This City In Europe Officially Hosts The Best Christmas Market Full Of Festive Charm

Winter is here and so are holiday festivities. A time of year when the shopping malls get a little busier, cookie exchanges and potlucks are being organized, and Mariah Carey's voice echoes through the speakers over every radio station. With Christmas markets popping up all across Europe at the moment, there's no better time to book a flight. Experience traditions steeped in history, while indulging in a mug (or two) of spicy mulled wine as snow gently falls. While there are lots of European cities with incredible Christmas markets, Nuremberg, Germany's was just officially dubbed the best market full of festive charm.

With the rising popularity of European Christmas markets, more and more places are getting into the holiday spirit, and we aren't talking about spiced rum. Even Toronto, Ontario's vibrant neighborhood has a market that feels like you've stepped into Europe for the evening. The beginning of Advent is typically marked with the opening ceremonies of Christmas markets around Europe, and Germany is said to have held the earliest "proper" Christmas market in 1424.

Nuremberg is one of the best places in the world to experience Christmas, and also one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets. A visit to the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt guarantees to bring back childhood memories with the scents of freshly baked goods filling the air, along with tiny little wooden stalls decorated meticulously with festive green garland dripping in twinkling fairy lights. So grab your wool hat, mittens, and warmest jacket and get ready to embrace the cold while exploring all that Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt has to offer.

Nuremberg's festive and charming Christmas market makes it one of the most beautiful European destinations to visit during December. Opening ceremony for the market is November 28 at 5:30PM. It has free entry and runs daily from 10AM to 9PM, except on Christmas Eve, when it closes at 2PM. Every year, locals and tourists alike head to Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt to experience a type of cheerful ambiance that feels like stepping into the pages of a Christmas fairytale. 

Boasting over 180 wooden stalls surrounded by historical buildings such as the Gothic Frauenkirche, you'll find the perfect gift for that special someone on your list. You may even find a unique handmade ornament to hang on your Christmas tree. Held in the Hauptmarkt square, located just a short 16-minute stroll from the Nuremberg main train station, making it to the Christmas festivities is easily accessible by foot. Nuremberg's extensive public transit system also makes it a breeze to reach the market from all over the city center. For those flying into the city, Nuremberg also plays host to its own international airport.

A stone's throw away from the main Christmas market festivities, you'll find the more relaxed Sister Cities Market, held in the Rathausplatz and open daily from 10AM to 9PM. It runs from November 28 through December 23, and has free entry as well. A short three-minute walk will take you to another gorgeous square filled with old historic buildings, such as the massive Sebalduskirche, a large Gothic church that's a must-see. Sister Cities Market is a world gathering of crafts, food, and drinks from around the globe represented in 22 wooden stalls. You'll be able to sample food and buy trinkets from Cuba, Montenegro, and even Nicaragua. 

If there's one thing for certain about visiting a Christmas market in Europe, it's that you'll leave stuffed, so come hungry! With over 700 years of tradition behind it, the famous Nuremberg Bratwurst (Rostbratwurst), a traditional Franconian sausage cooked over an open flame, which is only as long as a finger, but big in flavor, is a must-have while browsing the stalls. Sweet treats such as Nuremberg Lebkuchen, a type of gingerbread-flavored cookie topped with sugar and almonds, make the perfect snack, or souvenir to take home.

If you're still looking for ways to explore the Nuremberg Christmas market, but aren't sure what else there is to do, check out the market's official website, where you can download self-guided tours that'll show you everything from traditional crafts, to regional Franconian products, and even guide you to stalls that donate a proceed of their earnings to charities.

The Nuremberg Christmas market isn't just for grown-ups. Just a short three-minute walk from the main market in Hauptmarkt square in Hans-Sachs-Platz, the kiddos have their own market to explore called Kinderweihnacht, which translates to Children's Christmas. Since 1999, Nuremberg's Kinderweihnacht has given kids the chance to enjoy market festivities like riding a mini ferris wheel, a steam-powered locomotive, and also a two-tiered carousel, which is sure to put a smile on their faces. The Kinderweihnacht also has a hands-on approach to activities such as making gingerbread, candles, and glass painting to keep young ones engaged throughout the day or night. Make sure to stop off at the children's post-office where they can write their Christmas wish list to Christkind for that extra magical touch.