The best Christmas markets (Weihnachstsmärkte / Christkindlesmarkt) to visit in Germany include Nuremberg, Dresden, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Lübeck, Rothenburg, Cologne, Stuttgart, and Dortmund.
Picking the best Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) to visit in Germany is not easy. Every German town seems to have a Christmas market in the run-up to Xmas and every market displays some regional differences. However, only frequent visitors will easily spot the differences making it sensible to select a city to visit that has other attractions of interest for the time not spent at the Christmas market. Many small towns have a traditional Christmas market only one or two weekends during the holiday season while larger German cities often have different markets operating from around 25 November to a few days before Christmas. In Berlin, and to a lesser degree in other cities, famous Christmas markets are now sometimes extended to New Year’s Day but are rarely open on December 24.
My list of the top ten best German Christmas markets, not necessarily in a fixed order, includes:
Nuremberg / Nürnberg – Tradition-Rich Chirstkindles Markt
Nuremberg (Nürnberg) has one of the most famous and tradition-rich Christmas markets in Germany. The Nuremberg Christmas market spreads through the old town but the true heart is on Hauptmarkt (Main Market Square) in front of the Liebfraukirche (Church of Our Lady). Nuremberg is famous for toys as well as Lebkuchen biscuits – the best ones are baked without using flour. Also popular are the small Nürnberger sausages – traditionally roasted over wood-fired grills.
Internationally, Nuremberg has one of the most popular Christmas markets in Europe. For many visitors, the Nürnberger Christkinlesmarkt has become a victim of its own success. Many find it simply too busy, especially on Advent weekends, to enjoy the festive atmosphere and Christmas spirit in a relaxing way. Hotels in Nuremberg can be very expensive during the holiday season — try to arrive on Sunday for the best deals.
Apart from the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, Nürnberg city has much to offer visitors. Top sights to see in Nuremberg include the largest collection of German cultural objects in the Germanic National Museum ) a real cultural-historical tour de force), the historic Kaiserburg Imperial Castle, well-preserved town walls, the Albrecht Dürer House, and DB German Railways Museum, but also famous sites associated with the Nazi Party Rallies and courtroom 600 used in the Nuremberg Trials.
Nürnberg Airport (NUE) is only 10 minutes by U-Bahn train from the old town. Frequent trains to Nuremberg from Frankfurt take two hours and from Munich around 90 minutes. See Transportation to Nuremberg for more information.
Dresden’s Strieselmarkt – the Oldest Christmas Market in Germany
Dresden claims (not totally undisputed) Germany’s oldest Christmas market (and by extension the oldest in Europe and the world). The first recorded Weihnachtsmarkt in Dresden was held in 1434. The market, here known as the Striezelmarkt, is also physically the longest – it stretches from the Dresden Hauptbahnhof through the old town with its historic buildings and across the Elbe River to the heart of Neustadt.
The best part of the Dresden Christmas market is in the Stallhof – here the Weihnachtsmarkt resembles a market setting from the Middle Ages with food and drinks served in suitably primitive-looking containers. The most famous German Christmas cake Stollen originates from Dresden – it is sold everywhere and often suitably packed in tins for lovely gifts and souvenirs.
Dresden has some excellent museums, including the German Military History Museum (often referred to as the War Museum) in addition to its Baroque skyline and the recently restored Frauenkirche.
Dresden Airport is a 25-minute train ride from the old town – the ticket costs less than a mug of Glühwein.
Berlin – the Largest Number of Christmas Markets in Germany
Berlin claims the largest number of different Christmas markets in Germany – the city has around 50 official Weihnachstmärkte. In contrast to most other cities in Germany, Berlin’s best Christmas markets stay open on Christmas Day and some even operate past New Year’s Day.
Large markets are conveniently set up at various locations all over the city center. The largest ones are conveniently close to major transportation hubs (Alexanderplatz) or near top shopping areas (Alexander Platz, Potsdamer Platz, Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche near the Berlin Zoologischer Garten station and Kurfürstendamm).
These markets are big and convenient but Berlin’s best Christmas markets are arguably the Weihnachtszauber on the picturesque Gendarmenpmarkt, Weihnachtsmarkt at Schloss Charlottenburg, or the Spandauer Weihnachtsmarkt in der Altstadt — the only time of the year many Berliners board the S-Bahn to visit Spandau town in the northwest of the city.
Berlin has endless museums and entertainment options for visitors who are tired of Christmas markets. Unfortunately, hotel prices in Berlin are no longer the bargain from a decade ago but good deals are often available for early bookings or by staying a short train ride from the center.
Frankfurt am Main – the Largest Christmas Market in Germany
Frankfurt am Main is a mostly modern city but its old town hosts the largest single Christmas market in Germany sporting the largest Christmas tree in Germany too. (Some dispute both claims.)
The center of the market is on the Römerplatz in the heart of the historic old town. However, Frankfurt’s Christmas market spreads out along the banks of the Main River as well as down the Zeil pedestrian shopping street. Frankfurt is a modern city, so apart from the Römerplatz, the background buildings are positively 20th century and not romantic medieval.
Frankfurt am Main has excellent transportation infrastructure but for travelers unable to make it to the Frankfurt Christmas market in the old town, smaller Christmas markets are set up in the Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station) and Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) both by far the busiest transportation hubs in Germany.
Christmas markets in smaller towns are excellent day-trip destinations from Frankfurt. A personal favorite is Limburg an der Lahn, which not only Christmas time is beautiful to visit with historic half-timbered buildings, the best-preserved medieval town center in Germany, and a magnificently painted Romanesque cathedral. Transportation to Limuburg is easy by car or train from Frankfurt and Frankfurt Airport.
Munich Christmas Market (and Beer Halls)
The main Chirstkindlmarkt in the heart of old town Munich (München) has a lovely location on the Marienplatz with the Neo-Gothic Munich Rathaus (town hall), from where Christmas songs and live music are often performed as part of the city’s cultural program. This is also the center of the shopping district so the market gets very busy during the Christmas period.
The Kripperlmarkt, behind Sankt Peter’s, is Germany’s largest market selling traditional figurines for nativity scenes. It is also famous for selling spare parts for toys and Christmas decorations from the second half of the 20th century — a service apparently treasured by many American visitors.
The Bavarian capital is worth visiting in any season and the famous beer halls are open during Advent as they are throughout the year. Munich is of course famous for BMW and the 1972 Olympic Games. Many visitors also use Munich as a base to visit romantic Schloss Neuschwanstein or even Salzburg in Austria.
Cologne Christmas Markets – the Most Popular in Germany
Cologne (Köln) has six official large Christmas markets and claims to be the most popular Christmas market city in Germany with around 6 million visitors. Cologne’s success is a combination of beautiful locations – including the square in front of the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) – and its proximity to Belgium and the Netherlands. Lots of bus parties from the neighboring countries arrive especially over weekends. (Düsselfdorf with its Ferris wheel is often overrun by tour groups on weekends.) Cologne’s Christmas market is also hugely popular with British visitors who arrive by air, coach, or train, although historic Aachen is even closer to the UK for drivers or railway users.
Cologne is one of the few places from where Rhine River boat cruises are possible in winter. Boats are most common on weekends but boat trips are possible most days during Advent and on New Year’s Eve.
Stuttgarter Weihnachstmarkt
The Christmas market in Stuttgart is another large German Weihnachtsmarkt with a very long tradition. It was officially mentioned in 1692 but locals claim it really is even older than Dresden, or any other market claiming to be older. The large market is in the heart of the city close to the shopping area has around 200 wooden stalls selling sweet treats, handmade gifts, food, and of course Glühwein.
A very good alternative to the main market is the medieval Christmas market in nearby Esslingen. It is a 15-minute train ride from Stuttgart to the Esslinger Mittelaltermarkt (Esslingen Medieval Market), which many consider the best town Weihnachtsmarkt in all of Germany.
Two top sights in Stuttgart are Mercedes-Benz and Porsche automobile museums. However, if that special gift is brand-name fashion, visit the large Metzingen Factory Outlet Stores (with many Hugo Boss shops) — a short train ride or drive from central Stuttgart. Savings are ongoing here all year with special deals during the festive season.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber – The Most Romantic Christmas Market in Germany
The Reiterlesmarkt in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is not the largest Advent market in Germany but the location in the heart of the old town is impossibly romantic, as befits this little town at the center of Germany’s popular Romantic Road (Romantische Straße).
Wall-enclosed Rothenburg ob der Tauber maintains its medieval look and atmosphere and is never more romantic than during the Christmas season. Famous Christmas decoration manufacturer Käthe Wohlfahrt has several shops in town where it is Christmas every day of the year.
Lübeck – Christmas Market with Brick Gothic Backgrounds
Lübeck, the Queen of the Hanse, has a beautiful UNESCO World Cultural Heritage-listed historic old town on an island in the Trave River. The town is famous for its magnificent brick Gothic buildings and museums for the Nobel laureate writers Thomas Mann (Buddenbrooks) and Gunther Grass (The Tin Drum), and former chancellor Willy Brandt.
The brick Gothic Rathaus of Lübeck and the magnificent Marienkirche form the backdrop for the most beautiful Christmas market square in Northern Germany. Visit Cafe Niederegger for delicious cakes — many with marzipan as an ingredient.
Dortmund – The Largest Christmas Market & Christmas Tree in Germany
Dortmund claims to host the largest Christmas market in Germany and having the largest Christmas tree in the world. Frankfurt claims the same but then Frankfurt has been known to be imaginative with statistics and marketing.
Christmas markets in Germany are very much the same irrespective of the city where they are held. Specialists will easily spot the difference but to the average visitors these matter little. When selecting a German city to visit for a Christmas market, major considerations should be the ease and cost of travel to the city as well as further entertainment options and tourist attractions offered by the specific town. The average traveler can only spend so many hours at a Christmas market and these hours are best in the late afternoon / early evening when darkness and festive lights make for a magic combination.
See also Travel to German Advent Christmas Markets for more on when the markets are held (opening day), main attractions, and the best travel dates for a great trip to the best European Christmas markets.
