Germany

Esslingen Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Medieval Market

The Esslingen Medieval Market and Christmas Market runs from 24 November to 22 December 2026 in the old town, open daily 11:00-20:30 and until 21:30 on Friday and Saturday. Entry is free.

Regensburg Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Markets

The Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz runs from 23 November to 23 December 2026, and the ticketed Thurn und Taxis palace market runs from 20 November to 23 December 2026, closed 22 November.

Hamburg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Locations

The Hamburg Christmas Market on the Rathausmarkt runs from 23 November to 23 December 2026, daily 11:00 to 21:00, with a Flying Santa at 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00; the Wandsbek market stays open until 1 January 2027.

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location

The Frankfurt Christmas Market runs from 23 November to 22 December 2026, with more than 230 stalls from the Römerberg and Paulsplatz to the Hauptwache, Roßmarkt and Mainkai. Entry is free.

Munich Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Markets

The Munich Christmas Market on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, closed on 22 November, open 10:00-21:00 Monday to Saturday and 10:00-20:00 on Sunday. Several other Munich markets run into January 2027.

20 Best Christmas Markets in Germany, With 2026-2027 Dates

Germany's 20 biggest Christmas markets open between 16 and 27 November 2026, and most close on 22, 23 or 24 December. Here are the 2026 dates, opening hours and what makes each one different, taken from every market's own site.

Berlin Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Locations

Berlin runs more than 60 Christmas markets in 2026. Its six main ones, Alexanderplatz, Gendarmenmarkt, Charlottenburg Palace, Rotes Rathaus, Spandau and Lucia at Kulturbrauerei, are free to enter except the Gendarmenmarkt, and the Rotes Rathaus has not yet published its 2026 admission.

Cologne Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Location

Cologne runs 6 separate Christmas markets in 2026, from the cathedral-front Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom (16 Nov-23 Dec) to the harbour market and its New Year sequel.

Rüdesheim Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Nations

The Rüdesheim Christmas Market of Nations runs from 19 November to 23 December 2026, with stalls from more than 20 countries. See confirmed dates, hours and what to expect.

Braunschweig Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Hours

The Braunschweig Christmas Market runs 25 November to 29 December 2026 around Dom St Blasii and the Burgplatz. Its 2026 closing date is later than most German markets, and entry is free.

Rothenburg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location

Rothenburg's Reiterlesmarkt runs from 20 November to 23 December 2026 in the walled old town. See confirmed dates, hours and how it differs from the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas museum.

Münster Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & What to Expect

Münster's Christmas markets run from 23 November to 23 December 2026 across five old-town squares, each with its own dates, hours and character, from the Aegidiimarkt's wooden pyramid to the Lichtermarkt's lights.

Stuttgart Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location

The Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt runs 25 November to 23 December 2026 across Schlossplatz, Schillerplatz, Karlsplatz and Marktplatz, with about 250 stalls and free entry.

Leipzig Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location

The Leipzig Christmas Market runs 24 November to 23 December 2026 across seven city-centre squares. It dates back to 1458, making it Germany's second-oldest Christmas market, and entry is free.

Heidelberg Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Hours

Heidelberg's Christmas markets run 23 November to 22 December 2026 across six Altstadt squares, with the Kornmarkt and ice rink open into January 2027. Entry is free.

Dresden Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location

The Dresdner Striezelmarkt, the 592nd edition, runs 25 November to 24 December 2026 on Altmarkt, alongside Advent auf dem Neumarkt and Dresdner Winterlichter on Prager Strasse.

Berlin WelcomeCard: Current Prices, Zones & Worth It?

The Berlin WelcomeCard combines public transport with 25-50% off 170+ attractions. Pick zone ABC, not AB, if you're flying into BER airport or visiting Potsdam, since AB cannot be extended to cover them.

Traditional German Food: 32 Dishes to Try in Germany

Germany has no official national dish, so the food to try changes by region: currywurst in Berlin, weisswurst in Munich, Maultaschen in Swabia and Labskaus on the North Sea coast. Here are 32 traditional German dishes and when to eat each one.

Top things to do in Dresden in 2 days: a Dresden itinerary

What to see in Dresden in 2 days? This is my itinerary, including things to do in Dresden, information on where to stay, where to eat, how to get around and what day trip from Dresden you absolutely have to make. Check it out and start planning!

4 Baden-Württemberg cities you need to visit

While Germany is only a border away from Belgium, my trips to the country have been fairly limited. I’ve been to Cologne as a teenager, spent…

60 Interesting Facts About Germany, All Fact-Checked

Germany is the European Union's most populous country and the birthplace of the printing press, the clarinet and the gummy bear. Here are 60 interesting facts about Germany, each rechecked against a named source.

3 Days in the Eifel Volcano Region: What to Do and See

When I was invited to visit the Eifel Volcano Region, I didn’t know what to expect. In the past few years, I’ve made quite a few…

Things to Do in Münster, Germany: A 3-Day City Guide

Münster fills three days: the car-free Promenade, the Aasee and the Mühlenhof open-air museum, then the Prinzipalmarkt, the cathedral's 1540 astronomical clock and the Friedenssaal, and finally the harbour bars. Everything sits inside a 4.5 km ring.

10 fun things to do in Cologne, Germany

Planning a weekend trip to Cologne, Germany? Great idea! This list of fun things to do in Cologne offers some inspiration to plan your getaway. Also…

Fun Nuremberg things to do on a city trip

I met Kai, a Nuremberg local, at an event in Berlin and when he heard about Wonderful Wanderings, he immediately suggested writing an article about Nuremberg…

Bauhaus NRW: Self-Guided Tour in Hagen, Krefeld, and Essen

In 2019, Germany celebrated the 100th anniversary of the influential Bauhaus art and architecture style with special guided tours, exhibitions, and other events in cities and…

10 fun things to do in Osnabrück, Germany

It might be a small city, but there are plenty of things to do in Osnabrück, Germany! In this post, you'll find out how to spend a full day there, including where to have lunch and how to get there.

Traditional German crafts in the Black Forest, Germany

I’ve never been good at anything crafts-related. My calligraphy at school was unreadable, I was never able to color between the lines (literally), and whatever object…

Visiting Hohenzollern Castle inside and out (Germany)

Burg Hohenzollern is perched high upon a hill in the Swabian Alps, near the Black Forest. It offers a great view on the area and you can follow a free tour through the castle several times a day. I climbed up, looked around, and was so cold!

19 fun things to do in Saarbrucken, Germany

Both the capital and the largest city in Saarland, Saarbrucken makes for a fun day trip destination. The center is quite compact and stretched along both…

Bauhaus in Germany: 15 Sites in Berlin, Dessau and Weimar

The Bauhaus school ran in Weimar, then Dessau, then Berlin, and 15 sites across those three cities are open to visit today, several of them UNESCO-listed. Here are the 2026 opening seasons, prices and tickets.

Hackescher Markt Berlin: Graffiti Alley, Höfe and Hours

Hackescher Markt is a square in Berlin Mitte with two very different sets of courtyards on it: the free street-art alley at Haus Schwarzenberg, open at any hour, and the restored Hackesche Höfe, open daily 9am to 10pm.

A walk along the Rhine river in Dusseldorf, Germany + the best chocolate cafe

In June my dad and I went to Dusseldorf for a day. After a two-hour drive from Leuven (20 minutes from Brussels), we parked the car…

15 of the best cafes and restaurants in Cologne, Germany

When I went on a city trip to Cologne, Germany, I was determined to find the coolest coffee bars and food places. Here's a list of 15 foodie hotspots I tested and approved that will leave you drooling for a bite and craving for a sip. Promise :-)

Museums in Münster: 5 Worth Visiting, Hours and 2026 Prices

The 5 museums worth visiting in Münster are the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, the Picasso museum, the new PAULUS Museum, the Stadtmuseum and the Archäologisches Museum. Three of the five are free, and all five close on Mondays.

Münster, Germany Food: Fun Restaurants and What to Eat

Six restaurants and cafes in Münster that still trade, from a vegan kitchen on Ludgeristrasse to a working cheese dairy in the harbour, with addresses, hours and what each meal cost, plus the Westphalian dishes worth ordering.

A fun night with the Tower Lady of Münster, Germany. A unique visit 300 steps high

Martje is the first female Türmerin or "Tower Lady" of Münster since the 14th century. I'm not kidding. Six nights a week she climbs the 300 steps of the tower to keep an eye on the city and this night, I got to join her.

What to see in Düsseldorf, Germany when it rains

Planning a city trip in Europe is alway a bit of a weather risk. Germany can be particularly shaky some seasons, so what to see in Düsseldorf when it rains all day long? This post gives you some ideas to turn your trip into a success anyway.