Christmas Markets in Europe

I love Christmas markets! This year I made it to seventeen Christmas markets in Germany and in Salzburg, Austria - not bad!. That's pretty decent, but when you consider that there are twenty four Christmas markets in Munich alone, and thousands of Christmas markets in Europe, I still have a long way to go.

The Nuremberg Christmas Market is Germany's most famous and one of it's most traditional markets. Here's what you need to know to get the most out of it:

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the best-preserved medieval towns I've ever been to! It's an 800-year-old town on the Romantic Road situated approximately halfway between Munich and Frankfurt. The defence towers and city wall that encloses much of the city makes it feel like you are stepping back in time.

Have you tried the medieval treat from the Nuremberg Christmas Market? You probably have, even if you've never stepped foot in Nuremberg. But you may not have had the REAL treat. I can almost smell the cinnamon, Allspice and cloves.

Munich has an unbelievable 24 Christmas Markets! Visitors only have to go a short distance outside of Munich and that number grows rapidly. Christmas Markets all share commonalities: there are vendors selling their wares, locals meeting over a mug of Glühwein, but many have their own unique atmosphere which factored into how I choose My 3 Favorite European Christmas Markets.

I had only vaguely heard of mulled wine (Glühwein in German) while living in Canada and I associated it as a drink that only old people drink. Then I moved to Germany and everything changed. Mulled wine is the most popular holiday drink at German Christmas Markets.

I think the Nuremberg Christmas Market in Germany is overrated. I know that saying the most famous Christmas Market in Germany that attracts over 2 million people a year is going to likely to get me in trouble, but it's true. I LOVE the Christmas Markets in Germany.

Going to a German Christmas Market is high on most tourists lists when they are in Germany in December, and many tourists come to Germany just for the Christmas Markets. Before you go, read these 5 tips to make the most out of the wonderful experience of a German Christmas Market.

Tollwood Winter Festival is one of my highlights in December in Munich, Germany. I find this festival/Christmas market more interesting than Oktoberfest.

Christmas in Germany is similar to Christmas in North America in many ways but there are some differences which I found rather surprising at first: 1st Fact About Christmas in Germany - Santa Clause Doesn't Come at Christmas I know what you're thinking, oh those poor German children, but don't feel too sorry for them, since while Santa Clause (Weihnachtsmann in German) may not come, Christkind (the Christ Child in English) is the gift bearer in Germany and throughout different parts of Europe.

Of course, it's important to remember the darker side of Dachau and it's certainly not forgotten with the Dachau Memorial Site receiving 600,000 visitors a year. I visited it a couple of years ago, but never wrote about it since every time I tried, it came across as trite.

The truth is they should be neither. The women in reference are nuns. Yep nuns. They've been living at the monastery since 782. They're not all no fun though, known for their Kloster Liquor Spirits that they produce, they're known to indulge a bit too much from time to time.

It's officially Christmas Market season! Visited a new one for me at Mangfallplatz in Munich. It's just a 3 day market that runs this weekend only. It was OK, and appeared to be very popular with locals who lived in the area, but not one of the "can't miss" markets in Munich. Still, it's fun to discover new ones.