Germany's Greatest Christmas Markets

Enjoy a Cup of Hot Chocolate

Trabi Safari Group Tour

Drive through Berlin in the unofficial car of the DDR. Squeeze yourself behind the wheel of a the comically idiosyncratic Trabant and drive around the German capital, seeing its sights and getting a Trabant driver's license to take home.

Winter in the City

Ice skating is great fun for kids and adults alike. You will find an open-air ice rink which is surrounded by enchanting Christmas light installations at the Christmas Garden, Winterwelt at Potsdamer Platz, and between a Ferris wheel and Neptune Fountain at the Christmas market just west of Alexanderplatz. Take in the Christmas lights and other decorations with a stroll down Under den Linden or Kurfurstendamm (better known as Ku'damm). Sitting comfortably in a vintage theatre, watching silent films with live orchestra music is just the perfect way of escaping the cold. Babylon Berlin opens daily and still uses a preserved cinema organ. There, you can catch free silent films at midnight on Saturdays.

Private Christmas Markets Tour

Berlin's Christmas Markets are a delightful way to spend an evening, with their mulled wine, and endless stalls featuring handmade crafts and artisanal goodies, like candles, festive decorations, wood carvings, and more. Perhaps even more tempting than the shopping is all of the delightful food, such as fragrant roasted chestnuts, savory sausages, delectable chocolate-covered fruits and nuts, and hot drinks. Let's not forget Feuerzangenbowle, a photogenic sight in which a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set aflame, directly above a bowl of mulled wine (the name translates to "fire tongs bowl"). Get into the holiday spirit while discovering Berlin Christmas markets with your local guide!

Over 80 Christmas Markets to Try

Berlin wins with numbers. The German capital has over 80 Christmas markets, several dozen of which are open at any given moment. Many are within walking distance of each other. We recommend the market at the Gendarmenmarkt, or the market in front of the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall), with its Ferris wheel and ice rink surrounding the impressive Neptunbrunnen (Neptune Fountain). Some of the city's best markets are only held for one weekend, so our local representative will give further recommendations based on your travel dates.

Dresden Private Walking Tour

Germany's Christmas Hometown

Dresden is the home to many of Germany’s Christmas traditions, and its oldest Christmas market: the Striezelmarkt. Here, you can find traditional wooden Christmas crafts. Be sure to visit the Christmas Arch, with its candles and ornate figurines representing the decorations placed on mine entrances. If you are into music, enjoy an evening in the Baroque ambience of the impressive Marble Hall in the Zwinger. During a festive Christmas concert, listen to the Dresden Residenz Orchestra play music by Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart. See our blog for plenty more details.

Cherish the Christkindlesmarkt

Nuremberg's old town hosts one of Germany's largest, oldest, and most famed Christmas markets: the Christkindlesmarkt. It's hard to think of things you can't find in its 180 booths, from everyday objects (such as nails, hammers, and faucets) made of chocolate, to marzipan potatoes. We recommend the city’s famed short bratwurst (Nürnberger Rostbratwurst) and gingerbread (Lebkuchen). With its central location, near the river and Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), this market is hard to miss.

Nuremberg Old Town Private Walking Tour

The best way to be introduced to a city is a private walking tour. The prosperous city of Nuremberg provided the ideal foundation for cultural and intellectual life and was a center of economic activity. Even today numerous buildings and monuments reflect its former place within the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. All your questions will be answered during this walking tour which offers a journey through Nuremberg's rise to greatness, providing historical background and insights in a fun and informative format. The guide will also introduce you to Nuremberg's world famous Lebkuchen and Bratwurst, two tasty local snacks.

Night Watchman Private Tour

A unique way to experience this picturesque medieval town, join a night watchman on his patrol, as he ensures a calm night.

Experience a Medieval Winter Wonderland

Rothenburg is a delight at any time of year, but in winter, the snow turns its spires and rooftops into a living Christmas card. Every year, the narrow and winding streets and the squares around the Rothenburg Town Hall are lined with stalls where you can find everything your heart desires: old German Christmas pastries, mulled wine, large and small handcrafted treasures, souvenirs, and gifts.

Winter in the City

In winter, the Nymphenburg Palace's canal becomes Munich’s longest curling track. Beginners and experts can both come here. Have fun ice-skating at Stachus (Karlsplatz). At the "Munchner Eiszauber" open-air rink, you can skate into the evening. Things are quieter in the Eis- und Funsportzentrum West and in the Eissportzentrum Ost, which open as soon as it's cold enough. You can also skate around the Olympia-Eissportzentrum. As soon as there is enough snow on the ground, the tobogganing starts on numerous hills in Munich, such as at the Luitpoldpark and Westpark.

Christmas Markets and Trams

If you'd like to explore the Christmas Markets in Munich with somebody local, we recommend taking a guided tour. Discover the sights and hidden corners, and look behind the scenes of cozy Christmas market stalls. Warm up with a glass of "Glühwein" and taste some traditional Christmas delicacies.

Feast Your Eyes in the Alte Pinakothek

Munich is a fantastic city for art and culture lovers. With over 80 museums – many of which are just €1 on Sundays – as well as art galleries, you can explore anything from ancient sculpture to cutting-edge contemporary design. Among them is the Alte Pinakothek, one of the world's oldest art galleries, dating back to 1836. This museum was intended by King Ludwig I to serve as the world's largest museum, as echoed by its impressive castle-like exterior.