There is no place like Germany for Christmas Markets. Yes, Paris has the Champs-Élysées and London has Winter Wonderland, but there is no place that has the variety and quantity. Be cautious however, as German hostels book up quickly and bus tickets increase in price around this time of year. If you are planning on visiting the markets, book early and read this guide.

The first item on the agenda is where to go. Cologne, Berlin, and Munich are definitely hot spots for Christmas markets. The Cologne market is open from November 26-December 23 and has over 150 vendors. The Berlin market is open from November 26- December 31 and is set right next to the beautiful Gedächtniskirche church. The Munich market is also open around the same time (November 30-December 24) and has several different markets including a medieval market and a completely pink market.

If you are looking for some places off the radar, try Stuttgart or Dresden. Both markets are open from late November to late December and are often less crowded with tourists. In Stuttgart, the Christmas market takes place in the old square and has a true Renaissance feel. The Dresden market dates back to 1434, making it one of the oldest in Europe. Dresden also has the world's tallest nutcracker and hosts the annual Stolen Festival on December 8.

Getting around Germany is pretty easy. You can look at the Bahn for trains inside and around Germany or at Eurolines if you are looking at taking buses. Book early because ticket prices will just increase from now until Christmas. If you are taking an international flight, consider flying into a city and then taking trains to visit a few additional markets.

Hostel reservations are another story. If you are planning on staying in a German hostel within the next month, you should be worried. Hostels located in Christmas market towns are booking up quickly. Make sure to see if there is availability before you finalize your plans. Hotels are still available, but be cautious because prices will increase during the December month. Christmas markets are very popular for Internationals and Germans alike.

Lastly, there are some items that you should not leave a German Christmas market without. Make sure to try the local specialty food, whether it is mulled wine or maple cookies. Also, splurge on that hand made item. Some market items are only sold once a year and how many times are you going to trek to a German Christmas market?