Best Christmas markets to visit in Germany

OK so my family are visiting me next week and I'm interested in your views on which Christmas Markets to visit. I live in Heidelberg so its already on the list, but which other ones do you know are good? Within a max 1.5 hour drive would be good. Any views?

The best one in Germany without a doubt is Nürnberg

I think about 2 hours from Heidelberg though. That is my guess from the map though the sat nav might say something different.

Apart from that I reckon seen one seen them all!

Thanks Muffin, yep know about that one. Someone mentioned that Bad Wimphen (?) is really cool, old and nostalgic, and there's a Medieval one in Esslingen. Anyone been to any of these?

whats so good about Nürnberg?? i honestly think i prefer the Munich ones...

am i missing something that is especially good about N.?

I didn't like the one in Nürnberg. It was too expensive, touristy, crowded, etc.
My mom's also visiting and I bought a €25 rail pass for 2 persons from Mainz to Koblenz (return). Pretty cheap! We're planning on taking the train up to Koblenz stopping off at many of the small villages along the way for quick checks, Koblenz and then back to Wiesbaden on the other side of the Rhine and stopping at the markets on the Hessen side.

Ruedesheim is a fav with most of my German friends.

Here is a good website with tonz of info regarding all the Christmas markets.
http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/index1.htm

Have fun w/the fam Billy. My hubby and I are off on a road trip through Eastern Germany and hitting all the Christmas markets there.

Cologne also has several including a medieval one, I really enjoyed that one...people are working away talking funny and there's tons of great pottery around. Nice and the city is nice to visit too aside from that!

Says who?

I think Nürnberg is just the biggest and most famous among the tourists.

Tourist guides, size it is just the most famous. Ok sorry my description of best was probably wrong. But I think for Christmas market lovers it is a good one to see.

How about Strasbourg? It's a really nice market and not too far from Heidelberg.

Apparently there is a really good German style Christmas market in Glasgow this year

bad homburg is supposed to be pretty...

I'd recommend Esslingen. The medival market is great fun...they have medival games, food, and even jesters and all the half-timber houses around contribute to a great atmosphere.

Billy, the Esslingen one is lovely! It does get a bit full nowadays as the popularity has increased no end - still a great Christmas Market though!

I heard from some friends that Nürnberg's christmas market is the most famous one in Europe with all the grandeur, etc stuff...! Its indeed splendid, but crowded as many folks come around to visit that as its famous.

But, some people like it and some dont (mostly because of the crowd)..So, it depends...and its probably worth it (specially for people from other countries)..! And i know many people from Nürnberg, who say that its great over there and its famous all over, but they dont really like to visit that often as its crowded and much touristic...!

Many of them, apart from visiting nuremberg, also like to go to some places nearby where it looks a bit medieval and also offers genuine stuff and looks traditional and orthodox...! I had been to one like that in a place called Spalt (not far from nuremberg) and it was indeed a good experience..not so big, not so small..!

Nürnberg is so famous for this, that its called "weihnachtstadt" ..!