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Christmas Markets

Visiting Christmas markets in Germany is a delightful way of celebrating the festive season. The heavy scent of sweets, fried sausage and warm wine welcome you to a variety of Christmas delicacies. 
If you’re feeling a little chilly, grab a warm mug of Glühwein and catch up with friends. Not only are the markets a great place to socialize, but you can also pick up unique gifts, mouth-watering Christmas cookies, and Stollen. Not to mention, you’ll be able to kit yourself out for the winter with cosy woollen gloves and beanie hats. 
We complied this list from our own experiences as well as the recommendations from members of our Facebook group. You are welcome to contact us if you want to add to the list

Baden-Württemberg

Bayern

  • Kuchlbauers Turmweihnacht in Abensberg,  it is one of the best I’ve ever been to. An outdoor and indoor market. The indoor one is underground and probably has a lot of SA Market-style goodies. Not often seen at Markets here. Not sure how the indoor one will work this year, but the vibe was magically around the Turm. Only an hour and a bit North of Munich. Here is an additional link
  • The Augsburg Christmas market is very special! On the evening of the opening in November, the Mayor addresses the public from the Rathaus, and ‘angels’ blow trumpets from the Rathaus’ balconies. The music at the opening is spectacular! Also, the food and the vibe are exceptional. Dampfknödel Mohn and with warm Vanillesauce for example. Lots of gorgeous warm spiced drinks. A feast for the eyes too!
  • Eging am See – Pullman city has a German American Christmas market –deutsch-amerikanischer-weihnachtsmarkt
  • Eisenach – Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt auf der Wartburg
  • Kempten, Füssen and Bad Tölz also have a great Christmas market
  •  There’s a lovely medieval Christmas market at Landsberg am Lech.
  • Lindau – looking out on the Bodensee
  • Munich and in particular the Münchner Christkindlmarkt with the Kripperlmarkt in front of St Michael’s Church.
  • Nürnberg. The biggest and most famous Christmas market in Germany. A girl from Nuremberg is traditionally elected for two years to represent the Christkindlesmarkt. Watch a video here 
  • Neu-Ulm  – Mittelalterlicher Weihnachtsmarkt
  • Regensburg – Romantic Christmas Market at the Thurn und Taxis Castle
  • Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Rothenburg´s Reiterlesmarkt is among the oldest Christmas markets with the tradition dating back over 500 years

Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Brandenburg

Hessen

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Niedersachsen

Nordrhein-Westfalen

  • Aachen is also a treat and worth picking up an extra packet of the famous biscuits from the main bakery in the old town. The Christmas market in Aachen was absolutely fantastic. Mülheim an der Ruhr had an awesome medieval market at Schloß Broich and a small “Nikolaus Markt” in their Altstadt
  • Bochum has lovely decorations around and downtown there is a children’s area to listen to stories and then the highlight is when Santa flies across between the buildings on a cable – very cool.
  • Bonn is the best
  • Cologne
  • Dortmund has the tallest Christmas tree in Germany, a full 45 meters, and it is a fabulous experience to see when the lights are switched on.
  • Drachenfels castle has a really beautiful one in and around the castle grounds.
  • Düsseldorf – several markets around the city that are worth visiting. the huge Christmas tree in the Altstadt is apparently a gift from Norway each year. 
  • Gronau has a small market that is only for one weekend
  • Hohenlimburg in Hagen was a delightful real castle-like market. best to park at the bottom and travel up the hill on the shuttle bus available.
  • The Christmas market in Münster
  • Schloss Moyland – a beautiful moated castle – had a gorgeous handcrafted-hand made market with a children’s choir and was well lit for those moving around with wheelchairs or prams. worth the few euros to get in.
  •  There is a lovely medieval market in Siegburg

Rheinland-Pfalz

Sachsen

  • Dresden – the Striezelmarkt in particular, has the world’s tallest Christmas pyramid. Dresden is also famous for its Stollen. Watch a video here

Sachsen-Anhalt

  •  Quedlinburg is famous for its Weihnachten in den Höfe. Backyards are opened in the Old City which is also a World Heritage city… Great atmosphere

Saarland

  •  The one in Sankt Wendel in Saarland is fabulous with a mix of new and Mittelalter Markt. Fire breathing shows and activities for the kids, are definitely a must.

Schleswig-Holstein

  • Lübeck with a maritime Christmas Market

Thüringen

  • Eisenach – Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt auf der Wartburg – Thüringen

Other Countries

Food to indulge in

  • Gebrannte Mandeln (Candied Almonds). Also try the cashews and other nuts.
  • Dampfnudeln is a steamed dumpling served with vanilla sauce or stewed berries.
  • Schupfnudeln mit Sauerkraut. More popular in the south. It is a type of noodle that is fried and served with sauerkraut.
  • Feuerwurst is a thin and long spicy sausage served in a bun.
  • Rote im Semmel is a grilled sausage in a bun. Mostly found in the South.
  • Flammlachs
  • Pancakes with anything from Nutella to liqueur.
  • Stollen. It is really worth buying the more expensive brands. Look out for those from Dresden.
  • Lebkuchen is a soft gingerbread. The Nuremberg Lebkuchen is also known as Elisen and contains more nuts than other types of Lebkuchen. Some are glazed.  
  • Marzipan Bethmännchen (Frankfurt)
  • Flammlachs – grilled salmon
  • Zimtsterne, Vanilla Kipferl, Baumkuchen, Dominosteine, Magenbrot, a sweet glazed bread-like biscuit.

Drinks to try

  • Glühwein (Mulled wine) is a warm drink from red or white wine. Can contain orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel seed (or star anise), cloves, cardamom, and ginger.
  • Glogg – Nordic style Glühwein
  • Grog – Rum with hot water
  • Heiße Oma, a drink made with eggnog, milk and vanilla sugar
  • Hot cider (Frankfurt)
  • Feuerzangenbowle is Glühwein.  A rum-soaked sugar cube is placed above the liquid and set alight. It then drips into Glühwein.

Shopping

You can find an incredible array of festive and high-quality goods at the Christmas markets. Here are some suggestions. 

  • Hand-crafted gifts can make a great impact on the receiver, especially when they are one-of-a-kind pieces. However, it’s important to ensure their authenticity before making a purchase. 
  • When it comes to Christmas decorations, there are many options to choose from. One brand to consider is Kathe Wolfahrt, which offers a variety of beautiful and festive decorations that can add joy to any home. Whether it’s a wreath, ornament or figurine, these charming pieces are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
  • Sending Christmas cards is a great way to show loved ones you care. From personalized photo cards to traditional designs, there are endless options to choose from. Don’t forget to add a warm message to make the card extra special.
  • Also, don’t forget to indulge in some traditional holiday treats like Stollen, Zimtsterne, Vanilla Kipferl and Lebkuchen. These delectable goodies are a great way to celebrate the holiday season and create cherished memories with loved ones.

Videos

Here are some videos I found on the web

More on the web

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