airport, “Franz Josef Strauss”and an extensive Deutsche Bahn train network. If you fly in or out from Munich Airport, you’ll find it has its very own Christmas market. It comes complete with an ice skating rink.
Munich is an excellent hub for exploring the German Christmas markets. It is ideal for day trips to famous castles like Neuschwanstein. It’s also great for excursions to the Alps as well as the nearby Austrian city of Salzburg.
Most of Munich’s major landmarks, museums, and beer halls are near the city center and within walking distance of each other. When you are too tired, the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and trams make it easy to get around the city.
Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.
Christmas Markets:
There are well over 30 Christmas markets to explore in Munich. Christkindlmarkt in front of the New Town Hall in Marienplatz Square. There are over 150 traditional wooden stalls decorated with evergreen garlands and twinkling lights. Whether it’s nativity sets, beautiful glass ornaments, candles or holiday novelties, they are sold here.
Mittelaltermarkt is an atmospheric Christmas markets taking you back to the 14th century. Craftsmen in period costumes sell leather goods as well as wooden toys and candles. While there, enjoy a cup or hot mead (honey wine).
Kripperlmarkt vor dem Alten Peter is one of the largest nativity markets of its kind in Germany. It sells everything you need to decorate a nativity scene.
Christmas Village in the Kaiserhof of the Residenz is also known as the Imperial Court Market. There are handicraft workshops where you can watch goldsmiths, fur tanners and glassblowers at work.
Nuremberg
The picturesque medieval old town of Nuremberg transports you back in time. An impressive Imperial Castle stands guard perched high on a hill above Nuremberg’s old town. It is still surrounded by ancient city walls, has cobblestone lanes lined with colorful half-timbered houses and beautiful churches.
Nuremberg’s famous Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt) dates back to 1628. Today, it is considered one of the best in the world and its opening ceremony is famous. A young local woman represents an angelic figure in German Christmas tales. She delivers a Christmas wish to the crowd from the balcony at the top of the Church of Our Lady. It happens on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent.
Christmas Markets:
Christkindlesmarkt is one of three main markets and is celebrated for its enchanting atmosphere and festive cheer. It has more than 180 stalls with red and white striped roofs. They sell everything from traditional crafts, toys, and ornaments to the regional Christmas cookie, lebkuchen, and the city’s famous bratwurst. The Feuerzangenbowle Village sells the city’s famous flaming mulled wine.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The enchanting town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the most beautiful small towns in Germany. It is a perfectly preserved medieval walled town on the Romantic Road. The “must see” spot is the Plönlein, which is a unique junction of streets and leaning houses. It looks like a scene from a storybook. Besides the Christmas market, there is the amazing year-round Christmas shop, Käthe Wohlfahrt. The famous shop and museum is a major attraction, selling intricate ornaments.
Christmas Markets:
Alt-Rothenburger Reiterlesmarkt in the town center is one of Germany’s most beloved Advent markets. Dozens of stalls selling high quality crafts and local food. There are smaller markets, including one near St. Jacob’s Church with a carousel.
Regensburg
Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage city, is located along the famous Danube River. The city center is Germany’s best preserved medieval area. It features Gothic and Romanesque buildings from the 11th to 13th centuries. Strolling through the heart of the village is like stepping back in time.
Christmas Markets:
Regensburg has four main Christmas markets that are within walking distance of each other.where visitors can enjoy unique Bavarian experiences. The largest is the Christkindlmarkt Neupfarrplatz, a traditional market in the heart of the city.
The Romantic Christmas Market Thurn und Taxis (Schloss St. Emmeram) is unique in that it charges a small fee. It is held in the courtyard of the Schloss St. Emmeram owned by the Thurn und Taxis family who still live in the castle. They transform a large portion of their grounds into a lovely Christmas market. Artisans such as basket weavers, candle makers, and glass blowers sell their crafts. Vendors also sell food and mulled wine.
The beautiful historic centers of cities as well as small country villages go all out for Christmas. I hope you have enjoyed this small introduction to a couple of the Christmas markets I’ve shared.
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Have you been to any of the European Christmas markets. Do you have a favorite Christmas market in Germany or anywhere else in the world? what specific countries or cities have you always dreamed of visiting
This is a great guide, Karen. I haven’t been to a Christmas market in Germany but one in Prague, Lille and a large good one here in UK in Birmingham. It’s such a great thing to do. Merry Christmas to you!
How fantastic and with live snow! They have some pretty good Christmas markets in Spain too. There’s a particularly good Mediaeval Market in Vic with lots of artisanal food and drink.
I used to follow a blogger who was an American living in Germany and every Christmas she would share the delights of the Christmas markets. Germans really do it well.
I have always wanted to do this. I don’t know if it will ever happen but how I would love to experience any single one of these wonderful places! Thank you for “taking us there,” Karen! Merry Christmas to you and your husband.
I enjoyed your advice on authentic Christmas cheer, straight out of the German markets!
Though I dread to imagine the cold, I do miss the Christmas markets this time of year. They really are magical, for lack of better description. I’ll never forget going with my parents and getting hot mint tea and roasted chestnuts to snack on along the way.
I always enjoy your photos of such gorgeous places! It all looks magical!
I have a Polish niece living in Regensburg, Karen, and I hope to visit one day. Not sure that I’ll make a Christmas market though. Wishing you a wonderful festive season xx
how glorious. The christmas markets in germany and austria have always been on my bucket list!
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
I would love to go to a Christmas market in Germany. I love Germany. I hope we go one day. Thanks for all the lovely pictures to inspire me for a trip there at Christmas time. Merry Christmas to you and your husband.
With near 40C temperatures outside ready for Yuletide, it is delightful to see your photos . . . I love Munich so that would be my first preference or Rothenburg ob Tauber where I have always wanted to go . . . these markets seem quite widespread around Europe by now . . . I know my birth city of Tallinn in Estonia also has a beautiful one to visit . . .
Visiting Christmas markets are a MUST during Advent.
There is nothing quite like a traditional Christmas Market, is there! Sadly I didn’t make it to one this year, but if asked what my favourite one is I would probably say Ingolstadt. We lived there for so many years and although it always has the same stands with rather limited choice it had everything a Christmas Market needs. I used to meet up with friends there and we loved the noodles and sauerkraut, sugared almonds and punch. I also used to buy my kitchen knives there too! I hope you will enjoy looking back at your photos and remember the delicious smells and flavours and the general hustle and bustle. 😁🎄
what incredible photos! I’ve only been to one at Christmas time in London! Yesterday I went to a small one in nYC. Of course it’s not the same…
Karen, what stunning photos! Thank you for sharing your travel guide to the Christmas markets. We have never been to Germany during the Christmas markets, but have been to several cities that you mentioned, with Regensburg being a favorite!
Wishing you a Merry Christmas season!
Hi Karen, we have visited Munich several times, and I have dreamed of returning at Christmas. We will be in London, Edinburgh, and Paris for two weeks during Christmas this year, and I’m excited to see all the beauty they have to offer at this time of year. I can’t imagine any one of those will top these amazing German markets. Merry Christmas!
Gorgeous. This article brings back fond memories of my Vienna days so long ago. That city has a lovely Christmas market, tpo. One day I’ll make it to Germany for the holiday season but in the meanwhile your lovely descriptions and photos will certainly do.
Karen, it has been many years but I can remember vividly the German Christmas markets on a cold frosty night with glühwein in hand. Lovely, lovely post. I think what is also enchanting about Christmas in Germany is it less commercial and more traditional. Love it.
Merry Christmas Karen.
That is fabulous! Beautiful displays and decorations. So much to see there.
Karen, such fabulous photo. I have never been to the Christmas markets. How special to be able to visit during the holidays. Thanks for sharing. Happy holidays.🎄
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Europe twice during the holidays — but only AFTER Xmas and New Year’s Eve, when some of the stalls and lights are still up. Still hope to get there when all the festivals are at peak season.
Little Bavaria or Frankenmuth Michigan is our version of all things German. We go a few times a year as it is always Christmas there especially with such attractions as Bronners. Been to Germany but never to the markets at Christmas 🙂 I got yelled at one market when I “touched” some grapes instead of pointing to them…
Enjoyed this post and if I were younger, I’d be making plans to attend next year.
I have always wanted to visit the German Christmas markets…but the problem is I want to be here at home to enjoy the Christmas season, too. I’m sure we will go at some point, though, and this post is making me move that timeline up a bit. 🙂 We will be visiting Regensburg this coming summer. While the Christmas markets won’t be up, I’m still looking forward to exploring the town! Happy Holidays to you and your family, Karen!
I’ve been to Munich, but never at Christmastime. I would love to see these markets!
They look stunning! I’ve been to the Austrian Christmas Markets but not the German ones. Hopefully one day! 😀 Your photos are fantastic!
Visiting any one of those markets would be a Christmas to remember for me. They are so festive and beautiful!
Hi Karen, I’ve never been to a European Christmas market before (probably too cold for me), but the merchandise certainly looks more authentic than the usual fare here in the United States. Very magical looking! BTW,I got your message about not being able to make comments on my blog. I contacted WordPress and the problem should now be fixed. Hope to hear from you again and Merry Christmas! Fran from G’day Souffle’ (https//www.gdaysouffle.com)
Such a magical place! Happy Holidays!
Love your photos–the Christmas markets are so beautiful! And the foods at the market sounds so delicious! 🙂
Beautiful pictures and ambience – a Christmas trip to Europe is definitely on my travel bucket list too. I’ve only been to Stockholm for New Year’s once, so I missed the Christmas markets, but this makes me want to plan a proper holiday trip soon!
I really want to take Mark to Germany at Christmas time to see the markets. There’s a type of magic that I’ve never seen anywhere else… Thanks for this post; I know he enjoyed reading it, too.
What a lovely read, Karen! Your photos and descriptions really capture the magic of the German markets, I could almost smell the glühwein and roasted chestnuts from here. Bavaria in Christmas has been on my travel list for ages, and this just bumped it even higher. Thanks for taking us along for the ride and sparking a bit of holiday wanderlust.
I’d love to see Germany’s Christmas markets but sadly we use up JTs 9 days in November? February and March, plus I don’t love winter,
An amazing post, Karen, I immediately want to book a plane ticket. Happy holidays,
Amalia
xo
We have only been to Christmas markets in Italy, which are so unique. And to Christmas themed shops all over Europe which open close to the start of the winter months 🙂
Wow, you’ve seen them all, Karen! I haven’t been to any of them, even though none of them is more than a 2 hours’ drive… I shall do better next year 😊