Christmas Market Insider Tips: These Markets in Germany Are Still Unknown

Get into the Christmas spirit: Here are our insider tips for your Christmas market trip. Don't feel like facing the huge, crowded markets in big cities every year? You're in the right place. We will show you Christmas markets that are not yet famous nationwide but are still breathtakingly beautiful.

They all share the feature of taking place in particularly beautiful or unique locations, spreading a festive, cozy, and fully Christmassy atmosphere. Are you ready for mulled wine, roasted almonds, and more? Then join us on our Christmas market tour.

In the middle of the forest near Altötting in Upper Bavaria, you can visit a particularly atmospheric and extraordinary Christmas market: The Forest Christmas at the Forest Stage in Halsbach invites you every year for a stroll through an advent village with rustic wooden cabins. Along winding paths, you can meander past booths with mulled wine, delicacies, and decorations. The market not only attracts visitors with its magical, contemplative atmosphere, but also with its international flair: You can try dishes from various parts of the world. But local delicacies are also not missing from the Forest Christmas.

Highlights among the approximately 100 stalls include a large tea hut, a mistletoe house, and a Mongolian yurt where you can warm up. Music, light illuminations, and ice sculptures add a special charm to the Forest Christmas. Despite all the mysticism, the needs of modern visitors aren't overlooked: Even in nature, visitors are well-connected thanks to forest Wi-Fi and can post their favorite pictures from the fairy tale world directly. The Halsbach Forest Christmas takes place daily from late November to mid-December.

Looking for a particularly contemplative, traditional Christmas experience? Then the Romantic Christmas Market Merode might be just the ticket. It is held around the festively illuminated Merode Water Castle in Langerwehe-Merode near Düren, about a 30-minute drive from Aachen. From late November until just before Christmas Eve, you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere there. The ambiance is unique, as is the offering: The open fireplaces give the Christmas market a rustic, contemplative flair. Merode also stands out from many other markets with its diverse traditional craft stalls.

Even on days when it can get busy, the market around the festive Water Castle spreads a peaceful atmosphere. It only gets loud when fireworks join the romantic lighting: Fireworks displays take place at Merode Castle during the Christmas market period - a special highlight of the Advent season. There is an entrance fee for the Merode Christmas market, which is lower on weekdays than on weekends.

Have you ever been to Wolfenbüttel? If not, you can plan your trip to the Lower Saxon county town during the Advent season. That's when the beautiful Wolfenbüttel Christmas Market takes place. Traditionally, the stalls are set up in the old town in front of historical half-timbered houses. What else is typical of this cozy market: Throughout the old town, illuminated Christmas figures are distributed - a nutcracker, a Santa Claus, a grazing deer, and other figures that are great for selfies and group photos.

The Wolfenbüttel Christmas Market has been around since 1585. Furthermore, Wolfenbüttel is a 'Christmas town': The famous Christmas carol 'Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming' is said to have originated here: Michael Praetorius, who arranged the song, was the court music director in Wolfenbüttel. The Wolfenbüttel Christmas Market begins at the end of November and lasts until one day before Christmas Eve. In some years it takes place in front of the castle in Wolfenbüttel instead of in the old town.

You'll also find a small but very lovely Christmas market in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, East Westphalia. With its cute booths, nostalgic children's carousel, and large Christmas pyramid, the Christkindl Market from late November to just before Christmas Eve is a magnet for all those who are in or want to get into the Christmas spirit. A special highlight of the market is its historical setting: Over 40 booths are set up on the church square in the old town of Wiedenbrück, surrounded by old half-timbered houses.

Wiedenbrück is a part of the city of Rheda-Wiedenbrück, which has just over 50,000 residents. The historical district is well worth a visit, whether during the Advent season or at other times of the year. If you're looking for pretty Christmas gifts, the small, fine Christkindl Market is a good address. You can also browse and find gifts in Wiedenbrück's charming stores. A highlight during the Christmas market is the visit of the German Christkind from Nuremberg.

If you're in the capital during Advent, you're most likely to wander over the well-known Christmas markets in Berlin-Mitte. An alternative is the Lucia Christmas Market at the Culturbrauerei in Berlin-Pankow. At least for travelers, it is still an insider tip. This somewhat different Christmas market is dedicated to the light queen Lucia, who is especially revered as a saint in Scandinavia. The Lucia Market has a very Scandinavian vibe: There are Swedish cinnamon buns, Finnish and Icelandic punch. A bit of hygge here - and super beautiful, also because the Culturbrauerei offers a great backdrop.

The highlight of the Lucia Christmas Market is the Lucia Festival. Then Santa Lucia with her white robe and a wreath of candles on her head moves through the Culturbrauerei, followed by her star children. Together they sing Scandinavian Christmas carols. For children, the Lucia Market offers other attractions too, like a nostalgic chain carousel and a knight's castle where they can try their hand at crossbow shooting.

The Christmas market in Bavarian Coburg is also beautiful and atmospheric. The city with just about 40,000 residents invites you from the first Advent until December 23 to a Christmas stroll across the market square. Surrounded by historical buildings, the small, idyllic market exudes a particularly festive atmosphere. If you're looking for a cozy Christmas experience away from the big city hustle and bustle, this is the place to be. Especially in the evenings, many locals, as well as visitors, are drawn to the market square.

Along with mulled wine and roasted almonds, at the Coburg Christmas Market you will find Christmas tree decorations, small gifts, and sheepskin products - basically, many typical Christmas market offerings. Even aside from the Christmas market, Coburg, as a former residence city, is worth a visit: The number one attraction is the medieval Coburg Fortress, perched high above the city.

You can visit a Christmas market in a historic setting at Schloss & Gut Liebenberg in Brandenburg, about an hour's drive from Berlin. From late November to just before Christmas Eve, you can stroll from booth to booth there on weekends and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere. In addition to string lights, fire pits, and adorned fir trees, this insider tip offers arts and crafts from the region. The Liebenberg Christmas Market also has a lot of regional culinary offerings, whether you're looking for sweet or savory delights.

In Schloss Liebenberg today is the DKB Foundation, which includes a hotel and one of the largest inclusion businesses in Brandenburg. People with and without disabilities work there together. Products made in the inclusion business, such as game products, are sold at the Christmas market. The Liebenberg Christmas Market has an entrance fee, but children under 15 and people with disabilities have free entry.

Lastly, another Forest Christmas Market: During the Advent season, Gut Krumme in Velen in the Münsterland is illuminated with festive lights. On weekends, about 150 stalls open with mulled wine, treats, and a wide range of arts and crafts. Since 1999, the Krumme family has been hosting the Christmas magic on their country estate every year. The market is both romantic and extraordinary. The combination of the idyllic setting and many varied products makes it a great target for a Christmas outing.

The true highlights of the market are the one million lights that shine and the 1600 fir trees that are set up for Advent. If you want a special experience with your family or group of friends, you can take a wagon ride to the Velener Forest Christmas Market and start getting into the spirit during the ride. The market requires an entrance fee, but children up to 14 years old and people with severe disabilities have free entry.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations at bettercities.net.

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