“I’m driving home for Christmas,” sings Chris Rea in his famous Christmas song. But before you head home for the holidays, there’s so much to experience and discover all over Germany during the Advent season.
What makes a visit to the Christmas market perfect? Roast chestnuts? Hot punch? A hearty sausage? That’s up to you. But whatever your choice, the spirit of Christmas is in the air and makes itself seen in the form of lights, festively decorated cities and towns, and the unmistakable atmosphere of the season.
Vienna House has toured through Germany to find the best, the most beautiful, the most Christmassy Christmas markets in the country. So lean back and enjoy the magic of these wonderful markets – each with its own special flair.
1.Braunschweig
At the Braunschweig Christmas Market, one of the oldest and largest of its kind in northern Germany, 150 artisans and vendors open their stalls to visitors every year. Unique views of the festively lit Christmas market at medieval Dankwaderode Castle are possible from the 61 m tall town hall tower. The Braunschweig Christmas Market is open from 27 November to 29 December 2019 statt.
If you want to shoot a few pirouettes under the wintry skies of Braunschweig, you will get your money’s worth with the ice magic on Kohlmarkt. From 21 November to 06 January, the large ice rink lures you into an atmospheric setting.
STAY | Vienna House Easy Braunschweig
2. Landsberg
Dreams come true for young and old at the Landsberg Christmas Market – with a special atmosphere provided by the living nativity scene. A unique highlight every Tuesday is when the Christ Child comes in person to hear the children’s wishes. The Landsberg Christmas Market can be experienced from 29 November to 22 December 2019.
STAY | Vienna House Easy Landsberg
3. Amberg
Music is an integral part of the Christmas season and music is writ large in Amberg. At the Amberg Christmas Market, visitors can experience a different musical programme every day to really get the Christmas spirit going. If you’re in the mood for a romantic moment, a horse-drawn carriage ride through the medieval old town is just the thing. The lights are on at the Amberg Christmas Market from 28 November to 23 December 2019.
STAY | Vienna House Easy Amberg
4. Trier
In Germany’s oldest city, 95 festively decorated wood houses create Christmas cheer in front of beautiful Trier Cathedral. The Trier Christmas Market is officially opened by the German Mulled Wine Queen on 22 November and can be visited until 22 December 2019.
STAY | Vienna House Easy Trier
5. Limburg an der Lahn
The Christkindlmarkt in Limburg an der Lahn is a real feast for the eyes with its unique half-timbered backdrop, the Christmas pyramid, the Schwibbogen and the Advent calendar houses. In addition to the 40 stands on the Neumarkt, the Kornmarkt and the Plötze, visitors can also go shopping in the shops of the city centre on the open Advent Sundays. The Christmas Market lights up from 29 November to 29 December 2019.
STAY | Vienna House Easy Limburg
6. Berlin
The German capital is home to over 80 different Christmas markets. One of the most popular, open from 21 November to 31 December 2016, is the Weihnachtszauber am Gendarmenmarkt with artisanal stalls and a large show programme. For a more contemplative experience, we recommend a visit to the Lucia Christmas Market at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg. The richly decorated historic brick building makes for a romantic backdrop and a festive atmosphere from 25 November to 22 December.
Some of Berlin’s Christmas markets are even open on Christmas Eve.
STAY | andel’s by Vienna House Berlin | Vienna House Easy Berlin
7. Wetzlar
Christmas flair in Wetzlar conjures up an annual contemplative atmosphere on the Domplatz, Schillerplatz and Bahnhofstraße. The historical Christmas market shows the craftsmanship of the Middle Ages. On the large ice rink, small and large ice skaters will have a lot of fun. The magical Christmas flair can be visited from 28 November to 29 December. The ice rink is even open until 05 January 2020.
STAY | Vienna House Ernst Leitz Wetzlar
These are by far not all the wonderful markets of the Christmas season. In the next week further Christmas recommendations are waiting…