The Nuremberg Christmas Market, the Christkindlesmarkt, is one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in the world. Every year around two million visitors come to the Bavarian city to walk between red-and-white striped stalls, drink mulled wine under the Gothic church of Our Lady and taste gingerbread that has been baked here for more than 600 years.
We have taken many groups to Nuremberg in December. In this guide we share what we tell our own guests: when to go, what to eat, which souvenirs are genuine and how to enjoy the market without fighting the crowds.
In this guide
- When is the Nuremberg Christmas Market open?
- A short history of the Christkindlesmarkt
- Where it is and how to get there
- What to eat and drink
- Souvenirs worth buying
- Tips to avoid the crowds
- A perfect day at the Nuremberg Christmas Market
- Where to stay in Nuremberg
- Visit Nuremberg with EuroSky Tours
When is the Nuremberg Christmas Market open?
The market traditionally opens on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent and closes on 24 December at around 2 pm. It is usually open every day from about 10 am to 9 pm. Exact dates are published each year by the city of Nuremberg, so always check them before booking.
The opening ceremony is a highlight: on the first evening the Christkind, a young woman chosen every two years, reads the traditional prologue from the balcony of the Church of Our Lady, and thousands of people listen in silence.
Plan your visit for the first two weeks of December if you can. The weather is usually cold and dry, the decorations are complete, and the crowds are smaller than in the last week before Christmas.
A short history of the Christkindlesmarkt
The first written records of a Christmas market in Nuremberg date back to the 17th century, and gingerbread was already baked in the city in the Middle Ages, when Nuremberg was a rich trading centre for spices. The name Christkindlesmarkt comes from the Christkind, the Christ child who brings presents in southern Germany.
Destroyed during the Second World War, the old town was carefully rebuilt, and the market became a symbol of the city’s revival. Today about 180 wooden stalls fill the square, and the market committee still checks that every stall sells traditional goods.
Where it is and how to get there
The main market fills the Hauptmarkt square in the heart of the old town, a ten-minute walk from Nuremberg central station. Several smaller markets are close by: the Children’s Christmas Market on Hans-Sachs-Platz and the Market of the Sister Cities, where partner towns from around the world sell their specialities.
Nuremberg is easy to reach by fast ICE train: about one hour from Munich, two from Frankfurt and three from Berlin. Driving into the old town is not recommended in December, as parking is scarce and many streets are pedestrian zones.
What to eat and drink
Food is half the fun. Most stalls sell small portions you can eat standing up, so you can taste a little of everything.
- Drei im Weggla: three small Nuremberg sausages in a bread roll, the classic market snack
- Lebkuchen: soft Nuremberg gingerbread with nuts and spices, best from the traditional bakeries
- Glühwein: hot spiced wine served in a souvenir mug; you pay a deposit and can keep the mug
- Feuerzangenbowle: mulled wine with a rum-soaked sugar cone set on fire
- Kinderpunsch: a warm, alcohol-free fruit punch for children and drivers
Souvenirs worth buying
The Christkindlesmarkt has strict rules: stalls may only sell traditional Christmas goods, and plastic decorations are not allowed. That makes it one of the best places to buy genuine handicrafts.
- Nuremberg Prune Men (Zwetschgenmännle), little figures made of dried fruit
- Hand-carved wooden nativity figures and nutcrackers
- Glass baubles, straw stars and beeswax candles
- Gingerbread in decorated tins, which travel well in a suitcase
Tips to avoid the crowds
Weekends, especially Saturday afternoons, are very busy. If you can, visit on a weekday morning, when the stalls have just opened, or come back after 7 pm, when day visitors have left and the lights look their best.
Combine it with the old town
Use quieter hours to walk up to the Imperial Castle for the view over the snowy roofs, or visit Albrecht Dürer’s House. The market is most magical when you arrive from the castle at dusk.
Dress for the cold
Temperatures in December are often around 0°C. Warm shoes, gloves and a hat make long evenings much more comfortable.
A perfect day at the Nuremberg Christmas Market
Start around 10 am with a coffee and a slice of stollen while the stalls open and the square is still calm. Walk up to the Imperial Castle for the view, then come back down through the old lanes for lunch: three sausages in a roll and a cup of hot punch.
In the afternoon visit the Children’s Christmas Market and the Market of the Sister Cities, or warm up in the Germanic National Museum, the largest museum of German cultural history. As darkness falls around 4.30 pm, return to the Hauptmarkt: the lights come on, the brass band plays carols from the church balcony and the market is at its most beautiful. End the day with dinner in a traditional sausage kitchen near St. Sebald’s Church.
Where to stay in Nuremberg
For a Christmas market visit, stay inside the old town walls or near the central station so you can walk everywhere. Hotels fill up early for December weekends; we recommend booking in summer or early autumn. Many of our guests combine Nuremberg with Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bamberg and Dresden in one trip.
Visit Nuremberg with EuroSky Tours
Our six-day Christmas Markets tour combines the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt with Rothenburg, Bamberg and the Dresden Striezelmarkt, with central hotels, a gingerbread tasting and an English, German or Vietnamese-speaking tour leader. You can also read our general guide to German Christmas markets.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nuremberg Christmas Market free?
Yes, entry is free. You only pay for food, drinks and souvenirs, plus a small deposit for mulled wine mugs.
How much time do I need?
Half a day is enough for the main market. Plan a full day if you also want to see the castle and the old town.
Can I pay by card?
Some stalls accept cards, but many still prefer cash. Bring 50 to 100 euros in small notes.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The Children’s Christmas Market has a carousel, a steam train and craft workshops.
Would you like to experience the Nuremberg Christmas Market without worrying about tickets, hotels and transport? Contact us and we will send you a free proposal within 24 hours.
