Welcome to our November Christmas Newsletter! For daily updates on deals, events and other fun information please follow us at www.twitter.com/germanytourism .

Christmas time in Germany is a magical time when cities sparkle with thousands of candles, the smell of cinnamon and fir is in the air, and local specialties delight the palate. Nearly every city has its own traditional and unique Christmas Market, where visitors can buy all kinds of Christmas goodies at beautifully decorated stalls, including handicrafts, Glühwein and Lebkuchen, among other things. Choirs and brass-bands provide the festive musical accompaniment.

There are more than 150 Christmas Markets located all over Germany making it a hard choice, so it’s always best to visit at least two Christmas Markets — one in a city to do most of the Christmas shopping, and one in a small town or village with a more cozy and romantic atmosphere.

In general, most Christmas Markets start in the last week of November and run through to Christmas Eve or even a bit longer until New Year’s Eve. They are usually open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Christmas Market in Stuttgart © Stuttgart Marketing GmbH

Christmas Magic in Germany’s major cities

The Christmas markets in Germany’s regional capitals and major cities are particularly popular and always worth a visit.Dresden houses Germany’s oldest Christmas Market. The so-called ‘Striezelmarket’ has been a tradition since 1434 and fascinates visitors to this day it with traditional folk art, a varied assortment of culinary delicacies and the world’s largest step pyramid. In northern Germany, Hanseatic heritage and traditions can be experienced at one ofHamburg’s famous Christmas markets where three times a day Santa Claus will be flying his reindeer sleigh up to the sky high above the roofs of the market cottages. Stuttgartin Southwest Germany offers not only one of the oldest, but certainly also one of the largest and loveliest Christmas markets in the whole of Europe. More than 280 delightfully decorated stalls create a nostalgic Christmas atmosphere against the Old Palace as a backdrop. » More information

Christmas Market in Muenster © Historic Highlights of Germany

Lovely Christmas Markets in Germany’s towns and villages

Cozy town centers and a more personal Christmas atmosphere can be experienced in Germany’s beautiful towns and villages. Hanau, the Brothers’ Grimm town near Frankfurt, transforms its town hall on the market square into an advent calendar where a new window is lit every night. In Muenster five Christmas Markets are all within a stone’s throw away from each other. There are 250 stalls in all, offering a huge range of toys, decorations and crafts, as well as sweets, treats, snacks and hot drinks. In the northern city of Oldenburg, framed by the historical city hall and Oldenburg Palace, 125 lovingly decorated wooden huts can be visited with St. Lamberti’s Church as its backdrop. Annaberg-Buchholz near Dresden is a beautiful snow-covered village in the winter. Its market offers a glimpse of ancient traditions and costumes of the region, which is well-known for its wood carving. » More information

Christmas decoration © GNTO

Wintery Highlights at Germany’s Christmas Markets

In addition to the many traditional Christmas Markets across Germany, there are a host of other magical locations just waiting to be discovered. The famous Tollwood Winter Festival in Munich is a mix of Christmas market, circus and platform for environmental issues. Germany’s longest Christmas market is in the Mühltal (Valley of Mills): Every visitor carries a torch that bathes the valley in a wonderful light. While wandering from mill to mill – each presenting Christmas under a different motto – visitors will experience music, plays, fairytale characters and other surprises along the 5 mile path. Children will love the Fairytale Ships harbored in Hamburg . From baking Christmas cookies to masquerading as a princess or dangerous lion while listening to stories or watching a play – children’s dreams come true here!

In Dortmund you will find Germany’s largest Christmas tree, lovely handmade decorations and crafts.
www.dortmunderweihnachtsmarkt.de 

The Engelke market in Emden will delight all fans of the North Sea with its Christmas boats and maritime atmosphere.
www.niedersachsen-tourism.com 

If you are an admirer of romantic castles and churches you will love the Christmas market in Ludwigsburg.
www.ludwigsburg.de 

The enticing smells of mulled wine and rum punch, roasted almonds, gingerbread and bratwurst fill the air on one of Germany’s most famous markets: Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarket.
www.nuernberg.de 

More than 100 decorated booths on the Marktplatz and Friedrichsplatz invite visitors to stroll and enjoy the peaceful and pleasant atmosphere in Karlsruhe.
www.weihnachtsstadt-karlsruhe.de (German only)

Dresden Stollenfest © ZZDD

Special Events

Dec 08
19th Stollen Festival in Dresden
Dresden celebrates Germany’s famous Christmas fruitcake with a special “Stollen Festival.” Expect no less than the world’s biggest Christmas cake, weighing 4 tons and measuring 13 feet in length. Before sampling a piece of the super-stollen, which is filled with nuts, candied orange peel and spices, watch the traditional procession of hundreds of pastry chefs, who will carry the giant treat through Dresden’s Old Town. www.stollenfest.com

Christmas Time and New Years at the Brandenburg Gate © GNTO

Dec 31
New Year’s Party at the Brandenburg Gate
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, millions of people have been celebrating the coming of the New Year at the Brandenburg Gate. The festival mile runs from the Straße des 17. Juni to the Victory Column. On this stretch there are many show stages with performances by international music stars, rock and pop bands. The New Year is greeted at midnight with spectacular fireworks and laser shows.
www.silvester-in-berlin.de/start-11.html 

Contact

German National Tourist Office New York (USA)

Contact: Wibke Carter, PR Manager

Tel: (212) 661 7200 ext. 223

Email: wibke.carter@germany.travel