The Nuremberg Christmas Market (Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt) is widely regarded as one of Germany’s best Christmas markets. It’s often a favorite among those who tour the country’s holiday markets – a remarkable feat in a country renowned for its spectacular number of unique, festive markets.
You only need a few hours to visit the Nuremberg Christmas Market, but with a few days in Nuremberg, you can explore the market multiple times. It’s rather tranquil in the morning, when all is quiet. It’s beautiful to photograph at sunset, which happens around 4:30 pm. And it is a busy, bustling, lively spot in the evenings.
If you spend a few nights in Nuremberg, you can fill the rest of your time visiting the city sights and day tripping to some nearby cities.
Here’s how to plan a visit to Nuremberg during the Christmas season…it’s sure to be one of the highlights of your trip to Germany.
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
Open: November 28 through December 24, 2025
Hours: 10 am to 9 pm daily; 10 am to 2 pm on December 24
Location: Hauptmarkt (Main Market Square)
Website: christkindlesmarkt.de
Cost: Free
The first mention of the Nuremberg Christmas Market dates back to 1530, making this one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe.
It is also renowned as being one of Germany’s best Christmas markets to visit.
This sprawling market sits on Nuremberg’s Main Market Square. The Frauenkirche church makes a picturesque backdrop for the market, as do the colorful buildings that surround the market square.
The 180+ stalls sell everything from beautiful handmade crafts to local delicacies to mulled wine. The quality of the food and crafts that are for sale at this market is on a different level than some of the other markets we visited. If you were to only visit one Christmas market in Germany, this would be a good one, as it has a little bit of everything.
On some nights, live music is held in front of Frauenkirche, drawing huge crowds.
Main Market Square is where you will find most of the Christmas market stalls, but there is some spillover onto the side streets.
The Kinderweihnacht (the children’s market) is located on Hans-Sachs-Platz. There are rides for children, food and drinks, and (to be expected) a lot of strollers. This is a must-visit if you are here with kids; if you are not in Nuremberg with kids, this part of the market can be skipped.
The Sister Cities’ Market is a small market on Rathausplatz. This international market is filled with stalls selling foods and goods from around the world.
Things to Eat at the Nuremberg Christmas Market
Here are a few foods to try at the Nuremberg Christmas Market:
- Nuremberg Lebkuchen (gingerbread)
- Feuerzangenbowle (mulled wine that is served with a rum-soaked sugar cube that is lit on fire)
- Glühwein (mulled wine, our favorite was the blueberry mulled wine (heidelbeer glühwein) at Gerstacker)
- Nuremberg Bratwurst
- Mandeln (roasted almonds)
- Reiberdatschi (fried potato pancakes)
Where to Get the Best View of the Nuremberg Christmas Market
For the best view of the Nuremberg Christmas Market, visit the observation deck of Frauenkirche. This church has a small, outdoor terrace with a panoramic view over the market.
The view before sunset
The view in the evening
This terrace has very limited hours of operation. It costs a few euros and you will climb up spiral staircase to the terrace. Only a few people are allowed on the terrace at one time, so from sunset through closing, there can be a long line to do this.
In 2024, the terrace was open from November 30 through December 22. Here are the opening times:
- Friday 5 pm to 9 pm
- Saturday 3 pm to 9 pm
- Sunday 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Sorat Hotel Saxx sits on the Main Market Square. If you book a room on a high floor, you will have an amazing view of the market from your room. It could be a little bit noisy, so keep that in mind, but the market does close at 9 pm.
Crowd Levels at the Nuremberg Christmas Market
This was the most crowded market we visited in Europe. Kara and I were here on a rainy Saturday night and the Nuremberg Christmas market felt like a mosh pit. Despite the cold, rainy weather, people were out and about, wielding umbrellas and mugs of steaming glühwein.
Our visit to Nuremberg spanned three nights: December 7, 8 & 9, which was a Saturday, Sunday, and Monday night. On Saturday night, the rainy night, the market was absolutely packed, so much so that it was really hard to enjoy the experience. We returned on Sunday night (far less crowded but still busy) and Monday night (much lower crowds).
If you can, try to visit the Nuremberg Christmas Market on a Sunday (that way you can still visit the terrace of Frauenkirche for the view of the market). We have heard from others that Saturday nights are the busiest nights of the week to be here.
Photos of the Nuremberg Christmas Market
Nuremberg Winter Village
There is a second, smaller Christmas market in Nuremberg. The Nuremberg Winter Village is located on Jakobsmarkt, within the Old Town. The main reason for visiting this market is for a ride on the WinterWheel Nuremberg, a large Ferris wheel with enclosed gondola cars. From the top of the wheel, riders are treated to aerial views of Nuremberg.
Nuremberg Winter Village | Salvador Maniquiz/shutterstock.com
There are also numerous stalls selling food and gifts. This market is a 15-minute walk from the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.
Get hours and opening dates on the official website.
Things to Do in Nuremberg
Nuremberg is filled with historical sites and several world class museums. With its Old Town, its castle, and its beautiful setting on the Pegnitz River, this city is very fun to explore. In December, visiting the Christmas market is the #1 thing to do in Nuremberg, but here are a few more places to visit.
Kaiserburg Nürnberg
The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is one of the top historical sites to visit in the city. It has a hilltop location, so it is a short, scenic, uphill walk to get here, but you are rewarded with a gorgeous view of Nuremberg.
Our visit spanned several rainy days, so our photos look rather dreary, but with clearer weather, I imagine the views would be amazing.
There are a few things to see and do at the Imperial Castle.
Viewpoint of Nuremberg. Sitting just outside of the castle walls (and free to visit and open all day) is a nice viewpoint over Nuremberg. It is marked on our map and on Google Maps it is called Affenfelsen.
Sinwell Tower. For the best view of Nuremberg, climb the large, wooden, spiral staircase to the top of Sinwellturm (Sinwell Tower). There are bars on the windows, so you can take photos with a smartphone, but not a larger camera, like a DSLR. This requires a ticket.
Sinwell Tower
The stairwell in Sinwell Tower
The view from Sinwell Tower
Another view from Sinwell Tower
The Imperial Castle Museum. On display are weapons from the 12th to 19th centuries, housed in rooms of the castle. This requires a ticket.
Get hours and pricing on the official website.
Imperial Castle Museum
Albrecht-Dürer-Haus
Albrecht Dürer was a German Renaissance artist. He lived in Nuremberg from 1509 until his death in 1528. His house is located a short walk from the castle. Tours in English are offered every day. Learn more on the official website.
Even if you have no plans to go inside of the house, it is worth walking around this part of the Old Town, as it is beautiful, with its half-timbered houses and hilly streets.
Albrech-Dürer-Haus
A tower on the medieval walls
Wießgerbergasse
Colorful houses line this cobblestoned road, making it one of the prettiest streets in Nuremberg.
Wießgerbergasse
Go for a Stroll Along the Pegnitz River
A series of walking paths crisscross over the Pegnitz River, making this the perfect spot to go for a stroll and fill your camera’s memory card with photos.
There are lovely bridges to stroll across, the Schlayerturm (a historic tower) to photograph, plus a few small islands to explore. Cafes located along the river sell coffee, beer, and wine, the perfect place to take a break, have a drink, and enjoy the view.
Schlayerturm
Kreuzigungshof
St. Sebaldus Church
This medieval church is located in the Old Town, not far from the Christmas market. It dates back to 1225. The church was heavily damage in WWII and has since been restored.
St. Lorenz Church
This Gothic medieval church is located in the Old Town, south of the Pegnitz River.
St. Lorenz Church
Walk the Medieval Walls
Nuremberg is encircled by medieval walls. The walls are not open, so you cannot walk on the walls, but there are paths that run alongside the walls, should you want to go on a scenic walk, or even a jog, while in town.
Frauentor
Germanisches Nationalmuseum
This is the largest cultural history museum in the German speaking world. On display are 25,000 objects from prehistoric times to present day. Learn more and get hours and pricing on the official website.
Nuremberg Palace of Justice
The Palace of Justice is where the Nuremberg Trials were held. The Memorium Nuremberg Trials is a small museum on top of the courthouse which has information about the trials of the Nazi regime members. Visitors can also take a tour of Courtroom 600, where the trials were held.
Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
This is where the National Socialists held the Party Rallies from 1933 to 1938. In 2025, the Rally Grounds are undergoing a remodeling project, which is expected to be completed at the end of 2025. In the meantime, visitors can tour the Interim Exhibition. Learn more here.
Toy Museum
This is one of the best toy museums in the world. On display are wooden toys, dollhouses, toy trains, and “modern toys” such as Barbie, Lego, and Matchbox cars. Get pricing and hours here.
Nuremberg Map: Christmas Market & Things to Do
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Day Trips from Nuremberg
Nuremberg is a fantastic place to spend a few days, as it makes a great home base to day trip to nearby destinations. There is no need to rent a car, as traveling around Bavaria is easy to do by train.
Bamberg
This is one of Bavaria’s most photogenic cities. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval streets and historic buildings, with the Old Town Hall being the most photographed spot in town. There is also a Christmas market here. It takes 35 to 45 minutes to travel from Nuremberg to Bamberg by train.
Würzburg
Würzburg is just a little bit farther away. By train, it takes 50 to 70 minutes to travel from Nuremberg to Würzburg. Things to do here include visiting Marienburg Fortress, strolling across the Old Main Bridge (which will bring back memories of Charles Bridge, if you have been to Prague), touring the Baroque Residenz Palace, and strolling through the picturesque city center.
Würzburg has a very nice Christmas market, with a beautiful setting next to St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
This is my favorite town in Bavaria. We’ve been here twice, in the summer and in December, and it is a wonderful place to visit all year.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber looks like it has been plucked from the pages of a fairytale. Add in twinkling lights, garland, the smell of mulled wine, and market stalls on the main market square, and you have one of the best Christmas market destinations in Europe.
Rothenburg makes a nice day trip by train (it takes about 1 hour 15 minutes from Nuremberg, with one to two transfers), but for an even better experience, spend the night here. We love walking the quiet streets in the morning and evening, before the day trippers arrive.
Christmas in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany: Market & Festive Things to Do
How to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber: things to do, how to get here, and how to plan your time.Regensburg
Regensburg has a beautiful, historic city center and also not just one, but four Christmas markets. Like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, I think it is best to spend one night in Regensburg, but if you are pressed for time, you can visit Regensburg on a day trip.
Regensburg Christmas Markets 2025 | The Ultimate Guide
A guide to the Christmas markets in Regensburg, plus what you need to know to plan your visit.How Many Days Do You Need in Nuremberg?
If you just want to visit the Christmas market and visit a few attractions, then one day is all you need in Nuremberg. With each day you add on, you can visit more places in Nuremberg, such as the museums and WWII sites, or start adding on day trips.
Nuremberg Christmas Itinerary
We visited Nuremberg as part of a bigger trip through Germany and France. Here is the first part of our itinerary:
3 Days in Munich: We started in Munich, flying in from the USA. Most of the first day was travel time, but we did have the afternoon and evening, which was spent mostly on Marienplatz, the main market in Munich. On days 2 and 3, we visited Munich’s long list of Christmas markets plus a few attractions in town.
One Day in Regensburg: We had a rental car, since it made things much easier for us at the end of our itinerary, when we visited Ravenna Gorge and the Alsace region of France. We checked out of our hotel in Munich, drove to Regensburg (1 hour 15 minutes), and spent the day in Regensburg. We spent one night here.
3 Days in Nuremberg: We spent three nights in Nuremberg. Here is how I planned our time:
- Day 1: Drive from Regensburg to Nuremberg. Spent the day at the Christmas market and visiting the castle.
- Day 2: Day trip to Bamberg by train. In the evening, we visited the Nuremberg Christmas market and had dinner here.
- Day 3: Day trip to Würzburg by train. Again, in the evening, we visited the Nuremberg Christmas market and had dinner here.
We had free time in the mornings in Nuremberg, which was spent walking the streets, visiting a few churches, and photographing the Christmas market.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: From Nuremberg, we drove to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, spending one night here. From Rothenburg, we continued on to Stuttgart, the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market, and then the Alsace region of France.
Where to Stay in Nuremberg
We stayed at Karl August – A Neighborhood Hotel and loved it. This hotel has an unbeatable location, in the heart of Nuremberg, one block from the Christkindlesmarkt. It’s also within walking distance of the castle, the train station, and most of the attractions in the historic city center. I would absolutely stay here again on a future visit to Nuremberg.
Sorat Hotel Saxx Nürnberg is a 3-star hotel on the Main Market Square. It’s possible to get a room overlooking the Christkindlesmarkt, and how cool would that be?
Hotel FIVE is a 3-star hotel located next to the Christmas market. It has a fantastic location plus it gets excellent reviews.
If you prefer an apartment, take a look at Lorenz Apartments. This property is located in the old town, near St. Lorenz Church, and has one and two-bedroom apartments. It’s just a short walk to the Nuremberg Christmas market.
If you have any questions about how to visit Nuremberg at Christmas or about the Nuremberg Christmas market, let us know in the comment section below.
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