How to Make the Most of a 1-week Bavarian Christmas Market Getaway

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Are you wondering how to maximize a 1 week Christmas market trip to Germany? In this guide (and podcast episode), our Complete Custom Itinerary client Kori shares what made her first Germany trip so magical and memorable, including the Christmas markets, food, accommodations, and moments she and her husband Chris will never forget.

If you’ve been dreaming about traveling Germany at Christmas, you’ll find Kori’s experiences and tips helpful! Listen to the podcast for all of the details or read the article below for the highlights.

This article is also available as the Germany Travel Planning podcast episode 48. Use the player below to listen or continue reading the article below. See episode transcript on Apple podcasts.

Helpful Resources

• Burg Colmberg (castle hotel)
• Tilman Riemenschneider in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
• Ameron Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & Spa Resort
• Aloft Munich

About Kori Knappe

Kori lives in West Central Texas with her husband and business partner, Chris, and their two children. She loves good food, spending time outside, reading and is usually planning her next trip!

Kori’s Route: A Christmas Roadtrip Through Bavaria

One of the first decisions we made when building Kori and Chris’s itinerary was to concentrate on one region rather than trying to cover too much ground in a week. They were drawn to Bavaria, so we planned a route that packed in variety without long stretches behind the wheel.

After flying into Munich, they picked up their rental car and made their way through Nürnberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Füssen before looping back to Munich.

They’d considered driving vs taking the train, and in the end, driving won. Having a car gave them the flexibility to pull over when something caught their eye, adjust timing on the fly, and even make an impromptu day trip down to Innsbruck, Austria on a sunny day.

Kori and Chris found the driving tutorial we always recommend to our clients super helpful. Kori even drove on the Autobahn herself and said it was genuinely fun!

Kori’s Accommodations

Their first night was spent at Burg Colmberg, a hotel inside an actual castle located between Nürnberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The breakfast there set a high bar right from the start.

In Rothenburg, they stayed at the Tilman Riemenschneider, a charming hotel with beautifully painted furniture throughout and a fantastic restaurant. The staff went above and beyond and in fact when they accidentally left behind a book they purchased from the market with a personalized passage written in it for their kids, the hotel tracked mailed it to them!

In Füssen, they splurged on the Ameron Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & Spa Resort, nestled between Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau with a beautiful alpine lake right outside. They could see both castles and the mountains from their room. Kori and Christ agreed it was worth every penny for their birthday trip.

Munich’s Aloft Hotel, close to the main train station, was a great base for both exploring the city and Christmas markets on foot and a day trip. Even better…the hotel bar became its own little highlight! The bartender was hilarious, and they had just as much fun chatting with people there as they did out exploring the city.

Kori’s Christmas Market Experience

We recommended Nürnberg as the first stop on their itinerary, and it turned out to be the perfect introduction to Germany at Christmas.

Kori described arriving at the market on opening night as breathtaking. Seeing the churches lit up, an orchestra on stage, Christmas market stalls in every direction – Kori described the sensory experience as an unforgettable and something she’ll never forget.

From there, every stop had its own character:

• Rothenburg’s market wound through cobblestone streets with food vendors, Glühwein, and handmade ceramic ornaments from small local stands.
• In one tiny town they came across, they found a little market and picked up handmade ornaments to bring home.
• In Füssen, fresh snow blanketed everything and made the mountains and castles even more beautiful.
• In Innsbruck, a friendly couple running a chimney cake stand struck up a conversation and walked them through their food and drink options, and that experience became one of their favorite memories of the whole trip.

Overall, Kori loved the decorated windowsills, candles, glowing paper stars, and fresh Christmas trees hung with kids’ handmade ornaments. Kori said it seemed like every nook and cranny was decorated, and rather than feeling overwhelming, it just made everything feel magical.

Kori’s Food Favorites

Kori returned home talking about the food almost as much as the markets. Here are a few of their favorites:

• Nürnberg Lebkuchen (gingerbread)
• Käsespätzle (this cheesy dish was Chris’ favorite)
• Hungarian Langos (fried dough with cheese and other toppings)
• Flaming Feuerzangenbowle (a Christmas rum drink) from Munich’s medieval market
• Döner from a Munich hole-in-the-wall spot

Kori and Chris also had a couple of unique meals at top restaurants – stay tuned for an upcoming podcast episode where Kori and I talk all about the delicious food she enjoyed on her trip!

Kori’s Tips for a 1-Week Germany Christmas Market Trip

If you’re on the fence about going to Germany because you only have 1 week, here’s what Kori wants you to know: just go!

Sure, a week isn’t enough to see all of Germany, but it’s absolutely enough to have an incredible trip. Concentrate in one region, choose a few key stops, and build in some wiggle room. Here are a few of Kori’s tips:

• Rent a car if you can. The flexibility is worth it, especially for exploring small towns and day-tripping from your homebase.
• Mix longer stays with shorter ones. Spending two nights somewhere lets you slow down, unpack, and use it as a hub for a day trip.
• Invest in a real winter coat. Kori wore a calf-length parka and boots and found that combo perfect for the winter weather.
• Embrace the unexpected. A parking garage ticket malfunction on their first night was frustrating in the moment but quickly became a funny story. Things will go slightly sideways – just laugh and keep going.
• Try the random spots. Sometimes you discover the best food finds on days when you have no plans and decide to try a hole-in-wall spot you randomly come across.
• Don’t hesitate to talk to people. At the markets, at the hotels, on the walking tours. Those connections are a big part of what makes traveling in Germany feel so special.

From Overwhelmed to When Can We Go Back?

Kori’s one word for the whole trip? Magical.

Before the trip, she described the planning process as overwhelming. Too many markets, too many options, too much to figure out on her own, despite having planned lots of previous vacations.

After working with us, Kori said planning her trip felt almost effortless. After reviewing and fine-tuning the Complete Custom Itinerary we created, they basically just showed up and followed the plan! The route maximized a variety of experiences, accommodations were exactly right for each stop, and they had enough guidance to feel confident without being over-scheduled.

Ready for your own Germany Christmas market adventure? Our Complete Custom Itinerary service is exactly what made Kori’s trip feel effortless and magical. We’d love to do the same for you!