Visiting the Christmas Markets in Germany is one of my favorite ways to spend the holidays! You’ll find no shortage of amazing food, hot wine, and endless lights and decorations. After spending three weeks on an epic Christmas Market tour last year, there are some serious Christmas Market outfit ideas I wish I had beforehand. Don’t worry, I’ll share all my best Germany Christmas market outfits, what to pack, and what to skip for your trip to Europe.
What to Expect at the German Christmas Markets
If this is your first trip to Germany for the Christmas Markets, you’re in for a treat! Think about it as one massive outdoor party that completely takes over the city.
It’s not just Frankfurt, Berlin, and other large cities either. There are so many small towns around Germany that have their own markets to enjoy.
We went to some sleepy towns that you wouldn’t expect to have anything going on. Yet when we arrived, we would find a cute, festival-like atmosphere with rows of stalls.
Hands down, Germany is the king of the Christmas Markets. Whenever I go to a new one, I immediately grab a piping hot glass of glühwein (mulled wine) and a delicious bratwurst to start off.
The Christmas markets are a place to meet up with friends, socialize, grab food, and do some holiday shopping. In the larger cities, there are often a handful of different markets spread around town that even have their own themes! Below are some of our favorites around Germany to give you more of an idea of what to expect.
- 8 Things to Know About the Hamburg Christmas Markets
- Our Visit to the Magical Nuremberg Christmas Market
- 12 Tips For the Cologne Christmas Markets in Germany
- Everything to Know About the Frankfurt Christmas Market
6 Tips For the Germany Christmas Markets
1. Market Dates: Most of the Christmas Markets start at the end of November or early December, and shut down right before the actual holiday. This is so everyone can spend time with their families on the days around Christmas. Make sure to double check the dates for where you plan to visit, as each town has its own schedule.
2. Packing: Leave room in your bag or plan to check a second one. There are so many unique gifts that it’s impossible not to get all your holiday shopping done. We got a beautiful wooden Christmas tree ornament that we will put out every year to remember our trip with.
3. Accommodations: Book your hotels early! The German Christmas markets draw travelers from all over the world, which means hotels can sell out months in advance. We typically look for highly-rated hotels around the historic center. Jump start your search here to find the best deals.
4. Renting a Car: If you want to rent a car in Germany (here are the best prices we’ve found), then plan to stick to the markets in the smaller towns. These are some of the best anyway, and driving between them will be much easier.
5. Big City: We wouldn’t blame you if you’d want to go to the most famous markets in the cities. If this is more your style, we recommend using the train to get around. We used Omio exclusively to search the different times and companies on our recent trip.
6. Tours: For a fun Christmas Market experience, there are many exciting walking and rickshaw tours. Check out the Nuremberg Christmas Market Food Tour, Dresden Small Group Guided Tour, Münster by Rickshaw, and a Berlin Market Tour.
Best Germany Christmas Market Outfit Ideas
Looking back now, if I honestly could’ve worn a snowsuit, I would have. Each city we went to was exploding with stalls, food, games, and outdoor bars. It’s not about what there is to do to fill your time, but how long you can brave the cold weather.
We grew up in Massachusetts and Vermont, so cold weather and snow is nothing new to us. Most days, our plan was to leave the hotel right after breakfast to explore whatever town or city we were visited.
We’d take a short break until dinner, then head out again for the entire night. You’ll truly want to get the most out of your time at the Christmas Markets in Germany!
In your normal life there might be no reason to be outside this long in the middle of winter. You might be outside for a walk, or simply running from your car into the house.
To be honest, almost all the small kids we saw were in full snowsuits that looked so cozy and warm. However, I personally struggled between wanting to look decent and staying warm enough to be comfortable.
That’s where my Christmas Market outfit ideas come into play! I’ll take you through my full packing list and share exactly what I wore on our recent visit.
Europe Christmas Market Outfit List
The main thing about traveling this time of year is that it can be hard to go light. First, let me give you a rundown of everything I had for warm layers. This is just clothes and doesn’t include basic personal items.
- Thick Wool Jacket – Long Layer Under Jacket
- 4 sweaters
- 2 normal long sleeve shirts
- 1 Merino Wool Long Sleeve Bottom Layer
- 2 Undershirts
- 1 Pair of thermal tights
- 1 Pair of Leggings
- 2 Pairs of Jeans (1 denim and 1 Black)
- 1 Black Skirt
- 1 Winter Style Dress
- 4 THICK warm socks for layering
- 1 Pair of hiking boots style shoes for show and ice
- 1 Pair of leather low heal dressy shoes
- 1 Large White Hate + Thin Merino Wool beanie
- Warm Scarf
- Gloves (Don’t Skip!)
- Cross Body Bag
- Umbrella
Germany Christmas Market Outfit Highlights
While that list is the basics I packed, there are a few things I wanted to emphasize. Check out these must-pack items when thinking of your Christmas Market outfits.
Winter Jacket: Know that it’s super important to have a proper winter jacket if you don’t already live somewhere that’s cold in the winter. A waterproof bag or small collapsable umbrella are also great to have.
Thermal Tights: These absolutely saved my legs! Do yourself a favor and order a pair on Amazon that will fit your budget.
There are thermal style and even faux fur lined leggings, which have become super popular in recent years. Originally, I just planned to wear them in the daytime with a shirt and dress I packed.
In reality though, I ended up putting them under my pants with almost every Christmas Market outfit for an extra layer. Another tip is not to pack any clothing that are too tight or difficult to be layered for warmth.
Shoes: We recently moved to the sunny Costa Blanca of Spain. With that said, my only pair of good grip shoes was what I use for hiking.
I wore those most of the time with my Germany Christmas Market outfits to battle the icy streets. A second pair of small leather booties were perfect for dinners out and when we didn’t plan to be walking long distances.
Double Hats: The weather during this time of year can really vary from day to night. I packed a big white hat with a pom pom, plus a thin merino wool beanie to put underneath for the frigid temperatures. Gloves and scarfs are also a must at all times!
Cross Body Bag: This was my go-to for under my large jacket so I didn’t have to stress my personal belongings slipping through the crowds. You’ll want to watch out for petty theft here like you would in any big city. I had all my important stuff under my jacket, then kept some small bills in my pocket for glühwein and snacks.
What Was the Weather Actually Like?
This time of year can be a little tricky in Germany. We were of course wishing for a snowy winter wonderland, but unfortunately didn’t get that. It was very cold, and on the last day of our trip it even rained!
Now, that shouldn’t deter you from planning a visit. The Christmas markets in Europe are magical enough with or without the snow. Arriving in Hamburg, Germany at night, I threw on some basic layers, my hat, gloves, scarf, and headed out.
What I didn’t think about (but made complete sense after) is that it gets dark early. It’s already pitch black and cold around 5:30pm! Sometimes, there are outdoor stands that have small space heaters, but I wouldn’t plan for that.
After a cold first night, I made sure to double my layers the next day. You’ll need to de-robe immediately when you get inside, but outside you’ll be toasty and warm.
Also, be sure to consider your toes when packing Germany Christmas Market outfits. We recommend wearing extra warm thermal socks to keep your feet warm.
My Favorite Christmas Market Outfits
To be completely honest, I had no plan to pack a second jacket! This meant I looked pretty similar in most of my Christmas Market outfit ideas, but different whenever we got inside to eat.
Really, I had two looks. One was pants and one was dress and shirt. I will say, I almost only ever wore the skirt if it was daytime.
I had thermal tights as well, which was as warm (if not warmer) than pants. It was easier to dress nice going in and out of museums during the day, popping into shops, and so on.
Hopefully, you took a few helpful tips away from our winter escape. At the end of the day, the Christmas Markets in Germany are a once in a lifetime holiday.
It was a dream trip for me and one that I recommended to any holiday lover! Think cozy, comfy, and “can I be outside in this outfit” for hours on end.
Not planning on leaving the U.S. this holiday season? Make sure to check out the German Christmas Market in Pittsburgh!
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own favorite Europe Christmas Market outfit ideas? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Pin for Later ↓
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
