Nuremberg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location

The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt runs from Friday, 27 November to Thursday, 24 December 2026 on Hauptmarkt Square in the Altstadt of Nuremberg, Germany. The city confirmed the 2026 dates on its official Christkindlesmarkt site, and the market’s written history traces to the 17th century. Around 168 wooden stalls with red-and-white cloth roofs line Hauptmarkt and the neighbouring Rathausplatz, selling Nuremberg gingerbread, mulled wine and handmade ornaments in front of the Frauenkirche church. Two satellite markets, the Markt der Partnerstädte (Sister Cities Market) and the Kinderweihnacht (Children’s Christmas Market), run alongside the main market a short walk away.

What Are the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

The Nuremberg Christmas Markets are the Christkindlesmarkt on Hauptmarkt Square plus two smaller markets that share the same festive weeks. The Christkindlesmarkt itself is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. The city’s own historians corrected the market’s age in October 2025: the market’s history can be traced to the 17th century, and the first written mention that survives is dated 1678, not 1628 as long assumed. Nuremberg will mark the market’s 350th anniversary in 2028, according to the city’s press office, rather than a 400th anniversary some earlier materials had suggested.

The Christkindlesmarkt draws around 2 million visitors a year, a figure the city of Nuremberg confirmed in its own 2025 press release. Around 168 wooden stalls stand on Hauptmarkt and Rathausplatz, decorated with the red-and-white cloth roofs that give the market its nickname, the “little town of wood and cloth”. Stallholders sell Nuremberg bratwurst, lebkuchen gingerbread, roasted almonds and mulled wine, plus handmade ornaments, toys and decorations. A jury from the city and its tourism board has judged and awarded the market’s best-decorated stalls every year since 1981.

Listed below are the two markets that run alongside the main Christkindlesmarkt.

• Markt der Partnerstädte (Sister Cities Market). The Sister Cities Market runs on Rathausplatz from Friday, 27 November to Wednesday, 23 December 2026, closing a day before the main market. It brings stalls from several of Nuremberg’s international partner cities to sell their own crafts, food and drink alongside the main Christkindlesmarkt.
• Kinderweihnacht (Children’s Market). The Children’s Market runs on Hans-Sachs-Platz for the same dates as the main Christkindlesmarkt, 27 November to 24 December 2026, with the same daily hours. It is built around rides, puppet shows and craft activities for younger visitors, and the Nuremberg Christkind pays scheduled visits during the season.

1. Markt der Partnerstädte (Sister Cities Market)

The Markt der Partnerstädte is a Christmas market on Rathausplatz, just north of Nuremberg’s main Hauptmarkt. It runs from Friday, 27 November to Wednesday, 23 December 2026, according to the city of Nuremberg’s international relations office. The market highlights Nuremberg’s partnerships with sister cities around the world through their own stalls, crafts and food.

Visitors can browse stalls selling handmade crafts, decorations and food and drink with an international flavour, a change of pace from the Bavarian specialities on the main Christkindlesmarkt a few steps away. The market’s small footprint on Rathausplatz makes it an easy add-on to a Hauptmarkt visit rather than a separate trip.

Rathausplatz sits directly next to Hauptmarkt in Nuremberg’s pedestrian old town, so the Sister Cities Market is reached the same way as the main Christkindlesmarkt: on foot from the Lorenzkirche U-Bahn station or Nuremberg’s central station.

2. Kinderweihnacht (Children’s Market)

The Kinderweihnacht is a Christmas market on Hans-Sachs-Platz built for families with younger children. It runs for the same span as the main Christkindlesmarkt, 27 November to 24 December 2026, with matching daily hours (10 am to 9 pm, and 10 am to 2 pm on Christmas Eve).

Vendors at Kinderweihnacht sell toys, sweets and gifts aimed at children, and the market runs entertainment such as puppet shows and craft activities throughout the season. The Nuremberg Christkind, the market’s traditional angelic figurehead, makes scheduled appearances at Hans-Sachs-Platz during the festive weeks as part of her wider rounds of the city’s Christmas markets.

Hans-Sachs-Platz is a short walk from Hauptmarkt through Nuremberg’s old town, reachable via the Lorenzkirche U-Bahn stop.

When Will the Nuremberg Christmas Markets Open in 2026?

The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt opens on Friday, 27 November 2026 and closes on Thursday, 24 December 2026, according to the market’s official site. It is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm, and until 2 pm only on Christmas Eve. The market has already confirmed its 2027 dates too: 26 November to 24 December 2027, in case you are planning further ahead.

Where Are the Nuremberg Christmas Markets Taking Place?

The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt takes place on Hauptmarkt Square in the Altstadt (old town) of Nuremberg, Germany. The Markt der Partnerstädte sits just north on Rathausplatz, and the Kinderweihnacht is on Hans-Sachs-Platz, both within easy walking distance of Hauptmarkt.

Why Should You Visit the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

Listed below are the reasons to visit the Nuremberg Christmas markets.

• Historic setting. The Christkindlesmarkt fills Hauptmarkt Square with roughly 168 wooden stalls in front of the Frauenkirche church, a backdrop that has hosted the market since at least the 17th century.
• Traditional handicrafts. Bavarian handicrafts and ornaments, many handmade or locally produced, fill dozens of the market’s stalls, making it a reliable spot for gifts and souvenirs.
• Local cuisine. Nuremberg’s own sausages and gingerbread, alongside other Franconian and German specialities such as mulled wine, roasted nuts and fruit loaf, are sold throughout the market.
• Compact, central location. Hauptmarkt sits in the pedestrian heart of Nuremberg’s old town, an easy walk from the main train station and from most hotels in the Altstadt.

What Is the Cost of Entering the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

The Nuremberg Christmas markets charge no entry fee. Access to Hauptmarkt, Rathausplatz and Hans-Sachs-Platz is free, and visitors can browse every stall without a ticket. The only costs come from optional extras: rides such as carousels and the Ferris wheel, special events, food and drink, and craft workshops. As a rough guide from previous seasons, rides run about €2 to €8 ($2 to $9, £2 to £7) per ride, ticketed events about €5 to €10 ($5 to $11, £4 to £8), food and drink about €2 to €8 ($2 to $9, £2 to £7), and craft workshops from about €5 ($5, £4) upward. Treat these as approximate; confirm current prices on site, since stallholders set their own.

What Are the Attractions Close to the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

Several historic landmarks sit within a few minutes’ walk of Hauptmarkt. Listed below are the attractions in Nuremberg close to the Christmas markets.

• The Frauentorturm. The Frauentorturm is a 13th-century tower, over 35 metres (115 feet) tall, that formed part of Nuremberg’s medieval fortifications. Visitors can climb it for views over the old town’s red-tiled roofs, 0.5 kilometres (0.3 miles) from the Christkindlesmarkt.
• Lorenzkirche. Lorenzkirche is a 14th-century church with twin spires, stained glass and star vaulting inside. Concerts are often held here during the Christmas market season, 0.3 kilometres (0.2 miles) from Hauptmarkt.
• Frauenkirche. The Frauenkirche was built in the 14th century and stands right on Hauptmarkt Square, forming the backdrop to the Christkindlesmarkt. Its facade clock and golden imperial crown are its best-known features, and it holds daily prayers and mass.
• Schöner Brunnen. The Schöner Brunnen is a 14th-century fountain, over 18 metres (60 feet) tall, standing in the middle of Hauptmarkt square, decorated with festive lights during the market.

Is There an Alternative Name for the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

Yes, the Nuremberg Christmas market is also known as the Christkindlesmarkt, which translates to “Christ Child Market”. The name comes from Nuremberg’s tradition of having a Christkind, an angelic messenger, open the market each year with a prologue speech from the church balcony on Hauptmarkt.

Is the Nuremberg Christmas Market Different From the Stuttgart Christmas Market?

Yes, in scale and layout. The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is concentrated on a single square, Hauptmarkt, which keeps its roughly 168 stalls within a compact, easily walkable footprint. The Stuttgart Christmas Market spreads across several squares in the city centre and carries more stalls overall. Nuremberg’s market history reaches back to at least 1678, while Stuttgart’s own market history is documented from 1692, so both rank among Germany’s older Christmas markets. Which one suits you better depends on whether you prefer a tightly packed historic square or a market that spreads further through the city.

What Food Can Visitors Eat at the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

Listed below are the foods visitors can eat at the Nuremberg Christmas markets.

• Nuremberg bratwurst. Nuremberg bratwurst are thin, small pork sausages grilled over an open wood fire at the market’s stalls, flavoured with marjoram and served in a bun or with sauerkraut. It is the market’s signature German food.
• Lebkuchen. Lebkuchen is Nuremberg’s traditional gingerbread, made with a dense honey dough and coated in chocolate or powdered sugar. Heart-shaped lebkuchen are a popular gift bought at the market.
• Stollen. Stollen is a German fruitcake packed with nuts, spices and candied fruit, sold as a loaf dusted with powdered sugar at market stalls.
• Reibekuchen. Reibekuchen are fried potato pancakes, served fresh with applesauce or sugar at food stalls throughout the market.
• Flammkuchen. Flammkuchen are thin-crust flatbreads topped with cream, onions, bacon and cheese, baked fresh on-site at several stalls across the market.

What to Drink at the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

Listed below are the drinks available at the Nuremberg Christmas markets.

• Glühwein (mulled wine). Glühwein is the market’s signature hot spiced red wine, usually served in a commemorative mug that visitors can keep.
• Feuerzangenbowle. Feuerzangenbowle is a rum-based drink made by setting a flaming sugarloaf over the mulled wine and rum mixture, a small spectacle in itself at the stall that serves it.
• Heisser Café Amaretto. Heisser Café Amaretto is espresso with amaretto liqueur, whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, a warming option while browsing the stalls.
• Jagertee. Jagertee blends black tea, rum, cloves, cinnamon and lemon, a strong drink well suited to a cold evening at the market.

What Can People Buy at the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

Listed below are the things visitors can buy at the Nuremberg Christmas markets.

• Wooden nutcrackers. Wooden nutcrackers, often carved as toy soldiers or kings, come in different sizes and colours across the market’s craft stalls.
• Christmas ornaments. Ornament stalls sell glass, wooden and handcrafted decorations for the tree, a common gift and souvenir from the market.
• Räuchermänner (smoking figures). Räuchermänner are wooden incense burners carved as figures such as policemen or woodcutters, with smoke rising from the pipe bowl.
• Weihnachtspyramiden. Weihnachtspyramiden are wooden pyramids with tiers of rotating figures such as angels, often lit from within and sold as a centrepiece decoration.

How to Get to the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

There are five ways to reach the Nuremberg Christmas market: by plane, train, metro, taxi or on foot. Nuremberg Airport (NUE) sits about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) north of the city centre and connects by U-Bahn directly to Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof. Nuremberg Hauptbahnhof is also a major rail hub with regional and long-distance connections across Germany and Europe, including Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and Prague. Once you know your travel dates, compare flights to Nuremberg to see current fares.

The U-Bahn subway runs from Hauptbahnhof to Lorenzkirche station, a short walk from Hauptmarkt. Taxis and ride-hailing services are readily available from the airport, station and around the city. On foot, the Christkindlesmarkt sits in the pedestrianised Altstadt, within easy walking distance of nearby hotels and transit stops.

Where to Stay in Nuremberg During the Nuremberg Christmas Markets?

Listed below are hotels within easy reach of the Nuremberg Christmas markets. Compare and book hotels in Nuremberg to see current rates and availability before your trip.

• Hotel Victoria. Hotel Victoria occupies a historic 19th-century building 0.9 kilometres (0.6 miles) from the Christkindlesmarkt, the closest of the three to the market.
• Azimut Hotel Nuremberg. Azimut Hotel Nuremberg, 1.4 kilometres (0.9 miles) from the market, has contemporary rooms with minibars, an indoor pool, a sauna and a fitness centre.
• Leonardo Hotel. Leonardo Hotel sits 1.9 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the market, a short tram ride away, and offers on-site dining and fitness facilities at a more affordable rate.

What Are the Best Restaurants to Eat in Nuremberg?

Listed below are restaurants near the Nuremberg Christmas market worth considering.

• Lamore da Massimo. Lamore da Massimo is an Italian restaurant with homemade pasta, seafood and a wine list of over 200 Italian labels, 0.8 kilometres from the market.
• Phantastic. Phantastic is a Michelin-starred restaurant serving a tasting menu built on Franconian ingredients such as venison and chestnuts, 1.1 kilometres (0.7 miles) from the market.
• El Paso. El Paso is a Mexican restaurant with Tex-Mex staples such as fajitas, burritos and tacos, plus a tequila and margarita selection, 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) from the market.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 5 tips below come from the market’s own pages and a City of Nuremberg press release, one of which rewrites a founding date that has been repeated for decades.

1. Note that the three markets do not all close on the same day. The Christkindlesmarkt on the Hauptmarkt runs 27 November to 24 December 2026, while the Markt der Partnerstädte on Rathausplatz stops on 23 December, so a Christmas Eve visit gets you the main square alone.
2. Book a year out if you want to, because the 2027 dates already exist. The market has published 26 November to 24 December 2027, which is rare enough among European markets to be worth using.
3. Send the children to Hans-Sachs-Platz. Kinderweihnacht keeps its own square and runs on the same calendar as the main market, so it works as a break from the crowd rather than a separate outing.
4. Expect density rather than distance. Roughly 168 wooden stalls and about 180 vendors sit on one square, and the market draws around 2 million visitors a season, which makes it a tighter crowd than a market spread across several squares the way Stuttgart’s is.
5. Drop the 1628 founding date and the 400th anniversary that goes with it. The city’s own research puts the first surviving written mention of the market at 1678, and Nuremberg will mark its 350th anniversary in 2028.

About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers Nuremberg and the rest of Germany for independent travellers, including the Christmas markets, hotels and restaurants worth booking, and updates this page whenever prices, dates and rules change.