Nuremberg Xmas Market

 I spent the weekend at the Nuremberg Christmas market.  From all the Xmas markets in Germany, this is the grand end-all, do-all market to visit.  There's no place in Germany that puts on a finer show.

On the right is a stand that features various items....all made out of chocolate (tools and horseshoes).  It's for the guy who has a sweet tooth.

You'd need just about an entire day to see the whole market, and live the experience.  My general advice is to find a smaller hotel on the end of town, and use the subway system (roughly five Euro for a all-day ticket).

There's stands for just about everything.  On the right here, is a kid's doll house 'fillers'.  You could spend easily five thousand Euro if you wanted fill up some little gal's entire house with unique items.

Food?  There's just about every type that you can imagine.  Same for the beverages.

The best point to start from?  In the middle of town is the train station, and if you exit.....out of the front door....there's the old city in front of you.  Just cross the street, and you are in the midst of the market.

Crowds?  Well....Sunday is typically the worse day of the week to make the walk.  Monday through Friday are lesser crowds.

Tourists?  Tons of them.  I'd imagine at least a hundred Japanese a day are touring the city and the market during the season.  Americans flying in?  Same deal.

General parking around the city, if you drive in?  My advice....get a city map and figure the dozen-odd parking garages nearest the old city area.  You can estimate all day parking at around ten Euro.

What should you avoid?  I'd generally tell  you to skip by hat stands.....they are at least twenty percent higher than most shops. Same for fancy statue shops.

The temperature issue?  Well....it is cold and you need to step indoors every hour or two to recharge on the temperature.