Of all of the German Christmas Markets I visited throughout my two-week journey, the Stuttgart Christmas Markets have been amongst my favorites, particularly relating to massive metropolis markets. Along with the Christmas Markets in Stuttgart being a number of the most well-decorated, with the widest exercise choices, it is usually very simple to go to some really incredible Christmas markets close to Stuttgart by prepare.
Plus, automobile fans may also get pleasure from visiting the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum whereas in Stuttgart. If you’re planning a German Christmas Markets journey and solely have a number of days, I’d recommend Stuttgart over Frankfurt, simply because the markets are extra vibrant and this can be very simple (and fast) to get to close by cities with distinctive and particular Christmas Markets and festivals.
Concerning the Stuttgart Christmas Markets
Observe: I visited in December 2023 however will attempt to hold this text updated with info that I discover on-line. When you discover issues have modified, please drop me a word and let me know.
The Stuttgart Christmas Market is among the oldest Christmas Markets in Europe, with its first recorded point out in 1692, however its roots going again even additional. The Stuggarter Weihnachtsmarkt is unfold out all through the Stuttgart metropolis middle in Schlossplatz, Schillerplatz, Karlsplatz and Marktplatz. It is among the extra well-liked German Christmas Markets, with over 3.5 million guests annually, so you should definitely e book your resort rooms properly prematurely!
The Stuttgart Christmas Markets have 300 stalls promoting picket toys, nativity units, arts and crafts, jewellery, sweets, and conventional and worldwide meals. What actually units the Stuttgart Christmas stalls other than these in different cities are the frilly decorations that adorn the rooves and eaves of every stall. Every is sort of stunning, and a few even have mechanized shifting vacation scenes.
Along with meals, drink, and crafts, one can find gorgeous gentle shows in Schlossplatz, together with youngsters’s rides corresponding to a carousel, a small Ferris wheel, and an actual mini steam prepare. Schlossplatz additionally hosts a big Ferris Wheel, a small curler rink, every day dwell live shows, and an eco-market, that includes native meals and vegetarian choices.
On Schillerplatz, one can find a mini vintage market and in Marktplatz, the Stuttgart City Corridor (Rathaus) is alleged to be made into a large Creation Calendar — though I admit that I regarded on all sides of the constructing and didn’t see something however maybe I used to be there on the improper time.
Stuttgart Christmas Market dates:
November 29 to December 23, 2023
Sunday – Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
5 Causes to Go to The Stuttgart Christmas Markets
As I discussed, Stuttgart’s Christmas Markets have been particular and completely different from lots of the others that I visited on my German Christmas Markets journey. Listed below are some the explanation why I liked it (regardless of visiting within the rain throughout a crowded weekend!)
Superbly-decorated Stalls
Annually, the Stuttgart Christmas Market provides out an award for probably the most stunning stall and you’ll inform that each one the distributors make an enormous effort. At different markets you will notice the picket stalls embellished with pine boughs with Christmas ornaments or garlands beneath the eaves. However Stuttgart distributors kick it up fairly a number of notches.
In Stuttgart, distributors adorn your entire roof of their stall with stunning scenes, lights, and decorations. Some are even motorized to deliver motion and life to the scene. This degree of effort makes your entire market really feel much more festive.
Tons of Actions
Most German Christmas markets will function not less than one massive pyramid and normally a few rides for kids, together with meals, drink, and craft stalls. In Stuttgart, you could find much more together with:
- A dwell nativity scene close to the market corridor within the Spoperstrasse that includes three little lambs, two sheep, and a donkey.
- A youngsters’s fairyland on Schlossplatz with a mini carousel, Ferris wheel, and ride-aboard steam prepare by means of a miniature village.
- A big Ferris wheel on Schlossplatz for a view of your entire market.
- Christmas live shows within the interior courtyard of the Altes Schloss with performances from numerous teams from Stuttgart.
- Organ music within the Stiftskirche on the magnificent Mühleisen organ from Monday, 4 December to Friday, 22 December, 2023,
every day from 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. - A brass band enjoying from the Stiftskirchenturm tower on all weekends from Friday to Sunday.
- Stuttgart’s Glanzlichter gentle sculptures on Schlossplatz, Königsstraße, and Schulstraße, with hundreds of LED lights, together with the “Stuttgart Rössle” (horse from the town’s coat of arms), a Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, a Porsche 911, an elephant representing the Wilhelma zoo, a wine glass symbolizing Stuttgart’s wine village, and a brand new footballer, to generate pleasure for the town internet hosting the UEFA EURO 2024.
House to Unfold Out
Many metropolis Christmas Markets can get too crowded, particularly on weekends. Whereas Stuttgart is not any completely different, one can find loads of house to unfold out and get away from the crowds in Marktplatz or Schillerplatz by wandering by means of the spacious Schlossplatz. There’s loads of open space to step away from the fray and get take a look at the market (from above too in the event you take a spin on the Ferris wheel).
Extensive Choice of Meals and Drink
By the point we received hungry, it was raining fairly arduous throughout our go to to the Stuttgart Christmas Markets. It didn’t deter guests in any respect, however it did put a damper (pun meant) on our dinner plans. Whereas every market affords lined shelters to eat and drink, these received fairly crowded.
Nevertheless, I used to be impressed by the meals decisions from flammkuchen (like a flatbread pizza with onions, ham, and different toppings), langos, chimney muffins, crepes, pork sandwiches, fish sandwiches and a wide range of fire-grilled fish, pinsas, and extra. I particularly appreciated the eco-market with vegetarian and more healthy choices that you just don’t see in all places.
Wonderful Markets to Go to Close by
Whereas the Stuttgart Christmas Markets are a number of the most stunning, what makes this a fascinating vacation spot for a German Christmas Markets journey is that you could very simply get to different charming and distinctive Christmas markets in neighboring cities which are solely 15-Half-hour away by prepare, together with Ludwigsburg and Esslingen.
4 Christmas Markets Close to Stuttgart
We visited 4 close by cities throughout our time in Stuttgart. Nevertheless, in the event you keep not less than 4 nights in Stuttgart, you might additionally go to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, considered one of Germany’s most well-known and exquisite Christmas cities, which is barely two hours away by automobile.
I’d additionally recommend a cease at Hohenzollern Fort, which is just one hour by automobile. This fortress fort will get embellished for the vacations and holds a small Christmas market inside its partitions. We have been hoping to cease right here on our street journey into Stuttgart however, sadly, it didn’t open till 3:00 p.m. and we didn’t wish to minimize our time in Stuttgart quick. When you get the chance, simply remember the fact that tickets are required.
Esslingen
If not for the crowds, Esslingen would clearly be probably the greatest Christmas Markets due to its distinctive Medieval Market. My suggestion for avoiding crowds and having fun with Esslingen to its fullest can be to go to mid-week and in addition to go early. You possibly can undoubtedly go to Esslingen and Ludwigsburg in someday, however I’d recommend going to Esslingen first, since it’s bigger and attracts extra guests.
The Esslingen Medieval Christmas Market takes place in Rathausplatz with 180 cubicles. On Saturdays and Sundays on Creation weekends, there’s a particular Adventsmarkt with a further 30+ stalls promoting handmade items that you just won’t discover elsewhere on the market. The market takes place from November 23 by means of December 21, 2023, besides November 26, 2023.
The actual attraction right here is the Medieval Market, which is jam-packed with video games, rides, stalls, and performances. You’ll find a hand-powered Ferris wheel and merry-go-round, in addition to video games of ability that harken again to the Center Ages, together with archery and a type of bowling. This can be a well-liked marketplace for households with different kid-friendly actions like candle making and iron working. You should purchase leather-based items and all kinds of crafts that you just would possibly anticipate finding at a Renaissance Honest.
Ludwigsburg
The Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market takes place from November 26 – December 22, 2024. Only a quick 15-20 minute prepare experience from Stuttgart (utilizing a really reasonably priced day go), this small and charming market was one other considered one of my favorites.
The Ludwigsburg Christmas Market feels very very similar to a marketplace for locals, which makes it much more pleasurable. Even visiting on a Sunday afternoon, we didn’t encounter any crowds, simply the nice full of life gathering of locals and a smattering of vacationers.
What I liked probably the most about this market was the distinctive collection of handmade crafts. I noticed a bigger number of genuine handicrafts in Ludwigsburg than in any of the opposite 14 Christmas Markets I visited in Germany. The foods and drinks choices have been additionally glorious!
Heidelberg
Heidelberg, a college city with a towering medieval fort on a hill, is barely 45 minutes from Stuttgart by prepare. We really drove to Heidelberg and stayed in a single day however you may simple go to as a day journey from both Stuttgart or Frankfurt.
The Heidelberg Christmas Market is positioned throughout a number of squares, together with the Karlsplatz, the place one can find a small ice rink beneath the fort’s shadow. The Heidelberg Christmas Market runs from November 25 to December 22, 2024.
Within the Marktplatz, one can find tables tucked into wine barrels for a comfortable and distinctive spot to get pleasure from your glühwein. Regardless of the city’s reputation, the markets didn’t really feel overcrowded, not less than not midweek, and so they supplied a mixture of craft and meals stalls, together with some vegetarian choices. It’s a beautiful city with buying, stunning structure, and historic sights.
Tübingen
The Christmas Market in Tübingen, which is only one hour from Stuttgart by prepare, is sort of quick and takes place over one weekend (December 13-15, 2024). You’ll find greater than 350 light-adorned stalls promoting selfmade items together with wooden carved objects, pottery, art work, and extra.
However in the event you can’t time your go to to coincide with the Tübingen Christmas Market, you might luck out and be there within the early December vacation season throughout the largest chocolate pageant in Germany, the Internationales Tübinger Schockoladenfestival or chocolART, which takes place for 5 – 6 days in early December annually.
We stopped in Tübingen on our technique to Stuttgart to take a look at chocolART and I used to be amazed by the variety of distributors and the wealthy shows of lovely crafted, handmade goodies and heat mugs of sizzling chocolate. This can be a should for any chocolate lover! And the city is charming, with cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered homes.
Attending to Stuttgart
Attending to Stuttgart in Southwest Germany for the festive season is a breeze, whether or not you’re flying in from the U.S. or coming from one other German metropolis. When you’re flying over from the USA, your finest wager is to fly into Frankfurt Airport (FRA), which is about 90 kilometers away from Stuttgart. From there, you may catch a high-speed ICE prepare on to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (major station) in beneath an hour. The trains run ceaselessly all through the day, so that you’re positive to search out one that matches your schedule.
When you’re already in Germany, a number of different main cities are inside simple driving distance of Stuttgart. Munich is the furthest away, at about 200 kilometers, however the drive is nice on the Autobahn. Cologne and Hamburg are each round 400 kilometers away, whereas Berlin is closest, at simply 350 kilometers.
As soon as you’re within the metropolis of Stuttgart, attending to the Christmas Markets is simple in the event you use the U-bahn metro or S-bahn rail system. Simply get off at both Hauptbahnhof, Schlossplatz, or Charlottenplatz stations. I discovered parking in Stuttgart to be an enormous headache so it’s best to make use of the prepare system as a lot as doable.
If you’re driving into Stuttgart, your finest wager is to both e book a parking house at your resort or make the most of the plentiful parking close to the primary prepare station.
The place to Keep in Stuttgart
Although Stuttgart is a giant metropolis, lodging fills up quick across the vacation season so in the event you plan on visiting the Christmas Markets, you should definitely e book a number of months prematurely. We booked in October and ended up on the Jaz within the Metropolis, a Design Lodge. The value was affordable and it was a brief distance to the prepare station, which made attending to the markets and taking day journeys fairly simple. I initially regarded for one thing within the metropolis middle however couldn’t discover something in my worth vary that was accessible.
Jaz within the Metropolis is trendy, with massive rooms that supplied higher facilities then I discovered in lots of resorts in Germany. Additionally it is proper subsequent to a big shopping center, do you have to wish to do some extra trendy buying. I’d extremely recommend reserving a parking spot once you e book your resort room as a result of there are very restricted spots. I waited too lengthy and ended up parking on the prepare station after a really anxious hour spent looking for parking.
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged knowledgeable in household journey, named the Media Member of the Yr for 2023 by the Household Journey Affiliation. Tamara is a member of SATW, the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and the Household Journey Affiliation. She can be the writer of YourTimetoFly and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.
