Three towns, four days, endless twinkling lights, and just the right amount of snow.
Trip completed: December 2022
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We’d been dreaming of a cozy winter getaway — something festive, full of fairy lights and old-world charm — and Germany was the perfect choice. With its famous Christmas markets, medieval towns, and promise of snow, we mapped out a short but magical route through Bremen, Goslar, and Quedlinburg.
What followed was a trip filled with twinkling lights, steaming mugs of Glühwein, cobblestone streets, and a few very cold noses! 🥶 Here’s how our little winter adventure unfolded.
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🏙️ Day 1 – Beautiful Bremen
We caught an early morning flight to Bremen and spent the day exploring on our own. Despite the icy temperatures (it was very cold!), the city was absolutely beautiful.
The UNESCO-listed Town Hall and Roland Statue stood proudly in the main square, surrounded by a buzzing Christmas market filled with twinkling lights, mulled wine, and festive treats.
We wandered through little bars and cafés, each one warm and welcoming against the chill outside. As evening fell, we checked into the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bremen — perfectly located for a quick walk back to the square for dinner at the Ratskeller and then a last stroll through the market for one last Glühwein before bed.
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🏔️ Day 2 – Goslar’s Storybook Christmas Market
The next morning, we took an early tram to the airport to collect our hire car and hit the road. A short, scenic drive later, we arrived in Goslar — and immediately fell in love.
This traditional town looked like it had stepped straight out of a Christmas card. The Christmas market was small but stunning, with a Christmas tree forest right in the center — a maze of twinkling evergreens that smelled like pure holiday magic.
We sampled some amazing street food: crispy bacon and cheese sourdough pizzas and garlic mushrooms that were impossible to resist. That night, we stayed at the Hotel Goldene Krone, a charming spot that fit perfectly with Goslar’s old-world atmosphere.
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🚂🏰 Day 3 – Harz Mountains & Quedlinburg: A Fairytale Day
We set off from Goslar in the morning and drove into the Harz Mountains, where snow blanketed everything in white. The scenery was straight out of a postcard. We couldn’t resist hopping aboard the Harz Mountain Steam Train, which wound its way through pine forests and mountain valleys up to 687m.
Halfway up, we stopped at a cozy café — the perfect place to warm up with hot chocolate before continuing the journey. It was peaceful, picturesque, and wonderfully wintry.
In the afternoon, we drove on to Quedlinburg, another UNESCO World Heritage town, and honestly, it was like stepping onto the set of a Christmas movie. Dating back to 900 AD, Quedlinburg’s cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses were dusted with snow and glowing with festive lights.
We checked into a castle hotel within walking distance of the old town — the perfect base for exploring. The Christmas market here might have been our favourite of the trip: traditional, intimate, and utterly enchanting. Every street seemed to sparkle, and the whole town felt alive with Christmas cheer. 🥰
You can check out where we stayed here.
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✈️ Day 4 – Back to Bremen
All too soon, it was time to drive back to Bremen for our flight home. One of the best parts of this trip was how close everything was — each destination just a short, scenic drive from the next — making it the perfect mini winter road trip.
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🌟 Final Thoughts
Our Northern Germany winter adventure — Bremen → Goslar → Quedlinburg — was pure Christmas magic. Three towns, three Christmas markets, and countless cozy moments shared along the way.
If you’re looking for a festive getaway full of charm, history, and holiday spirit, this route is an absolute winner. Just don’t forget your warmest layers!
