Markets by theme
Crib trails, an ice nativity and whole markets selling nativity figures. Each of these has a nativity tradition at the market or right beside it.
15 cities with a nativity tradition
15 of the market cities we cover have a real nativity tradition at the market or right next to it. Walk Bamberg’s 35-station crib trail, see the Graz nativity carved from about 35 tonnes of ice, or be in Kraków on 3 December for the szopki competition.
Best Index score first. Open them on the map →
| Market | The nativity | Market open | Index |
|---|---|---|---|
 Vienna Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Rathauspark) | A nativity path through the park behind the market.Hotels in Vienna → | 6 Nov – 6 Jan | 8.6 |
 Bolzano Waltherplatz and the Rittner Christbahnl | A crib is unveiled at the opening on Waltherplatz, and the Plattner farm shows a nativity exhibition on the Ritten market days.Hotels in Bolzano → | 26 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.9 |
 | An ice nativity carved from about 35 tonnes of ice, in its 30th year in 2026.Hotels in Graz → | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.8 |
 Augsburg Krippe under the Christmas tree on the Rathausplatz | The Altaugsburggesellschaft nativity with large wooden figures carved in Oberammergau, an annual highlight of the market.Hotels in Augsburg → | 23 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.7 |
 Erfurt Domplatz | A nativity of 14 almost life-size hand-carved wooden figures on the Domplatz.Hotels in Erfurt → | 24 Nov – 22 Dec | 7.6 |
 Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt St. Petri | A show-window theatre about 6 m wide tells the Bethlehem story with moving figures, and it’s billed as the market’s highlight.Hotels in Hamburg → | 23 Nov – 1 Jan | 7.6 |
 Cologne Kölner Krippenweg (incl. the city crib at the cathedral, Roncalliplatz) | The 31st Krippenweg, with about 115 cribs around the city from 23 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.Hotels in Cologne → | 13 Nov – 10 Jan | 7.5 |
 | The 84th szopki crib competition goes on show at the Mickiewicz monument on 3 December 2026, and the cribs are then paraded round the square.Hotels in Kraków → | 27 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.5 |
 | A city-wide nativity trail with 35 stations, the Krippenmuseum and the church cribs.Hotels in Bamberg → | 24 Nov – 23 Dec | 7.4 |
 Munich Kripperlmarkt (Rindermarkt); Neuhauser Weihnachtsmarkt | A whole market of nativity figures by Alter Peter, plus a living nativity at the Neuhausen market.Hotels in Munich → | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.4 |
 Ravenna Gorge Krippenpfad | A lit-up nativity trail through the woods on the way to the market.Hotels in Ravenna Gorge → | 26 Nov – 20 Dec | 7.2 |
 Ulm Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt | A living nativity with real animals beside the market tree.Hotels in Ulm → | 19 Nov – 10 Jan | 7.2 |
 Baden-Baden Nativity exhibition in the Trinkhalle arcade | A nativity exhibition, classic to modern, in the arcade of the Trinkhalle as part of the market.Hotels in Baden-Baden → | 26 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.1 |
 Milan Mercatino di Natale in Duomo | A life-size nativity stands at the Duomo market, and nativity figures are sold at the Duomo and Oh Bej stalls.Hotels in Milan → | 20 Nov – 10 Jan | 7.0 |
 Valkenburg Winter Wonderland (Wilhelminagrot); Kribkeswandelingen | A life-size nativity in the Wilhelmina cave, and free crib walks past dozens of nativity scenes, 7 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027.Hotels in Valkenburg → | 13 Nov – 3 Jan | 6.4 |
Three very different ways to see the Christmas story.
Germany · Krippenweg Bamberg (35 stations)
Bamberg turns the whole old town into a nativity trail of 35 stations, with the church cribs and the Krippenmuseum along the way.
Free Bamberg pocket guide
A printable street map of Bamberg’s markets with the transport stops and the walks between them.
Austria · Eiskrippe im Landhaushof
The Eiskrippe in the Landhaushof is carved from about 35 tonnes of ice, and 2026 is its 30th year.
Poland · Kraków szopki competition (Rynek Główny)
Kraków’s glittering szopki cribs are a UNESCO-listed tradition, and the 84th szopki competition goes on show at the Mickiewicz monument on 3 December before the cribs are paraded round the square.
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