In Europe the Christmas Markets take over the town center, the market square, or the narrow, cobblestone streets and they all come alive in the dark of winter with festive decorated wooden stalls offering hot wine, regional food, Christmas decorations, sweet confections, toys, regional crafts and local entertainment.
Here we highlight some of the German Christmas markets, celebrating the magic of the season with holiday decorations and traditions such as Gingerbread, and Christmas Carols.
Winter is a wonderful time to visit the beautiful German Christmas markets. If you are looking for the best Christmas gifts, the wonderful smell of a Christmas tree or the sound of Christmas carols, check out the following with the whole family – the best Christmas markets in Germany.
AACHEN Christmas Market – 20th November – 23rd December
Just before Christmas the squares and streets round the Cathedral and the Aachen Town Hall are transformed into a paradise of lights, colors, festive sounds and seductive smells.. The fair offers an enormous choice of goodies big and small fascinating young and old alike.
Christkindelsmarkt – BADEN-BADEN – 23rd November – 31st December
Located in the world-famous green corridor “Lichtentaler Allee” at the start of Baden-Baden, visitors will encounter small streets of festive stalls, where thousands of shimmering lights create a romantic atmosphere. The entire experience is capped with wonderful entertainment catering to all ages.
BERLIN
One of the region’s largest and prettiest Christmas markets with around 100 stalls offering a selection of arts and crafts, Christmas decorations, handcrafted nativity scenes and more you are invited to marvel, browse and shop. Younger visitors enjoy Christmas treats, a children’s bakery, merry-go-rounds and a program of Christmas entertainment on the open-air stage.
The baroque Charlottenburg Palace in City West is a plush backdrop. Elaborate lights bathe the market, the palace, the trees and decorative fence of the palace in a romantic glow. The highlight is a pyramid in front of the palace’s main entrance.
Wood huts and tents, decorated with natural materials offer a wide range of crafts and impressive culinary choices. In addition to traditional stalls selling hot chestnuts, crepes or Hungarian langos, many hotels and restaurants from Berlin and Brandenburg offer fine dining in heated tents.
The Winterwald (winter forest) in front of the small orangery offers magical attractions for children, including a carousel, an air swing and a small railway. In the digitalmarketingwar.com (fairy tale tent) little ones can make their own arts and crafts. Combine a visit to the market with a palace tour or walk through its garden.
COLOGNE – 23 November – 23 December 2015
In Cologne the magic of Christmas can be felt throughout the festively decorated city. The scent of baked apples, cinnamon biscuits and mulled wine drifts through the alleys. You will be enchanted with Cologne’s Christmas Markets that draw millions of visitors from around the world. The larger markets in the downtown and the small markets throughout the town offer different themes and invite you to stroll, shop and explore.
DRESDEN – 26th November – 24th December
If you like Christmas, you’ll love Dresden with its eleven completely different Christmas markets, from traditional stalls to the charm of après ski alpine huts. Dresden’s churches brim with festive insider tips, from the many oratorios, Advent, organ and gospel concerts, holiday sounds fill the air throughout the city.