Bavaria has many beautiful Christmas markets, but none is as popular as this one: the Nuremberg Christmas Market is anything but an insider tip. Every year, millions of visitors flock to the Franconian city to visit the Christmas market. Guests from all over the world enjoy the large market, which invites you to linger with its festive lighting, numerous stalls and lavish stage program. What you can expect this year.
Unexplained origins and a dark chapter
Today, the Nuremberg Christmas market is world-famous, but its beginnings are not documented. Historians assume that it developed from the regular weekly market into its own independent market in the 17th century. This was linked to the Reformation, when the traditional gift-giving ceremony was moved from December 6 to December 24, which also became the practice in Protestant Nuremberg. The market was first mentioned in a city history as “Christkendleinsmarck” in 1697. In 1737, all 140 Nuremberg craftsmen were entitled to offer their goods at this market.
Nowadays, the market can hardly save itself from visitors, but this was not always the case. At the end of the 18th century, it became increasingly less important, which resulted in several relocations of the market. Finally, the Nazi regime decided to misuse the Christmas market for propaganda purposes and breathe new life into it. Nuremberg was to become the “treasure chest” of the German Reich and the Christkindlesmarkt was ideally suited for this staging.
On December 4, 1933, the market celebrated its grand reopening on what was then Adolf Hitler Square. The Christkind recited a poem accompanied by a choir and the church bells rang. During the Second World War, Nuremberg remained unlit at night to protect itself from air raids. The Christkindlesmarkt did not take place at this time; however, there was a substitute in the form of the Christmas market on Hans-Sachs-Platz. After the end of the war, the Nuremberg Christmas Market was held again for the first time in 1948.
Varied offerings at the Nuremberg Christmas Market
Since 1973, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt has started on the Friday before the first Advent. The newly elected Christkind opens it every year with a recitation of the prologue from the balcony of the Frauenkirche. The Christkind is always female, between 16 and 19 years old and must have lived in Nuremberg for some time. This year she is played by Nora Falk, who won the election in the summer. The prologue she performs is the first official item on the market program. The Christkind will be making further appearances throughout the Christmas market, so you will have the chance to see him live.
Apart from the Christkind, the Nuremberg Christmas Market offers above all a musical program. Every day you can look forward to several performances, be it choir singing, the sound of trombones or even an entire orchestra. You can also look forward to the tales of old Nuremberg legends and stories from the Bratwurst Museum.
Over 200 exhibitors offer their wares at the market and you can store for gifts, drink mulled wine and, of course, taste the famous Nuremberg grilled sausages and gingerbread. You can not only buy gingerbread, but also learn how to make it yourself. Up to 25 people can take part in one of the two-hour workshops and be shown how to do it by the bakers from Lebkuchen-Schmidt. If you have already learned how to make fruit cakes at Patisserie Süßwahn, the gingerbread should be a piece of cake for you.
The Nuremberg Christmas Market also includes the Children’s Christmas on Hans-Sachs-Platz, the Market of the Twin Cities and the Star House. As the name suggests, the Children’s Christmas is all about the little ones in the family. They can get creative baking cookies and painting jars and write their wish list to the Christkinds. You can also hand them in personally when the Christ Child invites you to take a free ride on the carousel. You can also listen to exciting Christmas tales in the Sternenhaus. Things get international at the Market of the Twin Cities, where 23 stalls will introduce you to Christmas traditions from all over the world.
From Munich, you can reach the Nuremberg Christmas Market in about an hour by ICE train or in about two hours by car. If you have a Germany ticket, we recommend taking the RE train, which will take you to your destination in around one hour and 45 minutes. The Nuremberg Christmas Market is open daily up to and including December 24.
📍 Location: Nuremberg Main Market
📅 Dates: November 28 to December 24
🕑 Opening hours: Daily 10 am to 9 pm, on December 24th 10 am to 2 pm