Five of the best river cruise Christmas markets in Germany

Here are five of the best Christmas markets you can visit in Germany:

Regensburg: There are several Christmas markets in this UNESCO-listed medieval town, but the most peaceful atmosphere is around 500-year-old Neupfarr Church, where dozens of stalls sell the traditional range of wooden nativity figures and scenes, toys and Christmas tree decorations.

In the nearby Lucreziemarkt you will find hand-made crafts such as pottery and printed silk scarves as well as stalls selling gingerbread and mulled wine. At the far end of town there are more stalls plus choirs and Bavarian songs at Thurn and Taxis Palace, but this is largely an evening attraction.

Another atmospheric Christmas market is also held at Spitalgarden, which has a focus on regional food and drinks.

Nuremberg: Like most Christmas markets, the famous Christkindlesmarkt at Hauptmarkt Square opens on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday. This is one of Germany’s biggest single markets, with around 200 wooden stalls selling Christmas tree ornaments, huge gingerbread treats and other arts and crafts.

Nuremberg town has a long history of toy manufacturing, which accounts for the high quality of wooden toys on sale. Anybody visiting should try to break away for an hour or so to see the toy museum.