Spur of the moment Germany Christmas Markets Trip

We go every year. Skip the market in Dusseldorf, it's underwhelming compared to the others. You can easily spend 2-3 days in the Cologne market as there are a few scattered around - you can take a tram to the Angels Market which is great, but the HUGE market at the Cathedral and the one right past it (Gnomes Market) are very close and walkable.

Frankfurt's market is just OK also.... not a favorite compared to the others.

You are pushing it for hotels. We book a year in advance - the ones walkable to the markets will be full.

Munich can also easily be 2-3 days. There is a huge market at Marienplatz that winds around that area. There is a smaller market in the courtyard of the RESIDENZ, and then around the corner, that is a small medieval market - super unique with great food.

Nuremberg is an easy one hour train ride from Munich - HUGE, great market.

Regensberg is even closer with a good market and a fantastic market (one of our favorites in all of Europe) at the Thurn & Taxis Palace - you do have to pay, but it is SO worth it - it is stunning at night as they light lots fires, super authentic from the 1400s when they only had fires, no lights.

Good luck at finding hotels. I hope you can find some walkable to the markets

We like Hotel Platzl in Munich - you can walk everywhere.

Hotel Victoria in Nuremberg.
Hotel Excelsior in Cologne.

When you are in Düsseldorf, be sure to check out the Konigsallee, (it shows there with the umlaut over the "o") , the main drag, very impressive as to the wealth of the city.

We like to visit Christmas Markets ourselves. Unfortunately no experience near Cologne. Booking.com has plenty of rooms.

We have visited Munich, Regensburg and Augsburg, and enjoyed all for their markets. Booking.com has rooms in Munich.

We have found Christmas Market time is not as busy for hotels as during trade markets. You may not get your first choice but there will be options.

If the last time anyone visited the Christmas market in Frankfurt was pre-Covid, the market has changed and expanded. There are also smaller markets scattered around the city, including one out in the City Forest. It is a lot nicer than it used to be, all scrunched into one area.
After a long flight, I would seriously think about staying in Frankfurt for your arrival night and head off to Cologne in the morning. You will be refreshed and able to enjoy your day.

Thank you all!

I agree with Ms Jo - the Frankfurt Christmas market is delightful! And in a stunning location! I treasure my gluwhein mug from there.

One more question. I have heard a lot about Ravenna Gorge on the forum. Where exactly is it, and is it worth including on the way from Cologne to Munich for an overnight? Thanks again.

That would mean quite a detour

Ravenna Gorge is lovely but it is only open on 3 weekends, and you need tickets to get in. Many people stay in the small towns near by and take the shuttle bus there and to return. Tickets went on sale 16 Oct. and may be sold out by now. We got our tickets a while back.
This will be my 2nd year to go there, but I think you may be too late to plan this into your trip and it is a real outlier to your original plan.

You will not regret spending time in the Frankfurt markets. We did it last year and loved it!! Also, Mainz is really close and very different and worth a look.

Thanks again and based on the suggestions, I will save Ravenna Gorge for another trip.

We're Christmas Markets addicts going back to the Christmas of 1968 in Nuremburg. Seeing you have 7 days you will being traveling a bit. Christmas Markets are best in the evenings since evenings come at 4 o'clock in the German winters you will have plenty of time in the beauty of the lights of Christmas. We have been to all the cities I am showing you and would recommend them. In fact, I would recommend anyone of the markets. Here is our sample of a quick trip.

Dec. 13 Frankfurt to Koln - 1 hour train Do the markets in the evening. It's big. Spread over I think 5 different markets.
Dec. 14 Dusseldorf 39 minutes from Koln
Dec. 15 Aachen 33 minutes from Koln
Dec. 16 Regensburg 4 hours and 22 minutes from Koln
Dec. 17 Augsburg 2 hours and 30 minutes from Regensburg
Dec 18 and 19 Munich 22 minutes from Augsburg

We had a wonderful time at the markets for our 2019 trip.
For us, the best strategy was to sightsee and shop during the daylight hours, and scope out the food stands. Then go back to the hotel to rest and warm up. As evening approaches, 4:30pm, the locals get off work, and the markets get crowded, making shopping a lot harder, and just getting up to the vendors more difficult. If you know what you want to eat beforehand, it saves a lot of time. Enjoy your gluhwein and dinner as you take in the wonderful lights.
In each of the markets I visited, the vendors shut down as soon as the 8:00pm church bells tolled, and the stands were completely closed by the time the bells concluded. All was suddenly quiet.
Have a magical time.

Lifetime travel, thanks for the 7 day travel plan. Our plans are very similar, except we go to Munich on the 16th, as one in the party leaves on the 18th. I may then plan a short trip nearby and then head back to Munich.

Also, thanks for the head's up on the 8 pm market close - I did not know that and it is a very useful piece of information.