For something different, try Monschau. It's my favourite place in the world. The market is quite small, as the beautiful village is small, but it has a wonderful local feeling.
Quite different from the larger markets.

Every Christmas, I love getting out my souvenir market mugs to decorate with.

Word has gotten out a long time ago about Rothenburg. It now gets crushed with an intolerable amount of tourists during the Xmas season.

Thanks everyone. I’m having fun looking things up and discovering what they are. I had a moment so I thought I’d share.

A German Christmas pyramid thing



Mulled wine or gluhwein. Dh has been to Stuttgart before and brought the cute little mug home.



German Sausage. I don’t know what kind.



Baumstrizel



Schockokusses

Frankfurt, Strasbourg, and Heidelberg are all good options. Luxembourg is a littler further but has a nice market too. Some smaller, charming markets to look into between Frankfurt and Baden Baden are Bernkastel-Kues, Rudesheim, and St. Wendel.

IMO, the best treats to try are gluhwein (kinderpunsch for kids); baumstritzel (fire-baked dough dipped in cinnamon sugar; flammkuchen (onion and speck flatbread with cheese and garlic sauce); flammlachs (salmon baked on a spit over flames and placed inside French bread with lettuce and pickles); and Schockokusses (chocolate covered marshmallows dipped in every flavor imaginable).

Enjoy!

Honestly I like the small town ones that take place usually just a few days each year.

For big cities like Strassburg, Nuremburg, Munich, Vienna, etc, the key isn't to go to the main one on the square it's the smaller side markets that are better IMO. For example Nuremburg had a kids market on some side square that was much more authentic.

That being said I liked Bamberg, Trier, Wurzburg, Wiesbaden, and Colmar in Alsace.

I've been to the Munich market and it was fun for the entertainment and the gluwein, along with some of the sweets. I bought some wooden decorations there too, which I'm sure are made in china, but are nice in any event. I've been to Christmas markets in England, Denmark and Scotland as well and they are pretty commercial and remarkably similar to each other - I assume they are run by the same company.

I would not drive 4 hours a day for a Christmas market.

Springerle, if you like a hint of anise.

I loved the Munich one and the Rothenburg one. The Nuremberg one I found disappointing since all the stalls were exactly the same, crammed into one space.

Definitely go for the Glühwein, it's to die for. Rothenburg had roasted pork that was so good I still yearn to go back and have it again someday.

Enjoy! My husband is returning from Germany today after visiting the market at his home city and I was so jealous I missed out!

PP here. Should be Blonder Engel. And get some Kinderpunsch for the kids. Also look up Stettenfels castle. They have a fantastic Christmas event but I’m not sure when it takes place.

Oh, and I also forgot to mention Heidelberg. The market is huge and you can also visit the castle, but the castle’s a bit boring for kids. And the Christmas market is a lot of walking for kids.

I used to live in Stuttgart so know a thing or two about Christmas markets. Stuttgart has a large market but it doesn’t have that much character. The best things there are the Finnish market which has a large tent with an open fire and a singing Santa. They also sell elk sausages and real smoked salmon. If you go to the market proper, you have to try a Blonger Engel; the best Christmas market drink there is IMO. There’s also a skating rink and some fairground rides. Try a Thuringer sausage in bread.

Esslingen, a short drive from Stuttgart, has a great medieval market, and the town center is much more attractive than Stuttgart. The food is slightly different though still meat and potato heavy. At the back of the market there is a small section of medieval fairground games which are great fun if you have kids.

The market in Ludwigsburg is small but in a very attractive square. You can also visit the palace while you are there. Take one of the tours of the palace.

Speyer Christmas market is also supposed to be good. Speyer is between Stuttgart and Frankfurt.

We have seen the markets in Munich and they were lovely. There are several ones, including a medieval themed one that kids enjoy, and a modern child oriented market in a park somewhere (google the Munich markets). Our favorite was the one by the Viktualienmarkt. And Munich is a lovely city. I echo the other comments about going for the food and drink and festive atmosphere and not for the goods for sale except perhaps gingerbread. I've been to many markets in Europe and the handicrafts are actually quite expensive for what they are. If you go to Munich you can also do a day trip to Neuschwanstein, and on the day we did it it snowed and was gorgeous!

There are other markets in Bavaria. Nuremberg is famous. Augsburg is a lovely town and I'm sure they have a lovely market.

Anonymous wrote:
I'm French, and used to love Christmas markets. I don't go anymore, because of the risk of a terror attack. I realize this fear is not entirely reasonable and that your heart is set on going, so just know that markets in one region will sell similar things. German gingerbread cookies are delicious, and there will be the delightful Christmas vanes/pyramids. This is what I would buy! Most will not be hand-made, or artisanal. You have a interesting, pre-Chinese-emergence idea of European Christmas markets

This.

If you go to a Xmas market in the US, they sell the same Chinese-made, mass produced items. Only the food will differ.

Glühwein and gingerbread stuff.

I'm French, and used to love Christmas markets. I don't go anymore, because of the risk of a terror attack. I realize this fear is not entirely reasonable and that your heart is set on going, so just know that markets in one region will sell similar things. German gingerbread cookies are delicious, and there will be the delightful Christmas vanes/pyramids. This is what I would buy! Most will not be hand-made, or artisanal. You have a interesting, pre-Chinese-emergence idea of European Christmas markets

We are going to Germany next week (from UK) to enjoy some Christmas markets with the kids. Any tips? What food is not to be missed? Best handmade crafts to look out for? Sweets? We have 3 nights to explore three different markets. So which ones should we see? We are flying into Baden Baden and flying out of Frankfurt. We are willing to drive up to 4 hours a day.