Christmas markets have a great tradition in Germany and those in Nuremberg are among the best in Europe. Together with the Christmas markets in Dresden, they are the most visited in Germany, with 2.5 million visitors a year.

If you love the lively pre-Christmas atmosphere with its many stalls and daily programme, the Nuremberg Christmas Market is the place for you.

• Find the cheapest accommodation in Nuremberg
• Bus tickets via flixbus.com or regiojet.cz

When are the Christmas Markets in Nuremberg 2025?

The dates and programme of the Advent Markets in Nuremberg vary slightly each year depending on how the calendar for the weekends works out.

However, they generally start at the end of November and end at Christmas. Nuremberg's main market, the Christkindlesmarkt, always ends exactly on Christmas Eve, while smaller markets around the city often end before New Year's Eve.

• The opening date for this year's Christmas markets is 28 November 2025.
• Closing date for this year's Christmas market: 24 December 2025
• Official website: christkindlesmarkt.de

Market opening hours

The main market Chsitkindlesmarkt is open daily from 10:00-21:00. On Christmas Eve it closes at 14:00.

Where are the best markets in Nuremberg?

Nuremberg's Advent is centred on the main square , Hauptmarkt, where the Christkindlesmarkt is held every year.

Organisers like to refer to it as the biggest Christmas market in Europe. While there are several cities vying for this title, the fact is that Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt really is one of the biggest and liveliest.

Don't expect peace and quiet here. Especially on weekends, the Christmas markets are a headache, but on the other hand, against the backdrop of the beautifully decorated historic centre of Nuremberg, this lively place has a unique atmosphere.

On the smaller Hans-Sachs-Platz, about 100 metres east of the Hauptmarkt, you'll find a children's Christmas market with a large carousel, toy stalls and pony rides.

Transport to the Hauptmarkt

The main square is right in the centre of Nuremberg. It's about a 1.5 km walk north from the train or bus station, but you can also use public transport:

• Blue metro U1: Lorenzkirche station (approx. 250 metres)
• Bus 36: stop Hauptmarkt (on the north-western edge of the square)
• buses 37, 46, 47: stop Heilig-Geist-Spital (on the south-eastern edge of the square)

Hotels in the vicinity

If you want a hotel near the Christmas market, we recommend choosing from the following accommodations:

• Sorat Hotel Saxx *** - modern hotel right on the Hauptmarkt square
• Hotel Agneshof Nürnberg *** - often the cheapest well rated hotel in the centre, about 5 minutes walk from the square

Tip: The highest prices are always on weekends, when they can be up to 3 times higher than on weekdays.

Prices and what to buy at the markets

At Nuremberg's Advent markets you can buy a wide range of goods from handicrafts, decorations and gifts, to toys, hand-sewn winter clothing, packaged food and traditional drinks.

The main attraction of the markets, however, is undoubtedly the food and refreshment stalls.

You definitely mustn't leave the market without trying the traditional white Nuremberg sausage or the much-loved mulled wine.

To give you an idea, here are the average prices of goods at the Nuremberg markets. Prices vary slightly from market to market, with variations usually within 50 cents.

• Brew or punch 0.25 l: 5 eur
• Roasted chestnuts (usually 6 pieces): 7 eur
• Hot chocolate 0.25 l: 5 eur
• Tea 0.25 l: 3,50 eur
• Roast potatoes: 6 eur
• Roasted almonds 100 g: 6 eur
• Sausage: 7 eur
• Beer 0.3 l: 8 eur
• Kaiserschmarn: 8 eur
• Ornaments, gifts and crafts: usually max. 15 eur