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Christmas Market Reviews I went to the 2006 Christmas Markets in Germany, and I had such an amazing time! Make sure you go to the markets early - I didn't realise that some close up to a week before Christmas! I went to a few around Munich - Tollwood was great, very big, but also seemed more like a normal market. Marienplatz was beautiful, the tree outside the glockenspiel - wow! I went to the top of a bookshop opposite it, and you can see the whole market from the top, great views! But my favourite was the market at Chinesische Turm. It was smaller, but had such a friendly and romantic atmosphere. Because it was small, there were carts drawn by fairy tale -esq white horses. And the gluhwein/kinderpunsch is the best. Usually (at least at all the markts i went to), you can keep the mug which you get the gluhwein in. Definatley keep it. It might cost you a few extra euros, but it's worth it. I realised this at the end, and I only got a mug with penguins...so make sure you keep them! And try to go to a midnight mass, even if your not religious. Its such an amazing experience!
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Catherine
This year (2007) has been my first Christmas in Germany. The Christmas Markets have made the season special. The Nürnberg market was truly wonderful, but don't forget it's neighbour town Fürth. There are two markets in Fürth. The main market includes an ice rink and a mini train for the kids. The old town market is smaller and has mostly hand-made items (some made right there while you wait). It also features scheduled musical events. And for you mug collectors, each Fürth market has it's own mug.
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Lillian
I just got back from my visit in Esslingen (Dec. 2007) and liked the medieval theme to a section of this market. Lots of things for kids to do and unique food and vender items too - Definitely worth the visit - you should climb the steps to the top of the wall of the city at dusk for the view when the lights go on.
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LA Trageser
Just back from a fantastic day out in Dortmund! After reading this site, we (four ladies) decided to take ourselves to Dortmund with Easyjet from Luton. When we arrived in Dortmund, we got a taxi with total ease and paid 20 euro, cheaper than we were told to expect, to go straight to the markets. And WOW! Grab yourself a free map (blue booklet), although if you basically travel in a massive circle you can't go wrong, to see all 350 stalls. There were lots of different types of stall, plenty of food and drinks, and the tree, what can I say, it really was breath taking. It's amazing, I have never seen such a thing before. The stall holders were friendly, spoke great English and did things like gift wrapping for free. We spent from 11-4.:30, and still could've spent more time there. The atmosphere was relaxed no one was rushing about, you can look and dawdle without any pressure at all. And the same taxi driver picked us up for the short journey back to the airport. Next year, we'll try Munster, just for a different city, but I can absolutely recommend Dortmund to anyone. What fun! FirstName.
Jackie
Went to Dortmund last year what can i say GREAT! We were booked into a Best Western for one night but easy jet cancelled our flight back and they paid for the extra night!! A group of twelve of us went and we all loved it, the women the shopping and the men plenty of small bars to stop and have a coke (you know what i mean). The Christmas Markets were great specially at night and friendly people. You can eat and drink to your hearts content walking round the markets we loved it, of to Berlin this year to try there if it's as good as Dortmund should be great RECOMMENDED!!!
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Simon
We make it a habit to travel to Europe 3 times a year. I have been and seen all of the wonderful tastes and sights but this was the most fabulous of trips. It was charming and every market looked just like a postcard. I plan to return every year to the Christmas markets. Heidelberg always on the agenda. First Name. Robin
My husband and I enjoyed the Christmas markets so much last December, we are returning this year. Being in Germany at Christmas time was an indescribable feeling. The smell of the wine and cookies, the very friendly citizens of Germany, the beautiful historic atmosphere, all were unbelievable. A friend had told me that "no one does Christmas like Germany." She was very right! We had such a great time, we will never forget it! Oh, I almost forgot, but cant believe I did, The FOOD! Every restaurant was phenomenal! I cant say enough good things about our experience in Germany. First Name.
Ryan & April
Our first trip to the Christmas Markets took place in 2004. We started our tour in Frankfurt. The beautiful square with its tremendous tree immediately put us into the holiday spirit. It is here we discovered one of the best souvenirs you can get from the markets - the Gluwein mug. Each market has its own design, color and sometimes shape. In all we collected 11. Freiburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg... Nuremberg, being the largest and most famous of the markets truly lived up to its reputation. From the main market in the central square to the smaller but charming international market, all were a delight. Being so large you would expect people to be in a gruff mood but the Christmas spirit prevails. Add that to the regular attractions of the city and you have a truly memorable experience. Smaller markets in Bamberg, Coburg, Fussen and other small towns offer a more traditional experience with yet more gluwein, mugs and countless decorations. 2006 marks our second trip to the markets with hopefully many more to follow. We start in Vienna with a cruise on the Danube to Nuremberg where we pick up a car and drive up the Romantic Road, over to the Rhine, quick stop in Brussels, then finish off with Bonn, Koln & Dusseldorf. I'm looking forward to it and many more mugs. I can't recommend the markets enough. First Name.
Mario
Although each and every Christmas market is unique in itself and each has something to offer to someone, my personal taste is Rothenburg. For years it has been a destination for the family to go. It is small enough to be cozy and yet big enough to not get bored. What a lovely Bavarian town anyway. Go see it!! First Name.
Steven
I have been to the German xmas markets three times. Germany, in December, is truly beautiful. The houses are all decked out with lights and window decorations and almost every town has some sort of christmas market. Our trips have been based along the Moselle and Rhine rivers, taking in places such as Koblenz, Trier and Rudesheim. Koblenz is a smaller market, with approx 100 stalls and a small ice rink. Trier, with its imposing Porta Negra (a roman ruin of the original city wall) is larger. Rudesheim is my favourite, the journey along the Rhine is gorgeous and you strain to take it all in! The `streets` of Rudesheim are narrow and have many, many shops along them. The stalls are strewn all over the town centre but easily lead on from one another and sell the most beautiful hand crafted gifts. The smell of the gluhwein and food cooking, people meeting up to chat, the music played by bands, the live nativity scene, its what christmas should be about!!! If you need to warm up, try the Rudesheimer coffee..but only when you are going straig! ht back to the coach..it will blow your head off!! Enjoy your trip, wherever you go, and look in awe at the magic of christmas because it still exists in Germany!! First Name.
Lynn 
Heidelberg is really fun and it is very
beautiful. I recommend that everyone go there because it's just so
beautiful and fun. During Christmas there are festivals and markets. At
the festivals you can go on rides and get food and drinks, it's great
for kids and adults. Now, at the markets you can go shopping for lots of
Christmas stuff and other things, There you can also get food and
drinks. First Name.
Sasha
We went with Moswin Tours last year to Cologne Christmas Market and it was a wonderful experience. It was our first trip to the Christmas Markets and we were advised by Moswin that Cologne would be an excellent starting point, as they have a wide range of markets throughout the city. How right they were - Cologne was excellent and the fact they had six different markets made the whole trip even better. I would certainly recommend Cologne for anyone wishing to visit the Christmas Markets in Germany. First Name.
Janine
Christmas in Germany appears to be more traditional than here in England. The markets are superb, a real treat. In Stuttgart the markets covered a wide area in the Zentrum. The roofs of the stalls were a feast themselves, festively decorated with Xmas scenes. The stalls are lovely too with lots of crafts, ideal for presents. First Name. Millie
Discovering Bernkastel Kues was definately one of the
highlights of my summer holiday this year. We were based in a lodge in Thalfang
and from there could easily reach places such as Trier and Cologne. What we
hadn't expected was the beauty of Bernkastel Kues, it was breathtaking. The
village was like something out of a picture book. The food was fabulous, it
seemed that a healthy salad was served with every meal we had, regardless of the
location of the restaurants. The weather was wonderful and popping into the
cellars to buy locally produced wine was a real treat. I still have a bottle
that I've kept, it has a picture of the slanting house where we purchased it. We
loved it so much we have decided to go back for a Xmas market. Is it possible it
could be even more spectacular at Xmas. First Name. Julie
We started our trip by catching the 17:30 ferry from Dover (it
was half an hour late) and making our way to the first nights stop at Lille (1
hour), next day we did the longest part of the trip to Cologne (4 hours), here
we were based for three nights. We travelled on free motorways through France,
Belgium and Germany only using main roads to go into the different towns. Day
one ; was to Monschau an olde world German village with loads of charm and
character, continuing on to Ahrweiler another small town, we then aimed for
Bonn. On the way we stopped at the small village of Remagen on the banks of the
Rhine, here we saw a Xmas market put on by the villagers for the locals not a
tourist in sight. Bonn as befits a large city had a big Xmas market, this
together with the shops made it a good place to visit, it even had an open air
ice skating rink at the end of the market. Day two; we spent looking around the
four xmas markets in Cologne the most popular city for tourists, the markets
were the Dom (beside Cologne cathedral, Alt (old ), neu (new) and the Rudolf.
Most of these markets being Sunday were bursting at the seams full of tourists
and locals on their day off. Day three; It was the turn of Aachen again as the
shops were open everybody found something to their liking. First Name. Harry
The atmosphere is festive and the crowds enormous. Everybody in town, and from the surrounding countryside, seems to show up to have a good time and look for some Christmas items. Some of the stalls the stalls carry very inexpensive ornaments and even small figures made of prunes and nuts, (Yes prunes!). Other stalls sell more interesting and expensive Christmas products and toys. Different cities have different specialties and different sized Christmas markets. As one would expect in Germany, the whole process is well-organized. Some of the stores accept credit cards for more expensive items and English is widely spoken. The biggest and best Christmas market is certainly Nuremberg. Surprisingly, the market in Munich was not as large as in some other cities nor was the selection of items as extensive. Some of the markets in smaller sized cities, particularly Ulm, had interesting collections of locally produced Christmas handicrafts, particularly glass. One of the larger Christmas stores from Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Kathy Wolfart, had stalls at several markets. First Name. John
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