Christmas time is not only the most beautiful and contemplative time of the year. Mulled wine at the Christmas market is just as much a part of it as baking cookies at home.
Singing Christmas carols and strolling around the Christmas market are also a must.
Dresden Striezelmarkt
One of the most popular Christmas markets in Germany is certainly the Dresden Striezelmarkt. This one is a real highlight. In the pre-Christmas period, several wonderful markets attract visitors to the beautiful Elbe River. It is also the oldest Christmas market in Germany, founded in 1434. The Saxon Elector Friedrich II had allowed the one-day free market on the Altmarkt one day before „Christmas Eve“.
Dresden’s Striezelmarkt will be ready to enter the 585th floor in 2019. Round. Unofficially, this makes the Dresden Christmas market the Christmas capital of Germany. You can then stroll through Dresden’s city centre until 24 December 2019.
In the Stallhof, next to the magnificent Dresden Castle, the famous Dresden Stollen awaits you with medieval flair. You can also be inspired by Saxon folk art and admire ceramics, wickerwork and Plauerener Spitze from Lusatia, as well as carvings and turned goods from the Erzgebirge.
The Stollen Festival is the absolute highlight here, during which a gigantic tunnel weighing around 4 tons will be pulled on 8 December 2019 from the Zwinger via the Semper Opera, Hofkirche and Frauenkirche to the Striezelmarkt. Among other things there is the world’s largest step pyramid with 42 figures at a height of 14.6 m, which even made it into the Guinness Book of Records. The Dresden Striezelmarkt is therefore not only one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Dresden, but in the whole of Germany and is on the bucket list of many Christmas fans.
The Christmas Market in Leipzig
In Leipzig you will find the largest freestanding Advent calendar in the world. The calendar takes up around 857 square metres and is integrated into an entire house facade, which, with its coloured windows, makes a great picture every day until the big party.
The existence of the Christmas market in Leipzig has been documented since 1458 and even today, a historic carousel on each floor bears witness to its memorable age. But that’s not all: delicacies, gift ideas and other goods await you in the 300 or so stands at the Leipzig Christmas market. The delicious specialities of Leipzig are another argument to visit the Christmas market. These include Leipzig Lark, Räbchen and Allasch.
On Augustusplatz there are many more rides, a bakery and a gnome workshop. For older children the model train exhibition offers a lot of fun and everyone can get into the Christmas spirit in front of the Christmas pyramid and the Finnish village. On weekends there are always concerts by trombone players at the old town hall.
In Leipzig, you can combine your visit to the Christmas market with a trip to Dresden’s Striezelmarkt. Both cities are only a stone’s throw away from each other.
The Christmas Market at Hamburg City Hall
Every year one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany takes place in front of an impressive town hall in Hamburg. The historic, beautifully decorated building is enthroned directly next to the Binnenalster and thus not only offers a great view, but also serves as a staircase for the swans.
Virtually every district in Hamburg has its own little Christmas market, but something very special is waiting for you on Rathausplatz. The architecture of the building was designed by Circus Roncalli director Bernhard Paul and nestles beautifully into the historical picture and appears homely. On every Advent weekend it is especially nice when the big Christmas parade takes place at the town hall. For this you should choose a good place and enjoy it to the full.
The motto of this Christmas market is „Art instead of commerce“ and therefore the squeaky-coloured „popcorn – offer“ on the town hall market is deliberately avoided.
And with success: Every year, the Christmas market in Hamburg attracts around three million viacsitors. The flying Santa Claus is particularly well received. It floats over the heads of the Christmas market visitors three times a day, wishing everyone present a wonderful Christmas season.
The Christmas Market in Bremen
In the city centre of Bremen it looks beautiful and christmassy. The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bremen is the cathedral and gives the city a unique winter atmosphere with the two towers illuminated with Christmas motifs. The view couldn’t be more beautiful. The Bremen Town Musicians are always worth a visit and after you have picked up luck by rubbing your hoof, all your Christmas wishes should come true. Then the Christmas tour can start.
Children gather on the stage of the Hanseatenhof every day at 4 pm to watch Santa Claus on stage. At 5 p.m. they can then have a Christmas story read to them in front of the citizens at the fir tree.
The so-called Schlachte Zauber takes place every year as a special highlight of the Christmas market in Bremen on the water promenade. More than 100 stalls are waiting here with great offers. Here you have the chance to try fresh fish, but also exotic, Nordic specialities, especially at this Christmas market in Bremen.
The Erfurt Christmas market on the Domplatz
The historic town in Thuringia offers all kinds of sights and highlights. In winter the state capital shines in a festive glow. The Christmas market on Domplatz is particularly festive, and in Germany it is one of the most beautiful Christmas markets. Many enchanting lights and scents of delicious, Christmassy dishes await you at the venerable St. Mary’s Cathedral. For all romantics this is a true dream.
The 12 m high Christmas pyramid is a real attraction of the Christmas market in Erfurt, the eyes of the little ones will shine with the detailed Christmas cribs with the twelve figures, the fairytale forest and the eco – children’s bakery. This is a perfect Christmas market for the whole family.
You should definitely take a stroll through the capital of Thuringia if the Christmas market has already put you in high spirits. The Krämerbrücke and the Citadel Petersburg are sights of the city and the rays at Christmas time in a very special shine, which is absolutely romantic. For a city trip in winter it is a real insider tip.
The Christmas market at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin
Our versatile capital Berlin is of course not to be sneezed at. With many colourful lights, unusual stalls, railway and typical specialities, the Christmas markets in Berlin await you. The Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin is the most beautiful place. The German cathedral, the royal playhouse and the French cathedral frame it and the festively illuminated stands create a magical picture. The heart of every Christmas fan should open here.
It attracts visitors with a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the square, as well as an Advent market where Berlin artists can advertise their fantastic unique works of art. If you are still looking for a Christmas present, this is the perfect place.
The special thing: This Berlin Christmas market is open until 31 December, so you can even celebratethe New Year here. You can also climb the domes of the French cathedral. You have a great view on the Christmas market from here.
