Since moving to Germany in 2019, I’ve experienced the magic of the country’s most beloved Christmas markets. Here are the 10 absolute best Christmas markets in Germany, with tips for your visit and detailed guides linked for each and every one!
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A Note From Claire …
My friends call me the “Christmas Market Queen” and know that as soon as December rolls around I’ll be OOO on my annual pilgrimage to the markets.
I’ve read plenty of lists online that share the “best” Christmas markets in Germany, and I usually find them overwhelming because they list SO many options. Like, are they really all “the best?”
After re-reading my own guides, referencing my travel journals, scrolling back through photos, and asking my German friends for their input, I’ve finally compiled this list of the 10 can’t-miss, best of the best Christmas markets in Germany.
Hang on to your Santa hats, this is going to be one heck of a sleigh ride!
Merry Christmas! ~Claire
PS. I have 25+ Christmas market guides (and counting!) on my blog, and there are even MORE markets I’ve visited that I haven’t had time to write about.
Regensburg: The Most Romantic Christmas Market
🎄What to Do, See & Eat at the Regensburg Christmas Markets ❤️
After 7 years of exploring Germany’s Christmas markets, I can say with confidence that the markets in Regensburg are the absolute best. Specifically, the Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Castle.
There’s a steep fee to enter this market (6.50+ Euros depending on the day), but the basket weavers, blacksmiths, chandlers, glass blowers, and other artisans onsite producing one-of-a-kind gifts to take home are absolutely worth paying to see hard at work!
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 20th – December 23rd
⏰ Time needed: 1 full day to see the markets and the main attractions (I share how to adapt my Regensburg day trip itinerary for the Christmas market season in that post, FYI)
⭐️ Claire’s Tip: Regensburg is just 1 hour from Nuremberg by train. Consider pairing the two cities together!
Nuremberg: The Most Famous Christmas Market
🕯️Everything You Need to Know About the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt 🎁
Despite being one of the oldest, largest, and most popular Christmas markets in Germany, Nuremberg’s bustling Christkindlesmarkt has managed to retain much of its Old World charm. There’s a clear emphasis on regional products, with the city’s famous Elisenlebkuchen (gingerbread) on prominent display throughout the market.
In addition to the world-famous Christkindlesmarkt, Nuremberg’s city center boasts several other markets, including an international “Sister Cities” market, a children’s Christmas market, and a small market selling only locally produced goods.
It’s remained the top Christmas market in Germany for good reason, and despite being heavily crowded on weekends this is still one of my personal favorites.
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 27th – December 24th
⏰ Time needed: 2 full days to explore the markets and see the many sights in Nuremberg’s Old Town
⭐️ Claire’s Tip: Visit during the work week and get to the markets early in the day if you want to buy gifts at a leisurely pace without the crowds.
Dresden: The Oldest Christmas Market in Germany
🍪 A Full Guide to Visiting the Christmas Markets in Dresden ♥️
Dresden’s Striezelmarkt may be the oldest Christmas market in Germany, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only one worth visiting in the city! I’m partial to the Advent Market on the Neumarkt, which is a historic market built to look like a Christmas market would have looked a century ago.
The great thing about visiting Dresden at Christmastime is that there’s a market for everyone. A more traditional market with rides for the kiddos? Check! A market selling handmade products? Check! A romantic market that’s tucked off the beaten path? Check!
Dresden also gets bonus points because even without the sea of Christmas markets it’s one of my favorite places to visit in Germany, and there’s plenty to do and see in this historic city.
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 25th – December 24th
⏰ Time needed: 2 full days to explore the markets and explore Dresden’s Old Town
⭐️ Claire’s Tip: The Striezelmarkt is one of the most popular in the country, and it is PACKED on weekends. Visit earlier in the day to avoid the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and spend your evening on the Neumarkt instead.
Mainz: A Traditional Christmas Market in the Wine Region
💜 Visiting the Mainz Christmas Market: What to Know Before You Go 🍷
As Germany’s wine region becomes more popular, so does the Mainz Christmas market. Despite its rising popularity with out-of-towners, the Christmas market on the central square remains one of the coziest I’ve visited.
And considering it’s the “Wine Capital of Germany,” it should come as no surprise that Mainz ladles out the best mulled wine in the country! Look for stalls selling “Rheingauer Glühwein.” That means the mulled wine was made using wine from the region. You can sip your mulled wine in oversized wine barrels or beneath the string lights that cast a gentle glow over the entire market.
And if wine — even the really good stuff from Germany! — isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of spiced non-alcoholic punch here, too.
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 26th – December 23rd
⏰ Time needed: 1 day to see the sights and enjoy the main market (you can use this day trip itinerary to plan your visit)
⭐️ Claire’s Tip: Wiesbaden is just 15 minutes from Mainz via S-Bahn, so consider pairing the two cities if you’re on a tighter schedule and want to see as many of Germany’s top Christmas markets as possible.
Wiesbaden: A Hidden Gem in the Rhine Region
🌲 What to Do & Eat at Wiesbaden’s “Shooting Star” Market ⭐️
I hesitate to mention Wiesbaden in this guide, simply because it’s my second favorite Christmas market (the Regensburg Romantic market is my gold standard, all-time fave).
Besides being absolutely charming — with ambient lighting from the lilly-shaped LED lights overhead, an emphasis on local vintners and craftsmen, a historic carousel that runs throughout the evening, and delicious food at reasonable prices — it’s also much less crowded than the major Christmas markets throughout the rest of the country.
Besides the Americans coming into the city center from the nearby US army base, Wiesbaden’s Christmas market seems to be somewhat of a “locals only” destination during Advent. I think most out-of-towners make a beeline for the Frankfurt Christmas markets or the market in Mainz.
My advice? Plan a trip to Wiesbaden before more people find out how amazing its Christmas market is!
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 24th – December 23rd
⏰ Time needed: 1 day to see Wiesbaden’s main attractions and enjoy the market
Munich: Charming Christmas Markets in the Heart of Bavaria
🥨 Which Christmas Markets in Munich Are Worth Visiting? Tips + Complete Guide ♥️
Like many of Germany’s major cities, Munich doesn’t have just one Christmas market — oh no, it has 30+ markets that run at various times throughout the holiday season.
The main market located on the Marienplatz is the oldest, most traditional, and prettiest, but other favorite markets of mine include the Nativity Market near St. Peter’s Church that exclusively sells nativity scenes (they are stunning!) as well as the Medieval Christmas Market at Wittelsbacher Platz that seems to draw more locals than tourists.
Munich as a whole is absolutely stunning, and if you’re planning a more relaxed trip to the German Christmas markets I can highly recommend staying in Munich for several days and using it as a home base for exploring the nearby Bavarian and Austrian Christmas markets.
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 20th – December 24th
⏰ Time needed: 2 days to explore all of the main markets at a leisurely pace, but I’ve spent 7+ days at a time in Munich in the past and always find plenty of day trips and activities to occupy me! Check out my full Munich archive for tons of travel inspiration.
⭐️ Claire’s Tip: One of my favorite regional treats at Munich’s Christmas markets is the Ausgezogene. It’s a large, flat piece of fried dough coated in sugar that pairs especially well with a warming mug of spiced punch or mulled wine.
Leipzig: Uniquely Themed Christmas Markets in Saxony
🎁 A Detailed Guide to Leipzig’s Christmas Markets ♥️
Leipzig’s Hüttenzauber Market on the central square is the second oldest in Germany. It boasts roughly 250 meticulously decorated huts selling traditional Christmas market fare such as beeswax products, locally made sausages, and handicrafts. Although there are some mass-produced trinkets for sale, the market as a whole sells mostly hand-made goods from artisans in the area.
There are several other Christmas markets in the city center (practically the entire area is taken up by Christmas markets in one form or another), but the other market you absolutely can’t miss is the Anno Domini Historic Christmas Market located at the Naschmarkt. It’s got a fun medieval flair, and you’ll only find handmade items for sale here.
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 24th – December 23rd
⏰ Time needed: 1 day to explore the Christmas markets and see 1 or 2 of Leipzig’s main attractions
Aachen: A Christmas Market with German, Dutch, and Belgian Flair
🍪 What to Know Before Visiting Aachen’s Christmas Market 🌲
Aachen’s location on Germany’s westernmost border gives its Christmas market a distinct charm that you won’t find elsewhere in the country. Although it’s a traditional market, it’s not wholly German in feel, with a strong Belgian and Dutch flair seen in wares like French nougat and fine lace.
Although Aachen is a small city, the Christmas market is bustling every night of the week. Locals just across the border flock to the market after work, so expect to hear a blend of French, German, and Dutch being spoken as you wander through the 120 stalls.
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 20th – December 23rd
⏰ Time needed: 1 day to explore the Christmas markets and the city center (read my Aachen day trip guide for help planning your visit)
⭐️Claire’s Tip: Aachen is famous for its Printen cookies. It’s a special type of gingerbread that’s not sold anywhere else! The hard cookies are the most traditional, but I prefer the soft cookies enrobed in chocolate.
Cologne: A Fairytale-Inspired Christmas Market
🧚A Guide to Cologne’s Best Christmas Markets ♥️
Each Christmas, some 1,000 Christmas markets spring up in Cologne. Kidding! It only feels that way because nearly every street you turn down in Cologne’s Old Town is full of market-goers who are already several mugs of Glühwein deep into their visit.
Cologne’s main Christmas market near its famous cathedral is a favorite to photograph, but for a truly fairytale-level Christmas market experience then I recommend visiting the Heinzels Winter Fairytale markets at the Alter Markt and Heumarkt. Most German Christmas markets are very well decorated, but these two markets stand out from the crowd with their attention to detail, Old World charm, and magical atmosphere.
The Angel’s Market on the Neumarkt is another personal favorite. With its modern style and more minimalist decor scheme, you’d think this Christmas market wouldn’t be as cozy as the others, but once those icicle lights turn on at dusk it feels like you’ve stepped into an enchanted Christmas forest in the heart of the city. Bonus: this particular market has the best food of all of Cologne’s Christmas markets!
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: November 16th – December 23rd (there are several major markets in the city center, all of which have slightly different dates of operation)
⏰ Time needed: Plan a day trip to Cologne if you just want to see the big markets plus a couple of the city’s attractions, but at least 2 full days if you want to see more of the city itself.
Berlin: Historic Christmas Markets with a Modern Backdrop
💚 Berlin’s Best Christmas Markets, According to a Local 🎅
Throughout the Christmas season, some 60+ Christmas markets open all over Berlin. It’s impossible to visit them all in a single visit (heck, I’ve lived here for 7 years and I’ve still only scratched the surface!), but you can see most of the largest markets if you follow this itinerary.
Specific markets in Berlin that I highly recommend include:
- The Medieval Market at the RAW Gelände
- The Arts & Crafts Market at Gendarmenmarkt
- Domäne Dahlem Christmas Market (weekends only)
- Artisan Christmas Market at Mexikoplatz (every Sunday of Advent)
What makes Berlin’s Christmas markets so unique is the sheer size and variety on offer. Some markets sell strictly vegan goods, others are grungy with an “alternative” flair, and then you have the more traditional markets near the top tourist attractions.
There really is a Christmas market for everyone in Berlin, but if you want to see the more off-the-beaten-path markets I strongly suggest researching their opening dates in advance to make sure they’ll be open during your visit.
Good to Know
📆 2026 dates: Most of the big markets open around November 23rd and close around December 23rd. But there are SO many markets here and each has its own dates of operation.
⏰ Time needed: At least 2 days (ideally 3!) to see the largest of the markets and a few key attractions in the city.
Excited to See the Best Christmas Markets in Germany?
Narrowing down this list to just the top 10 Christmas markets in Germany was definitely tough, but this should give you a good headstart on planning your trip.
I’ve lived in Germany since 2019 and have been to so, so many Christmas markets, so if you have any questions about planning a visit please leave me a comment below!
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