Or where to have fun at Christmas…
So I don’t often write posts here, I leave that to Janis; however, this was something I had floating around, a bit of fun really.
So we love Christmas, and we’ve visited a few Christmas markets over the years, and I thought where’s best, and the truth is each has something to offer, so I came up with ‘My Awards’.
In the true tradition of awards, we have various categories so settle in an see what you think.
As I said, it’s just a little bit of fun, but I’d love to know what you think, and if you have a better nominee for any of the categories.
![The Pin image for out post 'Our Christmas market awards go to...'](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Our-Christmas-market-awards-go-to-Pin4.jpg)
![A cake stall at the entrance to one of the Stuttgart Christmas markets.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Enjoying-the-Christmas-market-stuttgart-christmas-markets-german-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
And the categories are ...
- - History: When you need a break from all things tinsel
- - Picturesque: Where looks great, even if it is not Christmas
- - Charm: Where leaves you with a warm glow inside?
- - Sparkles: Where do the streets come alive at Christmas?
- - Stylish: Where do you feel a little panache amongst the streets
- - Food: Forget restaurants at Christmas, where can you feast on the streets
- - Drinks: What markets offer the best choices
- - Bars: off the markets where can you soak up some local atmosphere?
- - Ice Rinks: Where can you enjoy the most wintery of Wonderlands
- - Markets: Many cities have numerous markets for you to dive into.
In third place
![The entrance to the Residence Museum from Max-Joseph-Platz](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-entrance-to-the-Residence-Museum-The-historical-Munich-Residenz-at-Christmas-Visit-Germany-V5.jpg)
In second place
![A Christmas tree in front of an illuminated Tower Bridge.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/A-Christmas-tree-in-front-of-Tower-Bridge-London-at-Christmas-UK-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![The illuminated Brandenburg gate at dusk.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-Brandenburg-Gate-Berlin-German-Christmas-Markets-V5.jpg)
In third place
![A view through the market in Bremen to the Rathaus and St. Petri Dom.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marktplatz-Bremen-German-Christmas-Markets-Germany-V5.jpg)
In second place
![A view of the Speicherstadt warehouse district of Hamburg at dusk. You look down the canal to the water castle with red brick buildings on either side with illuminated balconies.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-iconic-view-of-the-Speicherstadt-district-iconic-hamburg-must-see-germany-places-to-see-in-hamburg-things-to-see-in-hamburg-visit-hamburg-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![Overlooking the canal in Petite France, Strasbourg.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-pretty-Petite-France-in-Strasbourg-The-picturesque-Strasbourg-at-Christmas-Visit-France-V5.jpg)
Our hotel recomendations
- Berlin:- Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint Charlie - A pleasant hotel with friendly staff. A short stroll from the Gendarmenmarkt and, of course, Checkpoint Charlie.
- Bremen:- ACHAT Hotel Bremen City - A sophisticated hotel just on the edge of Bremen's old town (5 minute walk away)
- Cologne:- Eden Hotel Früh am Dom - A pleasant, modern hotel close to Cologne's Dom. Underground public parking close by in the Dom car Park
- Düsseldorf:- Square Rooms - A well-appointed centrally located apartment in Dusseldorf
- Frankfurt:- Adina Apartment Hotel Frankfurt Neue Oper - It is a short 10-minute walk from the old town and has off-street parking
- Hamburg:- Adina Apartment Hotel Hamburg Speicherstadt - A pleasant, modern hotel on the edge of Hamburg's Speicherstadt district. A short walk to the Christmas Markets
- London:- Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s - Like us, why not splash out on a little luxury. A short hop from St. Paul’s Cathedral.
- Munich:- Mercure Hotel München Altstadt - It isa short walk to Kaufingerstraße and your first glühwein.
- Nuremberg:- SORAT Hotel Saxx - You won't believe how central it is, it actually overlooks the Haupmarkt.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber:- Hotel Eisenhut - Ratskeller - A historic, quaint, Barvarian lodging in the centre of the old town
- Strasbourg:- Mercure Strasbourg Centre - The hotel is very centrally located, a few minutes walk from your first walk.
- Stuttgart:- Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin - It's a 10-15 minute walk to the Christmas markets, but offers car parking.
In third place
![A traditional yellow & black carriage drawn by two horses in front of the Schöner Brunnen, a tall, ornate, lit gothic tower on top a fountain.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-horse-and-carriage-in-Nuremberg-german-christmas-markets-traditional-german-christmas-V5.jpg)
In second place
![Angels with trumpets illuminate the way along Rue Mercière to Strasbourg's cathedral.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Avenue-of-Angels-Strasbourg-France-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: This was always going to be a winner.
Home to not one, but two Käthe Wohlfahrt stores, the setting for the town in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and it’s chocolate-box looks means you get a warm glow before the glühwein hits the back of your throat.
![A view of a split in the cobbled lane leading from Rothenburg og der Tauber main town square to one of the gate towers at dusk under a blue sky.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-classic-view-of-Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber-german-christmas-markets-traditional-german-christmas-V5.jpg)
In third place
![An illuminated Neuer Wall in Hamburg.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Sparkling-Neuer-Wall-The-shopping-street-of-Hamburg-at-Christmas-Visit-Germany-V5.jpg)
In second place
![Illuminated Angels, with wings spread out, along London's Regent Street in the run up to Christmas.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-view-down-Regent-Street-Christmas-London-England-UK-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![The illuminated Rue du Maroquin in Strasbourg.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Rue-du-Maroquin-Strasbourg-France-V5.jpg)
In third place
Hamburg: Neuer Wall is full of exclusive stores, and we just loved the Chilehaus district.
It feels like a city on the move and is home to some top brands.
![A passage off Neuer Wall in Hamburg with an ornately decorated ceiling and rows of sophisticated shops lining either side.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/A-small-passage-off-Neuer-Wall-The-shopping-street-of-Hamburg-at-Christmas-Visit-Germany-V5.jpg)
In second place
London: I think of St James, New Bond Street & Mayfair. London has some of the most exclusive stores.
There’s the magic of Harrods, Fortnum & Masons and then there’s the chance for afternoon tea at the Ritz.
![The Cartier store in London's New Bond Street decorated as a brightly lit gift box.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Cartier-store-on-New-Bond-Store-Christmas-London-England-UK-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![Angel decorations, trimmed in gold, on the huts of the Angel market in Düsseldorf with the aged bronze roof of the bandstand in the centre of Heinrich-Heine-Platz in the background.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Angel-on-the-rooftop-on-the-Christmas-markets-Dusseldorf-Germany-V5.jpg)
Have we tempted you yet?
As you can probably see, the Christmas experience really comes to life after the sun has gone down.
To get the most of the time enjoying the Christmas spirit, you need to spend a couple of nights in most of our recommended destinations.
In third place
![A smiling vendor handing over his bread and meat kebab on the Stuttgart Christmas Markets](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Something-new-from-the-markets-things-to-try-at-stuttgarts-christmas-markets-german-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
In second place
![Three Nuremburger sausages in a crusty bun at the Nuremberg Christmas markets](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Three-in-a-bun-nuremberg-at-christmas-german-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![A smiling young lady awaits a customer at the kebab stall, while in the background, you can see the cooks preparing the skewered kebabs over hot coals.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Smiles-cologne-christmas-market-cologne-at-christmas-german-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
Why not check out...
So topping up on the Christmas spirit is one of my favourite things from the Christmas markets. I love the effort put into the mugs which you can bring back as mementoes of your trip – nobody will tell you off – after all you paid you pfand, or deposit anyway.
I need also to add a cautionary note, things have got a little messy when we’ve gone a little excessive, especially when you dabble with a little ‘mit’ in your glühwein. We may have overbought on the Aachen gingerbread one year after leaving the purchasing to the tail end of our visit. And who can fail to remember the moment Barbara, Janis’s mother, first experienced Cologne? Well, she can’t, because I remind her constantly.
In third place
Munich: I love cherries, so pop them in a glühwein with a touch of Kirsch and you’re onto a winner, plus a warm beer punch, and glühwein served out of goblets at the medieval market.
It’s why Munich made it onto the list
![A shot of me, Gary, drinking gluhwein from a stone goblet at the medieval Christmas market in Munich.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Drinking-from-a-goblet-Munich-Christmas-Markets-German-Christmas-Markets-V5.jpg)
In second place
![Two mugs of glühwein in the 2016 Nuremberg mugs. One is the regional version with added blueberries, and the other is a regular red version.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Two-different-gluhweins-things-to-try-in-nuremberg-nuremberg-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![Two of the detailed gluhwein mugs, depicting a different trade, from Cologne's 'Elf Market'.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Cheeky-little-gnomes-Cologne-Germany-V5.jpg)
And for more...
In third place
London: Now I love a London pub, but there’s no getting away from the fact that some can be very expensive, some overly touristy, focusing on food, which isn’t always that great, and average service.
However, the right pub can be a real gem, sit back and watch London bustle by.
![A traditional pub in London, just off London's Southbank.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Mudlark-pub-London-at-Christmas-UK-V5.jpg)
In second place
![Inside the Christmas decorated Bierhaus en d'r Salzgass, a traditional Kolsch pub with beer barrel on the bar.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-bar-at-Bierhaus-en-dr-Salzgass-Cologne-Germany-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![Looking up at the decorated vaulted ceiling of the Munich Hofbrauhaus at the end of the night.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/End-of-the-night-in-the-Hofbrauhaus-Munich-Germany-V5.jpg)
In third place
![A skater on the ice rink around the Neptune fountain in Berlin, with the giant Ferris wheel in the background.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-ice-rink-in-front-of-the-Ferris-Wheel-Berlin-German-Christmas-Markets-V5.jpg)
In second place
![Skaters on the ice at London's Somerset house after the sun has gone down.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/On-the-ice-at-Somerset-House-Christmas-London-England-UK-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![The Cologne ice rink from the bridge that straddles it, looking to the loop around the statue to Friedrich Wilhelm III on horseback. In the foreground to the right is a beautifully crafted and ornate cabin serving gluhwein.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Skating-around-Friedrich-Wilhelm-III-cologne-christmas-market-cologne-at-christmas-german-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
In third place
![The brightly lit carousel in Frankfurt's Römerberg Christmas market](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/One-of-the-carousels-Frankfurt-Germany-V5.jpg)
In second place
![The decorative illuminated entrance gates to Hamburg's Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas market with the Rathaus tower in the background.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/An-entrance-to-the-Rathuas-market-Hamburg-German-Christmas-Markets-Germany-V5.jpg)
And the winner is…
![People entering through an advent arch into the Meimat der Heinzel market as snow falls in an already wintery scene.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Entrance-to-the-Home-of-the-Elves-cologne-christmas-market-cologne-at-christmas-german-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
And that brings the awards to an end.
The very best of the Christmas Markets* This post may contain links to affiliated sites where we earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.