Onion festival is wonderful annual event which takes place in August in Esslingen am Neckar…read more Every year on marketplace of the city there is a huge variety of delicacies from kitchen and wine-cellar from Swabian specialities, onion dishes to fresh German beer and good wine from Esslingen vineyards.

One piece of advice if you are considering visiting these Christmas markets in Germany: RUN. Like,…read moreseriously: RUN! Better hurry, too, before tourists ruin these gems like they have just about every other market in Germany. Over the years, tour buses and Hallmark movies and overtourism have really ruined the magic of the German Christmas Markets, but any OG Christmas Market fan will tell you that the Mittelaltermarkt & Weihnachtsmarkt in Esslinger are what markets used to be! These were by far my favorite markets in all of Germany. We grabbed an Uber from Stuttgart to get to town, and it cost us less than $50 and took about 20 minutes. Coming back, we hopped a local train to Stuttgart that was cheap and fast. It was so easy to get there via either travel method. Esslingen has two major markets in town (just follow the crowds). Both have their charms. The first is mostly a foodie market so if you like treats and eats, this is your place! Go with an empty stomach! The second is an incredible medieval themed market that feels like a Renaissance Faire sprinkled with holiday magic! I loved both of these markets so much. The foodie market had so many good eats. From cinnamon rolls to cheeses to fondue to sausage on a stick to smoked ham and fish, you won't go hungry here. We found the food prices to be pretty cheap, considering. Think 5 Euro sausages, 9 Euro fondue. The Medieval market had Renaissance Fair type food, served in fun ways (like potatoes on sticks, drinkable grogs of soup, and the like). Each had a few rides or fair type games, but not a lot. This was mostly about eating and enjoying the atmosphere. The Medieval market has an unbeatable atmosphere. Shopkeeps dressed in traditional garb, flaming torches providing candlelight, craftspeople carving wood and making horsehoes, and even a parade with a visit from Krampus! Plan to spend several hours here, and make sure you stay to see it at night! It is magical! Restrooms are difficult to find, and there's a very small one (with a very long, long line) that costs money to use. Many of the local restaurants don't provide bathrooms either, so be aware if you were planning to buy something so you could go. Both markets were absolutely jam packed with people, but they still captured a local flair. In other words, more locals than foreign tourists - but as soon as the word gets out, that is going to change, and hordes of American and British and Canadian tourists crammed into overstuffed mega-tour buses will descent on the markets and totally take them over (in other words, ruin them). Yes, I realize I'm an American tourist, but I'm talking about the worst kind of tourists, not the ones who respect and want to learn about the local culture. Any traveller knows what I mean.

An amazing market in one of the most beautiful towns in Germany. It is part of the Fachwerkstrasse…read moreand has beautiful old buildings and the medieval market is fantastic. Food is excellent the entertainment is great and the vibe is amazing. Not to be missed if in Stuttgart during Christmas market time. Opens on the 1st advent day and carries on for a few weeks.

It's always nice getting to dress in traditional German garb and comingle with the locals at…read moreStuttgarter-Frühlingsfest. For the most part everybody is super friendly and just there to have a good time. You might run into a couple of unfriendly drunk folks here or there but ... water off a duck's back. The overall energy here is fun, lively, and welcoming. One thing people don't realize is that Stuttgarter-Frühlingsfest is actually the 2nd largest fest in Germany, and honestly I prefer it over Oktoberfest. The weather is WAY nicer compared to the colder fall fests, which makes it much more enjoyable to walk around, eat, drink, and actually stay outside without freezing. Just avoid them nasty ass "Quicky" shots. Lol I've been here in both 2025 and 2026 and spent time in the Benz VIP Tent, which was such a blast. Sitting around partying with traditional German food, beer, and live music while realizing the locals know the same American songs we do was hilarious to me. Who knew Sweet Caroline, My Heart Will Go On, and The Macarena were global hits? Lol. Everybody singing together after a few drinks is truly an experience. There's plenty of rides, games, beer tents, and traditional carnival food everywhere you look. Honestly it reminds me a lot of the local carnivals back home in Hampton Roads, just on a much bigger scale and with way more beer and lederhosen. Overall this is one of my favorite traditions I've picked up while living in Germany, and I hope to keep coming back every year for as long as I'm here.

If you are bummed to be traveling in Germany in the springtime because you're missing out on late…read moreSeptember's Oktoberfest, then I have good news. The lesser known Frühlingsfest in Stuttgart provides much of the same experience in my opinion. I came here with a group of friends and we all had a ton of fun. We paid €20 to enter a huge party tent but received €20 worth of drinking tokens back- the admission is just a guarantee that you'll pay for at least two huge beers there basically. The beers are served in liter size mugs which was a bit much for a slow beer drinker like me but others in my group didn't seem to mind. Also available were 1/2 liter mugs filled with wine that I eventually switched to which greatly improved my experience. Overall this was definitely one of the most fun days of my life. The Germans were all very welcoming and taught us the dances and songs that they were joining in on as there was a live band the whole time leading renditions of drinking songs. Overall this is a great place for a group of friends to visit.

Sommerfest is a big festival that takes place for four days every August in the heart of…read moreStuttgart-city. It is surely not the largest festival in Stuttgart but it is definitely great pleasure for everybody and one of the most beautiful summer city festivals in Germany! Music for all ages and interesting entertainment program, famous Swabian gastronomy and fairy-tale atmosphere make an excellent impression!..

We went to Oktoberfest in Stuttgart and it was so much fun! We walked around the festival and…read moreplayed some carnival games. We did en up last minute being able to go into the beer tents, but I think that was out of pure luck because we were supposed to buy the wristbands ahead of time. Overall, I would recommend, especially if you want to avoid the crowds of the Munich Oktoberfest!

Definitely recommend if you are in Stuttgart! We have younger ones so we opt for daytime…read morefestivities. We love it because there are no entrance fees and we are able to visit all tents without tickets. There is a nominal parking fee so be sure to have your euros handy. All tents take kasse and card. Not sure about the kiosks. If you plan on going in the late afternoon and/or evening - do not be surprised if you need prepaid tickets for tables in the tents. So plan ahead, you will not want to miss the authentic food, great music and beer! Each tent is different and some are elaborately decorated. It's amazing to see the craftsmanship. Also - don't forget to practice your German beer-drinking songs. You will see the young and seasoned folks singing and dancing together on chairs and tables. So fun! There are carnival rides, drinks and snacks throughout the fare ground. The best we've experienced. If you are a thrill-seeker - they definitely do thrill rides the best. If you want to dress in the traditional attire - you can also purchase your dirndl or lederhosen there for adults and kids. The clothing is top quality so be prepared to pay at least €200 for an outfit. However, you may luck out as they have a nice clearance rack. I saw beautiful dirndl for under €70.

The main Stuttgart Christmas Market is pretty good. It's quite large, so there's a lot to see, but…read moreit's also a bit crowded and overwhelming. I also though the food options left a lot to be desired, as most of the things we bought to eat were just mediocre at best. This is more of a market for those who like lights, crafts, and rides. Oh, and of course, drinking mulled wine! Each of the little booths are decorated with whimsical holiday themes, and the proprietors go all out! I had the most fun looking at the rooftops of all of the booths. Food was mediocre for the most part, and there wasn't anything special on offer. We had garlic bread and mushrooms that honestly weren't even eating. Expect to find all the same old, same old Christmas Market foodstuffs (fried potatoes, potato pancakes, dipped marshmallows, etc.). Since so many famous car manufacturers are located in town, there's a free walkthrough light display in an adjacent park. It's fun, but is basically a light-up ad for cars, LOL.

Dating back more than 300 years to as early as 1692, the Stuttgart Christmas market is one of the…read morebiggest and oldest in Europe. Certainly larger than the ones I have seen this year in Baden-Baden, Colmar, Mulhouse and Basel! Similar vendors, of course. Glühwein is everywhere. Sausages are grilled here and there. Baked goods. Trinkets. Baubles for decorating your Christmas tree. Spices. Candles. Hats and gloves. Carved wooden toys. Candies. I have a new cashmere scarf (it was COLD!), some cookies, some fancy chocolates and a lot of memories. Stuttgart is a big city and the size of the market reflects it. Lots of people. Lots of food. Lots of hot wine. Don't forget to look up. Many of the kiosks have very elaborate decorations on their roof. [Review 21255 overall - 259 in Germany - 220 of 2024.]