22 photos that prove why the holidays are the best time to visit Germany

Forget Oktoberfest.

One of the best - and most authentic - times to visit Germany is during the holidays, when the country's famous Christmas markets are in full swing (don't worry, they involve plenty of booze too).

Said to have originated in the late Middle Ages, these markets are as much a history lesson as they are tradition, and they are guaranteed to bring holiday cheer in spades.

Keep scrolling to see them in all their glory.