Christmas in Germany is a magical time. The four weeks leading up to the 25th are filled with Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas markets), Glühwein and much more enjoyable Germans than usual. However, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day can be a bit quiet, as they are completely family vacations.
So where do you go to feel the yuletide? These are some of the most pleasant places to spend Christmas in Germany to fill yourself with Christmas cheer.
01
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Nuremberg Christmas Market
Direction
Altstadt – St. Sebald, 90403 Nuremberg, GermanyGet directions
Not all Christmas markets are created equal and the Nuremberg Christmas Market may very well be the best in the country. Located in the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town), watch the angelic Christkind, an ambassador of the city among the red and white striped cabins. Shop the 180 traditionally decorated huts for handmade goods and ask for some sustenance in the form of Nuremberg Rostbratwurst, a hot drink, and Lebkuchen (gingerbread).
02
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Christmas Eve at the Berlin Cathedral
Direction
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, GermanyGet directions
Telephone
+49 30 20269136
Web
Visit the website
Berlin has many lovely Christmas markets, but if you’re in town on Christmas Eve, here’s a special event you’ll want to visit.
The Protestant Berliner Dom is located on the Museuminsel in Mitte. The impressive structure dominates the foreground with the Fernsehturm and River Spree behind.
On Christmas Eve, the cathedral is open to the public for a concert. The silent masses make their way into the layers of the benches and then the singing begins. Familiar carols like O Tannenbaum resonate everywhere and visitors know the true meaning of Gemütlichkeit.
03
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Dresden Christmas Market
Direction
01067 Dresden, GermanyGet directions
Web
Visit the website
Dresden has the oldest Christmas market in Germany, dating back to 1434. The Dresden Christmas Market is famous for having the world’s largest nutcracker and a huge Christmas pyramid, a 45-foot tall wooden carousel with life-size angels and Nativity scenes.
If you arrive before Christmas Day, visit the Stollen Festival on December 5. A huge Stollen (traditional Christmas cake) is featured, which weighs 4 tons and is 13 feet long. At any other time, just buy a full-size cake to enjoy.
04
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The World’s Largest Advent Calendar House
Direction
77723 Gengenbach, GermanyGet directions
Web
Visit the website
For more than 15 years, the picturesque town of Gengenbach in Baden-Württemberg has transformed its entire Rathaus (Town Hall) into the world’s largest Advent Calendar House, or – auf Deutsch – » Das weltgrößte Adventskalenderhaus «. The 24 windows (two rows of 11 plus 2 on the roof) are decorated in a festive Christmas scene with a new window revealed every night until Christmas. Celebrate the run-up or see the big picture
05
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Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Direction
Herrngasse 1, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, GermanyGet directions
Telephone
+49 9861 409365
Web
Visit the website
This medieval city that time forgot is the perfect place to celebrate Christmas in Germany. A major tourist stop, it empties at night and straight out of a snowy fairy tale.
The city has its own Christmas market within the walls with adorable sweet as a Schneebälle ( ‘Snowballs’, dough fried and topped with a variety of sweet ingredients like sugar confectionery, chocolate and nuts).
Aren’t you there at Christmas? It’s Christmas all year round in Rothenburg. The global brand Käthe Wohlfahrt is headquartered here (Herrngasse 1) with three underground floors of trim and decoration. The Christmas Museum covers tree decorations through the ages, early Advent calendars, and antiques.
06
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The Bamberg Nativity Scene Route
Direction
Bamberg, GermanyGet directions
Web
Visit the website
This charming city has many charming places to visit, including its traditional taverns, Rauchbiers will warm you up from the inside. Plan a visit to the cathedral and the UNESCO World Heritage center in this ‘Franconian Rome’.
For Christmas, Maximiliansplatz is illuminated and decorated with a traditional market surrounded by the Franconian half-timbered architecture of Bamberg. Tour the Route of the Bethlehem, which consists of more than 40 sites and around 400 Christmas cribs in a mix of historical and modern scenes.
