Nuremberg Christmas Market

[Piccolino2]

Anyone been?

I'd like to go to a European Christmas market this year with my family, inc 2 DD's age 2 and 4. Christmas will be have to be scaled back this year (boo boo) because we're having an extension and living in the tiniest house in the world while it's done so I thought this would be something to look forward to.

Would I be mad to go with two little ones?? I did see they have a children's market which looked good.

Any tips on visiting, hotels, anything I should be thinking of or planning?

Or any other markets that would be better to visit with children? Ideally I did want to go on the Eurostar for ease but the children's market makes Nuremberg appealing for me.

I’ve been to a few Christmas markets in Germany, Freiburg, Koln, Munich and to Nuremberg at Easter
Nuremberg market is pretty manageable I think and it’s a really lovely city. We got an Airbnb within walking distance of the centre so we had room to chill with the dc. When we did the Freiburg Xmas market we did the same
One word of warning though, we did wait until we didn’t need a pushchair as it’s a bit difficult when it’s so crowded

@Hoppinggreen thanks for that. We will have a pushchair as will have a just 2 year old, am a bit worried about the crowds but if we stay close by we could do a few little trips to the market and then come back out again when too busy.

Did you go to the children's bit of the market? Was it good?

Will look into Airbnb, have never used them but sounds good. Will look into booking it this weekend. Exciting!

I've been to the Cologne Christmas markets and they were good but very busy, especially at night. Would be tough with a pushchair tbh, but prob easier during the day.

We were in Nuremberg just a few weeks ago. We stayed in this aparthotel. It was very central and was excellent.

We were only passing through but i really liked Nuremberg. Loads of great places to eat. We went to the Nazi Rally Grounds when we were there which was good to visit but very sobering. Not the place for little ones i think!

@ApolloandDaphne thanks for the recommendation. That looks great. I want something central so we can just dip in and out when it gets busy. Good to know there's lots of good places to eat! Any ideas how far away the Christmas market would be from where you stayed? (Sorry, I'm on my phone, will put more time into looking this all up tomorrow night). Getting excited now!!

I've not been to the Christmas markets, but went to Nuremberg last year in Feb half-term and had brilliant time. My DC loved the castle, the toy museum, and bits of the train museum (some sections are strictly for DH the keen trainspotter). We stayed in a family room in the Mövenpick at the airport , but this was steps from the U-bahn taking maybe 15 mins to the town centre. It's a really pretty, friendly city.

I don't know where they hold the Christmas markets but there is a big square not too far from that hotel where they had a big ordinary market going on when we were there. I assume it will be around there. That's where all the restaurants are too.

Nuremberg is lovely, and the old town (bounded by city walls) is easily walkable. The railway museum there is excellent for children too - the top floor is basically a huge train-themed play area.

Lots of Christmas markets will have things for children; Munich also has a children's market (but my DC were more diverted by the stunning window display in a nearby department store window, lots of moving teddy bears in scenes from fairy tales). Carousels are fairly standard at most markets, some might have ferris wheels and ice rinks as well.
Bear in mind that if it is snowy you might struggle with a pushchair. And it will be very crowded; I would go during the day in the week - less atmosphere, but the crowds can be ridiculous at the weekends.

Most German towns will have their own market - with small children I might be tempted to go somewhere a bit less well known (but easy to travel to), in the hope that it will be less touristy and therefore not as crowded. But Nuremberg IS fantastic. I really like Regensburg as well.

No one speaks English in Nuremberg

I love Nuremberg and the Christmas market. There is a lovely toy museum too
museums.nuernberg.de/toy-museum/

Lots of people in Nuremberg speak English, just like in the rest of Germany
I’ve just booked our flights for August