Christmas is the festival of love, decorations, contemplation, craft evenings, gifts,…. And of course Christmas is also the time of Christmas markets.
Christmas, especially for children, is a celebration that they look forward to for a long time and that we as adults can make unforgettable for them. A Christmas celebration with families in Germany can be briefly summarized as Christmas tree, Christmas carols, Christmas dinner, Christmas markets, nativity scene, gifts, church service. Especially popular in Germany is the pre-Christmas visit to a Christmas market. In addition to food and drink, Christmas articles and gift ideas are offered here at sales booths. The Christmas markets are designed very differently: from Christmas carnival with lottery booth and children’s carousel, contemplative market with arts and crafts, special Christmas markets on certain themes (eg, Swedish Christmas market, Green market…) to Christmas markets in unique places.
This pre-Christmas experience has now also found its way to other countries around the world. Although the theme of Christmas is always at the center, the markets and the offerings are regional. So you can experience a surprise every now and then.
Christmas markets in Germany
Discover some of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany or simply take a ride on the Christmas train through the area.
The Christmas market in Schwerin, known as “The Star in the North”, is a unique pre-Christmas experience in Schwerin's picturesque old town. The market always opens at the end of November with a colorful parade on the south bank of the Pfaffenteich. This is followed by the official opening on the market square.
At Christmas time, the small town of Ansbach in Franconia is transformed into a cosy, Christmassy place. Stroll through the Christmas market in Ansbach, admire the artisan nativity scene and experience a Christmas concert - this is how the festive season can begin.
Our second visit to Münster and this time in Advent! Our goal, we want to explore the Christmas Münster and the Christmas markets.
Wolfenbüttel in December: time for a stroll through the Christmas market, time for mulled wine, time for contemplation, time for cosiness, time for the Peace Fir.
It is the weekend of the 3rd Advent and we have heard that this weekend is a very special date in the city of Bernburg. Namely, this weekend Santa Claus arrives in Bernburg and opens the monastery Christmas.
Directly in front of Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, a Christmas market has been held in the run-up to Christmas for several years. Against the historic backdrop of the palace, you can stroll through the Christmas stalls here every year from the end of November until the end of December.
The Christmas market at Johannisstift in Spandau traditionally takes place on the 1st Sunday of Advent.
The Christmas market around the Gedächniskirche has existed for 35 years. For us, a visit to precisely this Christmas market has been a traditional part of the Christmas season for years.
There are countless Christmas markets in Berlin, in fact you can immerse yourself in the Christmas feeling on almost every corner in December. During our tour of the city, we also took a look at the Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus.
For me, the Lucia Christmas Market in Prenzlauer Berg is one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Berlin. The size is manageable, there are stalls that offer their wares away from the usual "socks and caps stalls" and delicious mulled wine!
Every year at Christmas time, the Berlin Railway Friends offer a trip from Berlin to Schmachtenhagen with the Glühweinexpress. If you book in time, you can get hold of tickets.
It is probably one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt. There are actually three markets that take place at the same time, the Christkindlesmarkt, the Kinderweihnacht and the Markt der Partnerstädte.
Every year around the end of November the oldest Christmas market in Germany opens its gates; the Striezelmarkt in Dresden. We went on an excursion to this traditional Christmas market in Dresden.
Weihnachtsmärkte in Europa
If you are traveling in December, you will also discover a Christmas market in one or another European city and perhaps get to know an interesting Christmas tradition.
We hadn't really expected that a Christmas market would already be open in Florence when we visited at the end of November. Therefore, we were even more pleased that we discovered the small wooden houses on the Piazza Santa Croce.
Doubí is a district of Karlovy Vary. Here in the former castle is Christmas all year round.
When we planned our trip to Budapest we knew we just had to make it a Christmas market trip. There is nothing I like more than discovering a new city in the winter with all the Christmas lights up. And if there is snow, that is the icing on top.
Those who come to Riga in December are usually not only hoping for snow but also want to visit the Christmas Market. It was our goal, too, to go and see the market which was in close proximity to our hotel.
Every year in December I catch it again – the Christ market fever. I have already visited many Christmas markets in Berlin and now I’m attracted by Christmas markets in other parts of the world. This year, it was the Christmas Market Bratislava!