Venue
Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany
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Christmas Markets in Germany guide
Four historic markets, one Advent trip.
In short
German Christmas markets suit travellers happy to linger in cold squares for gingerbread, mulled wine and craft stalls. In 2026 Cologne opens first on 16 November, then Munich, Dresden and Nuremberg, all closing by Christmas Eve. Pair Nuremberg with Munich by train, and book old-town hotels early for Advent weekends.
Every Advent, German towns fill their main squares with wooden huts selling mulled wine, gingerbread, roasted almonds and hand-made decorations. The Christmas market is a tradition that reaches back to the late Middle Ages, and in many cities it is still held on the same square it has occupied for centuries.
The big four for most visitors are Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt on the Hauptmarkt, Dresden's Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt, the market in front of Cologne Cathedral and Munich's Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz. Each has its own character, its own food and its own way of opening the season.
The markets work best as part of a slow trip. Trains link the big cities in a few hours, so it is easy to see two or three in a week, spending the day in museums and churches and the evening among the stalls once the lights come on.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Ends: Thursday, 24 December 2026
Where: Germany
Venue: Hauptmarkt
Held: Every year
Type of event: Cultural Events, Winter Festivals, Fair
Currency: Euro (EUR, €)
Time zone: Central European Time, UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer)
Language: German
Map
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
Timing, cash and travelling between cities
A few habits make the evenings easier.
- Timing
- arrive in daylight to see the stalls, stay as the lights come on, and avoid Saturday evenings if you dislike crowds.
- Valuables
- keep wallets and phones in zipped inner pockets; packed lanes between huts are where pickpockets work.
- Trains
- book long-distance Deutsche Bahn tickets early for cheaper fares, and allow for busy trains on Advent weekends.
- Cash
- keep small change for food, drink and mug deposits.
Keeping warm while standing outdoors
Most of the time at a market is spent standing still on cold stone, which chills you faster than walking.
- A warm, waterproof coat and a hat, as drizzle is as likely as frost.
- Thick-soled shoes or boots; cobbles get slippery when wet or icy.
- Gloves you can take off easily to hold a hot mug.
- Go inside regularly: a café, church or museum between rounds of the stalls.
What happens on the day
- Mid to late November
Markets open
Cologne opens first in 2026, followed by Munich, Dresden and Nuremberg over the next eleven days.
- 22 November 2026
Totensonntag
Some markets stay closed for the day of remembrance.
- Advent weekends
Busiest days
Saturday evenings draw the largest crowds; weekday afternoons are quiet.
- 23 to 24 December
Closing
Markets shut, most of them early on Christmas Eve afternoon.
Choosing two or three cities to visit
Pick two or three cities. Nuremberg and Munich are about an hour apart by high-speed train, which makes them an easy pair in Bavaria. Dresden sits in the east and suits a trip that adds Saxony; Cologne in the west pairs well with the Rhine. Opening dates differ by city, so check that your days overlap with each market you want.
Hotels in the old towns fill early for Advent weekends, and prices rise accordingly. Midweek stays are cheaper and the squares are calmer. For the rest of the country, our Germany travel page is the place to start.
How Christmas markets developed from medieval fairs
Christmas markets grew out of the winter fairs of late medieval German towns, where people stocked up on food and goods before the cold set in. Dresden's Striezelmarkt, now in its 592nd year, is one of the earliest recorded examples, and Nuremberg's market is among the oldest and best known.
The Reformation shaped the season too. Martin Luther promoted the idea of the Christkind bringing gifts on Christmas Eve, replacing St Nicholas on 6 December, which is why the Christkind still opens the Nuremberg market and the stalls close on 24 December.
The basic form has hardly changed: wooden huts on the main square, local crafts, seasonal baking and something hot to drink, set against the churches and town halls the markets have stood beside for centuries.
Getting there
Flying in
Munich and Frankfurt are the main international gateways, with Cologne Bonn, Nuremberg and Dresden airports for shorter connections.
Between cities
Deutsche Bahn high-speed trains link the market cities; Nuremberg to Munich takes about an hour.
In town
All four markets are in the old town and within walking distance or a short tram or U-Bahn ride of the main station.
Where to stay during the festival
Stay in or near each old town so you can walk back after the evening at the stalls. Rooms close to the markets are the first to go for Advent weekends.
If you plan several cities, base yourself in one or two and make day trips by train, so you are not moving hotel every night.
Weather and what to pack
December in Germany is cold, grey and often damp, with snow far from certain. Munich's 1991-2020 normals give December an average daily high of 4.8°C and a low of -0.8°C, with about 58.5 mm of precipitation and only around 66 hours of sunshine in the month.
Expect early darkness, frost on clear nights and drizzle as often as snow.
Worth packing
- A warm waterproof coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- Shoes with grippy soles for wet cobbles
- Euros in small notes and coins
- A tote bag for gifts and gingerbread
Car hire in Germany
Airport transfer to Christmas Markets in Germany
Met at arrivals at Munich Airport (MUC) and driven door to door to Hauptmarkt.
- Munich Airport (MUC) → Hauptmarkt
- 159 km · 1 hr 45 min
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General
Dresden's Striezelmarkt is described by the city as Germany's oldest. The 2026 market is its 592nd, which takes its history back to the first half of the fifteenth century.
Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt is usually named as the largest, and it is certainly one of the oldest and best known anywhere in the world.
The Christkind is a young woman chosen to represent the Christmas gift-bringer, dressed in gold with a crown. She opens the market with a prologue from the gallery of the Frauenkirche, and the custom of the Christkind bringing gifts on Christmas Eve is linked to Martin Luther, who moved gift-giving away from St Nicholas' Day on 6 December.
Striezel is an old local name for Stollen, the fruit and butter loaf dusted with icing sugar. Dresden's market takes its name from it, and Dresden Stollen is the city's best-known Christmas bake.
Yes. The squares are public, and you only pay for what you eat, drink or buy. Separate attractions such as cathedral interiors or towers may charge their own admission.
Each city has its speciality. In Nuremberg it is the small Nürnberger Rostbratwurst, usually three in a bread roll, and Lebkuchen. In Dresden it is Stollen. Everywhere you will find roasted almonds, potato pancakes and hot drinks.
Weekday afternoons are the quietest. Friday and Saturday evenings bring large crowds, especially in Cologne and Nuremberg, which draw coach parties from across Germany and neighbouring countries.
Timing & weather
No. The traditional markets close on Christmas Eve, usually early in the afternoon, and stay shut on 25 December. Some separate winter markets in the bigger cities carry on into the new year.
22 November 2026 is Totensonntag, the Protestant day of remembrance for the dead, and several markets, including those in Munich and Cologne, do not open that day.
Prices & payment
Yes, Glühwein is served in a ceramic mug with a deposit added to the price. Return it to any stall of that market to get the deposit back, or keep it as a souvenir; many markets design a new mug every year.
More stalls take cards every year, but many small traders still prefer cash. Carry euros in small notes and coins, especially for food and drink.