Germany is where the Christmas market was invented, and it still does them better than anywhere else — more than 2,500 of them open across the country every winter. This guide covers the 17 best, from the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg to the Striezelmarkt in Dresden, with the dates each one runs, what to eat when you get there, and a hotel within walking distance of every single market.
You can of course visit the Christmas markets in the UK, or work through the best Christmas markets in Europe more broadly. But if you want the original, you want Germany — and it is an easy trip, whether you take the train or fly.
Here's what this guide covers:
- How to visit the best Christmas markets in Germany
- The 17 best Christmas markets in Germany, city by city
- Germany Christmas market FAQs
- How to gift a hotel at the Christmas markets in Germany
German Christmas Market Dates At A Glance
Almost every German Christmas market follows the same rhythm: it opens in the last week of November and closes on 23 or 24 December, with a handful running on through to New Year. Here is how the 17 markets in this guide compare.
| City | Market | When it runs | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuremberg | Christkindlesmarkt | Late Nov – 24 Dec | The most famous market in the world |
| Cologne | Cathedral Christmas Market and six others | Mid Nov – 23 Dec | The cathedral backdrop |
| Munich | Münchner Christkindlmarkt | Late Nov – 24 Dec | Bavarian crafts and roasted chestnuts |
| Dresden | Striezelmarkt | Late Nov – 24 Dec | Germany's oldest market, and Stollen |
| Rothenburg ob der Tauber | Reiterlesmarkt | Late Nov – 23 Dec | A medieval walled town in the snow |
| Hamburg | Rathausmarkt and others | Mid Nov – 23 Dec | Maritime setting and seafood |
| Berlin | Gendarmenmarkt and 80+ others | Late Nov – late Dec | Choice — the widest in Germany |
| Frankfurt | Römerberg market | Late Nov – 22 Dec | Apple wine and the old town square |
| Stuttgart | Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt | Late Nov – 23 Dec | One of Germany's biggest, at c.200 stalls |
| Dusseldorf | Seven themed markets | Late Nov – 30 Dec | Free entry, all walkable |
| Wiesbaden | Twinkling Star Market | Late Nov – 23 Dec | Thermal baths and elegance |
| Aachen | Aachener Weihnachtsmarkt | Late Nov – 23 Dec | Printen gingerbread, UNESCO cathedral |
| Heidelberg | Five old town squares | Late Nov – 22 Dec | Skating below a castle |
| Bamberg | Maxplatz market | Late Nov – 23 Dec | A medieval advent market |
| Regensburg | Four markets, incl. Neupfarrplatz | Late Nov – 23 Dec | Voted Bavaria's best |
| Lübeck | Historical Market and others | Late Nov – 30 Dec | Marzipan and seven spires |
| Bonn | Münsterplatz market | Late Nov – 23 Dec | Cologne's atmosphere without the crowds |
One thing to check before you book: German cities confirm their exact market dates over the autumn, and a few shift by a day or two each year. The windows above are the pattern each market has followed for years — but always confirm on the market's own site before booking flights or a hotel.
How To Visit The Best Christmas Markets in Germany
When Do Christmas Markets Start in Germany?
Most German Christmas markets open in the last week of November, and a few — Cologne and Hamburg among them — open as early as mid-November. Nearly all of them close on 23 or 24 December, so the sweet spot is the first three weeks of December. Go in the last week of November if you want smaller crowds; go in mid-December if you want the markets at full tilt.
Where Are The Best Christmas Markets in Germany?
Germany has some of the world's best Christmas markets, and three stand out above the rest:
- The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, the most famous Christmas market in the world.
- The Cathedral Christmas Market in Cologne, for the setting — the stalls sit directly beneath the cathedral.
- The Striezelmarkt in Dresden, Germany's oldest Christmas market.
Which Is The Biggest Christmas Market in Germany?
Dortmund is usually given the title, on visitor numbers as much as anything — around 300 stalls and well over three million visitors a year, gathered around a Christmas tree over 45 metres tall that is built from around 1,700 individual spruce trees. Stuttgart is the other market that regularly gets called Germany's biggest, at roughly 200 stalls spread across Schlossplatz and the surrounding squares.
Worth separating out the superlatives, because they belong to different cities: Dortmund is the biggest, Nuremberg is the most famous, Dresden is the oldest, and Berlin has the most markets to choose from.
Are The Christmas Markets in Germany Expensive?
Entry is free at almost every German Christmas market, so the only real cost is what you eat and drink. Expect to pay a little more than you would at a regular market for Glühwein, Bratwurst and handmade crafts — and note that mulled wine almost always carries a refundable deposit on the mug, which you get back when you return it. Accommodation is where the money goes: hotel prices in market cities climb steeply through December, so book early.
How Long Are The Christmas Markets Open For in Germany?
Most German Christmas markets run from late November until just before Christmas Eve, and a few — Dusseldorf and Lübeck among them — carry on into the new year. Daily hours are typically 10–11am until 9–10pm, though they shorten in the final days before Christmas. Weekday afternoons are the quietest time to go.
How Cold is It At The Christmas Markets in Germany?
Cold enough that the Glühwein makes sense. Expect somewhere between 0°C and 10°C depending on where in Germany you are, with the south and east colder than the Rhineland. Bring a proper coat, gloves and boots you can stand around in for hours — the crisp air is genuinely part of the appeal, but only if you have dressed for it.
Are The Christmas Markets in Germany Easy To Get To?
Very. German Christmas markets are almost always in the city centre, and most sit within walking distance of the main railway station. Every major German city has an excellent tram, U-Bahn or bus network, and the intercity rail links between market cities are fast enough that you can comfortably do two cities in a weekend — Cologne and Dusseldorf, or Nuremberg and Bamberg, for instance.
Why You Should Visit Germany This Christmas
If you are weighing up a winter break, Germany is hard to beat: centuries-old tradition, exceptional food, and a market in nearly every town square. Three reasons in particular:
- Timeless German Christmas traditions. Germany takes its Christmas customs seriously, and you can see them up close — from the ceremonial Stollen cutting in Dresden to the Marienplatz Glockenspiel ringing out over Munich.
- The food. Savour Lebkuchen (gingerbread), crispy Reibekuchen (potato fritters) and, in the south, a plate of Swabian Maultaschen. Then work your way through the festive treats you have never heard of.
- Old-world settings you cannot fake. Cobbled streets, vintage lanterns and half-timbered houses in towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Aachen, where the market sits in front of an ancient cathedral.
Are German Christmas Markets Worth It?
Yes — and the reason is authenticity. Germany invented the Christmas market, and it shows. The stalls sell things people actually made, the food is regional rather than generic, and the markets are built around a town's real centre rather than a car park. If you have only ever been to a Christmas market elsewhere, a German one will recalibrate what you expect.
17 Best Christmas Markets in Germany
- Nuremberg
- Cologne
- Munich
- Dresden
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber
- Hamburg
- Berlin
- Frankfurt
- Stuttgart
- Dusseldorf
- Wiesbaden
- Aachen
- Heidelberg
- Bamberg
- Regensburg
- Lübeck
- Bonn
1. Nuremberg Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt)
Runs: late November to 24 December
The Christkindlesmarkt is the market every other market is measured against, and it opens with a genuine piece of theatre: the Christkind, a local girl chosen every two years, appears on the balcony of the Church of Our Lady to declare the market open. What follows is 400 or so red-and-white striped stalls filling the Hauptmarkt, plus guided tours, concerts, church services and Christmas exhibitions.
Do not leave without eating Nuremberg Bratwurst — small, thin and grilled over beechwood, sold three in a bread roll — or the city's famous Lebkuchen. Beyond the market, the historic Old Town (Altstadt) and Nuremberg Castle are both a short walk, and the Toy Museum and Albrecht Dürer's House are worth an afternoon.
Where To Stay Near Nuremberg Christmas Market
Oldtown Studios by dasPaul | Hutergasse 1, Nuremberg, 90403, DE | ★★★
Right in the centre of the old town, which puts the Christkindlesmarkt and every other sight within walking distance. Contactless check-in and notably comfortable beds.
2. Cologne Christmas Market
Runs: mid November to 23 December
Cologne is the best city in Germany for market-hopping, because it has seven of them and they are all within a tram ride of each other. The pick of them:
- The Cathedral Christmas Market — the one directly under the cathedral, and the first most people reach as it is beside the station. Time your visit for the live performances on the main stage.
- The Harbour Christmas Market — opposite the Lindt Chocolate Museum. Ferris wheel, fortune teller, and the best views of the Rhine.
- Heinzels Winter Fairytale — ice skating, curling and excellent salmon. The rink queues get long, so book online.
- The Market of Angels — the upmarket one, and best after dark. Try the Käsespätzle and a Handbrot, a cheese-filled bread roll.
Across all of them you will find stalls staffed by people dressed as characters from A Christmas Carol, selling wood carvings, Eierpunsch (German eggnog) and intricate decorations. Fuel up on Glühwein, Reibekuchen and Bratwurst first. Beyond the markets, there are the China Lights at the Zoo, Cologne Advent concerts, and a mulled-wine tour of the city that is exactly as good an idea as it sounds.
Where To Stay Near The Cologne Christmas Market
Villahotel Rheinblick | Uferstrasse 20, Cologne, 50996, DE | ★★★★
An upmarket hotel directly on the river, so you get good running and walking routes on the doorstep. Beautifully decorated, with a very good buffet breakfast. If you want more options, we have a full guide to hotels near the Cologne Christmas market.
3. Munich Christmas Market (Münchner Christkindlmarkt)
Runs: late November to 24 December
The Münchner Christkindlmarkt fills Marienplatz beneath a 30-metre spruce, and it is the most Bavarian market on this list: a hand-carved nativity scene, exceptional regional crafts, and the constant smell of roasted chestnuts and almonds. Climb to the Rathaus tower for the view down over the stalls.
Munich rewards a longer stay. The Marienplatz Glockenspiel performs daily, the Viktualienmarkt is a food lover's afternoon on its own, and Nymphenburg Palace is a tram ride out. Do not skip a proper Bavarian pretzel.
Where To Stay Near The Munich Christmas Market
Cortiina Hotel | Ledererstr. 8, Munich, 80331, DE | ★★★★
A luxury hotel with spacious rooms, a couple of minutes' walk from Marienplatz. Guests consistently praise how clean the rooms are and how much there is to do nearby.
4. Dresden Striezelmarkt
Runs: late November to 24 December
The Striezelmarkt is Germany's oldest Christmas market, held on the Altmarkt since the 1430s, and it has the crafts to prove it — hand-turned wooden toys, Erzgebirge nutcrackers and carved Christmas pyramids from the mountains south of the city. What you are here to eat is Dresden Stollen, the original version of the fruit loaf everyone else copies.
Time your trip for the Stollen Festival, when a giant cake is paraded through the streets before being cut up and sold. The Zwinger Palace, the Frauenkirche and the Altmarkt itself are all within a few minutes of the stalls.
Where To Stay Near The Dresden Christmas Market
HYPERION Hotel Dresden Am Schloss | Schlosstrasse 16, Dresden, 01067, DE | ★★★★
A gorgeous hotel inside and out, known for friendly staff, a very good breakfast and a restaurant that does both meat and vegan dishes well.
5. Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 23 December
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a fairy tale town in July, never mind December. It is a fully walled medieval town on the Romantic Road, and its Reiterlesmarkt turns the market square into something close to a film set — half-timbered houses on every side, snow more often than not, and the town's night watchman doing tours by lantern.
Visit the German Christmas Museum to see how the traditions on sale around you actually developed, then eat a Schneeballen — a deep-fried pastry ball the size of your fist, and a local speciality you will not find much beyond Franconia.
Where To Stay Near The Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market
Romantik Hotel & Restaurant Markusturm | Rödergasse 1, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, 91541, DE | ★★★★
Set in a former toll house dating back to 1200, family-run, and a three-minute walk from the German Christmas Museum.
6. Hamburg Christmas Markets
Runs: mid November to 23 December, varying by market
Hamburg is a port city and its Christmas markets feel like it. The headline one is the historic Rathausmarkt in front of the town hall, with a huge tree and an ice rink, and it is the most traditional of the city's dozen or so markets. The Speicherstadt warehouse district, strung with lights and reflected in the canals, is the thing you will actually remember.
Eat differently here than you would in Bavaria: alongside the Bratwurst there is smoked fish, Franzbrötchen and a strong international showing. A harbour boat tour after dark is worth the cold.
Where To Stay Near The Hamburg Christmas Market
The Westin Hamburg | Platz der Deutschen Einheit 2, Hamburg, 20457, DE | ★★★★★
Inside the Elbphilharmonie itself, with harbour views, a spa and spacious rooms. A short ride from the Rathausmarkt stalls.
7. Berlin Christmas Markets
Runs: late November to late December, varying by market — several run past Christmas to New Year
No list of the best Christmas markets in Germany works without the capital, which has more markets than any other German city — comfortably over 80 of them. The three to prioritise:
- Gendarmenmarkt — the most beautiful setting in Berlin, between two matching cathedrals, and the best crafts. You can watch makers working at their stalls.
- Winter World at Potsdamer Platz — the big, boisterous one, built around an ice rink and a toboggan run.
- Breitscheidplatz — over 100 stalls plus carousels and fairground rides, beside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
Berlin is also the easiest city here to combine markets with a proper city break: the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall Memorial and Museum Island are all central, and a Currywurst between markets is practically obligatory.
Where To Stay Near The Berlin Christmas Market
Hotel de Rome | Behrenstrasse 37, Berlin, 10117, DE | ★★★★★
A short walk from Gendarmenmarkt, with elegant rooms, a rooftop terrace over the city and a serious spa.
8. Frankfurt Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 22 December
Frankfurt's market wraps around the Römerberg, the reconstructed medieval square in front of the old town hall, and the contrast with the banking skyline behind it is the whole character of the city in one view. It is one of Germany's oldest markets and one of its largest, and the tree on the Römerberg is usually enormous.
Drink Apfelwein, Frankfurt's cloudy apple wine, and eat Bethmännchen — marzipan biscuits made here since the 1830s. The Städel Museum is a short walk if you want an hour indoors.
Where To Stay Near The Frankfurt Christmas Market
Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof | Am Kaiserplatz, Frankfurt am Main, 60311, DE | ★★★★★
A historic grand hotel in the middle of town, walkable to the Römerberg, with a well-regarded spa and good restaurants.
9. Stuttgart Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 23 December
Stuttgart runs one of the biggest markets in the country — around 200 stalls across Schlossplatz, Schillerplatz and the streets between — and it is known for the decoration above the stalls rather than on them. Traders compete to build the most elaborate roof display, so you get full-size nativity scenes, forests and windmills at head height.
Eat Swabian: Maultaschen (a sort of German ravioli), Spätzle and Dinnete. The Mercedes-Benz Museum, Ludwigsburg Palace and the edge of the Black Forest are all within easy reach if you are staying a few days.
Where To Stay Near The Stuttgart Christmas Market
Althoff Hotel am Schlossgarten | Schillerstrasse 23, Stuttgart, 70173, DE | ★★★★★
A prime location by Schlossplatz, so the market is on the doorstep. Elegant rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant and views over the palace gardens.
10. Dusseldorf Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 30 December
Dusseldorf is easy to fold into a trip to Cologne or Bonn — it is 25 minutes by train from Cologne. Entry is free, and all seven markets are within walking distance of one another, which makes it one of the more manageable cities on this list if you have small children or limited mobility.
- Altstadtmarkt | Flinger Straße — wooden stalls built in the style of old Dusseldorf townhouses.
- Handwerkermarkt | Marktplatz — in front of the town hall, and the best of the seven for genuine craft gifts. The Ferris wheel nearby gives you the city lit up.
- Kö-Bogen Markt | Jan-Wellem-Platz — one of the bigger ones, with wood-carving demonstrations and a Christmas cabin.
- Kö-Lichtermarkt | Königsallee — food, soft toys, decorations and local cheese, next to the ice rink.
- Märchenmarkt | Schadowplatz — themed on German fairy tales, with carved characters among the stalls. Raclette and tarte flambée.
- Schadowmarkt | Schadowstraße — the family one, with a children's carousel, churros and potato twisters.
- Roncalli's Weihnachtspromenade | Rheinwerft — run with the Roncalli Circus Theatre, and the most unusual of the seven, down to the dog bakery.
The DüsseldorfCard is worth buying if you are staying more than a day — it discounts city tours, museums and public transport.
Where To Stay Near The Dusseldorf Christmas Market
Breidenbacher Hof | Königsallee 11, Dusseldorf, 40212, DE | ★★★★★
On the Königsallee shopping boulevard, within walking distance of several of the markets. Spacious rooms, a good spa and a proper afternoon tea.
11. Wiesbaden Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 23 December
Wiesbaden's Sternschnuppenmarkt — the "Twinkling Star Market" — is the hidden gem on this list, and the setting is unusually elegant: a spa town of grand nineteenth-century architecture, with 3,000 blue and gold stars strung above the stalls on Schlossplatz. It is a 40-minute train ride from Frankfurt, which makes it an easy day trip.
The Kurhaus and St Bonifatius church are worth seeing, and the thermal baths the town was built around are the right way to end a cold day at the market.
Where To Stay Near The Wiesbaden Christmas Market
Radisson Blu Schwarzer Bock Hotel | Kranzplatz 12, Wiesbaden, 65183, DE | ★★★★
One of the oldest grand hotels in Germany, combining historic character with modern comfort, and centrally placed for the market.
12. Aachen Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 23 December
Aachen sits where Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet, and its market wraps around the cathedral and town hall — the cathedral being a UNESCO World Heritage site and Charlemagne's burial place. It is one of the most atmospheric settings in the country.
The thing to eat is Aachener Printen, a hard, spiced gingerbread made only here and protected by EU origin rules. Buy a box to take home; they keep for weeks. The Cathedral Treasury is the best museum in the city.
Where To Stay Near The Aachen Christmas Market
Parkhotel Quellenhof Aachen | Monheimsallee 52, Aachen, 52062, DE | ★★★★
Historic architecture with contemporary comfort, close to both the cathedral and the market, plus a wellness centre and a highly rated restaurant.
13. Heidelberg Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 22 December
Heidelberg spreads its market across five squares in the old town, all of it under the ruined red sandstone castle on the hill above — which is lit up after dark and is the single most romantic backdrop of any market in Germany. Highlights:
- The nativity scene and illuminated fir trees on Kornmarkt
- The Heidelberg barrel on Marktplatz
- Santa's House on Market Square
- The ice rink at Karlsplatz, where you skate with the castle in view
- The Philosopher's Walk, for a panorama of the whole town in Christmas lights
Eat roasted chestnuts and Fruchtbrot, a dense fruit bread, and take the funicular up to the castle at least once.
Where To Stay Near The Heidelberg Christmas Market
Heidelberg Suites Boutique Hotel | Neuenheimer Landstraße 12, Heidelberg, 69120, DE | ★★★★★
A luxurious boutique hotel with views over the Neckar river to the castle, known for its design and its service.
14. Bamberg Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 23 December
Bamberg's entire old town is UNESCO-listed and survived the war intact, so the market on Maxplatz is set against genuinely medieval streets rather than reconstructions. It is smaller and calmer than Nuremberg, an hour up the line, which is exactly the appeal — and the two pair naturally into one weekend.
Look out for the medieval-themed advent market at Geyerswörth Palace, and the town's nativity trail, which links dozens of cribs displayed in churches and shop windows across the centre. Drink Rauchbier, Bamberg's smoked beer, which tastes like nothing else in Germany.
Where To Stay Near The Bamberg Christmas Market
Hotel Villa Geyerswörth | Geyerswörthstrasse 15, Bamberg, 96047, DE | ★★★★
In a quiet corner of the old town, modern inside, and a short walk from the Maxplatz market and the cathedral.
15. Regensburg Christmas Markets
Runs: late November to 23 December
Regensburg has four markets in a UNESCO-listed medieval old town on the Danube, which makes it the best value city on this list for a short trip — you can walk between all of them in twenty minutes.
- Neupfarrplatz — voted the best Christmas market in Bavaria. Try the blueberry Glühwein from the Bavarian Forest, or the apple version from Upper Palatinate orchards.
- The Romantic Christmas Market — set under old maple trees in the grounds of Thurn und Taxis Palace, with vintage fairground rides and a children's magic forest.
- Lucrezia Market — smaller and more crafts-focused, with an art exhibition in the Thon-Dittmer-Palais.
- The Magical Count Christmas Market — around the Rosarium, and best at the weekend for the live performances.
The old town itself is the reason to come: stone lanes, a twelfth-century bridge and a lively festive atmosphere throughout December.
Where To Stay Near The Regensburg Christmas Market
Hotel Orphée – Großes Haus | Untere Bachgasse 8, Regensburg, 93047, DE | ★★★★
A boutique hotel full of antique character with modern comforts, centrally placed for all four markets.
16. Lübeck Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 30 December, with the Historical Market closing 23 December
Lübeck, the "City of Seven Spires", has held a Christmas market since 1648, and its UNESCO-listed old town on an island in the Trave is one of the best settings in northern Germany. The market is really several: the main one on the Rathausmarkt, a craft market inside the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital, a fairy tale forest for children, and the Historical Market beside St Mary's Church, where traders work in period costume.
What you buy here is marzipan — Lübeck has been the marzipan capital of Europe for centuries, and Niederegger is the name to look for. Do not miss the Harbour Glow market at Drehbrückenplatz, an industrial waterfront market where the stalls are local start-ups and small businesses. St Mary's Church runs Christmas concerts through December.
Where To Stay Near The Lübeck Christmas Market
Atlantic Hotel Lübeck | Schmiedestraße 9-15, Lübeck, 23552, DE | ★★★★
Spacious rooms and an excellent breakfast buffet, in the heart of the old town and a short stroll from both the market and the Holstentor gate.
17. Bonn Christmas Market
Runs: late November to 23 December
Bonn is the answer if Cologne sounds too crowded — it is 20 minutes down the river, has over 170 stalls across Münsterplatz and the surrounding streets, and is noticeably calmer and more local. Same Rhineland food, same Glühwein, a fraction of the crush.
The illuminated Bonn Minster behind the stalls is the shot everyone takes, and there is a vintage carousel for children. While you are here, the Beethoven House Museum in the composer's birthplace is genuinely good, and the Rhine promenade is a pleasant walk. Eat the roasted almonds.
Good to know: if you finish the Bonn market early, the medieval market at Siegburg is a short train ride away — jugglers, craftsmen and musicians, and completely different in character.
Where To Stay Near The Bonn Christmas Market
Ameron Bonn Hotel Königshof | Adenauerallee 9, Bonn, 53111, DE | ★★★★
A riverside hotel with Rhine views, a short walk from Münsterplatz. Elegant rooms, excellent breakfast, easy access to the city's sights.
Germany Christmas Market FAQs
Which German town has the best Christmas market?
Nuremberg, if you only go to one. The Christkindlesmarkt is the most famous Christmas market in the world, and it earns it — 400 or so stalls, the Christkind's opening ceremony, and Franconian food worth the trip on its own. If you would rather avoid the crowds that fame brings, Rothenburg ob der Tauber for the setting, Bamberg for a medieval old town without the queues, and Wiesbaden for elegance are the three most under-rated markets on this list.
Which Christmas market is better, Nuremberg or Dresden?
They are good at different things. Nuremberg is bigger, more famous and more of an event — the opening ceremony, the scale, the Bratwurst. Dresden's Striezelmarkt is Germany's oldest and much stronger on craft: wooden toys, nutcrackers and carved pyramids from the Erzgebirge mountains, plus the original Dresden Stollen. Choose Nuremberg for atmosphere and Dresden for what you bring home. Both are easy to reach by train, and there is a case for doing both.
Which Christmas market is better, Frankfurt or Munich?
Munich, for most people. The Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz has the better setting, the better crafts and a whole Bavarian food tradition behind it, and the city gives you more to do around the market. Frankfurt's Römerberg market is genuinely lovely and one of Germany's oldest, but the city is smaller on Christmas atmosphere overall. Frankfurt does win on access — it is the cheaper and quicker flight from the UK, and Wiesbaden and Heidelberg are both short train rides away.
What are the top 10 Christmas markets in Germany?
Taking fame, setting, food and crafts together, the top ten from this guide are: Nuremberg, Cologne, Dresden, Munich, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Stuttgart, Berlin, Heidelberg, Regensburg and Lübeck. The remaining seven are worth a trip in their own right — Bonn, Bamberg and Wiesbaden in particular are quieter than their quality deserves.
Which Of These Christmas Markets in Germany Will You Visit?
Every market on this list offers something the others do not, from the historic streets of Nuremberg to the fairy tale walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Wherever you land, pick your city first, then find a hotel within walking distance of the stalls — in December, that walk is the difference between a good trip and a cold one.
And if Germany is not the one, we have guides to the Christmas markets in the UK, Belgium, France, Austria and Italy.
Searching for the Best Christmas Gift? Consider a Hotel Voucher
If you are reading this for someone else — the person in your life who would genuinely rather have a weekend in Nuremberg than another jumper — a hotel voucher does the job that a wrapped present cannot. It lets them pick the city, the market and the dates themselves.
Our hotel vouchers can be redeemed against hotels worldwide, which means a German Christmas market trip is on the table, and so is anything else. A staycation in Blackpool, The Lake District or York. Or somewhere further out — Dubai, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, Ireland or Belgium.
They are easy to personalise, come with several delivery options however late you have left it, and if you would rather compare the options first, our guide to the best Christmas gift vouchers in the UK lays them out side by side. Otherwise, browse hotels and buy a voucher — it takes about two minutes.