German Christmas Market

For anyone looking for a magical Christmas experience, the Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany, is the place for you. The market is usually open from November 24 to December 22 or 23. Going to the Christmas market is a core memory for me whenever I travel to Germany with my family, and it's somewhere we absolutely have to go whenever we are there during the Christmas season.

We ended up visiting the Christmas market twice, and we had two very different experiences. The first time we visited was during the evening before we went for dinner. All the lights were lit up, and it was absolutely magical! Walking into the market immediately put a smile on my face, and the delicious smells from the different stalls increased the feeling of Christmas in the air.

The only problem was that there were so many people around me that it made it hard to see the stalls, as there was always a herd of people in front of them. Furthermore, I was worried that I was going to get separated from my family and lost in the maze of stalls around me. We didn’t get anything and instead enjoyed some hot Glühwein and fruit punch. Glühwein is a hot wine that my parents really enjoy, and fruit punch is a warm, spiced, non-alcoholic fruit drink.

These were all the photos of the magic we witnessed during the evening

The second time we visited the Christmas market was during the day, around noon. The market looked less spectacular, but we actually ended up having a better time than the last time we came. This was because there were fewer people, and we were able to see all of the stalls clearly.

We even found a shop that sold these gorgeous paper light-up stars that had cutouts that illuminated the room and made it feel like Christmas. Not only did they have the correct plug for Germany, but they also had the right USB for Canada. Along with shopping, we tried so many delicious foods for lunch and had a wonderful time.

I had a bratwurst with mustard for the main part of my lunch, and it was so delicious—also my grandpa’s favorite. I also had Oreo chocolate-covered strawberries. The strawberries were stuck on a stick and covered with white chocolate, with Oreo powder sprinkled on top. One of the best things I had that day was a Baumstriezel, or chimney cake. We got one with melted sugar, which made the dessert the perfect sweet, crunchy, and doughy treat.

Visiting the Christmas market is a must-do whenever I am visiting Germany during the winter, and I know anyone who visits the market will see how special it is.