This German City Is Known For Its Spectacular Outdoor Christmas Market

It's rare to find a world traveler who is not at least familiar with the idea of an outdoor German Christmas market. In fact, these festive, jubilant markets offering lighted decorations, festive carols, and hundreds of vendors date back centuries. The markets are in almost every German town, but today, one of the best known Christkindlmärkte, or "Christ child markets" in English, is in Nuremberg, Germany.

Nuremberg's streets take on a holiday flurry of festivities and vendors beginning the last weekend of November and running through Christmas Eve. It's one of many spectacular German Christmas markets that will get you into the holiday spirit. Nuremberg opens its market each year with a special grand opening celebration, featuring a prologue recited by a local teen who is selected as the representative of the Christ child.

The tradition of Nuremberg's open-air Christmas market dates back to the 17th century and has evolved over the years. An estimated 2 million people visit Nuremberg's Christmas market each year, making it a crowded yet festive affair. Fewer people tend to browse the booths during the day, making the crowds more manageable. However, if you're looking to enjoy holiday lights with fewer people around, consider these other, less crowded European Christmas markets suggested by travel writer Rick Steves.

Among the wooden booths that line the main square of Nuremberg, shoppers can find special gifts and treats celebrating the season. The creativity of the German people is on display here, and craftsmen and craftswomen offer their own unique take on traditional gifts across a multitude of artistic mediums. There are even officially licensed booths at the event offering special souvenirs bearing the market's logo.

Food and drink are, of course, a big part of the holiday season, and there are plenty of offerings at Nuremberg's Christmas market. Likely the most popular treat here is gingerbread, a confectionary many claim was invented in Nuremberg during the Middle Ages. Sausages are also readily available here: Bratwursts, in particular, cater to the festivities and are often served alongside potato salad and sauerkraut.

And what would the holidays be without some delicious drinks? While Germany is certainly synonymous with beer and Oktoberfest in the fall, it also offers up its own take on holiday drinks to bring good cheer in a cup. The smell of mulled wine and cinnamon is common at the Nuremberg Christmas market as revelers warm up with the concoction, often mixed with cloves. The blueberry-flavored drink is even available in a non-alcohol version to help keep everyone in the family warm from Germany's winter weather.

With hundreds of vendors selling everything from handcrafted toys to beautiful jewelry, visitors are bound to walk away with more than just a few check marks on their Christmas shopping lists. But to make the shopping experience easier for all, it's a good idea to keep a pocketful of cash with you. Not all vendors accept credit cards, so keeping some euros handy will make for a more efficient and effective shopping experience.

Not only is cash preferred in the main market, but it's also preferable in the nearby children's market, called the Kinderweihnacht. Here, families can step away from the shopping experience and discover a treasure trove of activities for children. Bring the youngest members of the family to this area for carnival rides and baking classes.

Nuremberg Airport (NUE) offers international flights from around the world and is just 3 miles from the city center. The airport is connected to subway and bus lines that make accessing the Christmas market easy. If you decide to extend your visit beyond Nuremberg, there are also regular trains that easily connect to Munich, ranked one of the happiest cities in the world.