Have you been to the Nuremberg Christmas markets? It’s the perfect destination for a mix of holiday charm and history!
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2025 update: the Nuremberg Christmas markets will be open November 28 – December 24!
One of the things I love about the Nuremberg Christmas markets is that it’s a great mix. There are markets, but not a ton; easily day trip-able if that’s your style (though I don’t recommend it here). There’s tons of history. The city itself is charming, perfect for those late afternoon walks as the sun glows its way down. It’s also well connected by train, making it a perfect stop on any Christmas market itinerary!
Logistics
Nuremberg is actually Nürnberg in German. So you may see both on signs (or train tickets!). But since most of y’all reading this are English speakers, I’ll use Nuremberg here.
How long? You can do it all in one day, especially if you’re only here for the Christmas markets. As usual, I don’t recommend it. Nuremberg is a beautiful city and has a ton of history, both post-WWII (think Nuremberg trials) and hundreds of years before.
Consider staying one night overnight and attaching it to a trip with Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Munich, Salzburg, or even Prague. You can pretty easily string a Christmas market train trip across Germany into central Europe with a stop here!
Currency: Germany is part of the EU and uses Euros. Easy.
Language: German. But English is very common here and they’re a tourism city. Be polite, try to start with a Guten morgen (good morning) and end with a danke (thank you), but nearly everyone speaks English.
Nuremberg Hotels
Karl August is a great option for more in terms of amenities but without breaking the bank. The spaces are beautifully furnished in a clean but cozy modern style, and the property includes a pool with a view and sauna. Best of all, it’s only a block from the Hauptmarkt, which is the center of the Nuremberg Christmas markets.
Brunnen Apartments is the way to go if you want more of an apartment setup. These are gorgeous, but with personal touches to make it feel like a home. It’s also in the middle of old town.
Ibis Hauptbahnhof is a generic chain, which means not my favorite. But if you’re trying to make your budget stretch further, it’s a win. It has really inexpensive parking, and its location was so easy – just outside the city’s historic walls and 5 minutes from the train station! That meant it was about 15 minute walk from the exact middle of the city, and the walk was through Christmas market booths nearly the entire time.
Nuremberg Christmas Market Specialties
The Nuremberg Christmas markets have an official symbol: the Christ child! However, this version of the Christ child is always a girl with curly blonde hair and distinctively angelic clothes. 🤷♀️ I haven’t found a great explanation for this. But either way, you’ll see her everywhere.
The international market! It’s one of the best I’ve seen at any Christmas market. I’ll get there later. But make sure to try something there, even if just a country specific version of gluhwein!
Nuremberger bratwurst (or rostbratwurst) are small thin sausages no bigger than a finger and they’re THE classic savory food of Nuremberg. These are available year round in restaurants and street booths, so it’s a must! Typically you eat three on a bun (Drei im Weggla in German). The legend is that they’re this size because they were slipped through tiny openings in the Nuremberg dungeons for prisoners.
Gingerbread is a must! This is where (European) gingerbread originated, so it’s a must-try! Local gingergerbread, called lebkuchen, probably isn’t what you’re picturing. Here, gingerbread is soft, halfway between a cookie and a cake in texture. It’s also loaded with nuts – up to 40% of the dough! They’re also traditionally coated with a thin layer of chocolate or icing, and sometimes almonds in a decorative pattern.
These are different than the hard gingerbread cookies you see with decorative icing at Christmas markets all over Germany and at festivals like Oktoberfest. Those are called lebkuchenherzen, so easy to mix up.
While gingersnaps/gingerbread isn’t usually my favorite, I really liked these! They’re available year round in shops, but getting one at the market was the perfect way to try one of the most famous holiday foods the world.
A funny tradition are the Zwetschgenmänle, or little prune men ! It’s one of those strange yet endearing traditions. They’re small figurines made of prunes, dates, and walnuts and dressed into all kinds of characters. The story goes that an old man in Nuremberg made them in thanks for some children singing to him when he was sick. Don’t eat it – the intention is to keep it for good luck.
Booths selling them aren’t super common. Possibly because how many travelers want to trek that home? Either way, find one just to see this unique Nuremberg Christmas market tradition!
You’ll also see the hilarious “half meter sausage,” which is exactly what you think. It’s even funnier in person because it’s usually served with only a small round roll. I first came across this in Rothenburg ob der Tauber and share more about in that guide.
I also saw a lot of goodies I associate with the US state fairs, like cotton candy and corn on the cob! That doesn’t mean they don’t exist at European Christmas markets, they’re just a little less common.
Where to Find the Nuremberg Christmas Markets
The big one (Nuremberg Christmas market) sits underneath their iconic Church of Our Lady in Hauptmarkt. Multiple times a day on the weekends they have performances directly in front of the church – both kiddo carolers and performers with their own original songs.
It packs in a ton of booths, about half and half souvenirs to food and drink. That means you’ll never have to wait very long in line for your next snack! This market has mostly the same traditional food options, so I don’t have any specific advice about where to buy any specific bite.
This is where to look for the little prune men! I found a booth right near the Der Schoene Brunnen (literally, the beautiful tower), and it’s worth a look!
Next you’ll find the Original Regional Christmas market snakes from the Hauptmarkt up towards the Sebaldkirche. It focuses on local and regional specialties! Everything from teas and schnapps to soap and honey all from the region. Plus plenty of the usual gingerbread, gluhwein, and sausages!
Booths also go along the main road (Königstrasse) between the train station and Hauptmarkt. It’s a nice walk from the city gates! There are also everyday market stalls dotted in selling produce or flowers that you’d find here year round.
Even if you don’t have kids, the Kinderweihnacht is worth a visit. The booths all have cute animatronics on their roofs. Some are fairy tales, like Hansel and Gretel, while others are holiday themed, like elves building toys. It’s tucked into Hans-Sachs-Plats, just off the Hauptmarkt. Worth a stroll through for sure!
The Sister Cities Market is their international market! While this is the smallest of the markets, it was possibly my favorite! There are over 20 booths representing cities all over the world next to the Rathaus.
Each sold that area’s products, food, and of course a version of gluhwein with that country’s favorite spices and flavors! You can also get a glass of their local wine at many of these, which is a treat if you’re feeling the gluhwein sugar overload.
It was fun to see how many places were represented and what they offer! There were several Italy shops, including South Tyrol (where Bolzano is), Verona, and Venice!! But many came from further afield, like Nicaragua and China.
Nuremberg’s location makes it a great stopover city for any German Christmas market trip, but it’s worth a visit just for the charm and the markets! Plus, it’s easy by train or car.
If you need it, you can always double check details on the official website. It’s in English, but my secret is to look at it in German with my browser translation on – there’s more info on the German pages!
Planning a Christmas market itinerary? Try Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Munich, or Prague! Or check my full list of Christmas market guides for all my ideas!
