We are going to the Christmas market in Nuremberg in November. I have been wanting to do this for years and are finally going, en route to a conference in Leipzig. I am quite depressed now, having read historical and more recent threads about the markets in Nuremberg being too crowded, with unoriginal decorations etc. We will not have a car so any other markets on a tain route that we should visit? We are staying 2 minutes from the Nuremberg market site.

Go to the market as early as possible on a weekday and it shouldn't be too bad.
You could try the Bamberg market; Bamberg is beautiful and an easy train ride from Nberg.
FWIW, our favorite Christmas market was in Muenster. It doesn't have many tourists; most of its customers are German, so the stuff is of higher quality and it's now crowded. We loved it. We found the most unusual items at Dusseldorf's market in stalls run by students and grads of the city's excellent arts school. The worst market we went to was at Aachen; almost everything we saw there was mass market junk.

Sorry, should be the Muenster market is NOT crowded, not now crowded.

Thanks BTilke. Would you believe it - we arrive on Fri (opening day)and leave on the Sunday!!

As a veteran of 13 Xmas markets stretched over 20 days in early Dec. 2004 I can say I never really saw any junk, like how we define Xmas trinket junk made in China here in the U.S. I do look to see where the stuff is made too. We began in Koln/Troisdorf ending in Dresden/Bautzen. They were all enchanting in our opinion but obviously with some duplication. There are actually 3 markets in Nurmburg, the big granddaddy, the medival and the international markets, all within walking distance. If you are staying 2 minutes away it would be a shame not to visit based on opinion alone. I would think the first days would be crowded but maybe not. For a nice break stop in the Barfuss Braueri for food or drink, a huge former grain cellar below grade with much atmosphere and the best apfel strudel I ever tasted.

There should also be a Market in Leipzig, so make sure you have some time to enjoy that- definitely better than Nuernberg, which is indeed very busy and touristy. Also, I'd wait until you leave Nuerenberg before buying stuff to take with you ( if you were planning on it), you get the same sort of stuff at each market.The market is from 24.11. until 22.12.2005 I found this
http://www.leipzig.de/int/en/kultur_...ngen/dezember/
Leipzig Christmas Market

Leipzig’s Christmas Market dates back to the year 1767. Thanks to its unique cultural events and culinary specialities, it has since acquired almost legendary status. Children’s activity centres and Fairytale Forest make the occasion equally exciting for younger visitors. The Christmas atmosphere is enhanced by concerts by St Thomas’s Boys Choir, Christmas organ music in nearby churches, and a diverse programme of events.

hope this helps.

I've been to Nuremberg several times during Christmas. It was crowded and touristy, but I really enjoyed it - much more than I thought. Go and enjoy. Bamberg is a short train ride from Nuremberg so it would be easy to take a side trip to Bamberg while there.

Thanks everyone. As we will be staying so close to the market, we will at least go and see what is happening there.

I just found this
http://www.germany-tourism.de/weihna...kte_karte.html
you could click on a region and then town, to find the opening hours of the Christmas Markets - most site also have an English option.

Try to get to Nuremburg for the opening night ceremonies. Fun to watch as they introduce the queen. Then go for the gluwein!