10 Best Germany Christmas Markets – The Complete Guide
Get ready to experience the magic of Germany’s famous Christmas markets. As the holiday season approaches, cities across Germany transform into winter wonderlands. They feature twinkling lights, festive decorations, aromatic foods and lively events. From historic city centres to charming small towns, Germany has some of the most spectacular Christmas markets in Europe. Want to experience all these? Then start by booking your German Visa Appointment!
Now, let’s get back to the Germany Christmas Markets. This complete guide features the 10 best and most celebrated German Christmas markets perfect for tourists. Learn about the can’t-miss markets offering one-of-a-kind shopping, delicious treats, heartwarming traditions, and family fun.
10 Germany Christmas Markets for Your Winter Holiday
1). Best Christmas Market in Germany: Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
Regarded as one of the best and most famous Christmas markets in the world, Nuremberg’s iconic Christkindlesmarkt encapsulates over 400 years of German Christmas tradition.
With nearly 200 decorated stalls filling the historic Hauptmarkt square, visitors can shop an unparalleled variety of:
- Traditional ornaments
- Nutcrackers
- Wooden toys, and
- Local Franconian craftwork
Make sure to try Nuremberg’s star treat – bratwursts grilled over flaming pinecone fire and paired with hot spiced wine.
Don’t miss the two-tiered Christmas Angel stage where the Christkind angel makes appearances and sings to the crowd. Enjoy festive Christmas carols as you stroll under golden glow of string lights woven overhead between ornately decorated booths.
2). Family-Friendly Struttgart Christmas Market in Germany
At nearly 300 years old, Stuttgart holds the longest-running Christmas market in Germany. The market boasts over 280 colourfully lit stalls spread across three main squares.
Kids will be enchanted:
- Meeting Santa and real reindeer at the forest cottage,
- Whirling on carnival rides like the historic carousel,
- Interacting with nativity figures,
- Animal displays, craft booths and
- Listening to children’s choirs perform on the big open-air stage
Grown-ups will:
- Relish sipping mulled wine
- Tasting fun treats like chimney cake rolled in sugar and cinnamon
- Enjoying the Stuttgart market’s star dish – potato pancakes with applesauce.
Don’t forget to ride the Giant Wheel Ferris Wheel for breathtaking views over the city!
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3). Historic Christmas Market in Germany: Dresden Striezelmarkt
Steeped in over 580 years of tradition in Dresden’s Altmarkt (Old Market) Square, the Striezelmarkt lays claim to being Germany’s first recorded Christmas market. Marvel at the mighty Christmas pyramid centrepiece with its spinning tiers and flickering lights.
Shop for traditional handicrafts like wooden smoking figures, glass ornaments, nutcrackers and Erzgebirge folk art. And don’t forget to enjoy hot potato pancakes and Dresdner Stollen – the buttery German fruitcake invented here in 1474.
Catch festive concerts at the Church of Our Lady each Saturday. Also, don’t miss the Sunday Christmas Parade with Santa arriving on a carriage!
4). Germany’s Largest Christmas Market: Cologne Christmas Market
Encompassing six separate Christmas markets interlinked along Cologne’s old town shopping promenades and central Domplatz square, Cologne hosts the country’s biggest Christmas market spanning nearly 30,000 square metres.
The iconic Cologne Cathedral provides a breathtaking Gothic backdrop to hundreds of brightly lit wooden pavilions selling:
- Unique Rhineland crafts
- Handmade ornaments,
- Toys,
- Food and more!
Experience illuminating atmosphere enjoyed by over 4 million visitors each year and try Kölsch beer brewed specially for markets. Want to experience this beautiful place? Book your German Visa Appointment today!
5). Budget-Friendly Berlin Christmas Market in Germany
From Alexanderplatz to Potsdamer Platz to Charlottenburg Palace and Gendarmenmarkt Square, Berlin lights up with over 70 different Christmas markets around the city that won’t break the wallet. Shop affordable gifts and foods in these amazing markets. Then linger around bonfires on straw-covered ground as you sip warm drinks and take in live entertainment!
Don’t miss the medieval-style Spandau Christmas Market. It’s tucked away along the old city walls and fortifications of the Citadel filled with:
- Minstrels
- Jesters
- Storytellers
- Games
- Rides
- Hands-on workshops for an escapist experience
Berlin features wonderful markets with a ton of items to shop for and experiences. Apply for a Germany Visa from the UK to explore these amazing locations with loved ones!
6). Top Christmas Market in Small German Towns: Rothenburg ob der Tauber Reiterlesmarkt
The captivating medieval walled town of Rothenberg ob der Tauber comes alive during Christmas.
Over 200 seasonal booths, inns and stalls deck out the cobblestone Marktplatz beneath glowing stars and lanterns. Here visitors can observe live craft workshops and sample regional wines and treats by open fires!
Stroll to see Saint Nicholas and Rothenburg Riders re-enact parades and scenes from when Rothenburg was an imperial city. Enjoy free festive concerts performed from the historic Town Hall balcony as well as theatrical storytelling tours through alleyways.
7). Hidden Gem German Christmas Market: Landshut Christmas Market
Nestled on River Isar halfway between Munich and Regensburg, the Landshut town hosts a hidden gem Christmas market. This market runs for a full five weeks in picturesque locations!
Over 120 craft, food and traditional booths surround the Gothic St. Martin’s Church. These line narrow cobblestone streets lit with golden stars cascading overhead.
Unique Bavarian-Bohemian glass baubles glimmer from stalls alongside handcrafted wood toys and decorations. Experience the special Advent ambience with minstrels, costumed characters and live performers too.
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8). Romantic German Christmas Market: Heidelberg Christmas Market
Against the dreamy riverside backdrop of Heidelberg Castle ruins lit up in festive lights each evening. Here, you will find 160 fairy tale-esque booths of the Old Bridge Christmas Market. These will be lining the cobblestone streets curving along the Neckar River.
Couples can stroll hand-in-hand:
- Sipping hot spiced wine
- Finding locally made gifts and ornaments, and
- Listening to weekend choirs fill the square with carols
Don’t miss the Enchanted Forest in the meadow below with:
- Sparkling walk-through displays
- The Finnish Log House serving up salmon dishes & liqueur coffees, and
- Ice skating rink
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9). Germany Christmas Market with Winter Activities: Munich Christmas Market
Munich pulls out all the stops when it comes to festive fun with:
- Multiple Christmas markets to explore
- The world’s tallest mobile Christmas pyramid to marvel at
- Mattersweet wood carving workshops, and
- Lively concerts around Marienplatz central square.
Ice skating fans will love the large open-air Ice Rink by Stachus. You can also visit the Eiszauber open-air ice skating trail that winds through the Christmas market on Viktualienmarkt Square. Visitors can even ski and sled beside Munich’s Olympic Park.
Top it off by experiencing the romantic Medieval Christmas Market at Wittelsbacherplatz!
10). Bonus: Fairytale Christmas Market in Quedlinburg
On UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, Quedlinburg’s perfectly preserved medieval old town with over 1300 colourful half-timbered houses sets the stage for one of Germany’s most magical Christmas markets from late November through December.
Over 130 festive stalls fill Market Square in front of the historic Quedlinburg Abbey Church. Did you know? The church was founded by King Henry I in 936 AD!
Marvel at the glittering lights, nativity scenes, craft booths and local Harz mountain specialities. Don’t miss the medieval-themed Advent Musical each Saturday performed by monks, fools, jugglers and actors!
Conclusion
So, come immerse yourself in German culture this Christmas season. Explore some of the most beloved, beautiful and long-standing holiday markets across Germany!
From shopping traditional handicrafts and ornaments to partaking in festivities with family or loved ones. These top markets offer seasonal magic for tourists of all ages visiting from around the world.
