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

When do the Chrismas markets open

Generally, most Christmas markets in Germany begin at the start of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas, typically in late November.
Another common starting date is the Monday after “Totensonntag”.
The markets usually run until Christmas Eve or sometimes a few days after.

Where to find Christmas Markets

In larger cities, you’ll often find several Christmas markets scattered across different neighbourhoods, each offering its own unique atmosphere. Smaller towns, however, typically host one main market, where the cosy charm and close-knit community spirit truly shine, making it a magical experience for visitors.

Map

Please note that some listings on the map only indicate the city, so be sure to confirm the exact address of the Christmas market before planning your visit.

Baden-Württemberg

Altensteiger Altstadt-Weihnachtsmarkt
Baden-Badens Christmas market is open after Christmas till 6 January and it was pretty awesome, I found different stalls compared to other Christmas markets and last year they had a Nativity Austellung from around the world (not sure if it is an annual thing) that was pretty awesome
Biberach Christkindlmarkt.
Calw
Esslingen – Der Esslinger Mittelaltermarkt & Weihnachtsmarkt is a Medieval Christmas market close to Stuttgart. Watch a video here
Freiburg
Gengenbacher Adventsmarkt – Die Fenster des größten Adventskalenderhauses der Welt
Hohenzollern Castle – as of 2021 they do not have a Christmas market but a Royal winter magic event
The Christkindlmarkt in Durlach Karlsruhe is also nice
Konstanzer Weihnachstmarkt direkt am Bodensee
Ludwigsburg – Ludwigsburger Barock Weihnachtsmarkt. Watch a video here
Ravenna Schlucht Christmas Market in the Hochschwarzwald
Tubingen Market is excellent for chocolates
Stuttgart – Spread over a large area around Schlossplatz
Ulm is famous for having the church with the highest church tower. They have a lovely Christmas market in front of the church.
Zavelsteiner Burgweihnacht

Ravenna Schlucht

The market is nestled beneath the towering arches of the Ravenna Viaduct, a historic railway bridge. The dramatic backdrop, surrounded by dense pine forests and snow-dusted hills, creates a fairytale-like atmosphere.

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
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

Berlin. There are more than 80 markets in Berlin. Watch a video here
Weihnachtsmarkt am Schloss Charlottenburg
Bremen
Hamburg

Hessen

Frankfurt has a 33 meter high Christmas tree. Watch a video here
Michelstadt – Medieval Christmas Market
Rüdesheim am Rhein is nice
Seligenstadt
Sternschnuppen Markt Wiesbaden

Sababurg Zoo Medieval Christmas Market

The Sababurg Zoo is home to reindeer—making it the perfect spot for a Christmas market! Once a year, the zoo hosts a large Christmas market. In a setting where visitors can see reindeer, as well as wolves, deer, horses, turtles, and birds of prey, market stalls feature blacksmithing, pottery, and woodworking. There are also knights, medieval music, and fire shows to enjoy.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Schweriner Weihnachtsmarkt

Niedersachsen

Hameln
Weihnachtszauber Schloss Bückeburg, north of Bielefeld

Weihnachtswald Goslar

The old town of Goslar, home to over 1,500 half-timbered houses, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the heart of it all, at Schuhhof, the Christmas Forest will return this year. Rows of fir trees from the Harz region are adorned with 160,000 lights, while visitors can enjoy handcrafted goods and a variety of sweet and savory treats.

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 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 has various Christmas markets
Cologne has various Christmas markets
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 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 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

Deidesheim has a cute Weihnachtsmarkt
Spyer is also open after Christmas

Sachsen

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

Historisch-romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt

The setting at Königstein is nothing short of breathtaking: perched high above the Elbe River, the towering fortress dominates the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. True to its historic surroundings, the courtyard is filled with hand-crafted wooden stalls on Advent weekends, and vendors don traditional attire.

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 theme

Große Adventskalender von Tönning

The Packhaus, with its 24 large windows, becomes a giant Advent calendar. Each window is beautifully decorated and illuminated to reveal a new festive scene or artwork daily from December 1 to 24. he Packhaus dates back to 1783 and is steeped in maritime history. Its rustic charm adds to the magical atmosphere of the event

Thüringen

Eisenach – Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt auf der Wartburg

Other Countries

Christkindelsmärik, Strasbourg France, just over the border
Colmar – In the picturesque streets of Colmar, the succession of stalls, Christmas decorations and lights will sweep you up in the magic of the Christmas season. Wherever you look, you will be spellbound. Truly the place to be for a genuinely exceptional Christmas experience!
In Valkenburg, Netherlands there is a Christmas market in a cave

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.