Christmas Time in Baden-WürttembergA Festive Winterbreak in Southwest Germany Awaits

Discover the world-famous Christkindelsmarkt in Baden-Baden for a Christmas experience you’ll remember forever. As you stroll through the festive stalls - scents of gingerbread and almonds in the air, a steaming Glühwein in your hands - an array of artisanal gifts and produce await you. With around 100 stalls, all beautifully decorated and festively illuminated, this is an enchanting experience of a traditional German Christmas Market. Beyond the marketplace, you can stroll along the snow-dusted Lichtentaler Allee, or retreat to one of the famous thermal spas - steaming outdoor pools where you can float beneath a winter sky. This year sees the arrival of a new Christmas walking tour, that reveals hidden gems and stories of festive traditions. Whatever your vision for a magical Christmas experience, there’s no better time to discover Baden-Baden than the sparkling winter season.

Christmastime in Mannheim is a magical affair. From late November, the city comes alive with lights and decorations, hosting three iconic Christmas markets that enchant locals and visitors alike. The historic Water Tower Christmas Market is the oldest and largest. Around 200 decorated stalls are set amid a magical atmosphere of Christmas lights and music, offering an array of gift ideas - handcrafted ornaments, traditional wood carvings, regional crafts, and local delicacies. A short stroll away lies the Special Christmas Market - a festive treat of culinary delights and artisanal shopping. Here you can enjoy demonstrations of traditional crafts, alongside unique artworks, and contemporary pieces that change weekly throughout the season. For families and the young at heart, the Mannheim Fairytale Forest is an enchanting winter wonderland, with puppeteers, storytellers, fantastical figures, and a Christmas train traversing the festive village and its lovingly decorated huts.

The seasonal traditions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein come together on the shores of beautiful Lake Constance. Konstanz is the largest lakeside city, with its Christmas Market stretching from the medieval old town down to the harbour. The festive markets of Überlingen, Friedrichshafen, and Meersburg offer Medieval charm, snow-covered Alpine peaks, and lakeside walkways strung with lights. The Swiss city of St. Gallen becomes the City of Stars, with over 700 illuminated stars shining over the old town's baroque facades. The Austrian shore presents the vibrant Bregenz and Lindau Christmas Markets, connected by the unforgettable Vorarlberg Christmas Ship, which offers spectacular views of the dazzling shoreline. Everywhere, there’s music, candlelight, and food from all four nations; German gingerbread, Austrian pastries, Swiss chocolate, and Liechtenstein specialities. Christmas at Lake Constance is one of Europe’s most enchanting winter destinations, offering a rare chance to experience four cultures of festive joy.