45 Best Christmas Wishes for Daughters in the USA (2026) Finding the right Christmas wishes for daughters can feel surprisingly hard — you love her more than words can say, yet the perfect Christmas card messages for your daughter never seem quite easy to capture. Whether she is still the little girl who leaves cookies out for Santa or a grown woman hosting Christmas dinner in her own home, a heartfelt message reminds her she is, and always will be, the light of your holidays. American families pour a lot of love into Christmas cards, from the photo cards mailed in early December to the handwritten notes tucked into stockings on Christmas morning. Below you will find 45 original Christmas wishes for daughters, written from the heart of American family life — from moms, from dads, from both parents together, plus funny ones for the daughter with a great sense of humor and proud ones for the daughter who is doing big things this year. Use these as they are, or mix and match lines t...
15 Best Things to Do at Christmas in Erfurt (2026)
Christmas in Erfurt is one of Germany's best-kept winter secrets. The Erfurt Christmas market (Erfurter Weihnachtsmarkt), first held in 1850, ranks among Germany's oldest — and with some two million visitors a year, one of its most atmospheric.
Set on the vast Domplatz beneath the twin spires of St Mary's Cathedral and the Church of St Severus, the market fills 200-plus wooden chalets amid a glowing medieval old town.
Here are the 15 best things to do at Christmas in Erfurt in 2026. Frohe Weihnachten — Merry Christmas!
Last updated: October 9, 2026
Jump to:
- The Erfurt Christmas Markets
- Cathedral, Churches & Advent Music
- Thuringian Food & Drink
- Family Christmas Activities
- Christmas Shopping & Day Trips
- FAQs
- More Christmas Inspiration
The Erfurt Christmas Markets
Erfurt hosts 15-plus Christmas markets: the Domplatz giant plus smaller local favorites.
- Wander the main Weihnachtsmarkt on Domplatz. Over 200 stalls under a giant lit tree, a 12-meter wooden pyramid, and a life-size nativity scene. Go after dark, when the cathedral towers glow above the chalets.
- Find the enchanted forest at the market's edge. A woodland-themed corner of fairy-lit pines and rustic decorations — quieter than the main aisles and a lovely photo spot.
- Browse the mini-markets at Fischmarkt and Wenigemarkt. Fischmarkt charms with gabled houses behind craft stalls; Wenigemarkt leans into food stands — the perfect lunch stop.
- Stroll Anger and Willy-Brandt-Platz from the station. The small market at Willy-Brandt-Platz greets train arrivals, and the walk up Anger threads lights and stalls into the old town.
For Families
Visit Domplatz on a weekday morning for short ride lines, then warm up with Kinderpunsch, the spiced kids' punch every stall serves.
For Couples
Climb the cathedral steps at dusk, look back over the lit market, then share a Glühwein (mulled wine) at a quiet Wenigemarkt stall.
On a Budget
Erfurt runs cheaper than Munich or Nuremberg. Window-shop the crafts, spend on food, and ride the trams — a day ticket covers every market.
Cathedral, Churches & Advent Music
Erfurt's skyline belongs to its churches. The cathedral hill anchors the Christmas scene, and Advent concerts fill the naves all season.
- Climb the steps to Erfurt Cathedral (Erfurter Dom). Seventy wide steps lead to St Mary's Cathedral, where Martin Luther was ordained. Inside: medieval stained glass and the famed Gloriosa bell; outside: a terrace view over the market.
- Visit the Church of St Severus (Severikirche). The Gothic hall church beside the cathedral rewards a look inside — its floodlit facade is half of the Domplatz postcard view.
- Catch an Advent concert in a candlelit church. Choirs, brass, and organ recitals run through December in the cathedral, the Augustinian Monastery, and old-town churches — many free or by small donation.
Thuringian Food & Drink
Thuringia takes its Christmas food seriously. The stalls are a crash course in the region's festive kitchen — come hungry.
- Eat a Thüringer Rostbratwurst the local way. Thuringia's marjoram-and-caraway sausage, protected by EU law, is the market's undisputed king. Order it in a roll with mustard and eat it standing, like an Erfurter.
- Try Erfurter Schittchen, Germany's oldest stollen. This rich fruit loaf has been baked here since 1329. Buy a whole loaf — it keeps for weeks and makes a superb gift.
- Drink Glühwein from a collectible Puffbohne mug. Erfurt's mugs feature the Puffbohne, the broad bean that is the city mascot. Collect the set at the Glühweinstübchen stall, then try Feuerzangenbowle (flaming rum punch).
Family Christmas Activities
Beyond the stalls, Erfurt layers on rides, tours, and winter sights that fill a whole day.
- Ride the Ferris wheel over Domplatz. The wheel sits right among the stalls; a night spin gives the best aerial view of the pyramid, the tree, and the floodlit cathedral.
- Take the Katerexpress Christmas tram tour. A restored 1967 tram — the Hangover Express — runs holiday tours through the old town: a classic ride, a fairy-tale ride with stories for children, and an anecdotes ride with mulled wine for adults.
- See Egapark in its winter dress. The famous garden park hosts winter illuminations and festive events; its greenhouses are a warm daytime escape.
Christmas Shopping & Day Trips
Save an afternoon for Erfurt's shops — and consider stretching the trip, since two great cultural towns sit almost next door.
- Shop the Krämerbrücke and the Altstadt. The medieval Krämerbrücke (Merchants' Bridge), inhabited for 500-plus years, holds boutiques selling Thuringian pottery and wooden crafts the stalls don't.
- Day-trip to Weimar or the Wartburg. Weimar — Goethe, Schiller, its own market — is 15 minutes by train; Eisenach's Wartburg Castle is under an hour. Both pair with a second Erfurt market evening.
FAQs
When is the Erfurt Christmas market in 2026?
Not yet released as of early October 2026. In 2025 the market ran November 25–December 22 — expect a similar window; confirm at erfurt-weihnachtsmarkt.de.
How many days do I need in Erfurt at Christmas?
One full day covers Domplatz, the cathedral, the Krämerbrücke, and the smaller markets. Add a second for Egapark, a tram tour, and Weimar.
Is the Erfurt Christmas market free?
Yes — entry to all of Erfurt's Christmas markets is free. You pay only for food, drinks, rides, and gifts.
What are the market opening hours?
Domplatz: Sun–Wed 10am–8pm, Thu 10am–9pm, Fri–Sat 10am–10pm; smaller markets generally close by 8pm.
Is Erfurt cheaper than other German market cities?
Generally yes — food, Glühwein, and hotels run lower than in Munich, Nuremberg, or Cologne, which is one reason the market keeps its local feel.
What should I eat at the Erfurt Christmas market?
The three non-negotiables: a Thüringer Rostbratwurst, a slice of Erfurter Schittchen stollen, and a mug of Glühwein. Then add Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Gulaschsuppe (hearty meat soup).
More Christmas Inspiration
Keep planning your German Christmas:
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