15 Best Christmas Markets in Germany

04 Dec 2013 by Olga Brighton

Travel Information

Christkindlmarkt or Christmas market in Germany is one of the main winter attractions of this great country. Christmas markets accompany the four weeks of Advent all over the country but the most popular ones are held in Cologne and Nuremberg. Let’s have a look at these and other famous German Christmas markets.

Berlin’s Christmas markets:

Schloss Charlottenburg – this one is situated on the grounds of the former palace of Prussian royalty. Shopper’s Tip – they are closed on Wednesdays.
Breitscheidplatz Christmas market – this is near the memorial church built on modern architectural design for an emperor of Germany. Shopper’s Tip – they are closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and open the rest of the week but opening time varies during public holidays.
Lucia Christmas market – smaller than most Christmas markets found in the city. Shopper’s Tip – they open earlier during weekends at 1:00 PM than they do during the week at 3:00 PM.

Cologne’s Christmas markets:

Stadtgarten market – interestingly enough, this market is held at a beer garden of a restaurant. Shopper’s Tip – they open earlier on weekends at 12:00 NN and at 4:00 PM from Monday to Friday.
Fairytale market – held right next to the gates of twin towers in the old city’s walls built during the Middle Ages. Shopper’s Tip – they are closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
Harbour Christmas market – built within the Chocolate Museum’s grounds on the Rhine River’s banks, this market is relatively new. Shopper’s Tip – they are closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

Munich’s Christmas markets:

Chinese Tower Christmas market – this market is in a beer garden located in the public park known as the English Gardens. Shopper’s Tip – this is one market that doesn’t have days off since it’s open from Monday to Sunday.
Schwabing Christmas market – students are the prevalent shoppers at this market located to the city centre’s north. Shopper’s Tip – you can try out the nightlife here after shopping with a proliferation of clubs and bars.
Pink Christmas market – a truly different market, this one was initiated by the lesbian and gay community of Munich and is open from Monday to Sunday. Shopper’s Tip – a programme is shown regularly at 7:00 PM.

Dresden’s Christmas markets:

Dresden Winter Lights market - this one is focused mainly on illumination, lighting merchandise. You’ll find a vast variety of Christmas lights and light fixtures here. And a marvellous 15 metre-tall Christmas tree. Shopper’s Tip – open from November 28th till December 23rd this market operates daily from 11 AM till 9 PM.
Stallhof Christmas market – this used to be part of the palace, or Residenzschloss, of Dresden’s electors, as well as the kings of Saxony from the House of Wettin who were of the Albertine line. Shopper’s Tip – the specialty of this market is handicrafts.

Hamburg’s Christmas markets:

Winterwald – this is a truly unique experience. The market is a winter forest in the heart of the city. Shopper’s Tip – open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM it is though closed on Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
Weiss Zauber – this one provides a beautiful scenery since it is located on a promenade along an amazing artificial lake. Shopper’s Tip – open from 26 November every day from 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM. The market is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Fleet Christmas market – this market earned the monicker Fleet “Island” due to its unique location (it is surrounded by “canals”). Shopper’s Tip – opens at 12:00 NN and closes at 9:00 PM.

Nuremberg’s Christmas market:

Nuremberg Christmas market – rightly considered the prettiest Christmas market in all of Germany; this famous market features 180 wooden stalls decorated in white and red fabric. Shopper’s Tip – there is a huge choice of unusual souvenirs here. We highly recommend Zwetcshgenmännle - tiny figurines made from prunes.

Christmas markets are usually open in late November and are held in a city’s square or the town plaza, thus making them close to museums, churches, food stalls and restaurants, cinemas and clubs.

It would probably take several days for you to visit of all the above described Christmas markets, so we think it would be a nice idea to stay a little longer, take out travel insurance, savour bratwurst and lager, and visit historical landmarks while taking a tour of the famous German Christmas markets.