How to Get the Most from Your Visit to a Christmas Market monkeysandmountains.com /5-tips-for-going-to-a-german-christmas-market

These seven tips will make your visit to a German Christmas Market a magical one.

As a self-described Christmas market aficionado, who visits at least 20 Christmas markets each season, and authorof Bavaria’s Best Castles and Christmas Markets , I like to think I know my markets. Here are my best tips for gettingthe most from your visit.

1) Go at Night

Visit Christmas Markets at night when they’re at their most beautiful.

While Christmas Markets are open during the day, they are most beautiful at dusk and in the evening. The dancingsparkling lights enhance the already festive atmosphere, giving the market a magical feel.

2) Go to a Christmas Market Thirsty and Go Hungry

One of my favourite things about German Christmas markets are the food and mulled wine. It appears I’m not theonly one judging by the crowds hanging out by the food and wine stalls. You’ll find speciality food at GermanChristmas Markets some of which is only available at Christmas time, like the famous Lebkuchen (gingerbread)from Nürnberg or the Stollen cake from Dresden. Each area has its regional specialities as well. One staple that

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you’ll find at all Christmas markets in Germany is Glühwein (mulled wine). If you don’t drink, there’s alsoKinderpunsch, which is like warm Kool-Aid.

You’ll find lots of different traditional food specialities and Glühwein (mulled wine) at Christmas markets in Germany.

3) Visit at Least Three Different Christmas Markets

Each Christmas Market in Germany has a different ambience and usually specialises in something different. Youcan only reach the Christmas Market on Fraueninsel (Women’s Island) by taking a boat. It’s the only islandChristmas market in Germany. In Munich alone, you’ll find 17 different Christmas markets , ranging from the largestand most traditional one to a medieval one, to a handicraft one.

4) Visit a Christmas Market With Friends/Family

German Christmas Markets become a place to hang out with friends and family. People meet here instead ofheading to a restaurant or bar. They have an ambience you only find once a year so celebrate it. Note: dress warmbecause you may get cold if you’re outside for a couple of hours and wear fingerless gloves.

Christmas Market at the Chinese Tower in Munich

5)Seek Out Local Christmas Specialities

Some Christmas markets are famous for certain things. For example, the Nürnberg Christmas Market is known forits prune people and gingerbread. Oberammergau is known for its nativity scene wood carvings that are so smallthey fit inside a chestnut. These local specialities make great souvenirs and celebrate the regional differences.

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The Christmas Market in the Munich Residenz is just 1 of 17 markets in the city.

Nürnberg is famous for its prune people.

6) Wear fingerless gloves

Christmas markets can get hold and a great way to warm up is with a mug of Glühwein. I recommend fingerlessgloves (with or without a mitten flap cover – the choice is yours) to make the cup easier to hold and to take photoswhile keeping your hands warm.

7) Check the Schedule in Advance for Special Christmas Events

German Christmas Markets often have entertainment – think choirs, Christmas plays, puppet shows, and Germantraditions, to name a few of the things you might get lucky enough to see. For example, in Munich, the Krampus Run

is held in December near the oldest and largest Christmas market in Munich. It’s a 500-year old tradition of SaintNicholas and his mythological companion, Krampus, who resembles a monster, or a character from Fraggle Rock.

Krampus Run takes place in Munich each December.

What tips do you have for going to a German Christmas Market?

Check out my new book, Bavaria’s Top Castles and Christmas Markets, nowavailable on Kindle:

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This article was first published in December 2010 but was updated with more tips.

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