Best Christmas Markets in Germany by Motorhome
Christmas markets with a motorhome are among the most atmospheric destinations for winter camping. At last, Germany's most beautiful Christmas markets are once again shining in festive splendour. The motorhome couch has put together a list of the most popular Christmas markets and selected suitable pitches.
Dresden Striezel Market
Striezelmarkt DresdenDresden's Striezelmarkt is not only the oldest Christmas market in Germany. It has been attracting visitors since 1434, and at last count more than 2.5 million a year. The world's tallest pyramid from the Erzgebirge, 14.62 metres high, can't be missed in the middle of the market! In the stalls around the pyramid there are other handicrafts from the Ore Mountains. The glass Christmas tree decorations from the Thuringian Forest are particularly noteworthy. In addition to Silesian ceramics and Plauen lace, there are numerous regional delicacies such as the famous Christstollen, spicy Pulsnitz gingerbread or the popular Dresden Kräppelchen, along with Christmas sounds and typical Saxon cosiness.
Learn more about the Christmas market
Camping site
Just outside Dresden, directly on the banks of the Elbe, lies the Radebeul caravan site. Here you will find simple pitches that are best suited to self-sufficient vehicles. The site is open all year round and has a direct public transport connection to the city centre.
Nuremberg Christmas Market
Nürnberger ChristkindlesmarktThe world's best-known Christmas market is probably the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, which is opened every year on the Friday before the first Advent by the golden-curled, winged Christ Child with his prologue from the gallery of the Frauenkirche. The Christkindlesmarkt runs through the entire Old Town of Nuremberg. Culinary delights range from Franconian gingerbread to juicy Nuremberg bratwursts, which are freshly grilled all over the Christkindlesmarkt. Traditional Franconian handicrafts are also on sale. There is a special area of the Christkindlesmarkt for children with a nostalgic carousel and hands-on stalls. There, children can bake biscuits, draw candles and get creative in many other ways.
Learn more about the Christmas Market
Camping site
The KNAUS Camping Park Nuremberg in Langwasser is a 4-star campsite open all year round with all the infrastructure and amenities of this category. Dogs are welcome, and you can reach the Old Town in just a few minutes by underground.
Historic Christmas Market Hamburg
Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt HamburgAlthough Hamburg's Christmas market is one of the younger markets of its kind, it is nevertheless completely dedicated to tradition. The eighty or so stalls around the Hanseatic city's magnificent town hall invite visitors on a journey back in time. Culinary delights can be found in the specialities alley, in the crafts alley you can watch artisans at work, in the sweet tooth alley there is handmade chocolate and homemade chocolates, and in the toy alley children can marvel at a nostalgic horse-drawn carousel. And of course take a ride! The mulled wine created especially for the Hamburg Christmas Market is particularly recommended.
Learn more about the Christmas Market
Camping site
Camping Buchholz is ideal for visiting Hamburg by motorhome: it is open all year round and is located in the middle of the city. You'll find spacious pitches with all the necessary connections, wifi and modern, free showers.
Tollwood Winter Festival Munich
Tollwood Winterfestival MünchenAt the winter Tollwood Festival on Munich's Theresienwiese, the focus is not only on Christmas, but also on culture, ecology and alternative concepts of life. There are Christmas specialities in organic quality, handicrafts from all over the world with the Fair Trade seal and music and cultural contributions of the most diverse directions. About 80 percent of the programme is free of charge. Every year, celebrity guests appear as speakers, which have already included Bob Geldof and Amy Goodman.
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Camping site
A good option for visiting Munich all year round is the car park at the Allianz Arena. The parking spaces can be accessed around the clock and do not need to be reserved. However, they are rather spartan. Neither Wi-Fi nor washing facilities are available. Ten of the one hundred pitches have electricity, and there is fresh water as well as grey water disposal.
Christmas Magic at Gendarmenmarkt Berlin
Weihnachts-Zauber Gendarmenmarkt BerlinBerlin's Gendarmenmarkt, with its theatre by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and the German and French Cathedrals by Carl von Gontard, is considered the most beautiful square in the German capital. Its Christmas market is also aimed at art lovers: numerous graphic artists, painters, stonemasons and photographers exhibit their work at the Christmas Magic. Wooden art and fine art complete the offer. There is also an entertainment programme with lots of acrobatics, dance and fire art. The culinary offerings also entice with great variety: in addition to Christmas delicacies such as chestnuts and gingerbread, the Christmas magic offers upscale cuisine in heated gastro tents.
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Camping site
The Wohnmobil-Oase campsite is located near the Gesundbrunnen S-Bahn and U-Bahn station in the north of the city and is open all year round. Each pitch is equipped with electricity, there is a supply and disposal station, standpipes for drinking water, a bread roll service and gas bottle exchange. Dogs are also welcome.
Frankfurt Christmas Market
Frankfurter WeihnachtsmarktWith over 200 stalls, the Christmas market in Frankfurt am Main is one of the largest in Germany. They are spread throughout the city centre, from St Paul's Church to the Mainkai to Römerberg and the parts of the historic old town that were rebuilt there a few years ago. A festively decorated, huge Christmas tree stands at the Römer. You can buy beautiful Christmas tree decorations, tin toys and snow globes in Frankfurt. Culinary delights include classics and regional specialities. Instead of mulled wine, visitors can warm up with Frankfurt Äppelwoi. This is accompanied by Bethmännchen made of marzipan.
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Camping sites
There are several good options in Frankfurt. The tourist office has put together an overview.
Münster Christmas Markets
Münsteraner WeihnachtsmärkteInstead of one big Christmas market, the student city of Münster hosts six smaller Christmas markets, each with its own charm. In total, there are around 600 stalls spread throughout the old town. The small Christmas market at the Aegidiimarkt features a 6-metre-high wooden pyramid, carillon and nativity scene, at the town hall there is a children's carousel and a canopy of lights, and at the Lambertikirche there are the well-known blue and white pointed-roof stalls. Sweet specialities to nibble on can be found at the Giebelhüüskesmarkt at the Überwasserkirche, including a large selection of marzipan and nougat varieties.
Find out more about the six Christmas markets
Camping site
The Münster campsite is 4.5 kilometres from the Old Town but well connected. It has all the necessary facilities and even has special offers during Advent: 2 nights including electricity and one evening or one breakfast buffet for a flat rate of 98 euros. Reservations are required.
Christmas Market Trier
Weihnachtsmarkt TrierOn the medieval main market square and in front of the imposing Trier Cathedral, there are around 95 festively decorated wooden huts offering Christmas decorations, wooden toys, ceramics, glassware and gift articles. There are delicious bratwursts, potato pancakes, sweets, mulled wine and other hot drinks. Artists and music groups perform at the market every day.
Learn more about the Christmas market
Camping site
There is a large car park for motorhomes at the Messepark. The motorhome site at the Treviris campsite is nicer and is open all year round.
Wine lovers can also visit the Nell Winery, which has pitches and invites visitors to taste its wines.
Text: Gerd Henghuber
