I’d dreamed of visiting the German Christmas markets for thus lengthy earlier than I lastly made the journey a actuality with a swoonworthy street journey by Germany and France. As idyllic as it may be to walk by the wood market stalls sipping glühwein, it’s attainable to get market fatigue. Nevertheless, this 10-day Christmas Market itinerary goes to provide the excellent combine of huge metropolis, little city, and distinctive market experiences that may have you ever brimming with festive pleasure.
Christmas in Germany brings subsequent degree allure and is so completely different from the hustle-bustle consumerism within the U.S. It’s about custom, gathering collectively within the chilly, and appreciation for handcrafted items versus the mass produced. It’s unimaginable to not get caught up within the magic of the vacations whereas visiting the German Christmas markets.
If you’re trying to plan a German Christmas markets journey, I’m going to provide you some Christmas Markets planning suggestions, recommendation on whether or not to cruise, drive, or practice, and lay out an in depth German Christmas market street journey itinerary that you could copy and go, together with the place to remain and issues to do past the markets.
Ideas for Planning a German Christmas Markets Journey
There are over 1,500 German Christmas markets which have over 50 meals stalls…and much more smaller markets. Determining the place to start out will be overwhelming, however I’m right here to assist. To get began planning your Christmas Markets journey, listed below are some issues to think about.
How Lengthy Do You Want for a German Christmas Markets Journey?
I’d counsel planning not less than every week lengthy German Christmas market journey itinerary if you wish to expertise a number of cities or areas. When you’ve got much less time, it might make sense to select only one metropolis, comparable to Frankfurt or Stuttgart and plan day journeys to close by Christmas markets.
I spent 16 days in Germany and France visiting Christmas markets and in that point I visited 17 Christmas markets (extra actually since there are a number of markets in lots of cities and cities). It was lots. A bit greater than I’d counsel except you’re actually obsessive about Christmas markets. The query I heard essentially the most is…did you become bored with the markets? And actually, not likely! Every has its personal distinctive character. However the journey can nonetheless get tiring and also you would possibly get somewhat sick of bratwurst and glühwein.
I believe the candy spot is to plan a seven to 10-day German Christmas Markets journey.
Must you cruise, drive, or take the practice?
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River cruising is a very talked-about technique to go to the Christmas Markets, particularly alongside the Rhine River. It’s definitely the best technique to go to a number of markets, as you don’t must unpack or fear about any logistics. Most river cruise strains embrace excursions comparable to guided strolling excursions or transportation to markets to take pleasure in free time. The one downsides are the associated fee and that you’re extra restricted in the place and if you go to the markets, making it a bit more durable to keep away from crowds or expertise the markets at completely different occasions of day.
Touring by practice is an effective way to journey as a result of even most of the smaller cities are accessible by practice and also you don’t want to fret about winter driving. Nevertheless, you do want to fret about potential practice strikes (there was one happening in Germany once I was there) and cancellations. You additionally must plan forward relating to baggage storage, particularly should you aren’t staying in a single day in every place or in case you are staying in an Airbnb.
A German Christmas markets street journey provides you essentially the most flexibility and independence. I discovered driving in Germany fairly simple and even crossing the border between Germany and France was fairly seamless. It was additionally fairly reasonably priced to lease a automobile (I paid solely about $350 for 11 days — I take advantage of Auto Europe to search out the perfect charges.)
You Must Plan Forward
The German Christmas markets have gotten more and more fashionable with worldwide vacationers (thanks Instagram!) and you will need to plan early. If you wish to take a river cruise, I’d counsel reserving that not less than six to 9 months prematurely. For resort reservations, you will want to plan not less than two to a few months earlier than your journey to search out reasonably priced lodging within the metropolis middle, particularly should you want rooms with two beds.
Examine Dates and Hours
German Christmas markets sometimes open in late November and run by December twenty third. There are exceptions, and a few are solely open throughout introduction weekends. So earlier than you e-book your journey, make certain the markets will likely be open when you are there! Only a few stay open between Christmas and New Years.
Additionally, some smaller markets are solely open on the weekends or solely within the late afternoon or evenings. There can also be completely different hours relying on the day of the week. Make sure you do some analysis earlier than you go and attempt to hit the large cities midweek so decrease the crowds on the markets.
German Christmas Market Itinerary
So let’s get into it. When you’ve got adopted my travels for a when you know that I like planning out my journeys and share my itineraries with tweaks primarily based on what I realized alongside the way in which. That’s why I’m suggesting a shorter 10-day Christmas markets street journey and focusing simply on Germany. In the event you don’t have 10 days, I may even make some solutions to show this into an eight or 9 day journey (so that you solely want one week of PTO plus weekends.)
You can simply add in a facet journey to Strasbourg or Colmar, however France’s Alsace area has a lot to supply I’d really advocate making that its personal journey.
This Christmas Markets itinerary is finest as a street journey to supply essentially the most flexibility. It makes a loop from Frankfurt, protecting a lot of Southwest Germany. As a result of it’s a loop, you’ll be able to fly out and in of Frankfurt, which is a serious airport served by American, Delta, United, Lufthansa, and others. This lets you e-book a less expensive spherical journey airfare than should you flew into Munich and out of Frankfurt for instance.
This 10-day German Christmas Markets street journey itinerary contains stops in:
- Frankfurt
- Rüdesheim am Rhein
- Trier
- Freiburg im Breisgau
- Ravenna Gorge
- Stuttgart
- Ludwigsburg
- Esslingen
- Heidelberg
- return to Frankfurt
It looks like plenty of shifting round however I’ve really organized this itinerary to spend two nights in every resort and go to a number of markets in at some point (typically through practice). And, the longest drive you’ve gotten between stops is 3.5 hours, however most drives are a lot shorter.
This map was created utilizing Google My Maps and covers my recommended German Christmas Markets street journey itinerary. You possibly can click on on the star subsequent to the title and save this to your Google Maps account or click on on the share icon to ship it to your self through electronic mail.
Day 1 – Arrival in Frankfurt
If you’re flying into Frankfurt from the U.S., you’ll doubtless arrive within the early morning. It is sensible to remain in a single day close to the airport, since you’ll want to choose up your rental automobile on the airport as soon as you’re prepared to depart Frankfurt. Nevertheless, the German rail system makes it very simple to get round and you may simply take the S-Bahn practice from the airport into Heart Metropolis (with or with out your baggage).
If that is your first time in Frankfurt, I’d advocate reserving a Frankfurt by Foot strolling tour to provide you an introduction to the town past simply the Christmas Markets. Taking this tour helped me get my bearings and made it simpler to discover the markets by myself (plus we spent somewhat time within the markets on the finish of the tour too!)
On this tour, I used to be in a position to see the town highlights together with the New Previous City, Frankfurt Cathedral, the Holocaust Memorial, Roemerberg, Kleinmarkthalle (a neighborhood indoor market), and Eiserner Steg (Iron Bridge) over the River Foremost.
To get to the town middle, you’ll be able to take the S-Bahn (suburban practice) strains S8 or S9 from the regional practice station positioned in Terminal 1 of the airport to the Hauptwache station. The journey takes roughly 15-20 minutes and trains run each 10-Quarter-hour.
With no matter vitality you’ve gotten left, you’ll want to discover Frankfurt’s primary Christmas Markets in Römerberg, St Paul’s Sq., Foremost Quay, Hauptwache, and Friedrich Stoltze Sq. (dwelling to Frankfurt’s Pink LGBTQ+ market.) Don’t fear should you can’t absolutely embrace the Christmas Market vibe whereas jet lagged, you’ll have one other likelihood to revisit these markets on the finish of your journey.
After all when you have extra time, you’ll be able to keep longer in Frankfurt and take day journeys to native Christmas markets close to Frankfurt.
The place to remain: I discovered staying on the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Resort extraordinarily simple as it’s a very brief stroll to the terminal or the practice station. As a Marriott Bonvoy Gold Member I used to be given government lounge entry, which may very well be a great spot to kill a while when you have an early arrival.
Day 2 – Rüdesheim am Rhein
Decide up your rental automobile from the airport early so to have a full day to discover. From the airport, it’s only a 45-minute drive to the following cease in your German Christmas Markets street journey…Rüdesheim am Rhein. Rüdesheim is a small, however fashionable, city within the German wine area of Rheingau on the banks of the Rhine River.
The city itself is tiny and may get extraordinarily crowded within the top of the day so it’s good to get there early to walk alongside Drosselgasse, essentially the most picturesque road that’s lined with retailers and eating places, as it will likely be elbow-to-elbow later within the day. Regardless of the crowds, it’s well-worth a go to to this charming little city each for its structure, its wine, and, after all, the Christmas Market.
As soon as city begins getting crowded, it’s time to stroll by the vineyards up the hill behind city to the Niederwald monument, which was constructed within the late 1800s to commemorate the unification of Germany. In the event you don’t really feel like strolling, you too can trip the cable automobile up and again, with nice views of the city, river, and vineyards beneath.
On the town, you too can go to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cupboard, which is a museum of automated musical devices, and the Rheingau Wine Museum within the medieval Brömserburg Fortress. Winelovers can also wish to pre-arrange a tasting at Georg Breur Vineyard to sip among the areas well-known dry Rieslings.
As for the Christmas Market, the first market lies within the Marktplatz, the place a life-sized nativity scene unfolds and you will see that reside leisure. Within the adjoining space you will see that a mini curling ice and small family-friendly rides.Â
The Rüdescheimer Weihnachtsmarkt additionally has a babies’s market with rides and, after we visited, a show of huge rabbits and fluffy chickens. Personally, I discovered the crafts and items on the market a bit disappointing as they had been primarily imported items versus regionally made crafts, however the meals was scrumptious.
You will discover many conventional German Christmas market meals which can be fashionable on this area together with käsespatzle (cheese spaetzle), flammkuchen (a flatbread with cheese, onions, and ham), kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), and apfelwein (apple glühwein).
From Rüdesheim, it’s a two-hour drive to your subsequent cease. You possibly can select to spend the evening in Rüdesheim, or, to reduce shifting round, you’ll be able to drive straight to Trier on the finish of the day.
The place to remain: In the event you resolve to remain in Rüdesheim in a single day, you’ll be happy to stroll round after the day trippers go away. I liked the charming rooms on the centrally-located ​​Breuer’s Rüdesheimer Schloss. They even have free parking, which will be actually exhausting to search out in these smaller cities. In any other case, drive to Trier and spend two nights there.
Day 3 – trier
Trier is Germany’s oldest metropolis, positioned on the Moselle River close to the border with Luxembourg. It was based by the Romans in 17 BC and you may nonetheless see eight UNESCO World Heritage Websites, together with Roman baths, a 25,000-seat amphitheater, and the spectacular Porta Nigra, the one remaining Roman metropolis gate, which dates again to the 2nd century.Â
While you’re on the town, you also needs to pay a go to to the Trier Cathedral, which is the oldest in Germany, relationship again to Roman occasions. This large cathedral is dwelling to 2 essential Catholic relics, the Holy Gown of Christ and a holy nail considered from the Crucifixion.
When you’ve got time, you too can go to the archeological museum, which has the perfect assortment of Roman artwork and artifacts in Germany.
After all, you’ll want to go away loads of time to take pleasure in Trier’s Christmas Markets, that are unfold all through the Altstadt (Previous City). Trier’s markets actually have all of it — a picturesque setting, loads of house to maneuver round, terrific food and drinks, and loads of leisure choices for all ages from historic puppet theater to star tenor and songsmiths.
The primary markets happen in Hauptmarkt sq. and in entrance of the cathedral. However should you stroll down Fleischstrasse to Kornmarkt, you will see that extra meals stalls and a small ice rink underneath the lights. The decor was so charming (even with lovely trash cans!)
The meals and craft stalls had been additionally spectacular, with considered one of my favourite käsewurst sausages of the journey and a few scrumptious poffertjes, that are small Dutch pancakes (which we additionally noticed in Amsterdam). I additionally bought to strive eierpunsch, which is a heat egg liqueur-based drink.
The place to remain: I liked my keep on the Romantik Resort Zur Glocke, proper within the Previous City. That is considered one of my favourite boutique inns of the yr, with beautifully-designed, luxurious rooms, a tremendous location, and even complimentary breakfast all for a really reasonably priced charge. The one draw back is that there isn’t parking on-site, however you need to use a paid lot close by.
Day 4 – Freiburg im Breisgau
It can take you about 3.5 hours to drive from Trier to Freiburg im Breisgau. Your drive will doubtless take you thru a little bit of the Alsace area of France, and when you have the additional time, you’ll be able to add in a day in Strasbourg and/or Colmar, or a brief cease in Strasbourg on the way in which.
Strasbourg known as the Capital of Christmas and the city goes all out relating to Christmas decor. Whereas I completely liked the charming Petite France neighborhood and all the over-the-top decorations, the market itself was a bit disappointing. Yow will discover some distinctive or regional markets however the primary metropolis middle is stuffed with the identical meals stalls and industrial present choices.
Simply be sure to go away time to discover Freiburg. This college city has a vibrant Previous City with cobblestone roads and good retailers and eating places. That is the place you will see that the Weihnachtsmarkt with 130+ fantastically embellished wood stalls unfold throughout a number of areas, together with the Rathausplatz, Franziskanerstrasse, Unterlindenplatz, Turmstrasse, Rotteckring, Predigertor and the Kartoffelmarkt.
There are actions for kids like candle making and a baking workshop. I had some scrumptious Christmas market meals in Freiburg together with käsewurst (cheese-stuffed bratwurst), a potato twister, and kaiserschmarrn (torn candy pancakes served with vanilla sauce). This actually felt like a marketplace for locals, with merchandise together with colourful native cheeses and exquisite miniature homes for these trying to to create a Christmas village underneath their tree.
Along with the markets, it is best to go to the Freiburg Minster or Cathedral in Münsterplatz, which can also be dwelling to a busy farmer’s market six mornings every week.
The place to remain: We had the toughest time discovering an reasonably priced place to remain in Freiburg that may be a brief strolling distance from the Christmas Markets and ended up on the Freiburg Flats, which had been advantageous however very utilitarian.
If attainable, I’d look to remain on the Colombi Resort. No matter you do, attempt to organize for parking prematurely as a result of it’s scarce within the metropolis middle (therefore all of the bicycles.) If you have to keep a bit farther from the town middle, the tram system is handy for getting round.
Day 5 – Ravenna Gorge
This can be a day that requires some advance planning as Ravenna Gorge is the one cease on this journey that requires tickets, they usually go quick. As well as, the market is just open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays — so hopefully your dates will work out! If not, you would skip at the present time and shorten your journey, or spend an evening or two in France as an alternative.
You want to join the publication to study the precise date and time that tickets go on sale and bounce on-line on that day (the sooner the higher) to get the prime time slots. You additionally must e-book a parking spot or plan to take the practice and have a shuttle reservation as an alternative.
However first, let me again up, Ravenna Gorge is positioned about 35-45 minutes exterior of Freiburg. There’s a small village with a resort and some retailers, however the primary attraction is the 40-meter tall aqueduct set in a picturesque gorge within the Black Forest.
Ideally, it is possible for you to to e-book a time slot to go to the market within the late afternoon till the early night, so to get the view within the daylight after which get to expertise the aqueduct with its dramatic uplighting at evening as nicely. The market itself is small, with solely about 40 stalls, however every is a neighborhood firm or meals supplier.
That is such a novel, dramatic, and exquisite Christmas market that it’s actually value making the hassle to go to in case your dates align. Through the day, you’ll be able to spend extra time in Freiburg or take somewhat street journey into the Black Forest. There are a variety of ski villages close by together with Donaueschingen, Feldberg, or Titisee – Neustadt.
Day 6 – Stuttgart
After visiting some smaller cities and cities, Stuttgart brings you again to a giant metropolis. It’s a 2.5 hour drive from Freiburg to Stuttgart, by the attractive Black Forest. In the event you get an early begin, you too can make a cease within the small city of Tübingen, which additionally hosts a chocolate competition on choose dates in early December.
Stuttgart can also be dwelling to the Porsche Museum, Mercedes-Benz Museum, the Stiftskirche, and different museums round Schlossplatz.
The Stuttgart Christmas Market is likely one of the oldest in all of Europe, but additionally one of the crucial lovely. Every stand takes nice care to embellish the stall not slightly below the eaves, but additionally on the rooftop. The market is unfold throughout the town centre in Schlossplatz, Schillerplatz, Karlsplatz and Marktplatz with 300 stalls promoting wood toys, nativity units, arts and crafts, jewellery, sweets, and conventional and worldwide meals.Â
Along with the standard Christmas Market fare, you will see that some distinctive options together with an vintage market, Finnish market, and a reside nativity scene. Schlossplatz is the place you will see that many of the motion with beautiful mild shows, together with kids’s rides comparable to a carousel, a small Ferris wheel, and an actual mini steam practice. Schlossplatz additionally hosts a big Ferris Wheel, a small curler rink, every day reside live shows, and an eco-market, that includes native meals and vegetarian choices.
The place to remain: It’s best to remain close to the town middle or near the practice station, though the U-Bahn trains make it fairly simple to get across the metropolis. Discovering an reasonably priced resort, particularly one that provides parking, is usually a problem. I stayed nearer to the practice station, to make it simple to take day journeys, on the Jaz within the Metropolis Stuttgart resort. Simply be sure to additionally e-book a parking house prematurely or plan on parking on the practice station.
Day 7 – Esslingen and Ludwigsburg
From Stuttgart, it’s simple to take a day journey by practice to go to two different Christmas Markets which can be nicely well worth the brief journey. Esslingen is simply 20 minutes by practice and residential to a big Medieval Christmas market that’s nothing like anything you’ve gotten skilled to this point.
The Medieval Market has hand-operated rides like a merry-go-round and a mini carousel, together with quite a lot of video games comparable to archery, bowling, and different video games of talent. Additionally, you will discover medieval-style items like leather-based merchandise and ironworks. There are even actions comparable to candle dipping for kids. It’s nice enjoyable however may get very crowded, so it’s best to go within the morning earlier than it will get too jammed.
On Saturdays and Sundays on Introduction weekends, there’s a particular Adventsmarkt with an extra 30+ stalls promoting handmade items that you simply won’t discover elsewhere on the market.
After visiting Esslingen, you’ll be able to take the practice again to Stuttgart and hop one other practice on the station for a 20-minute trip to Ludwigsburg. The Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market was one other considered one of my favourite Christmas markets on this journey as a result of it’s meant for and attended by locals.
 I noticed a bigger number of genuine handicrafts in Ludwigsburg than in any of the opposite Christmas Markets I visited in Germany. With glorious food and drinks choices too, this market is such a pleasure!
Day 8 – Heidelberg
From Stuttgart, it’s only a 1.5 hour drive to Heidelberg. Heidelberg is a college city, full of retailers and eating places. Whereas on the town, additionally, you will wish to go to the Heidelberg Fortress. Set on a hill, you’ll be able to entry the fortress through funicular and both take a guided tour or simply get a ticket to discover the grounds by yourself.
There are 5 squares all through the city that make up the Weihnachtsmarkt. Kornmarkt, Marktplatz, Universitätsplatz, Anatomiegarten, and Bismarckplatz. Along with the usual meals and craft stalls, you’ll want to see the small ice skating rink and the enormous wine barrels that function cozy ingesting spots.
If you’re getting bored with market meals at this level, you may get a scrumptious, genuine schnitzel at Weinstaube Schnitzelbank on the town.
The place to remain: Resort Villa Marstall is positioned in Previous City, inside a brief strolling distance to the Christmas Markets, retailers, and eating places. The rooms are small however quaint and reasonably priced. There isn’t any parking on-site, however there’s a pay storage just some blocks away.
Day 9 – Frankfurt
It’s lower than an hour from Heidelberg to Frankfurt, providing you with loads of time to revisit the Christmas Markets in Frankfurt. Nevertheless, you would additionally make a cease in Mannheim, dwelling to a different fashionable Christmas market, one of many oldest and largest in Germany. If you have to plan a shorter journey, as an alternative of staying in a single day in Heidelberg, you’ll be able to drive straight to Frankfurt and fly out the following morning.
While you arrive in Frankfurt, you’ll be able to drop off the rental automobile on the airport and I’d advocate as soon as once more staying at an airport resort for comfort. You possibly can simply take the S-Bahn 8 or 9 into the town middle to take pleasure in the remainder of your day.
Day 10 – Fly dwelling
Most flights to the U.S. depart within the morning so you will want to rise up and fly dwelling..filled with Christmas spirit! Simply don’t neglect to pack an additional tote bag or suitcase for all of the items you’ll want to deliver dwelling.
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising and marketing government and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged professional in household journey, named the Media Member of the 12 months for 2023 by the Household Journey Affiliation. Tamara is a member of SATW, the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and the Household Journey Affiliation. She can also be the writer of YourTimetoFly and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.
