When December arrives, and the air gets frosty and cold, Christmas arrives. With it, cities become alive magic – and what better place to experience this than Christmas Markets.
I have a tradition to visit a different Christmas Market each year. Thus far I have been to markets in Paris, Vienna, Bremen, Berlin, Prague, Edinburgh and London. This year, there seemed to be no place better than the Nuremberg Christmas Market – one of the oldest and most famous Christmas Markets in Europe.
Table of Contents
Overview
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt dates back to the mid 16th century and is set in Nuremberg’s central square, or Hauptmarkt. It’s atmosphere sure did not disappoint, featuring beautiful wooden stalls filled with handmade decor, candles, Christmas ornaments and delectable food. The air was filled with the aroma of gingerbread, mulled wine, bratwurst, and (my personal favourite), chocolate covered strawberries. The surroundings were further complete with beautiful medieval buildings and a stunning fountain, enhancing the magical atmosphere of this market.
In addition to the main market, Nuremberg also had two other Christmas markets – the Sister Cities Market, and Kids Market. The former featured beautiful craft and food from all over the world, and the latter had craft activities, a ferris wheel, and other activity filled stalls.
Tips for Visiting the Nuremberg Christmas Market
Did you know?
Nuremberg is known for their gingerbread and some even consider it to be the “gingerbread capital of the world”. The local people have been baking their gingerbread, called Lebkuchen, for more than 600 years. The recipe for Lebkuchen was traditionally a closely guarded secret passed down through generations.
- The Christmas Markets are open from late November usually until the 24th of December. Avoid visiting the markets on the weekend as crowds can become quite large (and especially avoid the the weekend right before Christmas – which was when I went (whoops))
- Arrive early to avoid crowds as they build over the day
- Nuremberg can get quite cold in December, and it even snowed whilst we were warm so bring proper clothes and accessories to stay warm
- Bring cash as many stalls do not accept card, or have a minimum spend
- As a sustainability initiative, the cups serving mulled wine and plates for food charge a deposit, which is returned when the utensils are, so bring change
Where to Stay
The number one recommendation I have is to stay close to the Nuremberg Christmas Markets as the atmosphere there is beautiful and it makes visiting them very easy. Nuremberg is quite walkable though, so do not worry too much about your hotel’s location.
Hotel recommendation: Karl August (a lovely boutique luxury hotel right situated right outside the Christmas markets with lovely spacious rooms, a great cafe downstairs where you can grab breakfast and coffee, and super friendly staff/amazing service)
Best Places to Eat
- Christmas Market Food!
- Cafe Pique Nique: A lovely café owned by the Karl August Hotel, with delicious pastries, coffee and wonderful place to sit and reset.
- Kokono: Absolutely delicious Pan-Asian cuisine, with a huge vegetarian selection as well. We ended up going there more than once!
- Alex: Great for a late night snack and drink, as it is open till 00:00 or 02:00am (on the weekends).
- Cafe and Bar Celona: Great party style environment, but can get quite busy! Highly recommend their a-la-carte Sunday breakfast.
Other things to do in Nuremberg
Other than visiting the Nuremberg Christmas Markets, Nuremberg also has numerous other activities and sights to see.
1. Visit the Germanisches Nationalmuseum
The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is Nuremberg is full of immense history, hosting ca. 1.3 million objects, beautiful exhibitions and is well-worth a visit, even if your trip is short.
Nuremberg was a very important city at the end of WWII as it hosted the Nuremberg trials, where prominent Nazi leaders were tried for war, peace and crimes against humanity. The Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg therefore has some very powerful human rights exhibitions, as well as being home to the UN Human Rights Pillars.
Highlights of the museum also include works of famous artists like Albrecht Dürer, Veit Stoß and Rembrandt, the oldest surviving terrestrial globe in the world, and the first pocket watch ever created.
“It is home to the largest collection of historical musical instruments in Europe, and is considered the largest cultural-historical museum in the German-speaking world” (Tourismus).
2. Tour Nuremberg on the Bimmelbahn Train
Take the Bimmelbahn Train and see all of Nuremberg Old Town’s best sights within 45 minutes, with full-audio guidance in English, German and numerous other languages. During winter, the train even journeys through some of the Nuremberg Christmas Markets.
You can get tickets, through GetYourGuide here.
3. Go Shopping in Nuremberg’s department stores, and street shops
Nuremberg has great places to shop, including large department stores and on-street shopping. You will find a mix of some of the biggest names in luxury, as well as quaint independent stores.
The main luxury shopping street is Kaiserstraße, where you will find the biggest fashion labels and exclusive designs. The other main shopping street is the Breite Gasse, home to younger, more eccentric brands.
Note: The Nuremberg Christmas Markets spread across the town, so some of these streets may be busier than usual in Mid-November – December.
4. Visit the house of Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), one of Germany’s most famous painters
Albrecht Dürer, one of Germany’s most famous artists (painter and printmaker), and theorist of the Renaissance, was from Nuremberg. You can tour the house where he lived and worked for almost 20 years.
Did you know? “This is not only one of the few surviving burgher houses from Nuremberg’s golden age, but even more significantly, it is the only surviving 15th century artist’s house in Northern Europe” (Nuremberg Museums).
5. Tour the Faber-Castell Museum and Castle
Faber-Castell, is a German family-owned, but globally revered, pencil and stationary brand. You can tour the Faber-Castell museum, castle and production centre in Stein, just outside of Nuremberg. A must visit for any stationary, history or business operations lover.
Note: You can only visit the Faber-Castell castle, production and museum with a guided tour / reservation, so make sure to book ahead using this link if you want to go.
All in all, a trip to Nuremberg is well worth a visit. Not only do the Nuremberg Christmas Markets truly bring the magic of the season to life, the city also has a host of other things to do and see! Nuremberg’s enchanting atmosphere is the perfect place for a quick getaway.
