Christmas markets in Germany

It will soon be time for Christmas markets to adorn the streets of numerous towns in Europe!Everything about this season is magical; the lights, decorations, liveliness,food and happiness all around. Germany is known for it’s Christmas markets, and if you are thinking about where to go this winter, here are some suggestions for the best Christmas Markets in Germany:

1. Cologne Christmas Market

The wonderful thing about Cologne as a German Christmas market destination is the endless amount of different market styles they have on offer. You won’t have time to visit them all in one day, but jumping between the different styles can be a fun day out. You can visit up to 7 different markets in total, all within walking distance around the city of Cologne. You can visit the home of the elves or the Fairy tail angel market; so many different styles and variations to explore. My favourite was the St Nicholas Christmas market, which was the most traditional market I visited in Cologne and had traditional Christmas songs being played by a band in the background, added a nice scenic vibe to the market and they also had the best-mulled wine on offer in Cologne. Enjoy picking up the boot shape mug as a souvenir of your visit.

– Dave Brett , Travel Dave Blog Find Dave on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out free things to do in Cologne

2. Munich

The Munich Christmas market will be opened from November 25th in 2016 and will go on till December 24th. Christmas markets in the city date back to centuries ago, with the “Nicholaus Markets” of the 14th century and a “Nikolaidult” that took place near the Beautiful Tower in Kaufingerstrasse in 1642. Cat Gaa from Sunshine and Siestas shares her thoughts on the Munich Christmas market.

It was by luck and a little bit of coaxing that I found a cheap flight from Seville, Spain to Munich just before the holidays and that my cousin had a week off or work in Frankfurt. I’d been keen on visiting a Christmas market in Germany, and Munich’s dozen or so Weihnachtsmarkt warmed my Christmas-deprived soul like glühwein. Wrapping my hands around a warm mug and in the presence of family, Christyn and I browsed handicrafts, shared brats and bought one another ornaments for our trees. For someone accustomed to a warm Spanish Christmas, a chill in the air and family was all I needed.

Check out what to do in Munich for a weekend getaway

Find Cat on Facebook and Twitter.

3. Nuremberg

Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is arguably the best market in Germany. It is clearly one of the best visited – boasting over two million visitors in the four short weeks the market is open every year. The stalls, with their candy-striped awnings, occupy neat little rows. The stalls sell all manner of traditional handcrafts, including little “smoker” men (carved figures that hold smoking incense inside) and carved wooden toys. A horse-drawn stagecoach takes visitors on a ride over the cobblestone streets of the medieval old city. On weekends, the Nuremberg Christmas market is a throbbing mass of people huddling together to stay warm. During the week, you can explore the market in tranquility, eating the local Nuremberger sausages (eaten three in a roll) and drinking gluhwein (hot mulled wine). We’ve visited many of Europe’s markets, but Nuremberg is one of the best.

– Lance and Laura Longwell, Travel Addicts.   Find them on Facebook and Instagram.

4. Hamburg

Every year, my girlfriends from university and I jump on a plane to visit our best friend from university in Hamburg. Hamburg is home to my favourite Christmas market, which just so happens to be the biggest one that lies in front of the Rathaus. From the end of November onwards, the citizens of Hamburg go out to the Christmas markets every evening to grab some food, gluhwein (mulled wine to those non-Germans among us) and make merry, before moving on to party till late at the nearest bar. To gear up for your night out, the market in front of the Rathaus has some of the best food around, assorted flavours of bratwurst, fresh seafood and crepes are common offerings across Hamburg’s markets but added to this you have stalls selling smoked salmon, hot funnel cake rolled in cinnamon sugar, flavoured cream cheeses from the bizarre (curry) to the delicious (pomegranate and mint) and stands weaving hot candy together before your eyes. Of course if you’re stopping by, you have to visit the Christmas decoration store to shop for a traditional Christmas bauble, buy an iced lebkuchen as a gift for your sweetheart, and watch Santa swing across the sky on his sledge at 4, 6 and 8pm everyday.

You can read more here.

– Flick, They Call it the Diamond Blog . Find her on Twitter.

5. Heidelberg

If you are still apprehensive of visiting the city, here are 10 reasons why you will fall in love with Heidelberg too!

6. Berlin

The lively city of Berlin must be a treat to visit during Christmas. There are about 60 Christmas markets every year, some traditional, some more urban,some eco-markets and some especially creative for kids. You can check out the list of Berlin Christmas markets 2016 here. The Berlin Tourist Office recommends not to bring any suitcases, bags or bigger backpacks due to security measures.

This is what Amanda from Marocmama has to say about Berlin:

My family and I live in North Africa and so, winter and Christmas don’t usually make much of an appearance. We went to Berlin with the hope of finding Christmas and we were successful! While there is no shortage of markets, our favorite was Alexanderplatz Neptunbrunnen. It’s a smaller market but the kids love the fountain in the middle of the skating rink. We also could sit down and watch them without feeling overwhelmed by hordes of people. In one of the food stalls, we discovered Dresdner Handbrot – a new favorite food treat.

Find Amanda on Twitter or Facebook.

Check out some of my favourite things to do in Berlin or find out about how people in Berlin lived when the city was divided into East and West.

7. Dresden

The Dresden Striezelmarkt, at the Altmarkt Square, is said to be Germany’s oldest Christmas market and will be open from November 24th,2016 to December 24th. 11 different Christmas markets are put up across the city, ranging from traditional to medieval. This year, the Striezelmarkt is celebrating it’s 582nd anniversary, and the experience would be memorable for sure! Sid- The Wanderer has an elaborate post about his experience in the Christmas Markets in Dresden. 

8. Bremen –

When it comes to Christmas markets, Germany is quite prolific. From quirky small local to huge traditional ones. Everyone wants to see the Christkindlmarkt in Nürnberg or enjoy a delicious mulled wine at the oldest one in Dresden, but what about the less traditional ones? Bremen has a couple of those.One is the popular Schlachte Zauber in the Schlachte promenade by the river Weser, with its pirate ships, daily concerts, and old school artisan products. And another being the relatively new Findorffer Winterdorf, set up outside the culture and art center Schlachthof, which offers all sorts of healthy alternative products including a tasty vegan menu. It is decorated with thousands of fairy lights, colourful signs, and a disco ball making of it one of the coziest Christmas markets around. These alternative Christmas markets are a wonderful way of breaking out from routine, but if you really want to visit the main Bremen Weihnachtsmarkt, make sure to stop by the Ratskeller’s stand for the most delicious white­ wine mulled wine you’ll ever try!

-Henar Gomez, Wanderwings.Find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Bremen – Christmas Markets in Germany

Don’t forget to check out an overview of Christmas markets in Europe for more travel inspiration.

You may also like : Strange Christmas traditions from Europe

Where to find the best Christmas Markets in Germany

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