Stuttgart Weihnachtsmarkt

One of the oldest and most beautiful markets in Germany, the Stuttgart Weihnachtsmarkt is a wonderful introduction to the German tradition of Christmas markets. The Stuttgart Christmas Market occupying several blocks of space in the shopping district offers the 3-4 million visitors each year a look into traditional and commercial markets all woven together in one place. The 300 wooden stalls, decorated with personality showcase a variety of items from traditional German foods to holiday decor to practical household items.

Entertainment here like the massive Ferris wheel, small ride-on train, and roller rink provides fun for the whole family. Adults will enjoy sipping their gluhwein (mulled wine with Christmas spices) while kids can have their alcohol-free version at the same time. The food on offer at this market rises above most other markets in that you can almost find anything you want from market staples to local favorites like käsespätzle (Germany's version of mac & cheese).

Esslingen Medieval Market

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One of the coolest markets in this part of Germany is Esslingen's Medieval Christmas Market. As you walk off the train making your way to the old town square you will begin to see the traditional style of buildings begin to emerge. This market is split into two sections essentially—the more traditional Christmas market with stalls selling all of your favorite items like boiled sweets, gingerbread cookies, and holiday decorations. Continuing further into the market you will find the atmosphere has changed into one harkening back to medieval times. 

One of the most unique features is the "public hot tub" where you can book a 2-hour session with your friends to soak in the middle of the market. It's not as odd as it sounds, as you have privacy if you would like. The wooden tub books out in advance so if you think you might be interested, do plan ahead.

Other than this striking feature, this market is loaded with cool stalls selling everything from medieval clothing, homewares, unique medieval games, and jewelry all while intertwined with more modern stalls selling pottery, mistletoe decorations, and holiday decorations. This market is extra special due to the children's area that has carnival-type games, all with the medieval twist—jugglers, archery, axe throwing, crossbow shooting, and catapulting. For the littles, take a ride on an all-wooden Ferris wheel or an adorable swing both propelled by hand.

For eats and treats, you will be lured in by exotic spices and smells as you pass the dried fruit and nut stalls, massive cinnamon buns, flatbread pizzas, and of course the market staple bratwurst. 

Ludwigsburg Baroque Market

This adorable market located just north of Stuttgart can be visited on a day trip or on an overnight stay. Brightly lit angels adorn the skies above this town square set from the 18th century lined with two Baroque churches and adorable homes. The 170 stalls here are all elaborately decorated in traditional materials—stuffed (real or pretend, you can't always tell!) creatures and dazzling pine garlands strung with fairy lights while the inside is filled with handcrafted goods. 

The Ludwigsburg market feels more homegrown with locals milling about, chatting up the stall vendors, sharing mulled wine, and enjoying the festivities. The stalls sell more unique items not seen at other markets including amazingly detailed and cool hand puppets. This market also had some of the best varieties of food that we experienced at any market—try the Stockbrot (bread on a stick) in either a savory or sweet version, the langos (deep fried flatbread with toppings), knödels (a dumpling sweet and savory), as well as the traditional rote wurst on brot (red sausage on bread). There are also crêpes for the kiddos, hot chocolate, and lots of kinderpunsch options. (My 12-year-old proclaims this market to have the best kinderpunsch throughout all of Southwest Germany.)

Gengenbach Weihnachtsmarkt & Advent Building

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Gengenbach, located just south of Baden-Baden and on the edge of the Black Forest is a popular tourist destination throughout the year. However, during the winter season, Gengenbach is known for having a large advent calendar displayed on 24 windows of its 18th-century town hall building. In recent years, the story depicted on the windows is from the book The Little Prince. The daily reveal occurs each afternoon at 6 p.m. for the following day's window.

In addition to this tourist draw, the medieval town center is an absolute delight to walk around. Take time away from the market itself to explore the little cobblestone lanes leading around the square to see where people live. The decorations on the front of the buildings as well as around the town give insight into the quirky arty charm of this town.

While the market itself isn't too large, it offers all the traditional food stalls you will come to expect including crêpes, sausages, and flammkuchen (flatbread pizza). Individual stalls here are much less commercial, offering unique items you will have not seen at other markets including wooden carved crafts and household decorations aimed more towards locals and German tourists.

If you have time on your itinerary we'd highly recommend staying over a night in this town to soak up the energy once the day trippers have left. 

Ravenna Gorge Weihnachtsmarkt

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The most picturesque market we visited is the tourist hotspot located deep in the Black Forest, the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market. This small market is held under the viaduct arches of the Devil's Valley Railway. If you are lucky, you will see a train cross the bridge with its windows lit up at night, while soaking up the holiday vibes hundreds of feet below.

There is little else that can compare with strolling the market with beautiful instrumental alphorn sounds playing over the speaker system, while a roaring communal fire pit beckons you under the changing lights of the train tracks above.

The market itself isn't the one to do your shopping at, as it is quite small compared to the others on this list. You get the sense from the patrons and the various stalls offering an abundance of food and drink that this market is more about hanging out amongst the wilderness and views than shopping. Rightfully so, the snowy hills in this area of Germany provide an exceptional backdrop to admire. That said, during our recent visit, we spied a local cuckoo clock maker offering a few items, a self-proclaimed professional hobbyist potter, and some beautiful woodwork among many other local artisans.

A note for visitors, you will find this market to be much more heavily touristed than other markets on this list due to its Instagram-worthy photos. Car parking requires an advance reservation as do the many shuttles dropping guests from nearby towns. This is one market you will need to plan around as it is also only open on Friday-Sunday.

+1 Bonus Market: Baden-Baden

Known as the wellness center in Southwest Germany, Baden-Baden is the perfect place to stop off from Stuttgart as you head deeper into the Black Forest. This spa town bubbling over with thermal waters has even more to lure visitors in the winter with its adorable Christmas market. With its hilly streets, chic shopping area and fantastically laid out market, you will wish you booked even more time here. The market offers a large selection of delicious traditional foods (the best käsewurst we ate was here!), beautiful handmade crafts from locals and even snow globe bubbles to relax in! Our visit was made even more magical with a quick dumping of snow. While in town, don't forget to book into one of the amazing thermal spas for a relaxing warm soak.

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Getting There

For US visitors, the easiest way to get to this area of Germany is to fly into Frankfurt which offers a great number of direct flights and connections from throughout the US. From Frankfurt airport, you can hop on a train directly to Stuttgart which serves as a hub for Southwest Germany and the Black Forest. Most markets on this list can easily be reached via train, however, we highly recommend hiring a car to dive deeper into the Black Forest region as trains do not reach many destinations. Driving in Germany is efficient and easy, with automatic cars accessible. And who wouldn't want the opportunity to test out their driving skills on the German Autobahn? 

Tips on Planning Your Trip to Germany for Christmas Markets

Planning a trip to Germany to see Christmas markets can be daunting and overwhelming with over 2,000 markets in the country. Below we share a few general tips to make your dream trip a success.

• Pack for cold and wet weather with lots of layers, including warm shoes, gloves, and hats.
• Cash is king in the markets, so hit the ATMs before you reach the market.
• Getting around by train is extremely efficient, but to get well off the beaten path, a car is great.
• Plan for only 2-3 hours outdoors at a time as your feet or fingers will begin to get too cold.
• If you see something you like, buy it. You may not see it again. The same goes for food—if it looks good, try it.
• Leave space in your suitcase for the adorable market-specific mugs offered at each market for only 3 Euros.

Whether your kids are young or old, this is a family trip worth planning for. While ushering your kids from one market to another may not sound like an ideal winter getaway, trust us there is so much on offer for kids of all ages that they will surely be sucked in even if their pre-teen angst tries to stop them.