Honeymooning in Germany can be wonderfully romantic—tour fairy-tale castles, drive through gorgeous mountain scenery, and stroll hand in hand through museums, ancient churches or historic walled towns. Stops in small villages give visitors opportunities to meet the local residents. Then there are the country’s cosmopolitan cities with world-class operas, gourmet restaurants and plenty of nightclubs that stay open all night.

If your honeymoon plans call for a wintertime visit to Deutschland, you don’t want to miss the country’s world-famous Christmas Markets, held throughout Europe from late November until December 24. These seasonal celebrations have been a beloved tradition for 400 years.

The Christmas Markets of Germany are probably the most well known, but they’re found in big cities and small villages in several European countries. Each market is unique, and each reflects the region’s character, but typically, the outdoor events are held in the town’s centrally located main square.

The markets are fun, upbeat affairs, with live musicians or piped-in Christmas carols setting the festive tone with the sounds of the season. In tented stalls under twinkling lights, artisans sell handcrafted gifts—from cuckoo clocks and glass ornaments, to nutcrackers and woolen goods.

Winter River Cruising
One no-hassle way to take in a handful of different Christmas Markets is on a river cruise. Deluxe and first-class ships feature spacious staterooms, plenty of on-board amenities and fine dining. Relax on the deck of your floating hotel and watch picturesque scenes of Europe’s famous castles, majestic monuments and charming riverside villages pass by. Then, with excursions in multiple ports of call, you can get up close and personal with all the most important city sights.

Special seasonal itineraries from Europe’s leading river-cruise operators cater to visitors who want to visit a number of different markets in Germany and beyond. For example, one popular route is along the Main-Danube Canal and the Danube River from Nuremberg, Germany to Vienna, Austria, with stops to visit the Christmas Markets in those towns, as well as those in Regensburg, Germany, and an optional shore-excursion trip to Salzburg, Austria.

Visit the related links below for a reputable, Internet-based travel agency that sells hundreds of river cruises annually. I've also included links for more information about Germany’s Christmas Markets—all to whet your appetite for a romantic winter honeymoon in Europe!