Nuremberg Christmas Market

Visiting the Christmas Market in Nuremberg, Germany

The Nuremberg Christmas Market is 100% deserving of its reputation and is absolutely a must-see on your Christmas Market itinerary. It is not a small market, yet it is somehow able to pull you into all of the charms and nostalgia of a storybook written a hundred years ago.

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Above photos: Christmas festivities in Nuremberg

Besides being one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in the world, Nuremberg also has bragging rights to the origin of the Christkind. This is the idea that the Christ child brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve, as opposed to St. Nicholas on December 6. The idea came about from the Lutheran Church in an effort to shift focus from the Catholic Church’s celebration of Saints. The character evolved into more of an angelic figure and is still a part of the Nuremberg Christmas traditions to this day.

• Where we stayed
• Top things to do in Nuremberg
• The Nuremberg Christmas Market
• Other Tips & Information

Where we stayed

Our first visit to the Nuremberg Christmas Market, or Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt in German, was part of a week-long itinerary in Bavaria. Although our hotel stay was for two nights, we spent only one day in Nuremberg and the other on a day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. I returned to Nuremberg again last year, and it was still as wonderful as ever. Once again, I stayed two nights in order to make the day trip over to Rothenburg.

We were very happy with our stay at Hotel Drei Rabin. It is a smaller boutique hotel (which I love) with very nice rooms and amenities. The hotel is located between the main train station and Hauptmarkt (town square), where the Christmas Market is located. The hotel is closer to the train station than the square, which worked out well for us since we took the train to Rothenburg, as well as our forward trip to Strasbourg later in the week.

Check rates & availability for Hotel Drei Rabin below:

I stayed at Le Meridien Grand Hotel, adjacent to the central train station, during my more recent visit. It is a larger hotel and a little more convenient to the train station. During the holiday season, the hotel was swathed in twinkling Christmas lights. It was a really comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Check rates & availability for Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nuremberg below:

Above photos: Hotel Drei Raben (left); Le Méridien Grand Hotel (right)

Accommodations in Nuremberg fill up during the holiday season. It is wise to book well in advance. If your top choice is sold out, just grab whatever you can. Chances are, you will only be in your hotel room to sleep because all the festivities will keep you busy until you are well and truly worn out!

Check rates & availability for other Hotels in Nuremberg below:

Top Things to do in Nuremberg

If you are able, I definitely recommend reserving your daylight hours in Nuremberg to explore the historical landmarks and attractions. We followed a walking map provided by our hotel to make our way around the historic city center. Since we only had 1-day in Nuremberg, there wasn’t time to explore the museums. Instead, we prioritized the major landmarks and scenic sights.

• Handwerkerhof Nuremberg
• St. Lorenz Church
• St. Sebaldus Luthern Church
• Imperial Castle
• Weißgerbergasse
• Hallertürlein & Historic Bridges

Handwerkerhof Nuremberg

First, you can’t miss the Handwerkerhof Nuremberg, across from the main train station and just inside the city wall at Frauentorturm. This super cozy medieval shopping area is occupied by artisans and rustic eateries. Some people refer to it as the Craftsmen’s Courtyard, which is exactly what it is.

Above photos: Handwerkerhof Nuremberg

St. Lorenz Church

Lorenzer Pl. 1, 90403 Nürnberg | Website

As you make your way down Königstraße, the next must-see stop is St. Lorenz Church, which dates back to before 1275. Although the church was damaged during WWII, it has been beautifully restored. The Gothic architecture and numerous works of art are a draw for visitors year-round, but the decorations are especially beautiful during the Advent season.

Above photos: St. Lorenz Church

St. Sebaldus Luthern Church

A little further beyond the Church of St. Lorenz, you will probably find yourself crossing Museumsbrücke, a sandstone arch bridge, and then landing in Hauptmarkt, the main square of the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt. While the day is early and the crowds are light, this is a good time to have a quick browse. Although you may not want to purchase anything until later, just to avoid having to carry it around with you during your sightseeing.

Head to the other side of Hauptmarkt and around to the front side of St. Sebaldus, a Gothic-era Lutheran Church. The church is open every day and is completely free to enter. It is impressive and a must for any history buff. The organ is massive, and the Sebaldus tomb is really beautiful.

Above photos: St. Sebald Luthern Church

Imperial Castle

Burg 17, 90403 Nürnberg | Website

The Imperial Castle, or Kaiserburg Nürnberg, is a short hike uphill and has a couple of nice viewpoints along the way. It is a whole grouping of medieval fortified buildings that sit on a sandstone ridge that defines the boundary of the city. It was one of the most important imperial palaces in the Holy Roman Empire. Although heavily damaged in war, it was rebuilt for the Nuremberg Party Rally of 1936. It is open year-round for visitors – and we were lucky enough to be there during the last hour of daylight and caught some amazing views of the rooftops and streets below.

Above photos: The Imperial Castle

When buying your ticket for the castle, be sure to get the Combined Ticket that includes the Deep Well and Sinwell Tower. The Deep Well was a quick demonstration and was very cool. The Sinwell Tower was worth it for the views alone, but it is also a very interesting structure.

Above photos: Sinwell Tower and accompanying view

Above photos: The Imperial Castle

Weißgerbergasse

Weißgerbergasse is a picturesque street lined with at least twenty half-timbered townhouses that survived WWII. It is the most beautiful street in Nuremberg and will make you feel like you have stepped back in time. Take you time strolling down this street and appreciate the details. And don’t forget your camera – it is the most photographed street in Nuremberg for obvious reasons!

Above photo: Weißgerbergasse

Hallertürlein & Historic Bridges

At the end of Weißgerbergasse, there is a pedestrian zone called Hallertürlein and several footbridges crossing the Pegnitz River that offer lovely views. We weaved around the area and located several historical landmarks such as the Schlayerturm medieval fortification and Maxbrücke, the oldest stone bridge in the city.

There is an old wooden footbridge that partially crosses the river and then connects to the Henkerhaus (executioner’s house) and Henkerbrücke, an arched stone bridge. The best view of it is from the Maxbrücke.

Slightly further up the river, there is the Fleischbrücke, a 16th-century stone bridge, and Museumsbrücke (which you probably have already walked across at this point). You could actually spend quite a bit of time following the river and crossing over each of the bridges.

Above photos: Historic bridges in Nuremberg

The Nuremberg Christmas Market

The Nuremberg Christmas Market is a single market, mostly. There are a couple of side markets – the Market of the Sister Cities and the Children’s Market. Plus some additional stalls and rides over by Jakubsplatz. Everything flows together, so you might not even notice the distinction.

Nuremberg Christmas Market in Hauptmarkt

The main market takes place in Hauptmarkt in front of the 14th-century Frauenkirche, a Gothic Catholic Church with amazing architecture and a glockenspiel. However, it spills into side streets and along the main Königstraße that runs through the center of Old Town, connecting the train station with the main town square. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot the red & white striped awnings that famously characterize the stalls.

Above photos: Nuremberg Christmas Market in Haupmarkt

The stalls are full of traditional crafts and foods that characterize Nuremberg from other markets. Keep an eye out for prune people and Springerle cookies. There were wood-cut ornaments, felted decorations, blown glass candle holders, and sweets & treats of every kind. It was so much fun!

There is so much to see (and buy!) at this market. My best piece of advice is this: If you love it, buy it. Don’t wait to shop around because you might not see it again or remember which stall it was at. I’ve never left a market and regretted my purchases, but I have regretted what I didn’t buy when I had the chance.

Above photos: Nuremberg Christmas Market

It was here that I bought my set of Herrnhuter stars. The Herrnhut Star originated over 160 years ago in the Renewed Moravian Church. There are many different types of stars manufactured by other companies, but the Herrnhuter Sterne have been produced by hand for over a hundred years — and my heart was set on these traditional beauties. The vendor will provide you with your choice of electrical voltage adapter. So, regardless of where you live, you will be able to take something home with you that suits the electrical specifications in your country. They are also available in many different sizes, some of which may or may not be practical to stuff in your luggage.

Above photo: Herrnhuter Stars at Nuremberg Christmas Market

Market of the Sister Cities

One of my favorite “mini” markets at Nuremberg was the International Markt der Partnerstädte, where various countries have stalls featuring traditional crafts, foods, or wares. We loved visiting with the folks running the stall for the USA and seeing the “hot ticket” American specialties. But I adored the handcrafted items from Poland the most.

Above photos: Market of the Sister Cities

Children’s Christmas Market

The Nuremberg Christmas Market also features an area geared towards little ones called Kinderweihnacht. There is a dreamy carousel and all kinds of “hands-on” booths for children of all ages. It is fun to stroll through (kids or not). We sampled our first schokokuss here. These chocolate-covered marshmallow treats are sold in a variety of flavors and are available at most Christmas Markets throughout Germany. We caved early-on:)

Above photos: Kinderweihnacht, Nuremberg

The Nuremberg Winter Village (Winterdorf) at Jakobsplatz

The Winter Village at Jakobsplatz might feel like a continuation of the festivities in Hauptmarkt, but it is distinct and different in a few ways. For one, it has a different operating schedule, running into early January. It has a giant Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and other rides that make it feel a little more carnival-like.

Above photos: The Nuremberg Winter Village

There are some craft stalls here, but the focus is on local food. Chalet-style huts sell local Lebkuchen (gingerbread that is softer and better than the massive decorated hearts), warm Glühwein, and something akin to flatbread pizza called Flammkuchen.

Above photos: Glühwein, Flammkuchen, and Lebkuchen at Nuremberg Winter Village

Food

Which brings us to the food. There is hardly a need for restaurant reservations when there are so many choices at the Christmas Markets. Sooner or later, you may get a hankering for a salad or something moderately healthy. But, until then, why not taste all the traditional flavors and confectionary delights as you continue to wander around?

Above photos: Food at Nuremberg Christmas Market

After all this and fully sugared up, we retired to our hotel to make ready for our next day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, an adorable medieval town, left nearly unscathed from WWII. Rothernburg has a wonderful market in the most charming setting. It is just a quick train ride away, making it a perfect day trip!

An overview of our complete 6-Day Christmas Market itinerary can be found here.

More Tips & Info

Tours

There is so much more to see and do in Nuremberg. If you are staying for a couple days, consider a walking tour or a private guide to show you around!

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