Two cities, two signature sweets and centuries-old Christmas markets. Hop on a two-hour train ride and decide for yourself which flavor of German Christmas wins.
Dresden Striezelmarkt
Believed to be one of the first Christmas markets in the world, the Striezelmarkt, which originated in 1434 as a one-day market in Dresden, will be celebrating its 591st year this Christmas.
Why the Striezelmarkt is a piece of living history?
As Germany’s oldest, the Striezelmarkt hosts over 200 stalls (27 of which are certified in Ore Mountains folk art), where marketgoers can revel in Christmas music, purchase souvenirs, attend daily workshops to hone their skills, such as baking and making prune figures, and experience the warmth of Saxon hospitality.
But the real flavour of the Striezelmarkt starts with its Dresdner Christstollen, the buttery, fruit-speckled, powdered-sugar loaf the entire market is named after (“Striezel”).
Keep your eye open and you will also spy Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen, the region’s traditional gingerbread, plus sizzling bratwurst and steaming cups of Glühwein filling the air with cloves, citrus, and winter spices.
Before you join in the fun, as you enter the market, take heed of the world’s largest Erzgebirge step pyramid (14.61m), the largest walk-in Schwibbogen (candle arch), and the huge nativity scene.
The market itself feels like stepping inside a Christmas special movie. With the traditional handicrafts, cakes baked in a wood-fired oven, Christmas cinema, a 2-storey carousel and a Ferris wheel, your main character moment is one stall away.
- Date: 26 November to 24 December 2025
- Time: Daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, except on opening and closing days.
- Opening day, 24 November: 4 pm to 9 pm
- Closing day, 24 December: 10 am to 2 pm
- Location: Altmarkt [Google Maps]
- How to reach there: You can reach Altmarkt from anywhere in Dresden via bus and train. The nearest bus stop is located in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, a 2-minute walk from the market, and the station Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Bahnhof is an 8-minute walk away.
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
In the heart of Franconia, since the 1600s, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt has transformed the city centre into a fairy-tale “little town of wood and cloth”, where about 180 stalls with red-and-white striped cloth roofs offer handmade baubles, gold-foil angels, nutcrackers, and gingerbread.
What makes Christkindlesmarkt unique
Christkindlesmarkt is spread throughout Nuremberg’s old town, as well as in adjoining squares and streets, welcoming thousands of visitors from all over the world to Nuremberg’s Market Square.
Rooted in the Lutheran tradition of giving gifts to children at Christmas, the market has evolved to include special elements such as a Christkind, Children’s Christmas City, and the Sister Cities’ Market.
Image © Christkindlesmarkt
Every two years, a new Christkind is selected. Dressed in white and gold, this young local figure stands on the balcony of the Church of Our Lady to recite a prologue. The speech, which begins, “you men and women who once were children,” invites visitors to the Christkindlesmarkt to reconnect with their childlike wonder.
As you wander around the warmly lit and brightly decorated lanes of the Christkindlesmarkt, let the angels, wooden nutcrackers, nativity scenes and colorful stars make you believe in impossible things and a new start.
Food is half the magic here. Try the city’s beloved Nürnberger Rostbratwurst, small, smoky sausages often served “Drei im Weggla” (three in a bun) or the richly spiced Elisen-Lebkuchen, the pride of Franconian bakers.
At the Sister Cities’ Market, 13 nearby cities with 8 communities bring homemade bobbles, cakes, and bread to the Christkindlesmarkt to raise money for charity.
- Date: 28 November to 24 December 2025
- Time: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 AM, except on opening & closing days,
- Opening, 28 November: Grand opening will take place at 5:30 PM.
- Closing, 24 December: The market will operate till 2:00 PM.
- Location: Hauptmarkt [Google Maps]
- How to reach there: You can reach Hauptmarkt from anywhere in Nuremberg via commuter rail, subway trains, buses, and trams.
You decide which one wins
Dresden and Nuremberg truly shape the very idea of a German Christmas. Steeped in centuries-old craftsmanship and storybook nostalgia, these iconic markets envelop you in warmth and inspire you to create traditions of your own.
Even beyond these two, the country is dotted with markets worth a detour, from Munich’s medieval festival to Cologne’s cathedral-framed stalls and Stuttgart’s elaborate rooftop scenes.
Hop between them if you can, taste what each city does best, and let your senses choose their own champion this winter.
