Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

Wooden stalls, Lebkuchen and the Christkind's opening prologue on Nuremberg's Hauptmarkt.

The Christkindlesmarkt fills Nuremberg's Hauptmarkt from 27 November to 24 December, open 10:00 to 21:00 daily and until 14:00 on Christmas Eve. It opens at 17:30 on 27 November, when the Christkind reads the prologue from the Frauenkirche, and the square is packed that evening. The stalls sell hand-made decorations, nutcrackers and Lebkuchen, the city's spiced gingerbread; for something savoury, order three Rostbratwürste in a roll. Next door on the Rathausplatz, the Market of the Partner Cities brings stalls from Glasgow, Verona, Nice, Atlanta and more until 23 December, and the children's Christmas market on Hans-Sachs-Platz stays open until 30 December. The old town has been lit for the season since 12 November. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to browse.