How to visit Nuremberg in winter like a pro

Looking for the top spot to fulfil all your Christmas market dreams?

Ever thought about how best to visit Nuremberg in winter during the Yuletide festivities or how to get the city all to yourself? 

Complete with a Christmas angel, mulled wine and handmade nativity sets.

You, my friend, have come to the right spot, charming half-timbered houses and towering cathedrals await.

Let’s check out some of my best tips so you can visit this festive city in style!   

Nuremberg is perhaps best known these days for the world famous Christkindlesmarkt, one of the oldest in Germany.

Set in front of the towering Frauenkirche, rows of striped stalls draped in greenery sell handmade Christmas tree decorations, gingerbread and nativity sets.

People come from all over to enjoy the festive atmosphere of music, twinkly lights and often a light dusting of snow!

These days, there’s even a special Christmas market for the little ones (Nürnberger Kinderweihnacht) with a vibrant merry-go-round and fun activities.

Additionally, there’s also another section of the Christmas market just with stalls from Nuremberg’s sister cities around the world, like Glasgow and Prague.

The Scottish tartan scarves that were out on display looked very cosy in the –4 degree Celsius weather!  

From traditional stars woven from straw to 400 year old gingerbread recipes, the festivities are steeped in history.

It’s even opened by its very own Christmas angel, the Nuremberg Christkind. Dressed in ornate robes, with blonde, flowing curls, she stands on the tiny balcony at the top of the cathedral.

It’s a local tradition to gather and hear her speech at the opening ceremony, we even spied her enjoying dinner at one of the local restaurants after her performance!

Local girls must apply to be the Christkind and must be between 16-19 years old, taller than 160cm and knowledgable about Nuremberg!

Elected via popular vote, they then serve for two years in the role which involves multiple important activites like visiting hospitals and elderly homes to hand out presents.

The market is actually named for her and therefore, she’s the most important icon of the event!

If you’d like to guarantee seeing her in person, she opens the market around 5:30pm every year on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent.

She will also appear on certain days at the markets but double check the official website of the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt for the precise times before you go. 

You’ll be able to smell the traditional Nürnberger sausages from afar.

These little pork bratwurst, roughly finger sized, are made to a secret 700 year old recipe and can only be made in Nuremberg.

They’re flavoured with marjoram and cooked on a big grill with multiple other varieties of wurst.

The mini sausages are most commonly sold three to a bun, you’ll hear plenty of requests of “Drei im Weggla” for young and old.

Usually served with mustard, there will be self-serve containers at each stall for you to add to your liking.

There are plenty of stalls around so it might be worth looking around the corner if the one closest to you has a big line up.  

Traditionally made from dry red wine, spices and orange peel all heated up together, there’s no winter warmer quite like mulled wine or Glühwein in German.

In Nuremberg, you can find an extra special drink, made exclusively out of blueberry wine, don’t ask me where they get enough blueberries for so many visitors!

Look for shops selling “Himbeere Glühwein” if you’re keen to try the blueberry brew.

Of course there’s also cherry, chocolate and plenty of other flavoured versions, as well as white wine, gin and cider if you’d prefer.

The spices are a throwback to when the city was one of the trading capitals of the Holy Roman Empire.

The wine is quite strong so feel free to grab a mug of the non-alcoholic version if you’re starting to see too many Christmas lights.

If you decide to go for a mug of the Glühwein, don’t forget to bring your mug back so you can receive your deposit (Pfand in German).

This might also apply if you get a plate to eat your food from, if you’ve been asked for an extra euro or two, this is what it’s for.

To encourage you to bring the crockery back or pay for its replacement in case you like it.

When you come back to the stall, your seller will ask you if you’d like a refill or to return your mug.

There’s nothing better to warm you up as you stroll up and down the aisles, eyeing off your new favourite Christmas decorations.  

And if you’re really brave, wandering down to the Fleischbrücke will bring you to Feuerzangenbowle Village (the perfect German word to try to pronounce while slightly tipsy).

These literally flaming goblets have red wine preheated with spices, then a sugar cube soaked in rum is put on top and set alight.

So, your sugar and rum combo drips into the mug and you can then get very merry depending on how much you like rum, wine and sugar all mixed together.

Nuremberg is home to the world’s largest cauldron of Feuerzangenbowle which can hold up to 9000 litres at a time, impressive and slightly concerning at the same time.

I’m wondering if you can get tipsy off the smell of it alone!  

On your visit to Nuremberg in the chilly months, good clothing and footwear choices are essential to make sure you have a grand old time in the snow, rather than heading back to your hotel soggy and cold!

Waterproof shoes with good grip, any snow on the ground will turn to slush pretty quick and the cobblestones of the streets get quite slippery.

Wet socks soon lead to some very cold feet and you needing to head back inside away from the merriment of the markets.

So, waterproof your shoes before you leave home and pack some good thermal socks (wool is always a good choice).  

Next up, multiple layers are a fantastic way to stay warm.

Try a thermal base top, with a thinner jumper or pullover on top.

Once you add your big coat, you’ll be able to comfortably stroll around outside but strip off the outer layer when you head into a restaurant for dinner and you’ll be at ease inside as well.  

Unlike in Australia, the buildings are generally kept toasty warm in European winter.

Once you’re inside and headed to your table for your meal, that big puffer jacket can stay safely stowed on a coat rack or on the back of your chair.

We found that many restaurants have coat racks and hooks around the tables for just such a purpose, everyone is similarly dressed in the winter months.  

Don’t forget a scarf and beanie or knitted headband to keep as much body heat in as possible, think about covering exposed skin.

If you find yourself wanting some knitwear, you’ll be able to find inexpensive options around the city if they’re not in season where you live.   

Wondering what special souvenirs you can find in the candy striped stalls of the Christkindlesmarkt? I’ve got a hitlist of all the cool gifts you can find in Nuremberg, one way to burn off those bratwurst browsing up and down the aisles.

Zwetschgenmännle – little figurines made out of dried peaches, walnuts and figs, all dressed in festive costumes  

Elisen-Lebkuchen – specialty gingerbread made with a delicate mix of spices and nuts (and traditionally no flour) to a 300 year old recipe  

Strohsternen – hand woven stars made out of straw, from tiny to jumbo sized for your Christmas tree  

Spitze Schneeflocken – once you see how dainty these lace snowflake decorations are, it’s hard to believe but they’re made by some very talented hands  

Rauschgold Engeln – fancy your own Christkind to go on your Christmas tree at home, these angels have the lightest of golden dresses, remembering a fabric once made of finely beaten brass: Rauschgold.  

If you’re headed to Nuremberg outside the month of the December, you’ll still be able to experience many of the same festive traditions but without the evening crowds that come to enjoy the Christmas markets.

While the main Christkindlesmarkt will be closed, I’ve got some suggestions so you can recreate some of the same attractions: 

At the Käthe Wohlfahrt shop, between the Lorenzkirche and Heilig Geist Spital, it’s Christmas all year round.

Famous for their stunning festive displays, if you’re still keen on finding the perfect Christmas tree topper or one of a kind ornaments, this is the spot to be.

Even if you’re not shopping for tree decorations, it’s very much worth going for a look and a little taste of the atmosphere of a German Christmas.

And better still, it’s open all year round so you can be surrounded by holly and mistletoe whenever you’re visiting.  

Down at the Handwerkerhof, you can find traditional artisans crafting everything from the cutest wooden toys to the finest leather goods.

Watch the demonstrations of the incredibly skilled workers as they show off the techniques passed down through the ages, then swing by the bakery for a fresh Elisen lebkuchen at shop no. 3.

There’s also the Bratwurst-Glöcklein restaurant for bratwurst and sauerkraut to warm you up after browsing your heart out.

Don’t forget to stop for a photo shoot amongst the quaint half-timbered cottages and spruce decorations.  

The Bratwursthäusle bei St. Sebald is open all year round so you can go grab “Drei im Weggla” and devour the meaty goodness of Nuremberg’s culinary heritage.

Rest assured that your Nürnberger Rostbratwurst must be produced within the city and to a strictly controlled recipe, more than 700 years old.

Bonus points if you stop by the Schöner Brunnen on your way over and spin the golden ring three times for good luck, you’ll find it attached to the iron grill surrounding the fountain.  

While you may not have as much luck finding spiced Glühwein stalls outside of the yuletide markets, you can stop into any shop selling alcohol including the supermarkets and pick up a bottle of pre-mixed Glühwein, ready to heat and drink.

Look for “Nürnberger Gerstacker ‘Christkindl’ Glühwein”, this local brewery produces their wine to a secret recipe each year. You may even be able to purchase it online back home to avoid it taking up room in your luggage.  

We’ve come to the end of my top tips to enjoy your chilly time spent in the medieval city of Nuremberg.

Whether you’re visiting in time for the Yuletide festivities or you’re planning to have the city all to yourself in deep midwinter, this medieval beauty has something for everyone.

And most importantly, plenty of delicious food and cosy pubs to stop and enjoy on your way around. 

Wishing you the merriest of Franconian holidays, don’t forget to pin this post for later on!