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Starting in the north, Hamburg's Christmas markets do the festive season like a seasoned professional. The star is the Rathausmarkt, a labyrinth of stalls framed by the city's grand town hall. Here, it's all about handmade trinkets, steaming mugs of Glühwein, and Bratwurst by the bucketload. In true Hamburg fashion, there's also a touch of maritime cheer – Fleetinsel Market hugs the canals, giving you a side of historic charm with your cinnamon biscuits.
In the south, Munich leads the charge with its iconic Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz. Set against the backdrop of the city's neo-Gothic town hall, this market is a masterclass in Bavarian Christmas tradition. Think quaint wooden chalets and as much gingerbread as your belt loops permit.
Dresden's Striezelmarkt
Landeshauptstadt Dresden, Amt für Wirtschaftsförderung/Sylvio Dittrich
Over in the east, Dresden's Striezelmarkt is the grandpa of all Christmas markets, dating back to 1434. That's nearly 600 years of festive cheer, so you can trust the Saxons to do it properly. Here, you'll find stollen – a dense, fruit-filled cake harking back to the 14th century made to honour princes and church dignitaries. Pair it with some mulled wine and a wander through the medieval Altmarkt, and you'll feel like you've stepped back in time, albeit with significantly more fairy lights.
If you head west to Cologne, you’ll find Christmas is celebrated on a grand scale. The cathedral market is pure gothic drama, with the twin spires of Cologne Cathedral towering over a sea of twinkling lights and artisan stalls. For something more whimsical, the Heinzels Wintermärchen is themed around Cologne's legendary elves and comes complete with an ice rink, handmade gifts, and waffles so good you'll feel hard done by just consuming the one.
Down in Bavaria is Berchtesgaden, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, where the Christmas market is an ode to all things Bavarian: hearty food, festive folk music, and stalls showcasing local artisanal treasures. Villages like Triberg and Gengenbach are nestled among towering evergreens, their markets brimming with handmade gifts, fragrant pine garlands, and steaming mugs of spiced apple cider.
Harz Mountains
GNTB / Michael Neumann
If you've got your fill of Christmas markets, there are also plenty of winter activities to burn off the stollen. Head to the Harz Mountains in Lower Saxony to explore the snowy trails for cross-country skiing or hiking in a region steeped in folklore and medieval towns. Or, equally, head to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria for a spot of skiing and alpine charm.
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