Each year in November and December, many cities throughout Europe celebrate the holiday season with a very old tradition: Christmas markets.
These markets are characterized by wooden huts, twinkle lights, regional foods, Christmas trinkets, and a festive spirit that has made these markets popular all around the world. Christmas markets generally coincide with Advent, beginning four weeks before Christmas, and usually lasting up until Christmas Eve.
And nowhere are these markets more popular than in Germany, where the Christmas market tradition has been a holiday staple for centuries.
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Christmas markets in Germany
When it comes to Christmas markets in Europe, no one does them better than Germany. Which makes sense, since the Germans pretty much invented them.
The Christmas market – also known as the Christkindlmarkt (Christ child market) or Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Eve market) – is a tradition that began in the German-speaking parts of Europe way back in the Middle Ages. There were special winter markets mentioned way back in the 1300s!
The markets celebrate the Christmas season during Advent, the four weeks leading up to the holiday. They're known today for festive stands selling regional treats and crafts, and for exuding all sorts of Christmas-y cheer.
Things to do at a German Christmas market
One magical December, I spent an entire week Christmas market-hopping mostly in Germany. It's still one of my favorite trips I've ever taken!
If you find yourself at any of these amazing markets this year (or any that are German-inspired elsewhere in the world), here are five things you absolutely have to do:
1. Pick up some decorations
While it's true that some market stalls these days sell cheap trinkets made in China, the best German Christmas markets still have hand-made decorations for sale, too.
If you're looking for something special to take home to remember your Christmas Market adventure (or maybe if you're looking for unique gifts for friends and family), keep an eye out for hand-made ornaments, nutcrackers, Santas, and more.
RELATED: 23 Photos That Will Make You Want to Go to a European Christmas Market Right Now
2. Drink glühwein
Glühwein is a Christmas market staple, and is essentially a hot mulled wine spiced with things like cloves, star anise, cinnamon, and citrus fruit.
Red glühwein is the most common, but you can also find white glühwein and occasionally a non-alcoholic version that's close to hot apple cider. (And for the kids you can almost always get hot chocolate, too.)
I'm not a big fan of wine (or any alcohol, for that matter), but I do have to say that glühwein done correctly can be quite tasty!
3. Collect market mugs
And speaking of all that glühwein you'll be drinking… in Germany, nearly every city (and sometimes even every market) will serve its glühwein in a collectible market mug. Some of these are beautiful and festive, and they make great souvenirs.
When you order your glühwein (or cider or hot chocolate), you'll pay for both the wine and a deposit on the mug. If you return the mug, you'll get your deposit back. But if you want to keep your mug for the price of the deposit, you can take it home as a souvenir.
And the good news? A mug deposit is usually only 2-4 Euro, making these mugs great value as souvenirs! I told myself I would just keep one or two mugs on my first Christmas market trip in Germany… and then ended up coming home with five! Oops… #sorrynotsorry
4. Eat Christmas market food
Speaking of food, you'll definitely want to visit German Christmas markets with an appetite! The food on offer will differ from market to market, but a couple of things you're almost certain to find include sausages and Kartoffelpuffer/Reibekuchen (or potato pancakes).
Also keep an eye out for Spätzle (egg noodles) and Stollen (fruit cake). My favorite market food is definitely Kartoffelpuffer with applesauce!
5. Buy some Lebkuchen
Along with ornaments and other Christmas knick-knacks, a feature you'll notice at just about every single Christmas market you visit will be Lebkuchen. These are large round or heart-shaped cookies decorated with frosting and wrapped up in plastic, often displayed hanging from the eaves of market stalls.
They are essentially a type of gingerbread that often include things like honey, coriander, cloves, cardamom, nuts, and candied fruit.
To be perfectly honest, I think Lebkuchen looks a lot better than it tastes, but it's still a Christmas market must!
If you're considering your own Christmas market-hopping trip this year (or any other year), some of Germany's best Christmas market cities include:
- Nuremberg
- Cologne
- Dresden
- Freiburg
- Stuttgart
I also loved the Christmas markets in smaller towns like Speyer, Heidelberg, and Rüdesheim.
Just be sure to leave room in your suitcase for all those market mugs!
READ NEXT: 23 of the Best Christmas Markets to Visit in Germany
Have you ever been to any of Germany's famous Christmas markets?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
I lived in Germany for 4 years, and really miss the Christmas markets! They do have German markets in the UK as well, but they’re way more expensive and never quite the same.
I agree that Lebkuchen look a lot better than they taste! Wasn’t a massive fan of Gluehwein until I tried it with an extra shot of Amaretto, which is amazing! Although not a good choice when you’re on your lunch break and have to go back to work in the afternoon…
There are some cities that put on Christmas markets in the US, too, but they aren’t really the same as the “real thing” either!
I usually go the one is Chicago, but I’m sure it’s not has exciting as the ones in Europe!
I’ve heard the ones in Chicago are pretty good! But nothing like the real thing. 😉
I love the food at German Christmas Markets – and collecting the cups – can’t wait to hit up on (or many) this year!
Kate | http://www.petiteadventures.org/
If I lived there I would need a whole cupboard just for market mugs, I think! Haha!
I love German Christmas markets! I was so happy to be in Germany over Christmas last year. I’m not at all a fan of Gluehwein but I agree with everything else xD I also love roasted almonds, I can never find those anywhere in the States.
Gluhwein is an acquired taste, I think. I did try a mug of each kind (red and white), but I much preferred getting hot chocolate or hot cider!
Great tips! We’ll be in Europe for Christmas this year and are definitely looking forward to our first trip to the Christmas markets. I’m already daydreaming about all the delicious treats!
Definitely be sure to go hungry!
Yes, yes, and YES! I am so excited for the markets to open up. My favorite mugs are those that look like they’re made out of clay, but I’ve also got a cute heart-shaped one from the Vienna christmas market, so there are a lot of factors to consider 😀 I have to say though, you missed Berlin in your list, which has over 100 Christmas markets! 😉
Sounds like I definitely need to get to Berlin one of these holiday seasons!
I love Christmas markets! Last year I vowed to visit more (I visited one in Maastricht and Dusseldorf) but it looks like my November/December will look different as planned. I’ll actually be in India over the holidays. I do have a trip to Geneva planned, let’s hope they have a christmas market there 🙂
Thankfully they are a very popular tradition with a long history – the Christmas markets will definitely still be there next year! 🙂
This is great timing for me as I’m off to Berlin next month to take my boyfriend to his first Christmas market. I know it’s not rated as one of the best, ,but it’s his first time in Germany so I thought it would be a great way to let him see a bit of Berlin as well as fill his Christmassy needs!
Sounds like a great plan! Berlin is an awesome city, Christmas markets or no!
Lovely tips! I love Christmas! It’s about the only holiday where I splurge a little.
It’s one of my favorite times of year, too, and I loved it even more last year when I was visiting so many Christmas markets!
I do all of these:) I have a couple of nice mugs from Austrian Christmas markets:)
I was bummed when I crossed over into France and they didn’t have the pretty glass souvenir mugs!
We leave in two weeks for a Danube cruise. The Nuremburg market won’t be open yet, but I think others along our journey will!! Can’t wait!
Most of them will start opening around November 24/25 this year – I hope you get to experience at least one or two!
Ahh, glühwein is a must! I’ve never been in Germany during the holiday season, but that doesn’t stop me from making my own glühwein at home – it’s Christmas in a cup!
Definitely a must – I may have to try to make some this year so I can put all those mugs I brought home to their proper use!
I went to a Christmas Market in Frankfurt when I was 11 years old. It is one of my favourite memories of that trip to Germany with my family so many years ago. My favourite treat from the market was a cone full of brightly coloured candy called kokosflocken.
Thinking back on my first German Christmas market experience still gives me all those warm fuzzy holiday feelings, too!
I collect mugs as it is, so I know I would end up going home with a bunch of market mugs. They’re so cute!
Oh man, you could go crazy with mugs! In Cologne, there are eight different markets, and last year each one had its own unique mug!
I can’t wait for Christmas market season to begin – just a few more weeks to go! Personally, I’m a big fan of gebrannte Mandeln (roasted almonds coated in sugar glaze), Baumstriezel (apparently called “spit cake” in English?), and, of course, Glühwein.
Oooo yes roasted, sugared almonds are SO good! I wish the US had more Christmas markets – they’re so fun!