Frankfurt
There has been a Christmas market in Frankfurt for over 600 years. The Frankfurt Christmas Market takes place on the Römerberg square, Paulsplatz and Mainkai quay, 200 stalls offer arts, crafts and seasonal food and drink. A wide range of entertainment around the 30-metre high Christmas tree includes concerts, trumpet fanfares from the balcony of St. Nicholas's Church and the church carillon. Take a stroll across the market and you will enjoy a wonderful aroma of baked apples, roasted nuts, gingerbread and mulled wine - quite a contrast to the ever-present Frankfurt Skyline in the background! Its scenery of beautifully decorated stalls, the historical backdrop of the Römerberg market place, St Paul?s church and the gigantic Christmas tree all contribute to an unforgettable experience.

Operates: 23rd November ? 22nd December 2011
Mon-Sat 10am-9pm
Sunday 11am-9pm

Baden-Baden
Christkindelsmarkt is set against the scenic backdrop of the Kurhaus and the colonnades lit up by thousands of lights over the Advent period. It offers more than 50 beautifully decorated stands ? ranging from crafts and toys to artistic Tiffany products and wood carvings, a variety of choirs, orchestras and bands which perform twice daily on the stage in front of the Kurhaus and `living creche` with lambs, sheep and a shepherd. Without doubt the bleating of the sheep and the scent of fresh hay offers the idyllic nativity scene around the life-sized manger in front of the Kurhaus and is bound to attract not just the younger among the visitors.

Operates: November 22^nd to December 26^th
11am-9pm daily
22 Nov from 5pm
Christmas Eve 10am-3pm

Fussen
In the heart of Fussen's old quarter, festive decorations transform the baroque inner courtyard of St. Magnus abbey into a delightful setting for the town's Christmas market. Even the stalls ? packed with arts and crafts from the Allgäu, seasonal merchandise and tasty Christmas treats ? fit in with the surrounding medieval architecture. Watch over the shoulders of artisans as they work and hear yuletide favorites from the Christmas stage. On a torchlight walk through the narrow lanes of the old quarter, St. Nicholas and Kampus, his outlandish companion, hand out gifts to the children. The region all around Fussen provides winter magic in one of Bavaria's most beautiful holiday landscapes. The snowy woods and hills, pure air, long periods of fine weather with crystal clear visibility in the mountains, many miles of cross-country skiing tracks, alpine skiing, ice skating on the numerous lakes and the opportunities for winter hikers are practically unlimited in this area.

Operates: First 2 weeks of December
Hours: 11a.m. ? 9:00 p.m.

Munich
Crafts stalls surround a glittering 100-foot Christmas tree on the oldest of Munich's Christmas markets Marienplatz, which is filled with Muncheners munching on sausages and potato pancakes, gulping glühwein, and crunching gingerbread. In the Town Hall, the Heavenly Workshop keeps children engaged with arts, crafts and baking. Every evening at 5:30, from the Friday before Advent to the night before Christmas, a brass band and Alpine choir peal out carols from the balcony of the neo-Gothic Rathaus (Town Hall). There are also small themed markets sprinkled around the city, including the famed Kripperlmarkt (Crib Market) on Rindermarkt, a dedicated manger market provides all the elements required to create a Nativity scene, and a Medieval Market on Wittelsbacher Platz. Also keep your eyes peeled for the Christmas tram that trundles through the old city serving spiced wine and gingerbread.

In all there are a further 20 Christmas Markets located throughout the city of Munich, including a Medieval Christmas Market with gospel singing at the Wittelsbacher Platz, a gay pink Christmas Market (Stephansplatz) and if you have forgotten anything before leaving for home there is even a Christmas Market with ice skating facilities at Munich?s international airport.

Operates: Late Nov. - Dec. 24

Mon-Fri 10am-8.30pm
Sat 9am-8.30pm
Sun 10am-7.30pm
24 Dec 10am-2pm

Driving distances:
|Frankfurt to Baden Baden - 114 miles / 2 hours
|Baden Baden to Fussen - 196 miles / 3 hours
|Fussen to Munich - 82 miles / 1 hour 45 minutes