Looking for an amazing Christmas getaway in the US? Christmas in Frankenmuth, Michigan will provide all the decorations, shopping, food and music your heart desires this Christmas.
Frankenmuth is a small town in southern Michigan with so much personality. Established by German Missionaries, you will feel like you stepped into a quaint European town without the jet lag.
Especially in the Christmas season, Frankenmuth goes all out to celebrate and deck the halls (or all the streets). It helps that they have the world’s largest Christmas store. You don’t want to miss the holidays in Frankenmuth. If you are looking for the perfect Christmas vacation, spend your time in Frankenmuth Michigan.
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Where is Frankenmuth, Michigan?
If you fly into Detroit (DTW) , Frankenmuth is 1.5 hours drive north. You can also fly into the smaller airport in Flint, Michigan (FNT). From Flint, Frankenmuth is only a 30-minute drive. However, you can only fly direct to Flint from Chicago, Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale.
Another options is to fly into Grand Rapids (GRR), Frankenmuth is a 2-hour drive. Frankenmuth is 20 mins from Saginaw and 30 minutes from Midland. Saginaw and Midland have a few more accommodations if Frankenmuth is fully booked.
Check the weather for a Christmas vacation to Frankenmuth as it can be snowy or wet. Even with a chilly rainy day when we went, we still loved our time celebrating Christmas in Frankenmuth.
Book a cheap flight here and reserve a rental car for driving to Frankenmuth.
Where to Stay in Frankenmuth?
You’ll find quite a few options for hotels in Frankenmuth. You definitely want to stay right in town in Frankenmuth. It is such a walkable city with fun shops to explore and see. There are cheaper options for hotels in Saginaw, Flint or Midland. But staying in a hotel in Frankenmuth town helps you be immersed in the atmosphere and can be a huge part of the fun if you pick the right hotel!
Bavarian Inn of Frankenmuth
You will love the German feel and center of town location of this hotel. With shopping, restaurants and Christmas decor all in one location, this is the perfect hotel to be in the middle of it all!
Zehnders Waterpark
This place looked incredible for kids. If you are staying for multiple nights, this is definitely the place to let the kids play in the indoor waterpark between all your Christmas shopping and festivities. If you aren’t in Frankenmuth at Christmas time, you will definitely love to stay at the Waterpark for more to do with the whole family. Year round fun in this amazing hotel. The hotel is just outside of the main part of town, but right near Bronners Christmas store. Frankenmuth is a small town, so nothing is too far from the main sights.
Fairfield Inn & Suites or Springhill Suites by Marriott
We stayed at the Marriot for free using points! Sign up for the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit Card and get 100,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months to stay in Frankenmuth for free. Both of these hotels are located right in downtown Frankenmuth, walking distance to all the best shopping, decor and Christmas fun. Free breakfast included!
Drury Inn & Suites Frankenmuth
We love Drury Inn and Suites for families because they offer dinnertime “kickbacks” which is basically glorified appetizers that can serve as a meal. Plus, free breakfast! Drury Inn is a win in Frankenmuth! The location is perfect to access main street and downtown area by foot.
Booking.comWhat to Eat in Frankenmuth?
While there are plenty of restaurants in Frankenmuth, a few are must-visit for the traveler. When in Frankenmuth you must try the World Famous Chicken Dinner at Zehnders. The Bavarian Inn offers a chicken dinner as well. We got both to compare. We liked a few things at the Bavarian better, but the chicken is far superior at Zehnders! Plan on a bit of a wait for the dinners, especially during the Christmas season.
Go downstairs in the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth to enjoy a bakery, candy store and homemade fudge. You will not go home with an empty belly with all the food options in Frankenmuth.
Christmas in Frankenmuth is Magical
Frankenmuth is a fun, small town to visit anytime of the year. The indoor waterparks, German influence and shopping are great for any season. But the Holidays in Frankenmuth are an all out party! If you want to get into the spirit of the season, head to Frankenmuth for Christmas baptism by immersion.
What to Do in Frankenmuth?
You will find plenty of activities for the whole family around Frankenmuth. Plan on two days to explore the downtown area and spend time shopping, eating, and enjoying your time in Frankenmuth. Things to do in Frankenmuth with kids are plentiful as they will love all the Christmas displays and family-friendly activities.
Visitor and Welcome Center
The first stop you must make is in the Frankenmuth Visitor and Welcome Center (635 S Main) right in the heart of Main Street. You’ll find parking right behind the building which a perfectly central location to start your trips.
Inside the welcome center, you’ll find scavenger hunts, information, maps and kid-friendly activities. Don’t miss picking up the coupons for the shops around town. the decor in the outdoor plaza will just get you started on the fantastic photo opportunities all around Frankenmuth.
Find the Gnomes all around Town (Year Round)
Grab the guide for the Gnome Scavenger Hunt. When you complete your gnome scavenger hunt with the kids, return to the Welcome Center for a small prize. The kids will love searching for the small gnomes through the variety of shops. And you’ll love the time to shop!
Write a Letter to Santa
They also provide letter-writing materials for kids to craft a letter to santa. Just outside the Welcome Center you can mail your letter straight to the North Pole from the post office box. This begins the magic of Christmas in Frankenmuth.
Driving Light Tour
The entire town joins in the Christmas celebrations, so be sure to pick up the list of addresses at the welcome center. When the sun goes down, start your driving tour of local homes decorated with lights and displays.
Spectacular Musical Tree Light Show
The city goes all out for Christmas in Frankenmuth, and it is most apparent at the giant Christmas tree at the entrance of town. You may not find ornaments or decor on this Christmas tree, but that is to show of the millions of lights!
While the giant Christmas tree always has moving lights and music playing, stick around for one of the 7 minute spectacular Musical shows. You’ll be in for a tree-t. The lights are perfectly sychronized and light up for than you can imagine. The music is unique and will have you mesmerized for the entire 7 minutes.
Light show start mid Nov through Jan and run Sunday through Thursday at 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, and 8:30pm with a bonus show at 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday.
Carriage Ride
You can tour the streets of Frankenmuth in your very own private horse-drawn open-sleigh. I don’t think anything will feel as Christmas-y as singing carols riding in a carriage through Frankenmuth
Holz-Brucke Wooden Bridge
The Holz-Brucke Bridge is a functioning street to move from the main downtown area of Frankenmuth to the River Place Shops. There is a very nice covered walkway for pedestrians, which I highly recommend you walk for the views, both of the river and town and of the bridge itself. This will have you feeling like you have been transport to old times.
Christmas Displays along the Cass River
As a town established by Christian Missionaries, Frankenmuth shows its religious zeal and commitment through multiple nativity scenes and prayers for “Peace on Earth”. Walking along the river and taking in these scenes from the Bible is a peaceful way to remember the reason the season is celebrated.
Lobby of Zehnders
Even if you don’t stay or eat in Zehnders (which i highly recommend you do!) you should at least step inside the lobby and warm yourself by the large fire place. They really know how to Deck the Halls!
Shops at Bavarian Inn
My kids could’ve spent all day in just the Kids shops and Candy store here. Especially right as the holidays season was upon us, they loved finding unique and interesting toys to get for each other. You’ll also find a bakery, souvenir shop and clothing store.
Clock Show at Bavarian Inn
Just like the smaller cuckoo clocks at Frankenmuth Clock Company store, the clock outside the Bavarian Inn moves and chimes. Be sure to be outside when the hour changes and the people come to life with music and movement
PedAle Trolley
See Frankenmuth on the move by renting a bike to pedal around the city.
Shopping for Christmas in Frankenmuth
Main Street
All of historic Main Street is filled with small shops selling goods and food. Be sure to stop for Ice cream, handmade fudge (watch them make it before your eyes!), CheeseHaus, and more. Look for the gnomes and you pop in and out of all the shops along Main Street Frankenmuth.
Bronners Christmas Store
The famous Frankenmuth Christmas store – the largest Christmas store in the world- will be a huge part of your trip! Bronner Christmas store in Frankenmuth has 16 sections of different Christmas decor. You can find an ornament in any and every subject you could ever desire. An entire section is dedicated to ornaments which are free to personalize.
You’ll find everything from trees to nativities, lights to snow globes inside Bronners. Any decor you can imagine and more for Christmas will be found at Bronners Frankenmuth Michigan.
There was a long line to enter Bronners. They allowed 1000 people into the store and then others had to wait. The line can be long- especially on the weekend. We went 15 minutes before open and we let in within 10 minutes. But I’m sure it would be a long wait later in the day. There was also a long line for personalization, so if you know you want to personalize something, get in line early. It moves quickly with many workers helping.
Bronners is open year round, so if you are lonely for the Christmas spirit in July, you can still go and find everything Christmas on display!
River Place Shops
It feels like you just stepped into a European cobbled street pedestrian zone. You will love the souvenir shops, toy stores, and food options available at the River Place Shops.
Frankenmuth Clock Company
While the Clock Company is a “Do Not Touch” store, it was still a place I was willing to take my kids. The intricacy of the cuckoo clocks, carving and wood decorations are not to be missed. This truly transported me back to Oberammergau in the Bavarian Region of Germany. If you love German culture and crafts, this shop will have you salivating. Be sure to be there at the hour or half-hour when the whole store goes wild with cuckoos, moving figurine dancers, and chimes.
Churches in Frankenmuth
Don’t miss the churches and religious centers in Frankenmuth for celebrating the Christmas season. You will find more decorations, Christmas concerts and opportunities to worship and celebrate christ for CHRIST-mas.
The Silent Night Chapel at Bronner’s is an exact replica of the Chapel in Europe that inspired the Silent Night song. The grounds around here are beautiful and peaceful. With the Christmas carol playing through the air, you will love spending some time at this Chapel.
St Lorenz Lutheran Church goes all out in decor and celebrations for the season. Stop by to see the lights and displays this Christmas.
Frankenmuth Map
More Details for Visiting Frankenmuth
Beyond the main tourist section of the city of Frankenmuth, you will find everything you are used to in a typical American City. Keep driving north on Main Street to find all the usual chain stores, fast food, and groceries stores you know and love. If you need a cheaper meal or a familiar store, this is the place for you. If you want to stick to the historic, charming, and tourist town, stay south in Frankenmuth.
Dress warm for Christmas in Frankenmuth as Michigan can be cold this time of year. You will spend time walking the streets and through the shops in Frankenmuth so have a hat, coat, and gloves. Watch the weather and bring an umbrella or poncho if it will be rainy.
Why Spend Christmas in Frankenmuth?
You will always remember your Christmas season spent in Frankenmuth! When the pandemic hit and we were unable to go to the European Christmas Markets, Frankenmuth filled this travel lust well. Take a trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan this year for a memorable and joy-filled holiday.
If you liked Christmas in Frankenmuth, you might love these travel gems, too.
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- Find more destinations perfect for the family
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