Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg, Germany
One of Germany's greatest Christkindlmarkets, in Stuttgart, has a unique route that starts in a promenade lined with wooden cabins under the castle's walls and meanders its way through the city. Before arriving at the spacious Marktplatz, the route connects the intimate Schillerplatz with other small squares and streets.
Visitors arriving by train or the city's transit system walk across the expansive Schlossplatz to get to a gate framed in pine boughs. They pass the glittering children's market and a sizable skating rink. With its festive atmosphere, cookie-filled stalls, and Ferris wheel with cars made out of enormous Christmas tree balls, this family-friendly area provides a joyful start to the market. The nearby Baroque Christmas Market in Ludwigsburg is equally visually appealing as the market in Stuttgart. Ludwigsburg's market is limited to high-end handcrafted and locally produced goods and is located in a charming plaza surrounded by Baroque buildings. A nearby street is lined with other cabins, many of which are independent producers of high-quality foods.
