Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is the archetypal German Christmas market, set across the historic Hauptmarkt beneath the gothic spires of St Sebaldus.
The season opens with the appearance of the Christkind at 5:30pm on 28 November, then rolls on daily with rows of red‑and‑white striped huts selling gingerbread (Lebkuchen), prune men, wooden toys and winter knitwear. Around the square, the Church of Our Lady and the fountain add a medieval backdrop, while nearby lanes host the Children’s Christmas and the Sister Cities market. It’s easy to reach on foot from the Hauptbahnhof or by U‑Bahn; come by day for browsing, then return at dusk for choir music and glühwein. Hours run until 21:00 most evenings and shorten on Christmas Eve. If you want a market with tradition, photogenic architecture and classic Franconian flavours, Nuremberg is a must.
Additional Information on Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
- ~180–200 stalls; one of Germany’s oldest markets
- Opening ceremony with the Christkind figure
- Getting there: U‑Bahn to Hauptmarkt/Lorenzkirche; main station ~15 min walk
Opening ceremony at 17:30 on 28 Nov; daily 10:00–21:00; 24 Dec 10:00–14:00