When Are German Christmas Markets Open?
Most German Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte or Christkindlesmärkte) open on the Monday or Friday before the first Sunday of Advent (late November) and close on the afternoon of December 23 or noon on December 24. Very few remain open between Christmas and New Year's, so plan your trip between November 27 and December 22.
Top 6 Christmas Markets in Germany
- Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt: Famous for Elisenlebkuchen, Drei im Weggla sausages, and red-and-white cloth stalls.
- Dresden Striezelmarkt (est. 1434): Germany's oldest market, known for wooden Erzgebirge pyramids and Christstollen.
- Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market: Set right beneath the illuminated twin spires of the Cologne Cathedral (Dom St. Peter).
- Stuttgart & Esslingen: Ornate rooftop stall displays in Stuttgart paired with Esslingen's torchlit medieval market.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber Reiterlesmarkt: Half-timbered medieval fairy-tale setting.
- Munich Marienplatz & Residenz Village: Alpine brass bands and Bavarian woodcraft.