Our Local Weihnachtsmarkt!

Walking in a winter wonderland

Who has two thumbs and can walk to a wonderful Christmas market in under 10 minutes? This girl. There is something for everyone at the Amberg Weihnachtsmarkt - no fighting over the fabulous nutcracker stand for me, kebabs for Patrick, and hand-cut wooden ornaments with the Amberg city square for our tree!  Oh - and the Glühwein was the cheapest yet at €2! 

Glühwein stand 

Hours for the Amberg Weihnachtsmarkt below:

November 29th - December 23rd

Monday - Saturday: 10.00 - 20.00

Sunday: 13.00 - 20.00

P.S. Though we have not witnessed it ourselves, our good friend Donnie claims to have participated in a Christmas karaoke on the stage in the center of it all. George Michael Christmas songs? Amazing. 

Heidelberg Weihnachtsmarkt

If I didn't make it clear enough from my August post, Heidelberg is a great German city. While in the city for a military ball (always a great time!), we had the opportunity to see the city in a different light - figuratively and literally since daylight is now limited to 8 hours compared to 15 hours in August!
Heidelberg covered in snow is beautiful.  Unlike the other Christmas markets we have been to so far, Heidelberg had several small markets spread across the city. There is one long pedestrian-only street spanning the Altstadt, which was the perfect setup for a Glühwein (or three) in between the Christmas stands and the other great stores that line the Hauptstraße.
We had a great Saturday afternoon strolling through Heidelberg - the perfect setting for serious Christmas shopping of all kinds!

Schloss Guteneck Weihnachtsmarkt

Though I know Nuremberg holds the title of "biggest Christkindlesmarkt" in Germany, I think the Weihnachtsmarkt (another word for Christkindlesmarkt or Christmas market) at the Schloss Guteneck, which our friends thankfully took us to on Sunday, should have the title of "most enchanting." Here is why:

1. There was a small entrance fee, which seemed to have warded off the masses
2. The market was situated around a privately-owned castle with no modern structures or stores to be seen, making it seem as though you were walking through history
3. The castle actually had booths and restaurants inside - and they were heated!
4. There was a bugle, trumpet, and trombone concert from the windows of the castle at 6:00
5. It was snowing
6. The Glühwein was cheaper (€3 compared to €5.50 in Nuremberg!)
7. There were two camels offering 5 minute camel rides. Yes, I admit this is touristy, but the camels were so peaceful (drastically different from those you can ride in Egypt) and their trail was lit by Christmas lights! Plus they looked like they popped out of a Christmas movie - check out the picture above!

Maybe it's just me, but this is what I really wanted to see from an authentic German Christmas market. If you have the opportunity to make it out to Schloss Guteneck (about 45 km east of Amberg, 35 km south of Weiden), you will not be disappointed!

Hours for this Christkindlesmarkt below, and be sure to check out the program of events beforehand!
Saturday, December 8th: 14.00 - 22.00
Sunday, December 9th: 11.00 - 21.00
Friday, December 14th: 17.00 - 22.00
Saturday, December 15th: 14.00 - 22.00
Sunday, December 16th: 11.00 - 21.00
Friday, December 21st: 17.00 - 22.00
Saturday, December 22nd: 14.00 - 22.00
Sunday, December 23rd: 11.00 - 21.00
Admission: €3 Fridays, €4 Saturdays, €5 Sundays

Nuremberg Christmas Market

Lights marking Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt!

Our back yard covered in snow.
How do you like that Christmas tree?

One of the things Germany is best known for is their Christmas markets (aka Christkindlesmarkt). The most famous of these markets happens to be just 45 minutes away from us in Nuremberg!

After buying our first Christmas tree and decorating the apartment, we took the train into Nuremberg and scoped out the market on its opening weekend. Sprinkle in the snow that we've had all week and we were feeling the Christmas spirit.

Even the sidewalk musicians
(and their pets) were in the spirit

There were hundreds of quaint huts in the main city square. We saw fabulous glass ornaments, nutcrackers, and textiles along with plenty of brats, chocolate covered fruit, and of course, Glühwein. This was our first time trying the famous hot wine - it was delicious (somewhat like cider) and for only €2 you could keep the souvenir mug!
But that brings me to my main point - the Nuremberg Christmas market is so famous, and therefore touristy, that we estimate we were in the small city square with about 10,000 other Christmas shoppers (over two million people visit a year!). 

Bottom line: If you are serious about buying some Christmas items, this might not be the best market for you during the peak weekend hours. It was difficult to get close to the stands and see the items, plus there were lines for most food and Glühwein vendors. If you are looking for a wonderful Christmas atmosphere with Christmas bands, sidewalk musicians dressed in Santa costumes, and plenty of Christmas cheer, then it is worth the trip! Times are below either way you decide!

November 30th - December 24th

Monday - Thursday: 9:30 - 20:00

Friday & Saturday: 9:30 - 22:00

Sunday: 10:30 - 20:00

Christmas Eve: 9:30 - 14:00