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Heading to Heidelberg during the holidays? Here are eight things you should know about the 2021 Heidelberg Christmas market.
1. The market takes place Nov. 18 through Dec. 22, 2021. Stands open at 11 a.m. daily and close at 9 p.m. Sunday to Friday, an hour later on Saturday. The market will be closed on Sunday, Nov. 21. The Winter Woods program will once again transform the Kornmarkt into a festive forest; stands here are open until Jan. 1. The ice rink at Karlsplatz is also open through Jan. 9 (closed Dec. 24).
2. The market is spread across six areas of the city, so wear comfy walking shoes. The fest starts at Bismarckplatz and follows Hauptstraße east to Karlsplatz.
3. You can easily reach Heidelberg by train. It will take 1.5 hours by car, but only 45 minutes by train from the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof. From Wiesbaden and Kaiserslautern the drive takes 1 hour, the train 1.5 hours. The ride will be a bit longer from Landstuhl or Ramstein, whether traveling by car or train.
4. If you're driving, check a handy map for parking. The Heidelberg Parking website has real-time updates about the number of available parking spaces at garages and lots across the city. Click on each garage name for hourly rates and the entrance street address to type into a GPS. Look for lots that are open 24 hours, so that no matter how late you return, you can retrieve your car.
5. Look for businesses with red "Nette Toilette" stickers on their doors or windows. Some shops and restaurants participate in the "nice toilet" program, meaning visitors can use their facilities without being customers.
You can find more information on the market's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HeidelbergerWeihnachtsmarkt/.
