Curator’s statement
Nothing makes Christmas more magical than Christmas markets. NOT ONLY can you find a hand-crafted gift for anyone you could ever think of, you’re steps away from some of the most mouthwatering street food the world has to offer. Christmas markets create an atmosphere I have never experienced anywhere else, and, in my opinion, there’s no better place to go on a “market crawl” than Germany.
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Day 1: Arrive in Frankfurt
Frankfurt, 2017
Visit Frankfurt Christmas Market and explore the Altstadt.
Grab a bite at Jamy’s Burgers if you still have room!
Late afternoon excursion to Wiesbaden (a very American-friendly city) to explore Sternschnuppenmarkt
Return to Frankfurt for a nice overnight stay. Make sure to check out Naïv—one of my favorite places to grab a beer and flatbread.
Day 2: Heidelberg & Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, 2018
Head south for a morning stop in Heidelberg—a quintessential city along the Neckar River (~1 hr)
Visit Heidelberg’s Christmas Market and take in the view from the bridge
After a nice lunch, continue to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (~2.5 hrs total travel) to explore Reiterlesmarkt.
Rothenburg is a Medieval walled city chock full of half-timbered houses, and you can still walk the wall for a higher vantage point of the city. Be sure to pay attention to the big clock in the main square if you’re looking for an unexpected show.
Spend the night within the walls of the city for a real Medieval experience.
Day 3: Nuremberg (a must-see market)
Nuremberg, photo by Winston Tjia on Unsplash
Head East on a short transfer to Nuremberg (~1 hr)
Visit Christkindlesmarkt—one of the most famous markets in Europe. Nuremberg is known for its small brats, gingerbread, architecture, and its destruction during WWII. They’ve also been in the business of making toys for over 600 years. Spend the night here and enjoy the rebuilt city.
Day 4: The heart of Bavaria
Munich, photo by Daniel Seßler on Unsplash
Travel to Munich (~1–1.5 hrs) and explore two markets with their own unique style.
Start with Munich Christkindlmarkt. This is the oldest market in the city and has A LOT to see.
Later, stop by the Medieval market to get a more timeless experience. Vendors are dressed in Medieval costumes and you can warm up by one of the open fires.
Stay overnight in Munich and spend your last remaining hours the following day soaking up the atmosphere and grabbing those last minute gifts.
Need to know
Explore all the vendors and their mind-blowing goods—this is not like going to an outdoor retail store. Goods are made by small businesses and a lot of vendors are local to the respective market! It’s the perfect place to find a thoughtful, handmade gift for someone.
Eat! Intertwined with all the wares, you’ll find vendors selling bratwurst/currywurst, Käsespätzle “German mac and cheese”, assorted grilled meats, pretzels, potatoes in every form, or my favorite, flammkuchen—a pizza-like flat bread that can be had with a variety of toppings. I’d suggest bacon (speck), cheese, and onion.
Entertain the sweet tooth. Desserts are no joke here. You’ll start to smell the roasted, sugar-coated chestnuts before you even see the market. You’ll find crêpes, Lebkuchen (German gingerbread), marzipan, cookies, fried dough, strudel, and CHOCOLATE GALORE.
Enjoy a drink. No Christmas market is complete without glühwein—a hot mulled wine. The BEST part, and I admit a personal addiction, is the cups. Germans are serious about recycling and use the pfand system. Say a cup of glühwein costs €5. You are actually paying for the drink AND the cup. If you return the cup, you can get €2–3 back—this promotes recycling. However, I like to collect the ceramic cups. Each market has their own design and decoration. In addition to glühwein, you can also find eggnog, hot chocolate, and fruit punch.
Take in the sights. Markets are usually positioned in the altstadt (historic city center) of the respective city. Here you’ll find magnificent architecture and historic churches. The cities cover the square in lights and decorations, making for a magical experience.
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Jake Gorsky
Jake Gorsky
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