Christmas Market visiting is an old tradition of Europe. Especially Germany, France and UK is famous for it but many European cities have their own Christmas markets. Generally speaking ones in Germany are more popular. It really is a popular attraction and every year many tourists make trips just to visit Christmas markets.
This year I planned such a trip to visit Christmas markets in Frankfurt and Heidelberg in Germany and France city Strasbourg also known as “Capital of Christmas”
Soon more detailed guides for each city will came up but as a general Christmas market guide here are my impressions;
First of all let me start with describing you a typical Christmas market scene. You will only see this starting in December and until Christmas day (24th December). During these times, in certain areas of cities portable small shops opens side by side and usually surrounding area and of course these shops are all decorated in high Christmas spirit! you will see all kinds of Christmas decorations; snowflakes, Santa Clause figures, reindeers, angels, teddy bears, toys, flowers, shiny balls, and gift packages! There will be at least one big Christmas tree and one merry go round for children!
You will see many kinds of shops selling food, drinks, cute decorations, candles, local products, handcrafted items, special soaps..etc.
Most popular and common foods are Glühwein (hot wine or mulled wine), crepes, chocolate and fruit screwer sellers and sausage sellers. You will probably came across local delicacies depending on your visit location and one or two different street food seller but you are guaranteed to find these!
Decorations will be everywhere so they will certainly get you into Christmas mood, and it will look so beautiful. But at the same time it will be increadibly crowded especially at night time!
Frankfurt Weihnachtsmarkt –>Weihnacht means Christmas in German and markt is market so all of Weihnachtsmarkt is the word you will be hearing in Germany.
I would like to start with the foods in these market! Very surprising for me I know 😀 You can expect to find lots of Glühwein here, of course it is a delight in cold weather. Each year the cup has a different print so if you want you can keep the cup as a sourvenir of that year’s Christmas market. You pay 3 euro for the cup when you first buy the drink so if you want to keep the cup you already paid for it! But if you don’t want the cup you can return it to where you bought and they will return your 3 euro. Wine itself is sold at 3 euro as well.
In Frankfurt Christmas markets of course “Frankfurter” sausages is a must try. You can find different flavoured sausages like curry or barbeque version or you can also get a steak or schnitzel between bread instead of sausage. But I would suggest getting it from big round barbeque shops, not normal cooking shops. Price is around 3,5-5 euros depending on your choice.
Creps with Nutella is another favorite in Frankfurt’s Noel markets but if you want desserts keep your eyes open for chocolate dipped fruit skewers, Christmas cookies and another German classic roasted sweet almonds. And since you are in Germany you will also see pretzel shops as well. I saw some soup sellers as well and it really looked like a good idea in cold weather!
Once you satisfied your hunger like me, you will probably enjoy more other shops which sells little ornaments, handcrafted gift items, candles, candle holders, soaps etc…
Heidelberg: Heidelberg is a popular Christmas market tour location. It is a small city but it has very nice views, a castle and old houses that looks fantastic! There is a huge, I mean really really huge beer barrel in the Castle which is a popular attraction as well.
As for the Christmas market here, along with the typical things such as shops, decorations, glühwein, Christmas trees, merry go rounds I spotted couple of not usual food and product stands here.
There are two Christmas markets in Heidelberg, one is in the center and one is in the castle. Castle area was bigger. I thing Heidelbergers love their food more than Frankfurters because they has stands for not so easy and pratic street foods! Such as a big fire barbeque for somon and another big oven like thing to roast pigs!
Also I saw the most fantastic barbeque sold in one of the shops and it took me sometime to realize they are not selling the food displayed but the huge barbeque itself!
Strasbourg: Strasbourg is known as capital of Christmas and rightfully so! City belonged to Germany before so it has both German and French characteristics.
Additional to the typical Noel market, all city becomes a hub for Christmas as not only Christmas market area but many streets are decorated! Even walls of building are covered, I spotted more than one Christmas trees in certain squares. Some streets are even decorated in a special theme like all white decorations!
Strasbourg is full of nice old houses, riverside view, parks, nice café and boutique filled streets so it is a nice place to visit even without Christmas time spirit. But you should definitely check this city in Christmas time to see how it becomes even more beautiful.
Also try hot orange juice here as a Christmas market specialty here. (it is way better than it sounds trust me :))
Last words, I didn’t get to see it this year but I heard Hamburg’s Christmas market is very good as well! Just so you know 😉
