Popular with visitors throughout the year for its beer, vibrant nightlife and Bavarian charm, Nuremberg is revered for its Christmas celebrations with one Travala.com staff member rating it as one of their best Christmas vacations.

What to do at Christmas in Nuremberg

Nuremberg is famed for its fabulous Christkindlesmarkt, the inspiration for Bavarian themed Christmas markets around the world. Open until Christmas Eve, it has 180 stalls selling traditional wooden toys, Prune men (yes, little men made from prunes), hand painted Christmas ornaments and hand crafted goods while many people visit for its world famous food and drink.

The sweet gingerbread sold in Nuremberg is worth the airfare alone while sausage fans are in for a treat with the tiny Nuremberg grilled bratwurst. Made to a recipe dating from 1497 and protected by EU law, each sausage weighs no more than 25g and three or four of them in a hot bun with mustard or horseradish (ketchup is frowned upon by purists) is the perfect market snack.

To wash down those sausages, we would heartily recommend a warm mug of gluhwein with the Nuremberg variety traditionally made from cloves, blueberries and cinnamon. And, as a memento, buy and take the mug home with you (after you’ve topped it up a few times, that is).

If it is something stronger you want, then a visit to a Nuremberg beer hall where the spirit of Oktoberfest continues throughout the year is a must. With in house breweries and huge decorated halls, it is beer swilling heaven.

For a more sedate Nuremberg Christmas experience, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride around the market and along cobbled streets at night. With Christmas lights adorning every building, it is a magical experience.

While in Nuremberg, make time to visit Nuremberg Castle. A fortified compound, it consists of three main buildings, including the impressive Kaiserberg. With sweeping views over Nuremberg, it is a great way to spend an hour or two.

Stephen, one of our travel writers, has a strange obsession with water fountains and Nuremberg is home to one of his favorites. Schöner Brunnen is a stunning 19 metre tall Gothic fountain constructed in the 14th century.

Go deep underground with a tour (English tours each Sunday) of Nuremberg’s Felsengänge. 20,000 square metres of tunnels, waterways and cellars that housed the stock of the 40 beer breweries that once sat above and which still store barrels of Rotbier from the remaining breweries.

Where to stay in Nuremberg

Below are our top picked properties for the stay in Nuremberg this Christmas. Booking dates are 23rd – 24th December, 2019 with the price corrects as of 03rd December, 2019

4* Adina Apartment Hotel Nuremberg

Adina Apartment Hotel Nuremberg combines spacious apartment living with hotel services, providing the perfect place to come home to while you explore the historic city.

Available to book HERE on Travala.com

5* Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg

Located at the entrance to the historic Old Town and opposite the main station, Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg is within walking distance of Nuremberg’s historic sights. With 192 guest rooms, including free entry into ‘Neues Museum’ as part of Le Meridien’s Unlock Art program, the hotel is the ideal base from which to explore the city at its best.

Available to book HERE on Travala.com

4* Park Plaza Nuremberg

Ideal for guests who want to explore Old Town, Park Plaza Nuremberg boasts a prime location across from Nuremberg Central Railway Station and near the NürnbergMesse conference centre. 177 spacious rooms at Park Plaza Nuremberg offers a contemporary feel with decor inspired by Albrecht Dürer, the famed Nuremberg-born painter, mathematician and theorist.

Available to book HERE on Travala.com