9 Best Christmas Markets in Germany with 2026 Dates

Germany has Europe’s best Christmas Markets, and did you know it’s actually the birthplace of Christmas Markets? Dresden is home to the oldest Christmas Market in the world, dating to 1434. This country holds over 2,500 Christmas Markets annually!

I’ve personally visited over 30 Christmas Markets, and it’s the one thing I look forward to doing every year. Over the last two years, I went on epic train journeys during the festive season. I traveled by train for 17 consecutive days, seeing so many amazing Christmas Markets. You can call me the Christmas Market queen! And out of all the places I’ve been, Germany has some of my all-time favorites. Read on to learn about them and how to plan your own amazing Christmas journey.

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Best Christmas Markets in Germany

1. Dresden

Market Dates: November 25 to December 24, 2026
Why go: It’s the oldest Christmas Market in the world & it’s beautiful
Markets: Dresdner Striezelmarkt, Frauenkirche (Neumarkt), Stallhof Advent Festival, Augustusmarkt,
Where to Stay: Star G Hotel: This is the most magical hotel to stay in with a direct view of the market from your room – it’s so magical!

Dresden has the oldest Christmas Market in the world! Not only that, it’s a stunning city to visit even without the markets. I stayed at the Star G Hotel, and it had a huge window overlooking the market. It was a dream staying here, and you can watch my IG video about it – it went super viral for a reason!

There are several markets in Dresden, but the most beautiful one, which is also the oldest one, is Dresdner Striezelmarkt. I recommend climbing up the steps of Kreuzkirche Tower for a view above the entire market at sunset. It’s one of the prettiest views I’ve ever seen.

My second favorite market was the Medieval Christmas Market in Stallhof. It’s got a whole different feel, with people dressed in Medieval costumes and so many stalls full of unique drinks and the most amazing food.

Read my full Dresden Christmas Guide for more things to do!

2. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Market Dates: November 20 – December 23, 2026
Why go: fairytale vibes + a less crowded feel
Markets: Rothenburg is compact. Markets are at the Market Square, Green Market, Church Market, and Town Hall Atrium
Where to Stay: Hotel Eisenhut is a great central option with views

Rothenburg is probably my all-time favorite Christmas Market, and that comes from someone who has been to a TON of Christmas Markets. I love it because it’s less touristy than the others. It’s set in a true storybook town, and there are cute teddy bears and decor throughout the fairytale town. Look out for the cute little details like the bear blowing bubbles – he hangs on one of the storefront windows and is so adorable. There’s a cute Santa that plays an accordion. Check out more of those details on what to do in Rothenburg for Christmas in my blog post!

3. Berlin

Market Dates: November 24 to December 31, 2026 (dates vary by market)
Why go: Most surprising + so many different themed markets to choose from
Markets: WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt, Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market, Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall), Alexanderplatz, Spandau Old Town Christmas Market, and Lucia Christmas Market at Kulturbrauerei.
Where to Stay: Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin which is right across the Berlin Cathedral and next to several Christmas markets, including Alexanderplatz and the Red Town Hall market.

Berlin surprised me the most on this Christmas market journey. I arrived with low expectations and left completely obsessed. That’s because Berlin has over 80 markets in the city which is insane!

I visited 7 Christmas markets, and every single one felt totally different. There was a flying Santa at one, a medieval one with a really cool fire show, and I loved the illuminations at Alexanderplatz. But my all-time favorite was the one at Gendarmenmarkt. There was fake snow, so many cool chararachters dress up, shows on the stage, and illuminations on the buildings. The characters were absolutely cool and one even drug me across the market! He was a tall guy on stilts dressed in gold. I visited Berlin in the past and wasn’t fully in love but after visiting these markets I was truly amazed. Trust me, don’t skip Berlin for Christmas.

4. Ravenna Gorge

Market Dates: November 26 to December 20, 2026; only open Thurs- Sunday, with Dec 10th reserved for locals only
Why go: torch hike + unique setting with Viaduct backdrop
Markets: Ravennaschlucht Christmas Market; Other nearby markets include Freiburg & Titisee
Tickets: Must be purchased in advance when they are released in October on the official website. Be quick, as they sell out instantly! Cost is €45 for the torch hike and only €7.50 for general entrance.
Where to Stay: The easiest option is to stay in Freiburg and take the shuttle to the market. I recommend Courtyard by Marriott Freiburg, which is just one minute from the train station. Alternatively, you could stay in Hinterzarten, where the Torch hike begins. IMbery Hotel & Restaurant Hinterzarten is a good budget option there.

This is probably the most unique Christmas Market I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot! The setting is so remote in the Black Forest. To get there, you can fly into Basel or Zurich and take the train over to Freiburg. You have to buy tickets in October on the exact launch date as set on the official website. When you buy the tickets, you can either go for the shuttle or the torch hike. I went for the torch hike, and it was so magical arriving this way. After the one-hour walk, I was greeted by the most magical Christmas Market ever. The train passes above you every 15 minutes, and the setting was just super cool. Never seen anything like it!

5. Cologne

Market Dates: November 13 to December 23, 2026
Why go: fairytale vibes + a less crowded feel
Markets: Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, Market of Angels at Neumarkt, Nicholas’ Village at Rudolfplatz, Heinzels Winter Fairytale at the Old Town and Heumarkt, Cologne Harbour Christmas Market, Stadtgarten Christmas Market, and Heavenue Christmas Market
Where to Stay: 25 Hours Hotel is the coolest hotel in Cologne and I’d highly recommend staying here. Plus, the location is great for reaching the markets.

Cologne, Germany, is one of the largest Christmas destinations across Europe and Germany. It has 7 themed markets and more than 150 Christmas stalls at the Cologne Cathedral alone! There’s a market dedicated to traveling gnomes and there’s another called the Market of Angels. I loved the angel one because you saw them dressed as characters and blowing glitter from their hands. Cologne is definitely a must-visit Christmas destination in Germany.

6. Munich

Market Dates: November 20 to December 24, 2026
Why go: One of the most classic destinations for Christmas and perfect for pairing with the Bavarian Alps
Markets: Christkindlmarkt (main market), Kripperlmarkt, Tollwood, Pink Christmas (LGBTQ+ community)
Where to Stay: Platzl Hotel – Superior, located in Altstadt (Old Town), is the perfect base for seeing the markets

Munich is one of the first places you probably think about going when it comes to Christmas Markets in Germany. It’s perfect if you want to combine Christmas markets with a trip to the Bavarian Alps. The main Christkindlmarkt is set in Marienplatz, surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, with a huge Christmas tree right in the square.

I also loved that there are so many different markets to explore, including the medieval one (Kripperlmarkt) and the more alternative Tollwood Winter Festival.

Munich is a great place to start your German Christmas market trip!

7. Hamburg

Market Dates: November 18 to December 23, 2026
Why go: flying Santa + unique Christmas parade
Markets: Rathausmarkt (flying Santa), Weißer Zauber at Jungfernstieg, Gänsemarkt Christmas Market, St. Petri Christmas Market, Spitalerstraße, Fleetinsel Christmas Market, and Santa Pauli (the alternative, adults-only market).
Where to Stay: HENRI Hotel Hamburg is a boutique hotel right in the center and a short walk from the main market

Hamburg was another one that really surprised me! I loved the Christmas Parade, it was so unique and adorable. And, wow! There’s a flying Santa here too. Ever since visiting the flying Santa in Montreux, Switzerland, I had no idea there were other ones in Germany!

Plus, there’s so much to see in Hamburg that makes it worth visiting even aside from all the Christmas atmosphere. I highly recommend having a cozy dinner at Krug, a hidden gem in the city. One of my favorite things I did was strolling around the picturesque canals in the Speicherstadt distric. It’s the largest warehouse district in the world and a UNESCO site! And you won’t want to miss taking a boat tour of the harbor as it’s one of the largest in Europe.

8. Frankfurt

Market Dates: November 23 to December 22, 2026
Why go: A classic + the huge Christmas tree at the main market
Markets: Römerberg (main market), Paulsplatz, WeihnachtsRoßmarkt, Hauptwache, Pink Christmas at Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz, and Sachsenhausen Christmas Market, and City Christmas Market (CityAlm / Rooftop)
Where to Stay: Hotel NH Collection Frankfurt Spin Tower was one of my favorite hotel stays in Germany as it had the most amazing panoramic views of Frankfurt from large windows.

Frankfurt is such an underrated Christmas destination! I loved seeing the different sides of the city. You have the historic Old Town and its beautiful Christmas market, and then you have the incredible skyline city views.

The main market at Römerberg is the highlight, with traditional wooden stalls, a huge Christmas tree, and so much festive atmosphere. But I also adored this hidden Christmas Market above a parking lot! It was the City Christmas Market hosted by CityAlm / Rooftop. And you can see views of the city in the background.

Make sure to try a Frankfurter Kranz cake and explore the surrounding squares, where you’ll find even more Christmas stalls. I also recommend heading up Main Tower for panoramic views over the city.

9. Nuremburg

Market Dates: November 27 to December 24, 2026
Why go: One of the oldest and most traditional markets in Germany
Markets: Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (main market), Market of the Sister Cities, Children’s Christmas Market at Hans-Sachs-Platz, and Original Regional market stalls near St. Sebaldus Church.
Where to Stay: NH Collection Nürnberg City is just 5 minutes from the Old Town and a short walk from the main Christmas Market.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t as in love with Nuremberg as the other cities on this list of best Christmas Markets in Germany. That’s because the city wasn’t as picturesque to me, and it was very overcrowded. This could be due to me going on opening weekend, though. So, I’d plan on visiting on a weekday to enjoy it more. I will say, my favorite thing I did in Nuremberg was exploring Handwerkerhof. It was full of historic houses and felt like walking through a storybook.

I visited Nuremberg from Vienna, Austria, and it was a direct 4-hour train to get to Germany. So, if you’re looking to extend your trip past Germany, I highly recommend Vienna for Christmas.