Christmas in Germany - inspired by German Christmas traditions

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Christmas in Germany offers everything from delicious pastries and delicious Christmas food to atmospheric Advent music. In addition, there are many German cities that offer cozy Christmas markets in picturesque settings.

Christmas in Germany

Christmas in Germany is a big and important holiday, and in fact many of our Swedish traditions come from Germany. For example, both the Christmas tree and the Advent calendar have German origins.

Today, many people may associate Germany's Christmas with all its great Christmas markets, which are extremely popular to visit. The closest we have come to Christmas in Germany is that we visited the beautiful city of Frankfurt. Nuremberg at the end of November one year, just before the Christmas market would open. Already Christmas spirit in the streets!

In collaboration with the German Tourist Office, we're sharing 6 exciting Christmas traditions in Germany. Get inspired for a German-inspired Christmas at home in Sweden – or plan a winter visit to Germany!

1. Käthe Wohlfart Christmas Village and Museum

In the romantic medieval town of Rothenburg, located west of Nuremberg, there is a special 'Christmas village' open all year round. The village, which is also a shop, was founded in 1964. It is run as a family business and is suitable for anyone who loves Christmas.

The Christmas Village is home to the world's largest collection of German Christmas decorations, with more than 30,000 varieties of decorations in the form of pyramids, nutcrackers, incense figures, Schwibbogen (German Christmas candlesticks), glass figures, tablecloths and much more.

The Christmas Museum, which opened in the mid-20th century, displays a permanent exhibition of Christmas decorations in an area covering 250 square metres.

• Address: Christmas Village & Christmas Museum Herrngasse 1, Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
• Read more: Here you can find more information on Kathe Wohlfahrt.
• Parking space: Car park Rothenburg (Walnussveg 1)
• See more in the neighbourhood: Visit the idyllic little town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with its medieval streets, half-timbered houses and pretty squares.

2. Christmas cakes at Lebkuchen Schmidt

You can visit the Lebkucken Schmidt shop to stock up on German Christmas cakes and pastries for the entire festive season. Founded in 1926, Lebkucken Schmidt is the world's oldest gingerbread and pastry mail order company.

The biggest shop is in Nuremberg, where you can buy the signature cake 'Nuremberg Lebkuchen', which is protected by copyright and can only be bought in, well, Nuremberg. The cake is made with hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, allspice, nutmeg, ginger and cardamom.

• Address: Gingerbread Schmidt Outlet Store, Zollhausstrasse 30, Nuremberg.
• Read more: More info on Lebkuchen-Schmidt
• Parking space: Outdoor swimming pool Feuchtasia (Chormantelweg 25, Feucht)
• See more in the neighbourhood: Discover the medieval city centre of Nuremberg with its castles, churches and cathedrals.

3. traditional German Christmas dinner

What does a traditional German Christmas dinner consist of? It can vary depending on the region and family, but here are some classic variations:

• Duck, goose or roast with stuffing, apple, red cabbage and potato dumplings.
• Sausage with potato salad (however, the salad is made with local variations, in the north with mayonnaise and in the south with oil and vinegar, and with possible additional accessories such as pickled cucumber)

In Hamburg you can also find a local Christmas specialty in the form of "Grünkohl mit Kassler oder Pinkel Weihnachtskrapfen", which roughly translates to green cabbage with Kassler or sausage.

• Parking space: Heiligengeistfeld caravan site (Feldstrasse 60) or Strand Pauli car park (Sankt Pauli Hafenstrasse 89).
• See more in the neighbourhood: Discover the interesting Hanseatic city Hamburg. The city centre is home to two lakes, as well as shopping and museums.

4. The Advent atmosphere at Chorin Monastery

If you want to enjoy a quieter Christmas in Germany and unwind, head to Chorin Monastery, located northeast of Berlin. It's particularly worth visiting in the afternoons and evenings, when the beautiful Gothic monastery building is lit up.

Various masses and concerts are organised during Advent and Christmas. There is also a monastery museum with various temporary exhibitions and a permanent exhibition on the construction of the brick monastery. There is also a shop and a café.

• Address: Amt Choin 11a, Chorin
• Read more: More info on Monastery choir
• Parking space: Parking at the Finowkanal (Angermünder Chaussee, Eberswalde)
• See more in the neighbourhood: The monastery is a good starting point for various excursions in the area. You can explore the region by bike, on foot or by car.

5. Christmas concerts in Berlin

Why not experience some great Christmas music? Berlin offers a wide range of concerts during Advent. In particular, there are concerts at the Konzerthaus Berlin, Philharmonie Berlin, Parkbühne Wuhlheide and Schloss Charlottenburg.

• Parking space: Parking P2 at Tempelhof Airport (Werner-Loebermann-Weg) or Wohnmobil Oase (Hochstrasse 4).
• See more in the neighbourhood: Get to know Berlin, an exciting capital city that offers culture, history and shopping.

6. The German Christmas cake Dresdner Christstollen

Dresden, located in eastern Germany, is home to the traditional German Christmas cake 'Christstollen'. The main ingredients of the cake, which can be purchased at 110 different bakeries in the cityare raisins, butter, sweet almonds, bitter almonds, candied orange and lemon peel, flour, water and yeast. To be sure of the quality, look out for the golden 6-digit certificate, which means the cake can always be traced back to its origin.

Every year a 'Stollen girl' is appointed to represent the Dresden Stollen. To get this role, you must have experience in baking Stollen, knowledge of the history of the pastry and a passion for the craft.

Want to learn more about Christstollen? Then visit the 'Stollen box', a six metre long, two metre wide and three metre high box. Inside you will find an exhibition about the Dresden Christstollen and the 600-year tradition of the pastry.

• Address: 110 different bakeries in Dresden. You can find the ”Stollen Box” at Centrum Galeriem, Prager Str. 15
• Read more: More info on Dresden Christollen
• Parking space: Am Blüherpark caravan site (Zinzendorfstrasse 1) or Wiesentorstrasse site (Wiesentorstrasse)
• See more in the neighbourhood: Experience beautiful architecture in Dresden or make excursions to nearby natural areas.

Have you experienced Christmas in Germany?

Have you experienced Christmas in Germany? Or do you perhaps have some more tips about German Christmas traditions? Please tell us! Here you will find more tips and reports about food and culture in Germany:

• German food – 25 dishes to try
• Festivals in Germany
• Gifts in Germany
• German specialities in different regions

Top picture in the post: Lebkuchenzeit © Käthe-Wohlfahrt