It’s no secret that Germany hosts some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. But unless you have tons of time, it’s best to concentrate on one region of Germany.
This Christmas market itinerary focuses on southern Germany. Not only will you visit some of the most historic markets in Europe, but you will tour towns that look as if they’ve been plucked from the pages of a fairytale.
There are several ways to plan your Germany Christmas market itinerary, with the main factor being how much time you have. First, we list a 10-day itinerary that includes our favorite spots in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Germany. If you don’t have that much time, we also list a 7-day itinerary that lets you explore a few festive markets and see some of Germany’s most beautiful cities.
And should you have more time, you can add on places such as the unique Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market, pop over into the Alsace region of France, or add on Neuschwanstein Castle or Salzburg, Austria.
About this Germany Christmas Market Itinerary
This itinerary is modeled after a very similar trip that Kara and I took in December 2024. We took a 13-day trip through Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Germany and the Alsace region of France.
This was our third Christmas market trip in 3 years (we’ve also done London and Vienna + Prague) and this one is our favorite. The combination of the Bavarian towns and spectacular German Christmas markets makes for the perfect European Christmas market trip.
When to Go
The Christmas markets open at the end of November (generally around November 25) and close December 22 or 23. There are a few markets that will close a week or two after Christmas, but for the most part, if you want to see the Christmas markets, plan your visit for the last week of November through the first three weeks of December.
Should You Rent a Car or Take the Train?
It is very easy to travel by train in Germany and all of the itineraries listed below can be done by train. A rental car is also an option, but there will be days where you won’t need the car, so it will sit in a parking garage, creating an unnecessary expense.
We had a rental car but did our day trips by train. The main reason why I rented a car was to make it easier to visit the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market and visit the Alsace region of France.
An advantage of having a car was the ability to store our luggage in the back of the car when visiting a few Christmas markets. We also amassed quite a few Christmas mugs and souvenirs, and we could store these in the trunk.
If you plan to rent a car, book a hotel that offers parking.
Train Tickets in Germany
It is not absolutely necessary to purchase your train tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased in the station before you board the train. However, if you book your tickets far in advance, it is possible to get a slightly cheaper fare.
There are several ticket types in Germany, and we chose to purchase the Flexpreis tickets in advance. These are the most expensive tickets, but they do have a big advantage. They are valid for any train the day the ticket is booked, so we could be very flexible about when we traveled between two cities. Rather than having to book a specific train at a specific time, we could simply board the next available train.
For example, I purchased round trip Flexpreis tickets for our day trip to Bamberg from Nuremberg. On that day, we could take any train to Bamberg and return on any train to Nuremberg. Since I had no idea how long we would spend in Bamberg, we could simply return to the train station when finished and catch the next train to Nuremberg.
To look up train timetables and book your tickets in advance, visit the bahn.de website.
It’s a good idea to price out the trains in advance and compare that price with a Eurail Pass or a German Rail Pass, because you could save some money with a rail pass. The Man in Seat 61 does an excellent job explaining ticket types and things to know when traveling by train in Germany (and all around the world).
Sendlinger Tor Christmas market in Munich
Weather in December
In December, the average high is 3 to 4°C (38 to 40°F) and the average low is -1 to -2°C (28 to 30°F). December tends to be one of the drier times of the year. Snowfall is possible, and when it happens, is generally just a dusting, but in 2023, Bavaria got quite a bit of snow. We happened to be in Vienna, Austria visiting the Christmas markets, and several inches of snow fell there as well.
On our trip to Bavaria in December 2024, we had light rain showers most days, with a solid day of rain while in Nuremberg. It was also overcast for almost every day of our 13-day trip, except for some sun the first day in Munich and while in Strasbourg, France.
So, be prepared for drizzly, cold weather but keep your fingers crossed for snow showers or sunny skies.
Nuremberg on a rainy day
Tickets to Purchase in Advance
There are two Christmas markets listed in this itinerary that require a ticket.
The Romantic Christmas Market in Regensburg requires a ticket. This can be purchased online in advance, or you can purchase a ticket at the entrance.
The Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market also requires a ticket. This is a very popular Christmas market and tickets sell out weeks before the market even opens. Tickets go on sale in mid-October and it’s best to get them right when they go on sale, to make sure you get the date and time you want. As you plan your itinerary, it’s also important to know that the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market is only held on weekends. We only include the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market on the 13-day itinerary and as an add-on to the 10-day itinerary.
When to Make Your Hotel & Flight Reservations
We booked our flights and hotels in mid-September. There was still plenty of hotel availability at this time, but I wouldn’t wait too much longer than this. Christmas market trips are growing in popularity so it could be challenging to plan them last minute.
How Much Time Do You Need?
It’s possible to visit a few towns and Christmas markets in one week. More time allows you to visit more places, of course. This extra time can be used to either add on more towns in southern Germany and/or France, or add on places like Neuschwanstein Castle.
Below, I first list a 10-day Bavarian Christmas market itinerary, since it includes our favorite places we visited on our trip. This will be followed by a shorter 7-day itinerary and then the exact 13-day trip Kara and I took through Germany and France.
10 Day Christmas Market Itinerary: Bavaria & Baden-Württemberg
This itinerary is done as a loop, starting and ending in Munich. It can be done by train, so there is no need to rent a car, but it can be done by car as well. You can stay in three cities (Munich, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart) or add on overnight stays in Regensburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This is what we did, and it does require more packing and unpacking, but we LOVED spending the night in both of these towns.
Day 1: Munich
Day 2: Munich
Day 3: Munich
Day 4: Regensburg
Day 5: Nuremberg
Day 6: Day trip from Nuremberg
Day 7: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Day 8: Stuttgart
Day 9: Stuttgart
Day 10: Fly home
Days 1, 2 & 3: Munich
The first three days are spent in Munich. If you are flying to Germany from outside of Europe, most likely you will only have half of a day on the first day, and you may feel a bit drained, if you took a red-eye flight. We got into Munich around 1 pm, and once we got settled into our hotel, only had that afternoon and evening of the first day.
On your first day, spend the evening at the Christmas market on Marienplatz. This is a fantastic, festive introduction to the amazing German Christmas markets. Kara and I wandered around Marienplatz in pure bliss for 3 hours our first afternoon here. For a bird’s eye view, ride the elevator to the top of the Rathaus tower.
Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt
The view from the top of the Rathaus Tower
You will then have two full days in Munich, the perfect amount of time to spend here. Not only are there a lot of Christmas markets to visit in Munich, but this is a very interesting city to visit, with non-Christmasy places to go. On the list are the BMW Museum, Nymphenburg Palace, Munich Residence Palace, and the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.
Munich Residence Palace
Christmas Pyramid at Rindermarkt
To plan your time in Munich, take a look at our 2 Day Munich Itinerary. This also includes recommended hotels (including where we stayed, the Cortiina Hotel, which has an excellent location just steps away from Munich’s main Christmas market). We also have a guide to the best Christmas markets in Munich.
Day 4: Regensburg
At this point, you have a decision to make. Option #1 is to travel to Regensburg by train, spend the day and the night in Regensburg, and the following morning, take the train to Nuremberg. The advantage of doing it this way is spending the night in Regensburg. Kara and I really liked walking the streets in the morning, when all was quiet. The disadvantage is the additional hotel stay.
If you don’t like that idea, you can take a train to Nuremberg in the morning and on the following day, day trip from Nuremberg to Regensburg by train. This saves you the extra time packing and unpacking at and additional hotel, but you will have limited time in Regensburg.
A third option is to visit Regensburg as you travel from Munich to Nuremberg.
Regensburger Christkindlemarkt
Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace | Germany Christmas Market Itinerary
Option #1: Overnight Stay in Regensburg
In the morning, take the train from Munich to Regensburg. It takes an hour and a half to travel by train. The train station is located 1 km south of the historic old town. It is a 12-minute walk to the old town or you can take a taxi. If you have a car, the best place to park is Parkhaus Petersburg.
Drop your luggage off at your hotel. Confirm that you will be able to drop your luggage off, even if your room is not ready. Our hotel, Hotel Rote19, could not accept our luggage until 1 pm. Fortunately, we had a car, so we left our luggage in the back of our car until check-in time.
Spend the day visiting the Regensburg Christmas markets. This lovely, historic town has four markets to visit, including one of the prettiest in Germany, the Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis Palace. This is one of the few Christmas markets that requires a ticket, but it’s worth it. The palace setting, the amazing food stalls, and the warm, cozy Champagne Pavilion make this one of our favorite German Christmas markets.
Regensburg Christmas Markets & Festive Things to Do
For the full list of Christmas markets, additional things to do in Regensburg, plus where to stay, take a look at our Regensburg Christmas Market guide.Option #2: Regensburg Day Trip from Nuremberg
It’s possible to day trip to Regensburg from both Munich and Nuremberg. Train travel times are slightly shorter if you do the day trip from Nuremberg, which is why I am listing it that way, but you can do it from Munich, if you prefer.
This morning, take the train from Munich to Nuremberg. It takes one hour and ten minutes to travel to Nuremberg by train. Check into your hotel and spend the remainder of the day visiting the Nuremberg Christmas Market and sites in town. There is a lot do to in Nuremberg, aside from its amazing Christmas market, which we cover in our Guide to Nuremberg.
Tomorrow (day 5), day trip to Regensburg by train. It takes an hour to travel to Regensburg. If you plan your arrival around 11 am, you’ll have all day to visit Regensburg’s lovely Christmas markets and stroll the very picturesque streets.
Option #3: A Quick Visit to Regensburg
Travel from Munich to Regensburg by train (1.5 hours) or by car (1.25 hours). Luggage can be stored in the Regensburg train station or in your car. Spend the day in Regensburg and in the evening, take a train or drive to Nuremberg.
Day 5: Nuremberg
If you spent last night in Regensburg, in the morning take the train to Nuremberg (1 hour travel time). Once in Nuremberg, check-in to your hotel (we stayed at Karl August – A Neighborhood Hotel and had a great experience…it has a very convenient location one block from the Christmas market).
Spend the day visiting the Nuremberg Christmas Market and visiting the city’s attractions. This historic city is home to a castle (Kaiserburg Nürnberg), several beautiful churches, and several WWII sites. Going for a stroll along the Pegnitz River is also a must-have experience.
If you traveled to Nuremberg yesterday, take the day trip to Regensburg today.
Nuremberg Christmas Market
Wießgerbergasse
The Nuremberg Christmas Market is often a favorite of many who tour Germany’s Christmas markets. It is a huge market, with more than 180 stalls, and the quality of the food and handicrafts that are for sale are on a different level than some of the other markets we visited.
This was also the most crowded market we visited. On Saturday nights, it is especially busy. But with multiple days and nights in Nuremberg, you will get to see it in the morning, when it is rather tranquil, and in the evening, when it can be a very busy place.
How to Visit Nuremberg at Christmas
In this guide, we cover things to know about the Nuremberg Christmas market, plus things to do in Nuremberg and where to stay.PRO TRAVEL TIP: The best way to maximize your time is to arrive early in each city. Most likely, your hotel room won’t be ready, but most hotels will hold your luggage for you. It is a good idea to confirm this in advance, to avoid any unpleasant surprises. We also recommend booking hotels with a front desk and 24-hour staff. Many smaller apartments and Airbnb properties do not have the ability to accept luggage early. You can get around this by storing your luggage at a luggage storage facility, but this adds additional cost and time onto the day. If you have a rental car, you can leave your luggage in the car until your room is ready.
Day 6: Day Trip from Nuremberg
Today, take your pick between two day trip options: Bamberg or Würzburg. Both of these cities are located less than an hour by train from Nuremberg.
Bamberg
Bamberg is one of the prettiest cities we visited in Bavaria. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval streets and historic buildings. Strolling through the Old Town and along the river tops the list of things to do in Bamberg, but you can also visit the cathedral, tour the monastery, or tour a brewery.
There is a Christmas market here. It’s nice but it was one of our least favorites in Germany. The Bamberg Christmas market is very small and lacks the festive vibe that you get at many others in Germany.
Bamberg is well worth it if you want to visit one of Bavaria’s most picturesque cities.
Würzburg
This gorgeous city sits within Bavaria’s wine region. Things to do here include visiting the Marienberg Fortress, going for a stroll across the Old Main Bridge and into the Old Town, and touring Würzburg Residence Palace.
Würzburg’s Christmas Market is beautiful. It is surrounded by the colorful buildings on Marktplatz, including the red and white St. Mary’s Chapel. It also has a great local vibe and was much less crowded than many other markets we visited in Germany.
Put Würzburg on your list if you want to visit a beautiful Bavarian city with an underrated Christmas market.
Can You Do Bamberg & Würzburg in One Day?
Can’t decide which one to visit? If you start early, end late, and don’t mind having a big day, you can visit both Bamberg and Würzburg in one day.
Direct trains connect Bamberg and Würzburg in an hour, so you are looking at about 3 hours total travel time by train. Plan to be in the first city by 9 am, which gives you time to visit a few sites or walk the city streets before the Christmas markets open (which is generally between 10 and 11 am). Have lunch at the Christmas market.
In the early afternoon, take a train to the second city, which gives you a little bit of daylight to see that city. Sunset is right around 5 pm, so keep that in mind when planning your time. In the evening, return to Nuremberg.
Purchasing a Flexpreis ticket today is key, as it gives you the most flexibility with traveling by train.
Day 7: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Similar to Regensburg, you have the option to spend the night in Rothenburg or to day trip here from Nuremberg. We spent the night here and absolutely loved it.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is my favorite town in Bavaria. It is the quintessential Bavarian town, with colorful half-timbered houses, cobblestoned streets, and medieval walls and towers. Add in the Christmas market and decorations throughout town and you have one of the very best Christmas destinations in all of Europe.
Spending the night here gives you plenty of time to get to know and explore this charming place.
Christmas in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany: Market & Festive Things to Do
How to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber during the Christmas season, with recommended things to do and where to stay.Option #1: One Night in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
In the morning, take the train or drive to Rothenburg. By train, it takes between an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes to travel from Nuremberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with 2 transfers. This is one of the few times that having a car is an advantage.
It is also important to know that the train station is about a 15-minute walk from the city center, most of these cobblestoned streets, so if you will be wheeling luggage into town, consider hiring a taxi to get you to your hotel (or see if your hotel can offer a transfer).
But once here, Rothenburg is magical. This is a tiny town and it doesn’t take long to walk its streets and visit the Christmas market, so there is no need to arrive very early in the day. We got in around 1 pm and felt like we had plenty of time to see and do everything we wanted to that afternoon and evening.
In Rothenburg, we stayed at Hotel Herrnschloesschen and had a great experience. There are many other highly rated hotels to choose from, which we cover in our Guide to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Option #2: Rothenburg Day Trip from Nuremberg
Rothenburg is a very small town and it really only takes a few hours to see it, so it makes a great day trip from Nuremberg. Getting here isn’t as easy as it is to travel to Bamberg or Würzburg, as there aren’t any direct trains, but travel times are still reasonable, taking an average of an hour and a half, one way.
Plan your visit such that you arrive in Rothenburg in the early afternoon. This gives you time to see it in the daylight, at sunset, and in the evening. It is gorgeous at all times of the day, with twilight being my favorite, when the skies grow darker and the lights turn on.
Days 8 & 9: Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg & Esslingen am Neckar
In the morning, travel to Stuttgart by train (2 hours 45 minutes from Rothenburg ob der Tauber [with 2 transfers] and 2 hours 15 minutes from Nuremberg [direct train]).
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is home to one of the oldest and largest markets in Europe. This sprawling market has several sections to it, with over 300 market stalls. The highlight of this market are the elaborately decorated market stalls, which are really something to see.
Stuttgart also makes a great home base for visiting two more very notable German Christmas markets. Both of these towns are roughly 15 minutes by train from Stuttgart.
Christmas Markets in Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, and Esslingen am Neckar, Germany
How to plan your visit to the Christmas markets in Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, and Esslingen am Neckar.Ludwigsburg
The Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market is one of the most beautiful in Germany. This small market has a lovely setting on Markplatz. Its 150 stalls are decorated with wreaths, garland, and statues and for sale are handmade crafts, local foods, and feuerzangenbowle. We loved the local vibe here.
Esslingen am Neckar
And then there is the Christmas market in Esslingen am Neckar. This is our favorite Christmas market in Germany.
Strolling through Esslingen feels like stepping into a medieval town. It has a traditional Christmas market plus a market with a medieval theme. The combination of Esslingen’s iconic buildings, its medieval-themed market with live music, and very festive vibe, makes this a market not to be missed.
Planning Your Time
On this itinerary, you have 2 days to visit all three markets, plus get to Munich for a flight home, so timing is a bit tight.
On your first day in Stuttgart, I recommend spending a few hours at the Stuttgart market. Around 3 to 4 pm, take the suburban railway to Esslingen (15 minutes travel time) and spend the evening in Esslingen am Neckar.
On day 2, visit the Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market midday. You only need an hour or two here to see the market and have some market food for lunch.
In the afternoon, return to Stuttgart, pick up your luggage at the hotel, and take a train (2 hours travel time) or drive (2.5 hours) to Munich. Spend the night in Munich. Highly rated hotels near the Munich Airport include Hilton Munich Airport and the Novotel München Airport.
Day 10: Fly home
Today, fly home or continue your travels.
Add-Ons to This 10 Day Germany Christmas Itinerary
Bamberg or Würzburg
With an additional day, add on Bamberg or Würzburg, if you only visited one of these as a day trip from Nuremberg.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular day trips from Munich. It can be done independently, but there are many tour options that make planning this day trip easier. This full day tour includes Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palace and gets excellent reviews on GetYourGuide. This day trip tour of Neuschwanstein gets near perfect reviews. You also have the option to take a private tour from Munich.
Neuschwanstein
Salzburg
From Munich, it takes an hour and a half to travel to Salzburg, Austria by train. This compact city can be explored in just one day. We have visited Salzburg twice and it is great addition to a trip through Bavaria, Germany. You also get the chance to visit another Christmas market.
How to Spend One Perfect Day in Salzburg
Everything you need to know to plan your day trip to Salzburg.7 Day Bavaria Christmas Market Itinerary
This is a shorter version of the itinerary listed above. Munich, Nuremberg, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber are must-sees in my opinion. Essentially, you will do the first part of the 10-day itinerary, giving up time in Stuttgart and a day in Munich.
Day 1: Munich
Day 2: Munich
Day 3: Nuremberg
Day 4: Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Nuremberg
Day 5: Bamberg or Würzburg Day Trip from Nuremberg
Day 6: Regensburg
Day 7: Fly Home
Days 1 & 2: Munich
With just 7 days, it’s best to give up a day in Munich, so you have time to visit more towns in Bavaria. Ideally, if you can arrive early in the day on day 1, you will have close to two full days in Munich. Refer to our 2 days in Munich guide for suggestions on how to spend your time and where to stay. Pick your favorite markets from our Munich Christmas Market guide.
Day 3: Nuremberg
In the morning, take the train to Nuremberg and spend the rest of the day in Nuremberg, visiting the Christmas market and the sites in the city that look of interest to you. Sleep in Nuremberg.
Day 4: Day Trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Today, day trip to Rothenburg, traveling either by train, or by rental car, if you have one. By train, travel times average about an hour and a half with two transfers. It may sound like a hassle to get here from Nuremberg, but it’s worth it. This gorgeous town was our favorite on our trip to Germany in December.
Sleep in Nuremberg.
Day 5: Day Trip to Bamberg and/or Würzburg
Similar to day 6 in the 10 day itinerary, take your pick between Bamberg and Würzburg, or make it a big day and visit both of them. Sleep in Nuremberg.
Day 6: Regensburg
Today, travel back to Munich, stopping at Regensburg along the way. If you are traveling by train, there is luggage storage in the Regensburg train station or you can use Luggage Hero. If you have a rental car, park in Parkhaus Petersburg and leave your luggage in your car.
Plan on arriving in Regensburg by 11 am. This gives you plenty of time to visit the city’s Christmas markets. The Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn and Taxis doesn’t open until early afternoon on weekdays, so if you will be here Monday through Thursday, keep that in mind as you plan your time.
In the evening, take the train or drive to Munich. The most convenient place to stay for your flight home tomorrow (if you will be flying) is at or near the airport. Highly rated hotels near the Munich Airport include Hilton Munich Airport and the Novotel München Airport.
Day 7: Fly Home
Fly home or continue your travels.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
13-Day Christmas Market Itinerary: Germany & France
This is our exact itinerary. It starts in Munich and ends in Zürich. We traveled by rental car, but it can also be done by train. Having a car was a bit of a hassle for the first part of the itinerary (Munich through Nuremberg) but it made visiting Rothenburg, Ravenna Gorge, Colmar, and Zürich a bit easier.
This is very similar to the 10 day itinerary above. What you get with the extra time is another full day in Nuremberg for a day trip, the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market, and a day in the Alsace region of France.
Day 1: Munich
Day 2: Munich
Day 3: Munich
Day 4: Regensburg
Day 5: Nuremberg
Day 6: Day trip to Bamberg
Day 7: Day trip to Würzburg
Day 8: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Day 9: Ludwigsburg & Stuttgart
Day 10: Stuttgart & Esslingen am Neckar
Day 11: Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market & Colmar
Day 12: Colmar
Day 13: Fly home
Days 1, 2 & 3: Munich
Spend three days in Munich, visiting the Christmas markets and top attractions in town.
Day 4: Regensburg
Travel to Regensburg by train or by rental car. Spend the day visiting the Christmas markets. Spend one night in Regensburg.
Day 5: Nuremberg
Go for a stroll in Regensburg…it’s beautiful in the morning, when the streets are quiet. Mid-morning, take the train or drive to Nuremberg. Drop off your luggage at your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at the Christmas market and any city sights that are of interest to you. On this itinerary, you will spend three nights in Nuremberg.
Day 6: Day Trip to Bamberg
With more time in this itinerary, you get a full day for Bamberg and a full day for Würzburg.
Today, go for a stroll through Nuremberg in the morning. We took an 11 am train to Bamberg, saw a few sights in Bamberg, sat down to lunch at Vita, and then spent the afternoon exploring Bamberg’s lovely city streets and Christmas market.
For dinner, we sampled different foods at the Nuremberg Christmas market.
Day 7: Day Trip to Würzburg
There’s no need to rush right off to Würzburg, so if you like, you can spend the morning in Nuremberg and midday take the train to Würzburg. Once in Würzburg, we had a taxi drive us to the Marienberg Fortress and from here, it was a very scenic walk into town. We spent about five hours in Würzburg, getting back to Nuremberg in time for dinner (again, at the Nuremberg Christmas Market).
Day 8: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Today, you have the option today trip to Rothenburg from Nuremberg or spend the night here. We spent the night in Rothenburg and loved the experience. Plan your visit with our Guide to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Day 9: Ludwigsburg & Stuttgart
Having a car really came in handy today, but it’s still not absolutely necessary. On the drive from Rothenburg to Stuttgart, we visited the Ludwigsburg Christmas Market for a few hours. It’s possible to do this by train as well, because there is luggage storage in the Ludwigsburg train station.
In the early afternoon, we checked into our hotel in Stuttgart (the wonderful EmiLu Design Hotel) and spent the rest of the day exploring the Stuttgart Christmas Market.
On this itinerary, you will spend two nights in Stuttgart.
Day 10: Stuttgart & Esslingen am Neckar
In the morning, you have some free time or you can visit the Porsche and Mercedes museums. In the afternoon, take the suburban railway to Esslingen am Neckar and have a magical evening at our favorite Christmas market. We got into Esslingen around 5 pm. In hindsight, I wish we would have gotten there an hour sooner, to see it at sunset, the best time for lighting and photography.
Day 11: Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market
Before we get into the details of this day, there are two crucial things to know about the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market:
- The market is only held on weekends, so you will have to adjust this itinerary such that this day lines up on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
- Tickets go on sale in mid-October and sell out very quickly, so mark your calendar and be ready to purchase your tickets when they become available.
The logistics of getting to the market are a bit complicated as well, which we cover in our guide to the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market.
We had a crazy day today. My original plan was to spend a leisurely morning in Stuttgart, visiting the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market in the evening.
But in the weeks leading up to our trip, I kept seeing amazing photos of the Strasbourg Christmas Market. Kara and I were intrigued, so we added Strasbourg onto our day.
Strasbourg Christmas Market
At 9 am, we left Stuttgart and drove 2 hours to Strasbourg. It was Friday the 13th and at 11 am, already very challenging to find a parking space in Strasbourg. We have been to Strasbourg in the past, so I wasn’t planning on spending much time in Strasbourg, just enough to see the market and the decorations.
Even midday Friday, Strasbourg was very crowded. The decorations on the buildings, with oversized teddy bears, garlands, and twinkling lights, were awesome to see. The Christmas market was so-so, especially after spending 10 days in Germany.
I’m glad we saw Strasbourg, but I don’t think it is worth going out of your way to see it.
Strasbourg & Colmar Christmas Markets in Photos
See the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets in photos, plus get helpful tips to plan your visit.Freiburg im Breisgau
From Strasbourg, we drove to Freiburg im Breisgau (an hour by car) and spent just over an hour here. This was our second visit to Freiburg and again, we loved it. This is a very cool, small city, with medieval towers, colorful streets, and far fewer people than Strasbourg. There is also a small Christmas market with a very local vibe. Skip Strasbourg and spend part of the day in Freiburg, if you want to visit a town in between Stuttgart and the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market.
Freiburg
When booking your tickets for the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market, there is an option to take a shuttle from Freiburg. I think this is a fantastic way to get to and visit the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market, as parking tickets are challenging to get and this shuttle makes it very easy to plan your day. Tonight, you can sleep in Freiburg or do what we did, and drive to Colmar.
Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market
We arrived at the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market at 5:15. It’s just a short drive from Freiburg, but it snowed a tiny bit that afternoon, making roads slick and slowing down traffic on the roads.
The Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market is one of the most unique in Europe, with its setting under the railway viaduct. It’s also very crowded. We liked it and I’m glad we saw it, but it can be a hassle to get it to line up in an itinerary.
How to Visit the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market
This guide covers how and when to buy your tickets, the shuttles to the Christmas market, things to do, and if it is worth it.Our time slot (when you book your tickets, you have a 2-hour time slot to visit the market) ended at 7 pm. We left a little bit early, driving to Colmar (an hour and a half with traffic), checked into our hotel, and then spent an hour in the evening walking around Colmar, which is amazing, with its decorations and brightly lit buildings.
If I did it again, I would skip Strasbourg, go right to Freiburg, spend a few hours here, and then visit the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market. It made it a long day to then drive to Colmar, but we got to see Colmar in the evening and the next morning, before the day trippers arrived. Spending the night in Freiburg is a nice option, if you don’t want the late drive to Colmar.
Colmar at night | Germany Christmas Market Itinerary
Day 12: Colmar
We spent the morning and early afternoon in Colmar, visiting its Christmas markets which are spread across town. In the early afternoon, we drove to Zürich, checked in to our hotel (the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle), dropped off our rental car, and had a leisurely evening at the hotel.
We chose to fly home from Zürich, since it was closer to Colmar than Munich. You can complete the loop, flying home from Munich, but from Colmar, it is a 4.5-hour drive or 4.5-hour train ride with multiple transfers.
Colmar
Day 13: Fly Home
Today, we flew home but you could extend the trip by visiting more Christmas markets in the Alsace region of France or in Switzerland.
Helpful Links for Planning Your Christmas Market Trip
In our Germany Travel Guide, see all of our articles about Germany, including how to visit Neuschwanstein and Zugspitze, plus a fantastic Bavaria Itinerary that can be done all year.
If you plan to visit the Alsace Wine Region, we have guides about Colmar, how to plan a 3 Day Itinerary in the Alsace, and the best small towns to visit in Alsace, France.
If you have any questions about how to plan a Bavaria Christmas Market itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Christmas Market Trip
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