Visit Christmas Markets in Germany - Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg

Are you a sucker for Christmas markets like us? Then you have to go to Germany. You probably heard about the popularity of Christmas Markets there already and wondered whether it lives up to the hype. We are here to confirm this rumour. It definitely does!

So last week, we scouted the Christmas Markets in the Stuttgart region (known for Mercedes Benz and Porsche Museums) and we had the best time. So here are some useful things to know and look out for if you are planning a trip there yourself.

The markets in Stuttgart are open from the last week of November until a day or 2 before Christmas. Individual market dates vary so please have a quick Google if you're visiting before 27th November. It's also important to note that in the first week of opening, some Markets are only open from afternoon onward, so avoid turning up there at 11 am on a Monday like we did... as you will see a lot of empty wooden stalls and humbly come back later, like we did...

Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt 🎄

Open Dates: 27th November – 23rd December 2019

The main and the biggest Christmas Market in Stuttgart right in the town centre is called Weihnachtsmarkt. It is absolutely immense with +280 beautifully decorated wooden stalls to help you tick everything off your Christmas list. And we mean everything. Decorations, cookie cutters, jewelry, clothes and sweets BUT ALSO and we couldn't believe it, cleaning products, brooms, and cooking equipment demonstrations. We thought about this though and someone has to do the cleaning up after the Christmas dinner right? So this makes total sense really.

Glühwein Time - Keep The Mug Glühwein is the German mulled wine and unsurprisingly it has a good kick to it.

Sbuy glühwein you pay a little extra to receive it in a ceramic Christmas-y mug like the one on the left.

You can then either return it to the stall and get some money back or keep it as a lovely, personalised souvenir.

We are so here for this idea! And we encourage you to try it too as not only is it a very eco-friendly method to cosy up to a warming drink with a nice bit of a kick, but also a great excuse to keep topping up.

Fancy a non-alcoholic version? Get Kinderpunsch! We tried it, and although it's certainly a bit sweeter, it tastes just as nice and smells like a Christmas in a mug.

Look up!

As the main building in the Market has its windows transformed into a Giant Advent Calendar and the individual roofs of the stalls display some brilliant decorations from nativity play to well-known fairy tales. Some are even interactive like our ultimate favorite- the singing reindeer head ( told you they go all out) with a German rendition of Jingle Bells that is not to be missed.

Festive Fun

There is so much to do and chose from there that you will definitely not be bored. Show of your skills on the ice rink, take the kids on a small toy train ride or go to check out the masive Christmas tree located right next to the main square called Schlossplatz. In Schlossplatz itself, you will see a beautifully lit up displays designed by the main museums in the city. This year this included an elephant, a Mercedes Benz and a Porsche ( of course) as well as an Aladdin lamp.

Carol singers or concerts?

The tourist website we looked at mentioned there are a number of performances in the market. We went there on 2 different days and haven't spotted any, but maybe because we got there too early in the season.

Cosy and crowded...

Now a bit of a warning, the marker gets overcrowded. How can it not when it's so great. This is especially true during the evening so if you prefer a bit of a calmer experience then go during the day when it is much easier to check out all the stalls. If however, you enjoy the lively atmosphere then the evening is a great to be there because as soon as all the Christmas lights in Stuttgart go up, the festive atmosphere is seen and heard from all around.

See the photo highlights in the slideshow reel below!

*Also good to know*

• The market is right next to the main shopping centre if you need a quick breather in a cafe for a few minutes.

• Weihnachtsmarkt is not the only market in Stuttgart! Just 20-30min by train, there is the Esslingen Medieval Market! Yet another wonderful market that should not be missed. We will type a post about it very soon so please keep a lookout for it.

By Sister_D