German Christmas Markets
Glühwein, cathedrals & fairytale towns — 7 days (Nov–Dec)
Germany's Christmas markets are magical by motorhome — your cosy, heated base is always minutes away. Our vans are winterised and properly heated, so wrap up and enjoy it. This is a big-mileage winter trip, so take the van 10 to 14 days, and it needs our European Travel cover (£10 a day). Germany requires an Umweltplakette environmental sticker for city zones, and a French Crit'Air sticker is wise too — order both online in advance.
Day 1: Channel crossing
Dover to Calais (about 90 minutes), then drive east, overnighting in Belgium or near the German border.
Day 2: Cologne
One of Germany's biggest and best markets, right beneath the twin spires of Cologne Cathedral.
Don't miss: Cologne Cathedral market
One of Germany's biggest and best Christmas markets, spread right beneath the soaring twin spires of Cologne Cathedral.
Where to stay
- Wohnmobilhafen am Nationalpark Eifel — Schleiden, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Freizeitpark Klaukenhof — Datteln, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Camping Strandhaus Sonsfeld — Rees, North Rhine-Westphalia
Day 3: The Rhine Valley
Follow the Rhine through castle country — Rüdesheim, Boppard and Koblenz — for riverside markets and Glühwein with a view.
Don't miss: The Rhine Valley
Follow the Rhine through castle country — Rüdesheim, Boppard and Koblenz — for riverside markets and Glühwein with a Rhine-gorge view.
Where to stay
- Burgstadt Camping Park — Kastellaun, Rhineland-Palatinate
- Camping Denntal — Ahrbrück, Rhineland-Palatinate
- Natur-Camping Vulkaneifel — Manderscheid, Rhineland-Palatinate
Day 4: Heidelberg
The romantic university city, with a market strung along the old town beneath the ruined castle.
Don't miss: Heidelberg Castle
The romantic university city, its Christmas market strung through the old town beneath the ruined red-sandstone castle.
Where to stay
- Camping Wiesensee — Hemsbach, Baden-Württemberg
- Waldcamping Germania — Mosbach, Baden-Württemberg
- Camping Seewiese — Pfedelbach, Baden-Württemberg
Day 5: Nuremberg
Germany's most famous market, the Christkindlesmarkt, plus the medieval old town and imperial castle.
Don't miss: Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
Germany's most famous Christmas market, the Christkindlesmarkt, filling the Hauptmarkt below the medieval old town and imperial castle.
Where to stay
- Mohrenhof Franken — Geslau (near Rothenburg), Bavaria
- Zur Burgschänke Friedrichsthal — Ehingen, Bavaria
- Camping Main-Spessart-Park — Triefenstein, Bavaria
Day 6: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The fairytale walled town where it's Christmas all year, then begin heading west.
Don't miss: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The fairytale walled town where it feels like Christmas all year — its Reiterlesmarkt and the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop.
Where to stay
- Mohrenhof Franken — Geslau (near Rothenburg), Bavaria
- Zur Burgschänke Friedrichsthal — Ehingen, Bavaria
- Camping Main-Spessart-Park — Triefenstein, Bavaria
Day 7: Home
The long drive back to Calais and across to Dover, split with an overnight.
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