Why Germany Needs To Be On Top of Your Bucket List
I’ve talked about the 16-18 day Oktoberfest in Munich that happens every year, not to mention the history and culture each city brings, and don’t get me started about the 16 national parks they have, but have you heard of their Christmas Markets? In southern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, it is called a Christkindlmarkt, which translates to Christ Child Market. Traditionally held in the town square, the market offers food, drink, and seasonal items for sale from open-air stalls, accompanied by traditional singing, dancing, and more. There are said to be over 2,500 Christmas markets in Germany alone. You’ll find them open from the last week of November till the end of December.
Notably, you’ll find one of the largest in the world located in Dresden, Germany, where it has over 200-250 stalls. The Striezelmarkt is the market’s proper name which comes from the dessert Strüzel or Stroczel, the name of a type of cake sold at the market. It’s said to be the oldest, dating back to 1434. There were Winter Markets before it but this is the first Christmas Market.
As you stroll along the “Winter Mile” of Striezelmarkt, you can check out the nearly 50-foot Christmas tree and shops. The markets tend to be less crowded during the day, but if you come around dusk, you’ll be able to see all the lights displayed. While shopping is the top priority here, a close second is the food vendors. You’ll want to come hungry and taste multiple things along the way.
Tasty Treats to Try
Raclette (not original to Germany, but quickly became a staple of European Christmas markets. It’s a giant wheel of cheese that is heated up and scraped off onto various foods such as potatoes, meat, or bread.)
Glühwein or Kinderpunsch (alcoholic or nonalcoholic mulled wine) - The price of these are steep because they charge a deposit for the mug. Wander around and keep it, or return it for your Euros back. Some markets design new ones each year for collectors.
Gebrannte Mandeln (candied almonds)
Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes, sometimes called Reibekuchen)
I reached out to a few friends to find out if this would be a great topic for the blog, and they all agreed. I noticed many of them hadn’t heard about the European Markets in general, so I hope this brief explanation has you wanting more or ready to set off and go. Shameless plug, I’ll be here waiting for when you are!
Further Markets to Research:
Budapest, Hungary - Advent Feast at the Basilica Hungary
Basel, Switzerland- Christmas Market
Madeira, Portugal- Guinness World Record Holder for New Years firework show
Edinburgh, Scotland- Christmas Market
Berlin, Germany- Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market
Basel, Switzerland- Christmas Market
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with a Christmas Market. You’ll find something different at each, and they vary from city to city, country to country. These make a fantastic winter holiday for nearly anyone when you can take walking tours of a city, spend the weekend at a ski lodge, and finish it up with a trip to the Christmas Markets.
Updated for 2023: We are now planning a 2024 Group River Cruise on the Legendary Danube. Please head to Join Us for further information. We hope to see you there!
Happy Travels, Hannah
