It’s that time of year: Christmas Market Season Here is a list of some of our favorite markets Be ready to celebrate the season and grab yourself a steaming mug of glühwein Not all market websites have been updated for the 2024-2025 season but we will be updating this directory often to ensure your information is up to date Scheduled events and dates are subject to change Please research each market prior to travel; some markets require tickets or advanced registration and have limited capacity Polish Christmas Market on the Kutschstallhof Dutch Christmas Market in the Dutch Quarter can be better comprehended at the Renaissance-stylized Silesian Museum for a more direct connection with the last you need only stroll through the Lower Market (Untermarkt) to admire the medieval houses of cloth makers or Baroque buildings on Upper Market (Obermarkt) a late-Gothic abode with its early-18th-century Sun Organ why not take groupies and selfies in “Görliwood," as the town is lovingly called There is more to appreciate in this cinematic setting of a town most notably the many wonderful lodgings such as the Emmerich Hotel Bad Wimpfen is far from being a bad place to visit in Germany. Only 24 minutes north of Heilbronn, one can enjoy the historic thermal spas along the river Neckar, which date back to when the town was a vital Roman settlement and the Roman Empire held sway in the region Tourists today flock to the fortified Staufian Imperial Palace with its accompanying Blue Tower There is also the imposing Kaiserpfalz Bad Wimpfen a castle of remarkable architectural splendor alongside the medieval-old Kloster Bad Wimpfen monastery one can attend several large festivals or events in Bad Wimpfen such as the Valley Market almost every month For those who want to spend a good time in Bad Wimpfen much of the abbey’s 10th - 12th-century artworks and monuments are still on impeccable display once the seat of the East Franconian German Empire continues to dazzle and astound tourists worldwide the Klopstockhaus allows visitors to appreciate local poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock while the Schlossmuseum houses thousand-year-old artifacts Outdoor enthusiasts might be more amenable to ascending the Harz Mountains or descending towards Bode Gorge To get a better feel of the medieval streets of Quedlinburg settle down like weary travelers in inn-like establishments such as Hotel Balneolum Germany gave the world the Brothers Grimm and their transcendental fairytales the lovely village of Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber propels tourists into the pages of Germanic myths and folklore With its location deep in the Tauber River valley and its romantic surroundings of Bavarian Alps Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber had been built as a Hohenstaufen fortress and free imperial city from 1274 until 1803 If you want to spend your jolly days gallivanting through a town that literally resembles something from Beauty and the Beast then find accommodations at the Gästehaus Am Heckenacker or Hotel Rappen Rothenburg ob der Tauber No one will feel like fussing around in the 700-year-old Bavarian town of Füssen. Only two hours away from Munich and at the border of Austria, Füssen welcomes travelers with bracing winds from the Bavarian Alps and Lech River Although the village itself contains a number of historic landmarks throughout Europe’s architectural periods—such as the High Palace from the Medieval Age and the Baroque homes of prominent violin and lute makers—tourists throng to Füssen for the two astonishing castles overlooking the picturesque town First, the Hohenschwangau Castle above Schwansee (Swan Lake), a palatial estate that continues to preserve the romantic era through lavish chambers like Swan Knight’s Hall, Guelph Room, and Hohenstaufen Room. Second, Neuschwanstein Castle is a fairytale and fortressed abode befitting the home of a Disney princess Step into the pages of history and folklore and see more of what Füssen cherishes and preserves while staying in lavish holiday apartments like Ferienhaus "Beim Lenzer" or Ferienwohnungen Allgäu Moni Savor your evenings in the mountains of Germany at the Hotel Bichlerhof the “Garden City,” as Lindau is lovingly called now attracts thousands of visitors with its green refuges like Stadtgarten which provide excellent views of the mountains and of Lake Constance Lindau is also home to several well-preserved relics Among these relics is a 19th-century Bavarian lion beside a stone lighthouse at the town harbor or detailed human sculptures called the Lindaviabrunnen Visitors should take care when climbing the Mangturm a 12th-century watchtower located at a harbor front called Seepromenade See more of a town named from the German phrase “island where lime trees grow,” and find good lodgings such as Hotel Bayerischer Hof or Garni Hotel Noris such as the old winery of Burgruine Winneburg and Burgruine Coraidelstein For those who want to see more of Cochem or savor its timeless wine do not forget to book a room at either the Hotel Hegenbarth´s or Ich Zeit - Apart Hotel where wine instead of Germany’s world-renowned beer is brewed In places straight from the Grimm Brothers’ pages such as Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber and Füssen you will be enchanted by the cultural ambiance which is complemented by awesome mountains like the Bavarian Alps And in towns like Quedlinburg and Lindau that continuously preserve their historic architecture you will be mesmerized by the beauty and ingenuity of human genius From a country renowned for its industrialism Germany welcomes you with its many small towns rich in folklore and modernity photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Mark Twain once described Germany in summertime as “the perfection of the beautiful,” and in his 1880 travel book “A Tramp Abroad,” the American author praises a section of the Neckar River between Heilbronn and Heidelberg I retraced some of Twain’s footsteps with the help of his 140-year-old prose noting the changes that occurred over the ensuing decades and the ancient beauty that remains In the main square are the town hall “of the quaintest and most picturesque Middle-Age architecture,” and St with a towerlike spire adorned with all sorts of grotesque images.” Both were destroyed during World War II and rebuilt including details of the hall’s gilded clock and the church’s bizarre gargoyles Those wishing to ascend the monument’s western tower one of the first major Renaissance buildings north of the Alps Twain wrongly names it as the site were the famous knight Goetz von Berlichingen was held for a night before being moved to his final holding place von Berlichingen was kept in the nearby Bulwark Tower While it can be difficult to imagine what Heilbronn was like in Twain’s day The “venerable old village” with “houses 500 years old in it” looks like it’s been the same for centuries uninterrupted watchman tradition in Germany Visitors who go up the 100-foot building likely will meet Blanca Knodel who has lived in a small apartment at the top for nearly 30 years and collects a fee from visitors who want to access the observation deck Twain mentions a 115-foot military tower in Bad Wimpfen One would assume he’s referring to the Blue Tower But a sketch included in “A Tramp Abroad” looks more like the less impressive Red Tower about 200 yards away Next down the river is the partially ruined Hornberg Castle Visitors can roam the grounds and visit a small museum housing von Berlichingen’s armor I stopped for a quick walk along the Neckar which Twain repeatedly extolled in his book “I dozed off to sleep while contemplating a great white stuffed owl which was looking intently down on me from a high perch with the air of a person who thought he had met me before but could not make out for certain,” Twain wrote but the owl is on display at the Langbein Museum along with a stuffed cat Twain also mentioned Hirschhorn castle and a nearby church Twain visited also are open to tourists about a 30-minute drive from Hirschhorn on the opposite side of the Neckar and potential captors couldn’t work out how residents replenished their food and weapons without access to the outside world a group of children took Twain to the empty well of Dilsberg’s ruined castle and spoke of a local legend that said a tunnel was concealed inside Believers said the opposite end opened at a secret location and this is how residents were able to sneak in supplies After reading “A Tramp Abroad,” German-American Fritz von Briesen was inspired in the 1890s to travel to Dilsberg and rappel down the well The 260-foot-long passageway finally was cleared about two decades later and today visitors can enter from the side of the hill Most historians believe that the tunnel was used for ventilation rather than as a way to smuggle in supplies So the town retains some of its aura of mystery The Hirschgasse Hotel and Restaurant’s 15th century building used to hold brutal student sword fights A passage about them in “A Tramp Abroad” is one of the most interesting parts of the book The swashbuckling has been relegated to the past But the highly rated German food at the Hirschgasse Hotel is a great way to end your Twain tour 69434 Hirschhorn; Dilsberg Castle: Burghofweg 3a Known as Deutschland and the Father Land by many this relatively modern country was founded on land spanning thousands of years of history and inhabitation Kingdoms have both risen and fallen—empires have thrived and crumbled—but what remains constant is Germany's famed beauty Whether that is its rolling green hills of Hochsauerlandkreis or the deep green forests in Bavaria the towns of Germany surrounded by its impeccable beauty continue to draw many to this day Germany is the perfect place to quietly settle down and it is home to the most welcoming towns to retire On a small island halfway between the German mainland and Denmark Burg auf Fehmarn sits cozily as a perfectly preserved town filled with ancient architecture being the largest town on this tiny island has only about 6,000 inhabitants from a 2021 estimate there is no doubt that you will appreciate its surreal beauty Burg auf Fehmarn houses a variety of activities and entertainment one of which is a well-known indoor zoo known as Schmetterlingspark Fehmarn a local hotspot and comfortable small space—filled with plenty of butterflies and a collection of reptiles that make for a calming experience The indoor zoo is also a perfect representative of the museum town Burg has already become coupled with the eccentricities of Brandung near the shores and this community is never a place that fosters boredom but a slow and meaningful living Yet what makes Burg auf Fehmarn a great place to retire specifically? Burg simply is a well-rounder: it has a hospital in town (AMEOS Klinikum Fehmarn), a moderate to moderately high range of rent expenses (3,000~ euros a month), with all the scenic views of the Baltic Sea in between amidst the Alpine peaks of snow and green valleys below a town known for its striking views of the mountains—and for creating some of the best musical instruments in the world Home of the once prestigious and generally considered best instrument-making families in all of Europe Mittenwald takes Klotz as part of its Bavarian tradition and atmosphere and thus has now become a beacon in the music world nearly becoming a sacred site for musicians of every flavor Mittenwald is not a one-trick pony either; its surrounding area's beauty has enough scenic views for a lifetime provides a wonderful hike through the mountains and woods all while the snow-capped peaks of the Alpines loom in the distance its old town is populated with numerous buildings from a bygone era with often family-owned businesses and museums on every corner A notable museum dedicated to Mittenwald's music past is the Geigenbaumuseum a wonderful place dedicated to the art of wood instrument-making but to retire there in the mountains along with its other 8,000 residents is still feasible the average rent for Mittenwald is nearly 6,000 euros Bavaria itself is one of the most expensive regions in the entire country—but what is the price of Mittenwald South and by the shores of the dark blue lake a town that looks straight out of a fairytale and tourists alike take the trolley leading to Mount Wallberg and bask at its high-mountain views with fields and forested paths below—all the way down to the Rottach Waterfall The nearby lake provides many opportunities to also sunbathe and enjoy the cold water Not many towns have the diverse biomes that Rottach-Egern does and the appeal to this lakeside community at the foot of a mountain has attracted a variety of wealthy families and individuals looking for a quiet place to pass the time It's no surprise then that properties here fetch in the millions of euros but the upside is its incredibly low crime rate—travelladies.com a website mainly for solo female travelers The town also has the necessary modern amenities such as a medical clinic (Medicum Tegernsee Medical Center) and a nearby hospital (Privatklinik Jägerwinkel) in Bad Wiessee For those with the means to live a life of luxury and quietude Rothenburg ob der Tauber has a mere 11,000 people walking its cobblestone streets nearly double from its medieval population status of 6,000 a few centuries ago while Rothenburg ob der Tauber is known for its celebration of medieval life and tourism it also happens to be a great place to live Since the town is steeped in its long history places like the Medieval Crime Museum showcase the macabre and fascinating facets of regular medieval life For those wishing for a more artistic experience of pure expression the town is also home to a prime piece of art on display at Saint Jakob's Church near the heart of the town and was masterfully crafted by Germany's finest woodworker In addition to its niche and culturally rich atmosphere the town has easy access to a nearby medical facility ANregiomed clinic Rothenburg ob der Tauber Gengenbach looks much closer to a rural community than that of its other medieval brethren With a population barely breaking into the 11,000 mark the town is less of a tourist area—but don't be fooled there are plenty of things to be enjoyed here caped and lined with small shops that go back generations and all the necessities of a refreshing and relaxed living the well-known distillery is around the corner the Brennerei & Weingut Wild is surrounded by vineyards and the greenery of the Black Forest Mountain range rent prices are in a moderate range of around 2,000 euros and above (according to rentberry.com) this once historic resort town ("bad" meaning bath in German) is surrounded by tall grasses and meadows watered by the long and flowing river of Neckar Home to the majestic Wimpfen Imperial Palace a must-see site with available guided tours by costumed and experienced locals there is no doubt that Bad Wimpfen is considered a beautiful and historic town resting by the water—one that is the beating heart of Bad Wimpfen that is filled with luxurious gastropubs (such as Weinstube Feyerabend) and a myriad of other historic buildings and key points of interest all worth visiting is within walking distance from Blauer Turm and keeping this in mind with the nearby medical center the town's soft and welcoming atmosphere is best rooted in its promotion of a luxurious lifestyle the main town of really a connection of three others—including Alstadt they are each distinct but seem to mingle and coalesce right in the middle of Dinkelsbühl and with the sheer amount of things to do and places to see a 15th-century work of art in its own right celebrates the saint who slew a conniving and extorting dragon—and now the church—more a time capsule—has become a hotspot for the religious and non-religious alike Though there are no more dragons to be slain the makings of a medieval moat can still be found at Bäuerlinsturm a 16th-century tower that has since become the icon of the town along the running Wörnitz River (which offers tours and is visitable) But Dinkelsbühl's appeal lies in the fact that one can actually buy properties there Realestate.com places the properties at around 1 million euros or so but these properties have the classic architecture one might expect to find in a borderline ancient German town; the difference is in the modern interior homes Pair this with a top-notch hospital in town (ANregiomed Klinik Dinkelsbühl) and the town becomes yet another historic and luxury pick for the soon-to-be retiree Germany is by no means in short supply of special towns that each have their own strengths and weaknesses Every town has something that draws seniors—whether their relative location they border the Alps or are in the central flatlands or whether they celebrate a medieval past or focus more on an artistic and musical kind of history—all of these are truly the cream of the crop And while some may attract the crowds every now and then what is better than a tourist getting to appreciate the gold of the land not just one day Head out to discover the most welcoming communities in Germany Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.