Oh, the joys of the holiday season. That special time of year when the weather gets colder, people come out to celebrate, and everyone just seems genuinely happier. Nowhere in the world is this Christmas joy more prevalent than at a German Christmas Market!
Visiting a German Christmas Market is the quintessential Christmas activity. In my opinion, it represents the true spirit of the holiday season! The Christmas Markets are all about gathering with friends and family and sharing a drink together after work or over the weekend. They are about purchasing one-of-a-kind meaningful gifts to exchange with your loved ones, or collecting special trinkets to add to your holiday decor. They are about embracing the simple joys of the season, such as the twinkling lights, mulled wine, and irresistible food. Basically, they serve as a reminder to what this time of year is really about; spending quality time with friends and family and enjoying the festivities that go along with the Christmas season.
Ryan and I have visited three Christmas Markets during our time here in Germany, none of which have disappointed us! We have been to the one in Magdeburg, Stuttgart, and now Leipzig. Spending an afternoon strolling the various huts and eating our way through the city is something we look forward to every single year. Visiting the Christmas Market is a sure way to get you in the holiday spirit, and the cheerfulness is contagious. It has become one of our favorite parts about living in Germany and it’s something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime! It’s the perfect way to celebrate Christmas authentically and truly embrace some of the old holiday traditions. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in Germany during the holiday season, here are the 8 things you MUST do while visiting a German Christmas Market.
8 Things You Must Do At A German Christmas Market:
8. Dress Warm
This time of year in Germany can be COLD! Make sure you dress in layers and bring a hat, scarf and gloves. Believe me when I tell you, if you are not dressed properly for the weather, no amount of glühwein will warm your soul!
7. Bring Cash
As with many places in Germany, and Europe in general, cash is King! So, make sure you are fully prepared with cash before you arrive at the Market, since I am positive you’ll be temped to buy or eat something rather quickly. Seeking out an ATM can sometimes be quite the challenge- especially when you are navigating through large crowds, so save yourself the headache and stop at a bank before you arrive.
6. Buy some Lebkuchen
A classic German treat! These are spice cookies, very similar to gingerbread, and are usually found in the form of a giant heart with a cute or funny phrase written on them. These are always found at the Christmas Markets and are staples at all German festivals. I must admit, they look much better than they taste! However, it’s one of those things you “just gotta get”.
5. Ride the Ferris Wheel
Most German Christmas Markets have family-friendly elements such as Ferris wheels, carousels, and even smaller roller coasters. Even if you do not have kids of your own, you definitely do not want to miss out on riding the Ferris wheel! Especially if you are visiting the Market at nighttime, be sure to take a ride on the Ferris wheel to get the best view of the city. It is so beautiful to see the city all lit up at night, it really comes to life!
4. Buy A Few Ornaments or Decorations
If there is one place in the world where you should stock up on some Christmas ornaments or decorations, this is it! Craftsmen sell one-of-a-kind trinkets, woodworkers display handcrafted nutcrackers, and glassblowers showcase their beautiful ornaments. Many of the items that you will find are handmade locally and are unique pieces that you will never find anywhere else. If you buy one, single item at a German Christmas Market, let it be something like this. You’ll forever have the memory of your awesome trip to Germany, while also being able to display a one-of-a-kind holiday item!
3. Eat…And Eat…And Eat Some More
The food and drink stands are plentiful at all German Christmas Markets. Definitely do not eat before your visit to the Market, or you’ll have some serious regrets! You can easily eat your way through the Market and fill up on all the delicious food choices that are available. In all honesty, no matter what you get, chances are it’s going to be super yummy. You can’t really go wrong here! However, if you are looking for some recommendations, here are a few of our favorite items: Wursts, Spanferkel, Steckerlfisch, Flammkuchen, Pfannkuchen, Gebrannte Mandeln, Candies and Chocolates, Stollen, and Crepes. (I’m definitely drooling while typing this haha).
2. Drink Glühwein
If you decide to visit a German Christmas Market, there is only one thing you should be drinking…GLÜHWEIN! Sure, you can find beer, soda, wine, hot chocolate, coffee, and other yummy drinks, but anything other than glühwein is just wrong! Glühwein is a mulled red wine that is served hot, and it is definitely the beverage of choice amongst the Germans during Christmas time. It’s alcoholic, plus it keeps you warm on those chilly nights. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
1. Collect The Market Mug
While we’re on the topic of drinking glühwein, probably one of the coolest things about the German Christmas Markets is their signature mug. At nearly every city’s Christmas Market, glühwein will be served in a collectible mug. A lot of the time, these mugs have a picture of the city on them, along with the name and year. These mugs are always so beautiful, festive, and they make the BEST souvenirs or collectibles!
So here’s how you get a mug: when you order your beverage, you will pay for both the drink and the deposit on the mug. If you return the mug when you are finished with your drink, you will get your deposit back. If you want to keep your mug for the price of the deposit, you simply just refrain from returning it and you take it home as a souvenir! Most of the time, the mug deposits are around 2.50€ so in my opinion, that’s a fantastic “price” to pay for such a cool item!
Ahh, Christmas in Germany. It looks absolutely stunning, doesn’t it? And I’ll let you in on a little secret here…it truly is breathtaking! As much as I absolutely adore being in Germany during Christmas time, there is nothing quite like being home for the holidays. This year, Ryan and I are lucky enough to be able to spend the holidays with our families back home in the States! With that being said, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope you all are spending time with loved ones, baking delicious holiday treats, and taking some well-deserved vacation time. We are definitely doing all of the above and soaking up every second of it!
Happy Holidays!
Are you visiting Germany for the first time? Be sure to check out my post, Visiting Germany: What You Need To Know. It’s full of great information, super helpful, and will also hopefully give you a good laugh!
