Heidelberg Christmas market, Germany
Almost every town and city in Germany hosts one or more Christmas markets and with its strategic location and excellent transport links, Frankfurt makes a good choice for seasonal shoppers, with easy access to the Rhine Valley, Bavaria and the Black Forest. Get your fill of Christmas spirit by adding these five Christmas markets around Frankfurt to your itinerary.
1. Frankfurt
Frankfurt’s own Christmas market, the Weihnachtsmarkt, is a good place to start – one of Germany’s oldest and most renowned markets. Located on the central Römerberg beneath an enormous glittering Christmas tree, the market has more than 200 stalls, where you can indulge in Frankfurt specialties like Apple wine and Bethmännchen (marzipan sweets), listen to nightly carol concerts or climb to the balcony of St. Nicholas Church for a view of the illuminations.
2. Heidelberg
With its grand medieval castle looming on the hillside above the market, Heidelberg makes an atmospheric location for Christmas shopping and the vast market stretches over five city squares — Kornmarkt, Marktplatz, Universitätsplatz, Anatomiegarten and Bismarckplatz. The stalls are heaped with ornate Christmas decorations, hand-blown glass ornaments, ceramics, woodcrafts and candles, plus there’s an open-air ice rink and a myriad of seasonal foods from roasted almonds and cinnamon-infused gingerbread to Flammkuchen (pizza-like flatbread) and bratwurst.
3. Mainz
With its elaborate nativity scenes, 11-meter tall Christmas pyramid and numerous crafts workshops, the Christmas fair at Mainz is one of the region’s most traditional, with stalls set out beneath the magnificent St. Martin’s Cathedral. Couple your visit with a carol concert at the cathedral, print your own Christmas card at the Gutenberg Museum printing shop, then warm up with a cup of mulled wine in the cozy Christmas Village.
4. Wurzburg
The medieval Old Town of Würzburg is particularly enchanting during the Christmas season, with more than 100 beautifully decorated stalls, a special Christmas Express train and an area dedicated to showcasing traditional German crafts.
5. Nuremberg
Around two-hours drive from Frankfurt, exploring Nuremberg’s Christmas market is best done as part of a day tour, but this is one of the biggest in Germany so it’s well worth the journey. World renowned for its toy factories, Nuremberg is an excellent place to shop for toys and games, but make sure you fill up on delicious Nuremberg sausages and Lebkuchen (gingerbread) too and take home a Nuremberg ‘Rauschgoldengel’ – the city’s most iconic tree ornament.
Top 5 Christmas Markets Around Frankfurt from Germany Things to Do