Picturesque Towns and Places for the Christmas Season

Everyone knows the Nuremberg Christkind and the magical lights during the Christmas season in downtown Dresden. However, there are many more cities and places worth seeing beyond the typical tourist spots. We present to you places with fairy-tale legends, splendid seaside resorts, and charming forest Christmas markets.

For instance, you can find a mythical location in Thuringia. The Kyffhäuser Monument was erected at the end of the 19th century on the Kyffhäuser mountain range in honor of Emperor Wilhelm I. This 81-meter tall structure is also known as the Kaiser Wilhelm National Monument.

Legend has it that Emperor Barbarossa sits sleeping in an underground castle at a stone table, his beard grown through the table due to centuries of sleep. Every 100 years, he awakens to check if ravens still circle the mountain. If they don't, Barbarossa will return to establish a new empire.

You can climb the tower via 250 steps and, on a clear winter day, enjoy an impressive view reaching to the Harz Mountains and Thuringian Forest. If this view makes you feel regal, there has been a unique opportunity for the past ten years: you can have a wedding ceremony in the side chamber of the monument tower.

Goslar shines in winter like a fairy tale come true. From November 24 to December 30, the cozy Christmas market with around 60 stalls invites you to stroll around. The traditional Christmas tree is adorned with 50,000 lights, each of which can be lit at the push of a button after a donation of one euro, with the proceeds going to the Goslar food bank.

Also at the Wöltingerode Monastery Estate, Christmas markets await visitors on the first, second, and third Advents. The estate is also known for its fine liquors from the monastery distillery, which have been produced here since 1682. In tasting and themed tours, fans of liqueurs, bitters, and fine spirits can explore the traditional distillery. Tasting included. Afterward, everyone will surely feel warm inside. Travelers who wish to enjoy the ambiance of the monastery estate longer are offered overnight stays at the Monastery Hotel.

The culturally and architecturally interesting town of Wasserburg am Inn has many attractions. With its late Gothic town hall, the opposite late baroque core house, and the early Gothic Frauenkirche, these are just a few architectural highlights of the town, which has about 13,000 inhabitants.

The bay windows, a castle, pastel-colored walls, and the Inn Bridge, designed to resemble its 19th-century appearance, make the town particularly appealing to architecture fans.

Besides its own Christkindlmarkt, a wintertime feature in the area beckons: the Halsbach Forest Christmas. From November 26 to December 12, 2021, the festive season is celebrated on the forest stage in Halsbach near Altötting. Located in the woods, a cozy Advent village welcomes visitors. Mulled wine, bratwurst, and candlelight in a woodland atmosphere offer a unique Christmas experience.

The largest seaside resort on the island of Rügen offers a nostalgic and calming view of the Baltic Sea even in winter. Far fewer visitors are encountered here now than in summer, allowing for a peaceful walk along the miles of nearly deserted beach to let your soul relax. For a more demanding hike, the cliff path from Binz to the seaside resort of Sellin is recommended.

As a special Christmas feature, Binz presents a festively decorated spa park under the motto 'Angels, Light & Sea' from December 16 to December 19, 2021. Here, artisans, artists, and gastronomes invite you to linger at the Christmas market. If you'd rather be pampered and prefer warmth, visiting a spa is perfect for relaxing winter days on Rügen.

The half-timbered town of Celle, with its approximately 70,000 residents, exudes a very special picturesque charm in winter. Over 400 half-timbered houses define the townscape of this place located on the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath.

From November 25 to December 26, 2021, the popular Christmas market takes place in the old town and in front of Celle Castle, inviting you to stroll. This year's highlights include a 14-meter high Christmas pyramid, a 25-meter tall Christmas tree, and a Russian swing.

From Celle, excursions to the Lüneburg Heath are worthwhile. The heathland appears dusted in white after snowfall, the frost enveloping forests and lakes in atmospheric images. Photography and nature enthusiasts will surely be delighted.

Augsburg is one of Germany's oldest cities and is worth a visit. In addition to attractions like the world's oldest social settlement (Fuggerei) or Augsburg Town Hall, celebrities on strings can also be admired in Augsburg.

In the Puppet Theater Museum 'Die Kiste', marionettes known from over 1200 broadcasts such as Kater Mikesch, Urmel, Jim Knopf, Lukas the Engine Driver, and others are exhibited, evoking memories. Augsburg also offers Christmas markets. The largest are the Christkindlesmarkt, Winter Wonderland, and Christmas Island in front of the Arsenal.

Tip: If you are looking for Alpine feeling and Swiss tradition during winter in Augsburg, you can pursue it from mid-November to early February at the Hüttenzauber Augsburg on the historic grounds of the slaughterhouse quarter. Cabins in various sizes and with different catering options can be booked, offering an alternative to the Christmas market.

The small town in the Bautzen district is known nationwide. For what? A very special Christmas specialty: gingerbread. Numerous gingerbread bakeries can be found in Pulsnitz, ensuring there's no shortage of gingerbread here. In the Gingerbread Museum (where the 2G rule applies!), everything worth knowing about the Pulsnitz gingerbread variant can be discovered. Visitors can also try their hand at baking or enjoy the treats.

From Pulsnitz, it's worth making a detour to the nearby Bautzen, about 21 miles away. Known as the city of towers, Bautzen holds many architectural sights reflecting the city's 1,000-year history.