Many people dream of whisking away to Germany for the beautiful markets and mulled wine in December. This year, I was fortunate enough to be able to experience the magic first hand. My husband had work in Hamburg, so I tagged along. My mom joined up with me and we explored around 15 markets in Hamburg, Dresden, and Leipzig. If you've ever wondered what these German Christmas markets are really like, here is my experience.
What I Learned About Northern Germany
So, what was it like living in Germany for three months?
Well, if you're picturing me in lederhosen, devouring sauerkraut under a cuckoo clock, I’ve got news for you—that’s Bavaria. My experience in northern Germany was a world apart. From pickled herring to quirky playgrounds, soft-spoken accents, and oddly literal German words, it was three months of unexpected discoveries and cultural delights (plus a few oddities).
Here’s a little glimpse into life up north—where the fish is fresh, the streets are cyclist-friendly, and Sundays are blissfully quiet (and frustratingly closed). Spoiler: This might just be where all the giants live.
City Parks in Hamburg
One of my favorite things to visit while traveling in clear weather is a good city park. Here, locals are more relaxed, sunbathing or playing lawn games with their friends, and it helps me to relax, too. While site seeing in a city can be draining, a green park with soft grass offers a much needed refuge to recharge my day. While living in Hamburg for a few months, I had an opportunity to visit many city parks. While each neighborhood has their own little parks, I’ll just be addressing the larger ones that I visited, worth going out of your way for.