Every year, a few weeks before Christmas, German cities are filled with Christmas markets called Weihnachtsmarkt, that attracts millions of people seeking Christmas atmosphere. I have read somewhere that there are more than 60 markets located all over the country to wander around. During my last visit in Berlin last December, I bumped into four of them and after visiting the third one I was already bored with them. It’s all about food and drinks. Locals and foreigners alike order tones of Frankfurters/Wieners (German hot-dog sausages) with bread, fried onions and ketchup and hundreds of cups of Glühwein (German mulled wine).
If you are not a foodie, you can do some shopping instead. There are plenty of stands where you can buy some Christmas tree decorations, winter cotton and wool gloves and scarves, caps and socks. If you are lucky, you can even go ice-skating.
Although all markets seemed to be the same to me, some of them really surprised me with their magic and charm. Here are some snapshots of Berlin Christmas market I was at, so you know what I am talking about.