Christmas Markets in Hamburg

Diversity, festivities, and Christmas magic in Hamburg

Hamburg is arguably a paradise for Christmas markets fans. You will need a few days to explore all the options that this German city offers and to enjoy its specialities. Here is a selection of the main ones. Bear in mind that there are seven markets where you could taste mulled wine and sweets in the old quarter alone, plus another six markets scattered around the city. Another surprising feature is the diversity of its themes. While it is true that they all revolve around Christmas, there are some that are like something out of a fairytale, like Jungfernstieg, located next to Lake Binnenalster. Others are extraordinary, such as Hamburg DOM, the largest fair in the north of the country, full of attractions for adults and children. And there is also Winter Pride, the only queer Christmas market in the heart of the city.

Historic Christmas Market in Rathausmarkt

Title: - Historic Christmas Market in Rathausmarkt Text: The city's most popular Christmas market is located opposite Hamburg City Hall. The aroma of traditional sweets and the spices of mulled wine waft over the numerous craft and food stalls, as well as a Father Christmas with a flying sleigh, who surprises visitors three times a day. Those with a sweet tooth cannot miss the Spezialitätengasse (food street) and taste walnuts and gingerbread or toasted almonds. And the Spielzeuggase (toys street) is a must for the little ones, who will absolutely love the large model train passing through the stalls.

Market in Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz

From the end of November, this central square becomes a beautiful winter forest with a very varied cultural and entertainment agenda. The natural pines are decorated with lights next to all of the stalls. Some offer traditional food, sweets and mulled wine, others are the perfect place for doing some Christmas shopping. This Christmas market located between Karstadt, Thalia-Theater and Perle-Passage, offers a festive and endearing atmosphere as well as live performances just before the sun sets.

Market in Santi Petri church

More than 200 natural fir trees decorate the Christmas market located around Hamburg's oldest church, in the heart of a large shopping area. You can have sausages, toasted almonds, and mulled wine in the rustic Nordic-Scandinavian cabins, as well as buying Christmas decorations or original toys, among many other souvenirs. This market is a perfect place to come with the whole family. Children will surely enjoy this place where they can see the toy trains, a dancing Santa Claus and a life-size moose.

Market on Spitalerstrasse

This Christmas market is located at Hamburg's busy shopping and pedestrian street Spitalerstrasse, featuring typical Hanseatic brick houses and the largest Christmas tree in the city. The food stalls offer the most innovative proposals together with traditional ones. The artisans offer typical Christmas souvenirs, as well as a wide variety of gift proposals for all likings and budgets. In addition, the surrounding shops round off a day's shopping, which is a very frequent activity at this time of year.

Sant Pauli Market

This market in Hamburg's red light district is for adults only and integrates a Christmas theme with a suggestive proposal, making it a different and enjoyable stop. You will find plenty of traditional wooden huts decorated with erotic details where you can also taste some typical mulled wine. Visitors to Spielbudenplatz can listen to live music by DJs, tour the over 18s decorated spruce forest, or play curling, the classic winter sport around which a charity competition is organsed.