Best of the fest

It seems like almost every city and village in Germany offers a Christmas market with its own charm and character. The diversity of markets seems endless and ranges from trashy to glamorous. To help you through this jungle options, here is a selection of DW staff's top Christmas market picks. We start with Leipzig, above.

My personal tip is the magical Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin. It has a unique atmosphere because of the backdrop of the German and French cathedrals, as well as the concert hall. Here you can find high-class traditional handy crafts and modern design. I also like that the admission fee of one euro ($1.40) goes to charity. - Yvonne Omsen, secretary’s office

If you’re into medieval spectacles, then you have to check out to the Christmas market at Stallhof in Dresden. Located in the former tournament courtyard of the Dresden castle, people dressed in rustic clothing sell leather bags and silver jewelry. And instead of blaring Christmas music, you can listen to the blacksmith hammering away. - Frederike Müller, author

I like the atmosphere of harbor cities. In Emden, a small city in the very north of Germany bordering Holland, the Christmas market doesn't only happen on shore but also on boat. The ships in the old inland harbor are decorated with lights and you can buy everything that warms you up and makes you happy: Glühwein, pea soup and even a Christmas menu. - Anne Termeche, editor

My favorite Christmas market is the one in Rixdorf, a district within Berlin’s Neukölln. It’s super cozy and smells delicious. The Rixdorf Christmas market has a traditional touch and yet feels dynamic. It is multicultural; never mind how often you walk around the market, there’s always something new to discover. - Angi Fischer, editorial assistant

The backdrop looks like it’s part of a holiday movie. The Erfurt dome and the Severi church have festive lighting, and at their feet you see little wooden houses where you can buy handicrafts made in Thuringia, such as Christmas tree ornaments and pottery. And of course you can smell the famous Thuringian rostbratwurst. This Christmas market is regional and romantic. - Kerstin Schmidt, editor

Some like it hot - and those who do should definitely go to the Santa Pauli Christmas market on the Reeperbahn, a street in Hamburg’s St. Pauli neighborhood, known for its nightlife and red-light district. Here you can find chocolate with erotic motifs and original sex toys. And inside the striptease tent, angels and secret Santas bare all. - Franziska Biesdorf, author

My favorite Christmas market is definitely the one located in "Kulturbrauerei," a former brewery turned cultural center in Berlin. I like to drink a glass of Glühwein there, eat a sausage and maybe even hit the flying swings a couple of times. And when the cold outside gets to you, you can escape to the movie theater right next door. - Christian Hoffmann, editor

I don’t really like Christmas markets; they are always crowded and that stresses me out. But the shooting star Christmas market in Wiesbaden pleasantly surprised me with its relaxed atmosphere, soothing lights and lovely handicrafts. There's even a nostalgic carousel that made me pause and examine the old wooden horses and the ceiling painted with fairy tale motifs. - Christina Deicke, editor

I thought the Christmas market in the Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber was touching. It reminded me of my childhood because it looks like it fell out of a fairy tale. The medieval city hall and the half-timbered houses in the historic city are the perfect backdrop for a Christmas market. You can buy traditional German Christmas cookies and upscale handicrafts. - Uta Gaiser-Hood, author

My absolute favorite Christmas market is located in the backyard of the Michelberger Hotel in Berlin. Because it is so hidden, it is never completely crowded. They play great alternative Christmas music and have a burning barrel that warms you up. You can buy self-made Christmas presents and - last but not least - they sell the best Glühwein in the whole of Berlin! - Nicole Frölich, presenter

I really like the cute little Christmas market at Stadtgarten in Cologne. The backdrop might not compete with the one you get around the Cologne cathedral, but here it is less crowded and hence more relaxing. Also, it’s the only Christmas market in the city that sells homemade organic Glühwein from a local vineyard. Prost! - Anne-Sophie Brändlin, journalist

The Christmas market in the city of Mainz fascinates me today just as much as it did when I was six years old and went there for the first time. There are so many lights shining above your head! The roof of the tent looks like it is made of millions of stars. And in the background, you can see the majestic red cathedral. It truly is a unique atmosphere. - Sandra Maria Gronewald, presenter