Does anyone know the best Christmas markets in Germany? I will be there in Nov/Dec and can only visit a few. Thanks

I think there must be a long thread on this site if you type in "Christmas markets". It tells you all about the Gluehwein and the sticky toffee apples etc. you can get there.<BR>My all-time favourite is Stuttgart - I think it must also be the largest.<BR>It's always on the Market Square by the City Hall, overlapping into side-streets around the Old Castle.<BR>There is a competition every year to nominate the best decorated stall, so they're all very pretty.<BR>Additionally, there is always an exhibition of old carved nativity scenes in the Rathaus - very Christmassy!<BR>Munich also has a lovely market - not so big, but the location is very attractive and it's not far from Stuttgart.

meg, i'm glad you mentioned Stuttgart. I'm finally going to make it to that one this year. Nuerenberg has one of the most famous, but because of that - it's extremely crowded.<BR><BR>Heidelberg has three smallish ones within the old town - very nice. <BR><BR>Bad Wimpfen has a great one, but it's spread out on hilly, cobblestoned streets - be careful if it's wet. <BR><BR>Mannheim's is quite large. <BR><BR>Frankfurt's is nice too. <BR> <BR>I find they all have very similar things, craftwise, but the food specialties vary. Go Gluehwein!!!!!

Probably most will be quite surprised with my comments below and may not agree but here goes.....<BR><BR>I live in Frankfurt and have been to a few Christmas markets. I prefer the small ones in quaint 'old' towns. Michelstadt has really a nice Christmas market, for example. The old town is pretty and the town hall is really a beautiful - 400 years old or more. They set up one area which is only for crafts and trades - woodwork, candles, leatherwork, etc. <BR><BR>I found Stuttgart too crowded and not so nice compared to Michelstadt. Stuttgart was also bombed during WWII and was rebuilt with modern buildings.<BR><BR>Frankfurt is okay - quite big and can be quite crowded. It is on the old town square surrounded by the old buildings (rebuilt after the War in the original style.) The stalls down near the river usually have some nice crafts.<BR><BR>Other nice ones are the smaller ones in the Taunus region - northwest of Frankfurt. They are usually only on for one weekend, for example: Kronberg, Bad Homburg, Konigstein. Just do a search for the town in the internet, www.kronberg.de, and look on the page "Veranstaltungen" for the dates.

I second the Michelstadt recommendation. I also enjoyed Wurzburg, although it was really crowded. Frankfurt was another fun one, lots of happy folks drinking their Gluhwein!