Nuremberg Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Hours and Which Guided Tour to Book
4 min read
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026, daily 10:00 to 21:00 (24 December until 14:00). If you want someone to explain what you are looking at, book the two-hour Christmas market history and tasting tour at €25 per person: it is offered in German and English and is, according to its booking page, wheelchair accessible. Without a guide, the market works perfectly well on its own, and the dates and hours below are all you need.
Dates and hours
According to the market’s own website, the opening ceremony with the Christkind’s prologue takes place on 27 November at 17:30. After that the market is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 21:00. On Christmas Eve, 24 December, it closes earlier: 10:00 to 14:00. Besides the main market on the Hauptmarkt, the organisers list the Kinderweihnacht, the Sternenhaus and the Markt der Partnerstädte (market of the partner cities) as additional attractions; the last of these is where two of the tours below end.
Four tours, four different things
The listings sound alike, but they do not do the same thing.
| Tour | Language | Length | From | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Market History & Culinary Delights | German, English | 2 hours | €25 per person | History of the market with gingerbread, a Bratwurst roll and mulled wine |
| Christmas City Culinary Tour | German, English | 2 hours | €54 per person | Several food and drink stops across the market squares |
| Enjoy the Christkindlesmarkt with all your senses | German | 1.5 hours | €15 per person | Behind the stalls, with stallholders; goodie bag optional, paid on site |
| The Christmas City with St. Nicholas | German | 1.5 hours | €25 per person | Old Town walk; the market is seen from outside |
The first tour starts at Rathausplatz 2, covers the market’s history from the 16th-century Kindleinsmarkt onwards, and the listing names Elisen gingerbread, a Bratwurst roll and a cup of mulled wine at the end. It finishes at the Markt der Partnerstädte and takes up to 20 people. The culinary tour is built around tastings (sausage, Lebkuchen, hot wine are named); the meeting point depends on the option you pick, so check the booking page, and note that luggage and large bags are not allowed.
The senses tour starts at the Tourist Information on the Hauptmarkt and takes up to 15 people. You meet family businesses and hear about the craft behind the gilded angels and the plum people (Zwetschgenmännla); optional paid samples cost €8 on site, according to the listing.
The St. Nicholas tour is the one to read carefully. Its own description says it is not a guided tour of the Christkindlesmarkt: it walks the decorated Old Town, views the market from outside, and includes a gingerbread cookie and a cup of mulled wine. It is listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, visually impaired people and people with food allergies.
Which one for you
For most visitors, the history and tasting tour is the safest pick: English is available, the route stays around the market, and the snacks are named in the highlights. Choose the culinary tour if the food is the point. German speakers who want the market itself from the inside should look at the senses tour; German-speaking families with children who want a Christmas story rather than stalls can try the St. Nicholas walk if nobody needs step-free access. Available dates and start times are on each booking page.
