No place in the world does Christmas like Germany, from terrifying folklore
like Krampus to the more magical traditions like chugging glühwein in one
of the country's hundreds of Christmas markets. In this video I'll be counting
down my personal top 10 Christmas market destinations in Germany. Stay til the
end to see who snagged the top spot and be sure to let me know in the comments
which of your favorites I missed. And if you're new around here my name is
Christina from HappyToWander.com, compulsive Christmas market crasher and
full time travel blogger. Every winter, I hop around Europe in search of the best
Christmas markets and I can't wait to share them with you... but first if you
love Europe and practical travel tips, be sure to hit Subscribe for a new video
every week. Now follow me on a scenic journey through the most incredible
Christmas markets in Germany. Starting at number 10, we have the Christmas markets
in Aachen, Germany's westernmost city. It makes sense to start our list here given
one of the city's most famous exports, Printen, spiced cookies so beloved their
market mascot is even a giant one with a face. You'll find Christmas market stalls
sprinkled around the city with the main festivities clustered around the
beautiful City Hall and iconic Aachen Cathedral. Consecrated in 805 this is one
of the oldest cathedrals in Europe and the final resting place of Emperor
Charlemagne. It also makes a pretty backdrop for Christmas merrymaking, from
shopping for delightful handmade gifts, sipping glühwein in colourful little
boots, Aachen is one place where you'll find plenty of Christmas joy in one
compact package. Onwards to number nine, the Christmas market in Dortmund.
Dortmund's Christmas market is one that's full of superlatives. Not only is it one
of the biggest Christmas markets in Germany with over 300 stalls to browse,
its centerpiece is known as the largest Christmas tree in the entire world.
This 45 meter high tree weighs 40 thousand kilograms and consists of over
50,000 lights, lamps and ornaments, but that's not all...
With plenty of good food to eat and an array of shopping opportunities, the
Christmas market in Dortmund is a great one to visit especially if you like
Ferris wheel views. Number eight on the list is Düsseldorf, Germany's fashion
capital. If you're looking for a diverse range of Christmas markets in one
compact package, head to Düsseldorf where you'll find a golden angel market, a
handicrafts market, a fairytale market, and adorable painted stalls right along
the water. Not only is the shopping here fantastic, Düsseldorf makes a great base
for Christmas market exploration with easy access to Duisburg, known as the
longest Christmas market in Germany and Essen, home to one of the country's most
underrated Christmas markets. From here, you're also a stone's throw away from
Cologne, but we'll get to that one later.
Next at number 7, we have the Christmas markets in Stuttgart, home to Mercedes
Benz and Porsche, but also some of the prettiest Christmas market stalls in the
country. In fact, Stuttgart is one of the only cities in Germany to host
competitions for stall decor which means plenty of unique rooftops to gawk at,
along with a giant advent calendar at the city hall. You'll find unique themed
markets scattered around the city here including a Finnish Christmas village, and
an antique market right next door. Most importantly though, Stuttgart is a
well-connected transport hub that's close to a number of other wonderful
Christmas markets including the Baroque Christmas market of Ludwigsburg, the
pretty markets at Karlsruhe and the world-famous Medieval Market in
Esslingen which is so cool it's actually number 6 on our list. Located just 20
minutes away from Stuttgart, Esslingen is one of the prettiest small towns in
Germany with gorgeous half-timbered houses and two Christmas markets for
visitors to explore: the traditional Christmas market in Marktplatz
and the unique medieval Christmas market where commitment to theme knows no
bounds. A visit here is like a step back to the Middle Ages with vendors selling
all sorts of goods like furs, liquor in potion bottles, medieval toys, weapons and
of course plenty of food. With an extensive programme throughout the
season featuring over 500 programme points, there's always something
happening at this market. Little wonder why it nabbed the shiny title of best
Christmas city back in 2018. There's even a section for medieval carnival
games and a tiny hand-cranked ferris wheel. Next on the list we have number 5,
Monschau, a gorgeous gem in the Eifel region of Germany. On Advent weekends, this
quaint town is home to one of the most idyllic little Christmas markets in the
country with adorable decorations scattered around, a variety of handmade
goods for sale, and a gorgeous setting along the Rur River, this cozy Christmas
market is a must if you're looking for a magical atmosphere straight out of a
storybook. Sampling local sweets like Düchen and
Monschauer Vennbrocken is of course a must.
Number four on the list is Germany's capital city, Berlin. The main draw here
is variety. Berlin hosts over 60 Christmas markets throughout the season which
means you're spoiled for choice here when it comes to Yuletide joy. From
markets with royal backdrops like at Schloss Charlottenburg to a Christmas
market on top of an actual shopping mall parking lot, there's a little something
for everyone even if what you're looking for is a tattooed orange. Where else can
you slide down a hill in the center of town,
ice skate and hop on a giant Ferris wheel, or order beers in Santa's Hut that
come with their own tiny shots of jäger? When in Germany, right? Prost! From one big
city to the next, number three on our list is my adopted hometown of Munich.
I've already made a full video all about Munich's Christmas markets so be sure to
watch it for the full scoop but truly there's no place like Munich at
Christmastime. Here you can frolic around a traditional
Christmas market one second, visit a steampunk circus market the next, then
spend the night drinking away on the grounds of Oktoberfest. The best part is
that's just three of Munich's many markets. Among others you can also find
one in a royal palace courtyard, one immersed in medieval theme and even one
on a boat perched on a bridge. This endless variety and of course the beauty
of Munich as a backdrop is why I consider it one of the top three cities
in Germany for Christmas market fun. but what could I possibly love more than the
city I call home? Onwards to number two on my favourites list, Cologne. From an
Angels market where there are actual angels on stilts to a glorious winter
fairytale land studded with adorable gnomes and decor,
the attention to detail at Cologne's 7 Christmas markets is simply unmatched.
One of the most famous markets here even has the towering Cologne Cathedral as
its backdrop, the most visited attraction in Germany and one of the tallest
churches in the entire world, it's a landmark so beloved you can even get it
in waffle form. The variety of markets here along with the glorious attention
to detail is what makes Cologne one of the top places to visit in Germany
during Christmastime, if even just to collect all the different super fun mugs.
And finally, we have arrived at number one, my favourite destination in Germany
for Christmas markets - Dresden. Ongoing for almost 600 years, Dresden has the
honour of hosting the oldest Christmas market in Germany alongside the world's
tallest Christmas pyramid at over 40 metres. All this in one of Germany's most
breathtaking cities and it's impossible not to fall in love. From the
centuries-old Striezelmarkt where every stall is uniquely decorated to an
impressive multi-level medieval market where projections dance on the walls,
Dresden offers the perfect mix of Christmas market magic with markets
appealing to traditional, medieval, alternative and even international
sensibilities. But of course there are countless wonderful Christmas markets in
Germany that I didn't have time to show you from the famous markets of Frankfurt
and Mainz to the traditional markets in Nuremberg and even the quaint tiny
markets of Kempten and Obertsdorf. Truly the best part about Christmas time in
Germany is you're never far from a delightful market. So let me know in the
comments if I've missed any of your favourites or which of these you'd like
to see the most. Thanks for watching Smarties, be sure to hit that like button
if you enjoyed this video and subscribe for a new Europe video every week.
Until next week, byeeeee!