Christmas Market Cities

Berlin

With well over 50 Christmas markets and advent bazaars every year, Berlin features prominently on Germany’s calendar of Yuletide events. One of the most popular markets is situated next to Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church amidst the bustle of shoppers on the high street between the Kurfüstendamm and Tauentzien.

Tempted by the seasonal aroma of mulled wine and baked cinnamon stars, visitors are drawn to more than 100 handicraft stalls, refreshment stands and amusements at the market. Here, they are sure to find the right Christmas gifts amongst the yuletide decorations, ornaments, toys and pretty accessories on sale. Performing on stage at the Weltbrunnen fountain every weekend during advent will be trumpet ensembles, children’s choirs, jazz and Dixie players. In this western part of the city centre, the air around the memorial church will be filled with the sounds and smells of Berlin’s Christmas market.

Braunschweig

The Braunschweig Lion of the Castle is the centre of activity held around the cathedral and castle. Well over 100 stallholders from throughout Germany display their wares at the Christmas Market such as wooden toys, Christmas tree decorations and candles, traditional items from the Erzgebirge made of wood and glass, ceramics, tropical and dried fruit, baked apples and a whole lot more.

Bremen

The 'Schlachtezauber', the historic Christmas market in Bremen, is given an enchanting maritime touch by being located on the city’s favourite waterfront, the embankment of the river Weser.

Seasonal Christmas bazaars are held in the lower hall of the Town Hall (Rathaus) and in Böttcherstasse delighting the many visitors. Seasonal concerts bring a heartwarming atmosphere to the historic townscape.

Brühl

Experience the cosy winter atmosphere at the Brühl Christmas market. Treat yourself to a delicious local speciality and enjoy the wide range of Christmas activities.

The town of Brühl offers interesting sights surrounded by the picturesque Rhineland region. The UNESCO World Heritage Augustusburg Palace and the hunting lodge Falkenlust, Phantasialand, the Max Ernst Museum and much more make a visit worthwhile.

Celle

The bright Christmas lights create a festive atmosphere among the colourful half-timbered facades of the beautiful old town. The air is full of the aroma of spiced almonds, delicious mulled wine, fresh biscuits and other delightful delicacies and treats.

Cologne

Spreading out from the base of its mighty cathedral and into the pedestrianised area, you will find one of Cologne’s most impressive Christmas markets. There are no fewer than 6 Christmas markets in Cologne.

They range from the impressive setting of the market at the foot of the cathedral, the traditional market setting of the Alter Markt and the lively Neumarkt to the Fairytale market of Rudolfsplatz. There is also the medieval Christmas market outside the Chocolate Museum and a “floating” Christmas market on board the MS Wappen von Mainz. If you haven’t expended all your energy after visiting the markets, visit the huge temporary ice rink to complete your festive experience.

Dresden

The market in Dresden was first mentioned in history in 1434 and it is locally known as the “Striezelmarkt”. The name comes from the local food speciality “Striezel” or “Stollen,” a type of bread-like sweetcake made around Christmas time. Bakers began baking Stollen in the 16th century and would give one or two 36-pound cakes to the local prince at Christmas time.

These cakes were carried ceremoniously to the castle and cut by a knife over five feet long, a tradition that has been re-enacted since 1994, when the city introduced its annual Stollen festival. During the festival, a gigantic Stollen is baked that weighs around at 3,500 kg and it is divided up to feed people from throughout the area. This year’s Stollen festival will take place on December 7.

Also found at the Dresden Christmas Market is the world’s largest Christmas pyramid which at 14 meters high, towers above the market and features 42 different wooden figurines.

Düsseldorf

270 festively decorated Christmas market stalls, each with a different theme, provide a perfect backdrop for a stroll through the streets in the heart of Düsseldorf.

On the Heinrich-Heine-Platz, lose yourself in the romantic art nouveau atmosphere of the ‘Little Angels Market’ or watch one of the special attractions in the Marktplatz, with artists and craftsmen hard at work.

On Flingerstraße Christmas gifts are displayed in small-scale reproductions of Düsseldorf's old town houses. The market on Schadowplatz, with its richly decorated huts, is particularly popular with families and its miniature ‘Sternchen-Express’ train is a favourite with the children. For lighting effects and colourful huts, visit Schadowstraße.

Erfurt

“Simply stunning” - that's how the Erfurt Christmas market has been described. With its medieval setting in front of the Cathedral and St. Severi Church, to many visitors it is the most beautiful Christmas market in Germany.

There are more than 200 stalls awaiting you in Erfurt with Thuringian specialities ranging from handcrafted Christmas decorations to fine ceramics and great food.

The main attractions of this 156-yearold Christmas market are the huge Christmas tree and the public ferris wheel.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt – with its impressive skyline of futuristic skyscrapers and its historical sites such as the Römerberg square with ruins from the Roman era and timber built houses make it an ideal setting for a Christmas Market visit.

Frankfurt can date its Christmas Markets back as far as 1393 but it was only at the start of the 19th Century that the decorated fir tree took pride of place at the Christkindlesmarkt. The Christmas Market in the city centre features a 30 metre high Swiss fir tree and some 200 stalls selling traditional handicrafts, toys and Christmas decorations.

Goslar

The unique feature of this Christmas Market are the 40 fir trees, lit up with thousands of lights, soft ground underfoot, quiet music and the enticing aroma of delicious things to eat. Children will enjoy the Christmas Landscape with petting zoo, railway and entertainment in the Advent pavilion.

Göttingen

The Christmas market activity revolves around the famous Gänseliesel statue in the medieval town centre. With more than 80 stands visitors can browse through Christmas decorations, wooden toys, glove puppets and a whole lot more. Children will love the children’s roundabout, the historic big wheel and the Advent calendar as big as a house.

Hamburg

Its unique location on the Elbe and Alster rivers and the maritime atmosphere are characteristics of the dynamic city of Hamburg. Numerous sights, musicals and a huge variety of shops and boutiques make it an unforgettable destination for tourists from all around the world.

Hamburg's Christmas markets are found all over this busy city centre. Enjoy delicious food at one of the stands in front of the beautiful façade of the town hall or watch the lively Christmas parade passing by. The 'fairytale boats' anchored along Jungfernstieg on the Alster Lake are waiting for young visitors especially to amuse and entertain!

Hamlin

Hamlin, home of the Pied Piper, is known as one of the most atmospheric Christmas markets in North Germany. It is set in the middle of the delightful old town with its lovely restored half-timbered houses and unique buildings in the Weser Renaissance style. The 70 Christmas stalls offer many opportunities for all variety of Christmas shopping.

Hanover

Hanover’s Christmas market is a very special traditional experience with 150 festive stands with handicrafts, food and drink clustered around the historic Old Town Hall and the Market Church.

There are many special surprises in store as you wander through the Christmas market: an historic Christmas village reviving humble medieval life or the Finnish Christmas market with Finnish specialities at Ballhofplatz.

Hildesheim

Enjoy not only the Christmas market set in the historic market square but also the Cathedral and St Michael’s Church which have been on the UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity List since 1985. The hustle and bustle among the kiosks selling hand-crafted wares and culinary delights is enhanced by a wide range of cultural performances and concerts.

Karlsruhe

The Karlsruhe “Christkindlesmarket“ with more than 130 tastefully decorated stalls around the pyramid is one of the most beautiful of its kind.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting pre-Christmas atmosphere with all its charm and distinctive Yule-tide features.

Besides the lovingly decorated stalls in the market itself, the surrounding shops, too, are an attraction in themselves with their magically decorated windows. Pure enticement into an exuberant shopping tour. Don't miss the biggest inner-city shopping centre of South Germany and combine your visit at the Christkindlesmarket with art and culture by visiting a museum or another one of the numerous sights in the downtown area. The town invites you to marvel, savour, experience and dream.

Leipzig

Leipzig is most famous for its literary and musical connections - Goethe, Schiller, Bach and Wagner were all onetime residents. The Christmas market is located in front of the Old Town Hall where you can meander around its many stalls whilst being serenaded by trumpeters. #

In addition to more than 200 stalls, other highlights include the biggest Advent calendar in the world (857m2), a fairytale forest with re-creations of well-known children’s stories and the City on Ice, a 500m2 ice rink on Augustusplatz.

Lovers of classical music will delight in the Opera House and the Bach Choir, whilst those who prefer to shop can do so in the elegant ‘Mädler’ Passage.

Lübeck

Lübeck's Christmas market is situated in the stunning scenery of its historic old town.

See the amazing ice sculptures exhibited at the International Ice Sculpture Festival and visit the Fairytale Market where children can learn about the stories of Brothers Grimm. Don't miss out on the Christmas bazaar in the world famous Niederegger Marzipan factory!

Lüneburg

The Christmas market is set in front of the historic town hall and the air is full of the delightful aromas of Advent. The Märchenmeile in the town centre is 12 little houses with fairytale figures each telling a story. Look out for Father Christmas appearing at 4.00pm every day.

Mainz

Against the imposing backdrop of the historic Cathedral of St. Martin, the market square in Mainz becomes a blaze of lights where craftsmen offer Christmas specialties.

A must-see is the hand-carved crib with its life-sized figures next to the cathedral. Experience this romantic old city with its historic half-timbered façades and enjoy shopping in a festive atmosphere!

Munich

Munich not only offers a wealth of culture, fascinating architecture and culinary delights, but also a wide range of excursion possibilities.

The Christmas market in front of the town hall - whose roots go back to the 14th century - is one of Germany’s largest, with the many stalls grouped around the Marienplatz square. Stroll amongst the stalls and be tempted by grilled sausages, brightly decorated gingerbreads and chestnuts roasting over open fires.

Each afternoon local carol singers and musicians perform traditional songs from the balcony of the Town Hall. The Kripperlmarkt, one of the largest in Germany to specialise in cribs and other Nativity accessories, is a short walk away on nearby Rindermarkt. Don’t miss the Christmas Handicraft Fair, it takes place in Munich’s largest park, the ‘Englischer Garten’.

Münster

Every year in Münster, we celebrate the start of the advent period in a very special way. The Prinzipalmarkt, the city's ‘front room’, is bathed in a golden gleam, the stores, churches and museums are all beautifully lit up and the whole of the historic old town district is brightly decorated.

Popular and famous far beyond the boundaries of Münster itself, this festive occasion will tempt you with an exceptional and atmospheric shopping experience. Six different markets with over 280 stands offer toys, arts and crafts and many other ideas for good quality presents. Wonderful aromas of roasted almonds, mulled wine and punch provide the perfect seasonal setting for some leisurely shopping and all the markets are just a short walk apart.

The largest of the six Christmas markets is situated on the square 'Westfälischer Frieden'. It entices visitors with a romantic sky of twinkling lights in the Rathaus (town hall) courtyard, where you will also find the entrance to the Christmas charity bazaars. From here it is a short stroll through the arcades of the Prinzipalmarkt to the Lamberti market.

At the foot of the Lambertikirche and surrounded by historical gabled houses, the popular market of lights with its little blue pointed huts has its own special sparkle.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is where you’ll find Germany’s oldest and best known Christmas market. Established in the market square of the beautifully restored old town, you can wander through its traffic-free streets while enjoying a ‘Zwetschkenmännchen’, a local specialty made from dried plums.

The air is filled with delicious aromas of gingerbread, cinnamon, Nuremberg Bratwurst, roasted almonds and Glühwein. Small children enjoy the ‘Kinderweihnacht’ where a magnificent, traditional style carousel comes complete with an upper tier, reindeer figures and Santa’s sleigh. Every year more than two million visitors enjoy the medieval atmosphere of this Christmas Market.

Passau

Passau's romantic Christmas market is situated in front of the beautiful St.-Stephan-Cathedral in the old town centre. About 70 selected little stalls offer a large variety of food, Christmas goods and presents made by local craftsmen.

Every day different concerts of choirs and folk music take place to delight the market's visitors. Enjoy an unforgettable experience hearing the largest organ in the world play!

Rothenburg

Rothenburg is a medieval extravaganza which takes the visitor effortlessly back in time. It stands today exactly as it had in the 11th century, it’s steep roofed gabled houses, balconies, soaring spires and narrow cobble streets still remain. The city’s imposing gateway, towers and city walls never fail to impress.

The Christmas spirit is alive in this city all year round, the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Shop and the Christmas Museum with its unique Christmas decorations are well-worth a visit. Every afternoon at the Christmas Market a brass band concert is held.

Rothenburg's Christmas market is in an idyllic setting between the town hall and St. Jacob's Church. Passageways twisting this way and that, the German Christmas Museum, the smell of Glühwein and night-time torch-lit walks are all here. Germany at Christmas time, just as you imagine it.

Salzburg

Surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the North-Alps Salzburg's Christmas market can be found at the foot of the baroque cathedral. A large number of stands offer hand-carved tree decorations and indulge you with local food specialities whilst international choirs delight with Christmas carols.

Stuttgart

First mentioned in a historical document in 1692, the Christmas market in Stuttgart with its more than 250 delightfully decorated stands, is not only one of the oldest, but certainly one of the most beautiful and largest Christmas markets in Europe.

The unique illuminations, the wonderful smell of cinnamon and vanilla, the festive Advent concerts and the small wooden houses all lovingly decorated, produce a Christmas atmosphere which brings back millions of returning visitors every year.

Of course, a trip to the Christmas market can also be combined with a visit to one of the many sights of Stuttgart. See the State Gallery (Staatsgalerie) with its first-class exhibitions, the brand new and spectacular Art Museum Stuttgart, the sensational Mercedes-Benz Museum or the Porsche Museum.

With its elegant shopping arcades, exclusive boutiques, large department stores and the longest pedestrian zone in Germany, Stuttgart is also known as a paradise for all shopping lovers.

Vienna

Vienna's Christmas market is situated in the beautifully decorated ‘Rathauspark’. Enjoy the crib display beneath the arcades of the city hall or watch the Christ Child at work. Furthermore, it offers loads of opportunities for children to discover where they can bake Christmas cookies and make their own handicraft Christmas presents.

Weimar

The first public Christmas tree was erected in Weimar in 1816, and up to today this romantic Christmas market hasn't lost any of its magnificence.

With the huge advent calendar on the town hall, the inviting stalls and the atmospheric seasonal illuminations, you are sure to have a fascinating and excellent festive trip. There's even more to discover in “the green heart of Germany”.

Wiesbaden

Providing the romantic setting for Wiesbaden’s Sternschnuppen Christmas Market is the idyllic Schlossplatz. Four entry gates, decorated with the golden lilies of the city’s coat of arms lend access to this quaint fairytale scene.

Wiesbaden – the city of hot springs – come alive with the sounds, smells and the unique atmosphere of the Christmas Market. Art and crafts, some created as you watch, are offered at the nostalgic market stands, all designed in the traditional Wiesbaden colours of blue and gold. Seasonal bakery goods and sweets as well as heart and hand warming drinks are served. Warm up on the Glühwein, fill up on the tasty cinnamon stars or the freshly cooked sausages.

Children can enjoy merry-go-round and toy train rides around the tall shimmering Christmas tree. Seasonal concerts, carol singing, nativity plays and fairytale tellers add to the charming atmosphere. Don’t forget to try the large public outdoor ice skating rink with its’ varied themed evenings, ice disco or curling.

Wolfenbüttel

Wolfenbüttel Christmas market is known for its romantic atmosphere and stylish flair. It is especially good for children – daily calendar events, the mascots of the Christmas market ‘Wölfchen and Büttelchen’ hand out sweets, fairy tales come to life, making visitors think this is the home of Christmas.

Christmas break Berchtesgaden

The craggy, snow covered Watzmann dominates this ancient market town and offers an impressive backdrop to your Christmas holiday. Berchtesgaden lies in a national park, and is one of the most beautiful regions of Europe, an ideal place to spend a traditional German Christmas. The Obersalzberg Documentation Centre and the salt mines offer two interesting aspects of the town and within easy reach are Salzburg and the spa town of Bad Reichenhall.

6 nights from £ 669 per person including:

• Scheduled flight with Lufthansa London to Munich (provincial departure airports on request)
• 6 nights half board at the Hotel Fischer***
• Free use of hotel’s swimming pool and sauna
• On the 24th December the hotel guests can welcome Christmas Day with cakes and a glass of punch in a candlelight atmosphere.
• The evening meal on the 25th December will be accompanied by live traditional music.

Christmas break Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Stay 6 nights in Germany's alpine capital surrounded by snow-covered mountains. Bavaria's leading holiday resort is ideal for a Christmas break and offers a wide range of entertainment and facilities.

6 nights from £ 629 per person including:

• Scheduled flight with Lufthansa London to Munich (provincial departure airports on request)
• Rail transfers to Garmisch Partenkirchen
• 6 nights half board in the Hotel Wittelsbacher Hof****
• Special festive dinners are served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day accompanied by traditional Christmas entertainment such as Carol singing

Christmas break Kobern

Relax in the wine producing village of Kobern and take part in a typical German Christmas.

Experience the many walks in the village and the surrounding area. Below the castle and vine covered hillsides Kobern is an excellent starting point to explore both the Rhine and Moselle valleys.

6 nights from £ 615 per person including:

• Scheduled flight with Lufthansa London to Cologne (provincial departure airports on request)
• Transfers to Kobern
• 6 nights half board in the Hotel Simonis****
• Special festive dinners are served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• Sightseeing tour of local area and wine tasting

Christmas break Schenkenzell

Enjoy the Christmas festivities in a charming village tucked away in the Kinzig valley south of Freudenstadt. Red-roofed houses, a village church, a ruined castle and small shops and restaurants make up this idyllic hideaway in the fir-clad hills of the Black Forest.

6 nights from £ 609 per person including:

• Scheduled flight with British Airways London to Stuttgart (provincial departure airports on request)
• Transfers to Schenkenzell
• 6 nights half board in the Hotel Sonne****

Please contact us for detailed information on a special itinerary including various excursions and Christmas entertainment.

Call 020 7290 1111 to reserve your short break to visit the Christmas Markets now.

DERTOUR, based in London, is long established as one of the UK’s leading specialist tour operators for holidays to Germany.