It’s not too late to plan a trip to Germany’s Christmas Markets – and with more than 2,500 all over the country there is plenty of choice.
The magic of the festive season is nowhere more evident than in Bavaria – one of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations. Christmas markets are held in cities, towns and villages throughout the region. The most famous one takes place in Nuremberg, but other cities like Coburg, Regensburg and Passau each offer a unique festive experience. The season runs throughout the Advent period, from the end of November to December 23.
In other parts of Germany, one of the oldest and most famous markets is the so-called Christkindlsmarkt in Nuremberg which is also home to Nurnberger Lebkuchen (gingerbread).
The so-called ‘Striezelmarkt’ in Dresden is Germany’s oldest Christmas Market, dating back to 1434. The name Striezelmarkt derives from ‘Hefestriezel’, a sweet delicacy which know is widely known as the ‘Christstollen’ (special German Christmas cake).
The city of Cologne (Koln) offers six Christmas markets in total attracting about two million visitors each year, while further information can be had from the website www.germany.travel.
