When people think about Europe during the wintertime, their imaginations are flooded with thoughts of snowy mountain tops in Switzerland, the cold and windy streets of London, or maybe the white and blue oceanside cliffs of Greece. But have you ever imagined what winter in Germany is like?
About 75% of Europeans celebrate Christmas in the winter months, so the beauty of these countries is only enhanced by the introduction of glistening lights, warm drinks and fun festivities during the holiday season.
Germany is known for their vibrant, family friendly Christmas Markets. These magical markets feature artisan foods, drinks, clothing, and other products for sale from local vendors - in wooden booths adorned with lights and evergreen garland. We truly believe Germany is the place to be for some heart-warming Christmas cheer. And you can't forget to grab yourself a glühwein while you're out there - it's tradition!
In this blog post, we'll uncover everything you need to know about exploring these markets for the first time.
Blog Contents
Markets We Visited, Ranked
Each market has something different to offer, and the bigger the city, the bigger and more abundant the Christmas market will be. Out of the 5 Christmas markets we've visited, below are their rankings from 1 to 5, 1 being the most enjoyable and 5 the least. The rankings are based on the following criteria: variety of booths, number of booths, food options, glühwein options, activities, prices, traffic, location.
Frankfurt am Main - the biggest market with the most variety of booths, conveniently located, but pricier. (9.3/10 rating)
Cologne - lots of smaller markets sprinkled closely together in the Altstadt, great place to find hidden gems. (8.5/10)
Schwäbisch Hall - quaint and comforting, not many booths but beautiful location. (8.5/10)
Nuremberg - larger sized market with a good variety of booths, a bit pricey. (8/10)
Karlsruhe - smaller market with not a lot of variety, but they have a ferris wheel and beautiful decorations. (7/10)
When To Visit - Annual Dates
The markets in Germany are open annually from mid-end of November until Christmas Day. Few markets are open until New Years Eve. Operating hours are typically 7 days a week, from 12pm until 1 or 2 AM. Check the city's Christmas market website for exact dates and times.
Entrance Fees and Pricing
You're in luck! All Christmas markets in Germany are FREE to attend. You can walk around and enjoy the ambiance without paying a euro, although you'll definitely want to grab a spicy sausage with bread after smelling the delicious aromas they illicit.
Bring at least 100 Euros in cash for easy and quick purchases if you plan on shopping. Some booths might take card, but it's better to use cash here. A glühwein, or traditional spiced red wine, typically cost about 3-4 euros, not including the pfand, a cup refund system. A sausage with bread typically costs about 5-8 euros.
Clothing Recommendations
All Christmas markets are located outdoors, so you'll want to check the weather before you heard out for the day or evening. Germany is quite cold in the winter, with temperatures hitting -8 degrees Celcius at night during the winter months. Make sure you wear layers underneath your coat and pants, wear gloves, a thick wool scarf and a warm hat if your head get cold easily. Comfortable, waterproof boots are the best footwear option, although sneakers will work if there's not a lot of snow on the ground.
Traditional Foods & Drinks
Part of the Christmas Market experience is eating traditional German foods and drinks you can find here. Below is a list of our favorites that you have to give a try!
Any Wurst with Brötchen (Sausage on a German bread roll)
Reibekuchen mit Apfelsoße oder Knöblauchsoße (Potato pancake with applesauce or garlic sauce)
Gebrannte Nüsse (Candied or roasted nuts)
Glühwein (Alcoholic spiced red wine)
Kinderwein (Non-alcoholic spiced punch)
Glühgin (Glühwein with gin)
Entertainment & Activities
If you're someone who likes to explore at the state fair or see what you can find at a festival you've never been to, then you'll really enjoy the entertainment and activities you can find at a Christmas Market. Typically, most people at Christmas Markets and eating, drinking, and being merry with their friends and family!
Live music is a major component of the German Christmas markets we visited. The music selections ranged from classic Christmas songs to renditions of popular pop songs like Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance With Somebody".
Shopping for Christmas gifts is also something you can do here, since there are always booths selling artisan items like scarves, mittens, handbags, ornaments, dog treats, dish ware, hand-blown glass.. the list is really endless! The bigger the market, the more diversity in products you'll be able to find. Frankfurt is a great Christmas market to visit if you're looking to stock up on some unique gifts since it's a bigger city with more vendors in attendance.
Some markets have ferris wheels, ice skating rinks, dance floors and other snow-friendly activities you can do for less than 5 euros or even free. You won't find this at every market though, so make sure you look up what activities are available at the one you plan to attend.
Transportation Options
One only way to get to most Christmas markets is by foot. You can catch a S-bahn (street train) or the U-bahn (underground train) to get you closer to the market, but from there you'll have to walk a few 100 feet depending on how close the market is to your train stop. Christmas markets are typically located in the older parts of the city that are pedestrian-only areas, so a taxi probably won't be able to drop you off right at the front.
Hopefully you found this Germany Christmas markets guide to be helpful in planning your own winter adventure to Germany.
Have you ever been to a Christmas market before? If so, what was your favorite moment? If not, does it sound like something you would enjoy? Why or why not?
Talk soon!
