Here’s Your Sign to Experience the Christmas Markets in Germany

Over the Christmas holidays we took one of our favorite trips to date - Germany! We went to spend the holidays with our friends who are stationed overseas, but the icing on top was being able to explore some of the Christkindlmarkts in Nueremberg, Weiden and Regensburg.

There is a lot to see, do and goodies to eat while spending the Holidays in Germany and this post has you covered if you’re planning a trip there yourself.

First Things first, What are Chriskindlmarkt?

I was kind of surprised when I told my extended family that we were going to see the Christmas markets in Germany that they had no idea what I was talking about! So first things first, what even are they and what’s the hype about?

Chriskindlmarkt are outdoor winter markets that take place during the month of December all over Germany. While each city or town has their own unique items for sale, all will have traditional food and drinks and beautiful Christmas decorations.

It’s a way for people to get out and celebrate the season, all while buying presents for loved ones (and maybe some things for yourself) in a very festive and traditional atmosphere perfect for the whole family.

These markets have been going on for centuries and have steadily grown in popularity, and tourists from all over the world travel to experience them first hand - myself included!

When to Go

The Christmas markets are usually held during the entire month of December, up until a few days before Christmas.

We crammed in several markets during December 21 - 23rd, so even if you only have a short time to visit, there is still plenty to see!

Because we were staying with friends, we were lucky and didn’t need to worry about booking accommodation. However, if you’re planning to visit Germany during the holidays (especially any of the larger cities) it’s wise to book your hotel well in advance because they do fill up quickly!

If you have the availability to go mid-week, you’ll be able to experience the markets when they’re a little less crowded. I will say though, even going on peak days and during peak night-time hours, the crowds really weren’t that unmanageable for us. Everyone is very respectful and the lines for food and drink move very quickly.

What to Pack

Being from Minnesota, we are well stocked up on all things winter gear, but that’s not the case for everyone. During our visit to the Christmas Markets, it was actually unseasonably warm and raining the entire time so if anything, I was a little too warm in my winter parka.

It’s best to dress in layers so you can add or remove items if needed. It does get pretty chilly at night (even after several glasses of gluhwein) so warm socks, hats and gloves are definitely a must have.

In our case, we also brought rain-appropriate footwear that were comfortable to walk long distances in because we knew we were likely going to be wet the entire time, and we definitely were.

I recommend bringing cash (Euros) with you as not all vendors accept cards. It’s also worth noting that some public restrooms in Germany also require a fee to enter, usually around 50 cents, so it’s handy to have some coins on you.

If you do plan on buying gifts to bring home, make sure you leave a little extra room in your suitcase or bring an extra bag. We brought a backpack with us to the markets so we could store away items we purchased while still having free hands to hold a mug of gluhwein (spiced wine) in one and a sausage in the other.

How to Get Around Germany

We got around Germany and to the different Christmas markets we visited both by car and by taking public transit on the train.

Driving in Germany is similar to driving at home in the States (meaning they drive on the right) but if you plan on drinking at the markets it’s best to just play it safe and use public transit or take a cab.

DB is the main train operator in Germany and they have a handy app that allows you to purchase tickets in advance so you don’t have to worry about fussing with the ticket machines. There are train officials who will check to see if you have a ticket once on the train, so don’t skip paying! You’ll regret it later.

Once you get to the market of your choice, plan on doing a lot of walking! It’s worth noting that the streets are largely made up of cobblestone (at least the towns we visited) so it’s best to leave those cute heels at home unless you’re a pro at strutting over uneven ground.

Eat, Drink and Collect Those Mugs!

I knew from researching that food was a major part of any Christmas Market, but I did not know about the sustainable practices Germany uses during these festivals.

Most food will be served to you in a biodegradable bowl with a wood utensil, and there are organic/compostable trash cans separate from the regular trash. However, some dishes we ordered were served on a real plate with real silverware. These vendors operate on a deposit system so you pay a little extra to get your food on a ceramic dish, but once you return it you get your money back.

That is also true for all the gluhwein (spiced wine) and apfelpunsch (mulled apple punch) we drank. When you order, you pay a few extra euro to be served your drink in a festive, collectable mug that is yours to keep if you choose. If you decide you don’t want to keep it, you can simply return it to the stall you ordered from to get your money back.

Each city market has their own signature mug (sometimes there are multiple vendors that have different mugs throughout) and I quickly found myself obsessed and wanted all the mugs! They make a great souvenir and I can now put them out every year as part of my Christmas decorations.

Apart from collecting mugs, we also tried a variety of dishes including each signature sausage roll, dampfnudel (sweet dumplings) kartoffelpuffer wit apflemus (potato pancakes with applesauce) Gnocchi, and more!

Nuremberg Chriskindlesmarkt

The first Christmas Market we went to was in Nuremberg. Actually, we landed in Nuremberg, hopped off the plane and went straight there completely jet-lagged and totally out of it, lol. But we shook off our sleepiness with some food and mulled wine and had a fantastic time!

Nuremberg’s Christmas Market is one of the largest and most popular in Germany. The main market resides in front of Nuremberg’s iconic Gothic-style Church of Our Lady, and spreads out from there onto adjacent side streets.

You’ll find vendors selling everything from sweet treats, to traditional Christmas ornaments and decorations, hand crafted art pieces, stationery and more.

They also have a separate Kinderweihnacht (Children’s Christmas Market) that is home to probably the most beautiful carousel I’ve ever seen. It was truly magical!

Before you leave, make sure to spin the ring around the gate surrounding the fountain near the old church. It’s supposed to bring you luck for the next year!

Weiden in der Oberpfalz Chriskindlmarkt

Our friends live just outside of Weiden in der Oberpfalz, so they gave us a tour of the town which included their Christmas Market. This is a much smaller village and only had a few vendors (mostly food) but they did have an ice skating rink and a few more places to sit and hang out awhile than we found in Nuremberg.

Regensburg Chriskindlmarkt

Checking out the Christmas Market in Regensburg was easily my favorite of the three we visited. There were actually several markets spread out all over town so it felt like we were getting to experience a lot more, even if it was technically smaller than Nuremberg.

The vendors here had similar items for sale as we had seen in Nuremberg, but it was still great to experience both places!

One of the events of the night took place at Spital Brewery, which had some of our favorite food of the trip and just had a really cool vibe.

My favorite market however, was held at St. Emmeram Castle. We had to pay about 12 euro each to enter, but it was totally worth the added cost in my opinion. This market is quite substantial in size and sprawls along the grounds of the castle.

We were serenaded by a beautiful choir as we walked into the main courtyard, which was home to the most stunning Christmas tree I’ve ever seen in person. The photos seriously do not do it justice! I could have happily stared at that tree for the rest of the night, but we had more market to see and more goodies to eat.

If you want a more romantic experience on your visit to the German Christmas Markets, this castle is the place for you!

I hope you enjoyed reading about our German holiday adventures and this post helps you plan a trip of your own! Wherever you go in Germany over the Christmas holidays, it’s safe to say you’ll find a Chriskindlmarkt nearby and I hope this post has inspired you to go visit one. Personally I hope to get back there again one day and find new cities to explore.

Until next time, Happy Adventuring!
-Karen