In Germany, Christmas markets are synonymous with the holiday season, and Deutschland is the perfect December destination for whatever holiday shopping you want to do. Whether you’re there to see architecturally stunning medieval towns decked out in sparkling fineries, nosh on traditional cookies and cakes like lebkuchen and pfeffernüsse, or get in the seasonal mood by taking in the decorated trees, ribboned wreaths, and twinkling lights on delightfully cramped roads and wide public squares—any kind of holiday shopping is going to feel fabelhaft (that’s fabulous in German) when you’re sipping on mulled wine in the shadow of a strikingly beautiful castle in Germany. Christmas markets all over the world chase after what Germany’s got down to a T—well, fine, European Christmas markets overall are in a class all their own, with Germany’s festive fairs among them—but there’s nothing like visiting the best of the best, right?
One of the finest ways to experience the holidays in Germany is a Christkindlmarkt (or Christmas market—or, if you’re hanging around Berlin, a Weihnachtsmarkt), with hundreds of stalls selling local snacks and gifts, live music by local choirs and orchestras, and carnival-worthy entertainment like ferris wheels and even performances of The Nutcracker—on stilts.
Read on for 19 of the best Germany Christmas markets to visit this year, and our recommendations for where to stay at each.
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