The festive season is fast approaching and what better way to enjoy it than checking out the varied Christmas markets.
Tips: When visiting the markets, avoid getting cold and hence wear boots. Do not drink mulled wines when the stomach is empty. Ask about and buy/try out the seasonal specialties as some gifts and foods are available during Christmas. Palaces and churches have free concerts with great music; visit them. Buy a Glühwein mug as a souvenir, as each Christmas market sells its own unique ones.
Presented below is a list of the best Christmas markets in Germany.
Christmas markets in Berlin
The cosmopolitan and historic capital city of Germany is home to more than 60 different types of Christmas markets. Almost all of these markets are open from 26th Nov to 31st Dec .
The classical and elegant Gendarmenmarkt is known for its tempting culinary delights prepared by top chefs in the country as well as for unlimited entertainment activities like acrobats, jugglers, dance troupes, fire artists, and choirs, etc. While all Christmas markets in Berlin tend to be free, the Gendarmenmarkt charges 1 euro, which is alright, considering it is quite popular with a lot of food and drink options.
The markets at Sony Centre and Potsdamer Platz have a more modern ambiance; the latter features the biggest mobile toboggan run. The Charlottenburg Palace and Park Christmas market have a pristine and scenic setting. It is less chaotic and offers varied gastronomic delicacies. The Lucia Christmas Market located in the chic Prenzlauer Berg eastern district at the Cultural Brewery of Kulturbrauerei has a Nordic-Scandinavian theme with an intimate and romantic atmosphere.
Breitscheidplatz near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church also has a Christmas market, close to the Tiergarten Park and the Zoological garden. However, the said Christmas market in Berlin fell prey to an unfortunate terror attack on December 19, 2016. The following year, the Breitscheidplatz market was back with a bang, celebrating the Christmas spirit while giving a tribute to the lost individuals.
Visitors to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Market can expect to find a gift for anyone at the traditional wooden huts. Later you can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa with roasted almonds as snacks.
The Opernpalais and Staatsoper Christmas markets offer tradition and nostalgia. Tourists can take an enjoyable ride on a horse-drawn carriage across the old center of the city. The most traditional and biggest market is situated in Spandau. This old town is in a district towards the far west of Berlin. This market offers Advent celebrations that include a Nativity scene with live animals. Here is more information on Christmas markets in Berlin.
Christmas Market at Cologne
There are many Christmas markets that are held in Cologne, but the most famous one is the ‘Am Dom’ Market which is held next to the biggest cathedral in the country, the Cologne Cathedral. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Besides the impressive Gothic backdrop, this market features Rhine’s biggest Christmas tree and more than 160 stalls that sell a variety of things from traditional Yule tide items to mulled wine. Traditional music is always playing and this creates an ideal ambiance for fun and shopping.
Other smaller Christmas markets are enjoyable as well. Children will especially like the Alter Markt which features a puppet theatre, Santa’s grotto, and numerous toy stands. They will also enjoy a trip on the Rudolfplatz to the Grimm brothers’ world decorated with festive lights and fairytale figures, including Cologne’s famous house gnomes ‘Heinzelmännchen.’
The Cologne Christmas markets are generally open from 21st Nov 2017 to 23 Dec.
Christmas Market at Nuremberg
Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, which dates back to the early 1600s, is one of the most popular Christmas markets in Germany. Flanked by the magnificent Alps on the south and the Imperial medieval castle on Old Town hill, this market has one of the most incredibly beautiful locations. Also called Children’s market, it is a great place for family fun. It has a Ferris wheel, an old-style carousel, Nativity scene train, rally grounds, and a steam train. A toy museum is also present in the former home of painter Albrecht Dürer.
The primary market is help at Hauptmarkt square which is the biggest in the city. It is almost always full of lively sounds, colors, and happy people. Nearly 200 stalls draped in white and red cloth sell quality handmade goods; mass-produced goods are not allowed to be sold here.
Tourists can also delight their taste buds with local delicacies like spicy gingerbread, spicy grilled sausages, cold glasses of glühwein, and little figures made from dried prunes. The proceedings are further lightened by a Christmas angel and joyous kids playing around on the Hans-Sachs-Platz. It is generally open from 25th Nov to 24 Dec.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas market
Surrounded by huge town walls and featuring narrow cobbled streets, gable houses with steep roofs, and a festive and intimate ambiance, the well-preserved Bavarian medieval town of Rothenburg is indeed a magical place to spend the holiday season.
The Christmas market in Rothenburg may not be the most magnificent, the largest, or the brightest, but is undeniably the most beautiful. The Reiterlesmarkt Christmas market has been carrying on for nearly 500 years. The place is stylishly illuminated by hundreds of twinkling lights. Visitors can try the superb Franconian white wines, Christmas pastries, and bratwurst. Food lovers must absolutely try the Rothenburg’s Schneeball, which is made out of slices of sweet fried dough enclosed in sugar or powdered chocolate. There is also a Christmas Museum in Rothenburg, the only one in the country, and it is open all year round.
The unusual name of the market comes from the legendary tales of the Rothenburg rider. The wild horseman was once thought to fly across the skies during winter with souls of the dead. Now he has become an affable messenger and a bringer of good luck.
The Reiterlesmarkt is generally open from November 25 to December 23.
Christmas market at Dresden
Located on the banks of the River Elbe, Dresden was rebuilt after getting completely destroyed in WWII. The Dresden Streizelmarkt is known to have some kind of Christmas markets since the mid-1400s, thereby making it the oldest in the world. Every year during Christmas season, the city is transformed into a winter wonderland with lots of twinkling lights, festivities, romance, and charm.
The main event of the Dresden Christmas market is the Stollen Festival, held on the 2nd Saturday of Advent every year. A huge stollen cake is taken across streets, cut ceremoniously, and distributed for a fee to the gathered crowds. The cake charges are donated to charity.
Other features of the Striezelmarkt include the tallest Christmas pyramid and the tallest Nutcracker in the world, a puppet theater, a fairytale house, boat tours across the Elbe, performances at Semper Opera House, and Grünes Gewölbe and Zwinger treasures.
Tourists can buy Herrenhut Advent stars, smoking figures, and the traditional Dresden Pflaumentoffel, which is chimney-sweep made out of dried prunes. You may also check out the many stalls and watch carvers, traditional glass blowers, and bakers working their crafts.
Other Christmas markets in the vicinity include the Residenzschloss stable yards, Loschwitz’s intimate market, and the popular Frauenkirche Market.
The Streizelmarkt is generally open from 24th Nov to 24 Dec.
Christmas market at Dusseldorf (with dates)
Dusseldorf is a wealthy and classy city and its Christmas markets are also cutting-edge fashionable. Its markets are generally open from 17th Nov to 23 Dec.
The city has several Christmas markets, most of which are located around the Königsallee boulevard. This street is full of designer stores and beautifully lit up with kaleidoscopic illuminations. Children will like the Schadowplatz market with its merry-go-round; Art Nouveau aficionados can visit Engelchen market located on Heinrich-Heine-Platz, and tourists seeking a traditional fare can check out the stalls at Marktplatz situated next to the historic town hall.
Tourists should also not forget to check out the marvelous Frank Gehry leaning buildings; have some beers at the longest bar on the planet, the Altstadt; or have some fun on the ice-skating rink.
Other Christmas markets in Germany
Other popular Christmas markets are in Stuttgart, Erfurt, Konstanz, Freiburg, Munich, and Schloss Guteneck.
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