The Open Road Travel

No one does Christmas quite like the Germans. The country is famous for its iconic and wonderful Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkts), that attract millions of visitors each year.

As a result, ‘German’ Christmas markets have begun to pop up all over the world during the festive season.

However, if you’d like to experience the best there is when it comes to these Christmassy events, then the German port city of Hamburg is the place to go, as it has perhaps a greater number of Christmas markets than anywhere else in the country.

Today we are going to be taking a closer look at the best Christmas markets in Hamburg, big and small. So, if you’re planning a festive trip to the city and want to make the most of your time there, I highly recommend reading on.

Hamburg is a wonderful place to be at Christmas, well known for its many Christmas markets and festive spirit. The city transforms into a winter wonderland filled with sparkling lights and the smell of gingerbread and mulled wine in the air.

However, it isn’t just the Christmas markets to look forward to in Hamburg around the festive season. For starters, the city of Hamburg also has some great shopping areas, making it the perfect location to browse for all your Christmas gifts.

Then, on four days between the end of November and mid-December, the Hamburg Christmas Parade takes place. This delightful parade occurs twice a day and starts at Mönckebergstrasse, one of the main shopping streets in Hamburg.

The parade is a colourful, joyful procession that features decorated floats with Santas, elves, angels, and reindeer onboard. Festive music fills the air and people dance around in costume, creating a wonderful experience for people of all ages.

Combine this with ice skating, carol singing at the church, concerts, light shows, sampling delicious Hamburg delicacies, and a general feeling of festive cheer, and Hamburg should be right at the top of most people's lists of places to spend the Christmas season.

The Christmas markets in Hamburg usually run from the last week of November until the end of December. However, bear in mind that the dates and times for each market may vary.

You will also want to determine if there are any parades or other Christmas events that you’d especially like to experience while in Hamburg, so that you can plan what date you want to be in the city and make the most of your Yuletide trip.

The city centre transforms itself at this time of year and finding a Christmas market in Hamburg is not difficult, they’re everywhere you turn during the festive season.

Even so, I’ve listed some of the very best Christmas markets in Hamburg below, to ensure you don’t miss any of the best ones on offer.

The largest of the Christmas markets in Hamburg, this one is situated right in front of the beautiful City Hall. The market on Rathausmarkt attracts millions of visitors each year and is a truly magical experience. This is a market you will probably end up visiting more than once.

Filled with handcrafted Christmas decorations, jewellery, and wooden toys, plus so much more, you can spend a good while strolling through this market. Merchants and craft workers from all over Germany come here to show off and sell their goods and work.

There is a large model railway that travels above the stalls, plus Santa Claus regularly makes an appearance. He hovers above the market in his sleigh led by his reindeer and waves to the merry crowds below.

Of course, just like with all German Christmas markets, this one has a lot to offer in terms of culinary delights as well.

The market has a great deal of mouth-watering foods and drinks, including hot Glühwein and the popular bratwurst. There are all kinds of different varieties of this German sausage on sale, including vegetarian options.

Being the largest Christmas market in Hamburg, the City Hall market can get busy, especially on the weekends. Despite this, the masses of visitors seem to be equally joyous, and the atmosphere is always buzzing.

Just a short distance from the City Hall is Hamburg's oldest existing church, St Petri (St Peter). The Christmas market that surrounds St Peters Church is a slightly small one, but charming, nonetheless.

Everything you’d expect from a German Christmas market is here. Wooden huts sell delicious smelling sweet treats, festive mugs are filled with warming glühwein, and lebkuchen (gingerbread) hearts adorned with affectionate messages written in icing, are hanging on display.

If you’re feeling peckish, there are plenty of tempting foods here. Why not give the usual bratwurst a miss and give flammlachs a try?

Flammlachs is a traditional delicacy where fresh salmon is roasted on wooden planks over a woodfire in front of your very eyes, then put in a roll along with sauces or salad. The fish is tender, succulent, and has a lovely, smoky flavour.

For something a little sweeter, schokokuss (chocolate kisses) are a chocolate covered marshmallow treat that come in a variety of flavours and are readily available at St Peter’s market.

Santa Pauli claims to be Hamburg’s hottest Christmas market, and it’s easy to see why. Taking place on the buzzing Reeperbahn in St. Pauli, the market features everything you’d expect from a German Christmas market, plus much more.

Decorated with pink Christmas trees and comical images of a half-naked cartoon Santa, the market in St. Pauli is a little different to the typical Christmas markets you may be used to.

In typical St. Pauli fashion, the market stays open late into the night and involves live music, a tent which holds strip shows, plus plenty of adult gifts and toys.

Visitors can browse stalls for erotic Christmas presents while keeping warm with a cup of Glühwein or other alcoholic beverage and relax in the cosy fireplace lounge on the winter deck.

Despite how it may sound, Santa Pauli is not an adult only market, except for the strip tent which is off limits to children. This means that, even with the risqué scenery that includes a tree covered in Christmas lights and penises, the market is open to those of all ages.

Taking place in the central square of Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz, this small but delightful Christmas market is like a mini forest right in the heart of the city.

With countless tall fir trees illuminated by candles and lanterns, plus a woodchip forest floor, Winterwald has a romantic, cosy atmosphere. There is even a working watermill that you can sit by while enjoying a mug of hot punch.

The market has all the culinary Christmas classics on offer, from glühwein to roasted almonds, plus many timber stalls selling handcrafted wares. You can even watch some of the artists at work, hammering and tinkering away.

Right next to Winterwald is Mönckebergbrunnen. The market here continues from Winterwald and keeps up with the traditional theme. It also holds a 12-metre-high Christmas tree that can be seen from afar. Beautifully lit up by thousands of bulbs, you wouldn’t want to miss this festive sight.

The neighbourhood of St. Georg is known for its vibrant and open atmosphere. It’s rich in diversity and has a long running LGBT scene, which is most prominent in and around the Lange Reihe Street.

This is where the WinterPride Christmas market is located, just a stone’s throw away from the Central station.

Hamburg's only gay Christmas market is quite small, but it has a lot of character. Decorated with sparkly lights, rainbow flags, and even a giant pink reindeer, you will still get a Christmassy feeling from this modest market.

Stalls sell the usual Christmas market delights like mulled wine, punch, and bratwurst, but the atmosphere is a bit different here.

WinterPride is more of a social place to mingle, where visitors can stand around chatting with mugs of alcoholic beverages. There is always some sort of entertainment happening on stage, including music by popular scene DJs. From pop hits to funk and electro, there is something for everyone.

The market is very welcoming and it's all for a good cause, as some of the proceeds go towards projects of the gay community.

Hafencity, the former port of Hamburg, is one of the most modern parts of the city. Despite this, the Christmas market held here is just as traditional as the others on our list.

Taking place in the Überseequartier, an up-and-coming lively spot in Hafencity, the market has plenty of food, drink, and gift stalls to choose from.

Amid the modern architecture of the district there also stands an ice rink welcoming both novices and veterans of the sport.

Hafencity market is small and there isn’t too much on offer compared to some of the other spots in Hamburg, but it’s still a sweet little market that’s worth a visit, even if just for the ice rink.

Situated right by Alster Lake, along Jungfernstieg boulevard, sits the elegant "Weißer Zauber" (White Magic) Christmas market.

The market attracts visitors with its sparkling silver, blue, and gold lights and relaxed Christmas tunes. Elegant, white stalls, topped with bright stars, display jewellery and handicrafts, plus accessories and clothing.

The sophisticated market fits in harmoniously with the atmosphere of the grand Hamburg boulevard, which boasts great spots for shopping and sightseeing.​​​​​​​ This spot is one of the chicest shopping areas in Hamburg and offers luxury shopping with beautiful views of the lake.

You can pick up some pretty Christmas decorations and gifts at Weißerzauber, or indulge in some Christmas culinary classics, such as eggnog, roasted almonds, cinnamon rolls, and mulled wine.

And why not end the evening with a ride on the historic Ferris wheel at Weißerzauber, for impressive views of the stalls and lake?

While not technically a Christmas market in the traditional sense, Heiligengeistfeld square in St Pauli is home to Northern Germany’s biggest fun fair, Hamburg DOM.

The event takes place 3 times a year, but the Winter DOM, which runs for a month from early November to early December, is an especially enjoyable event. Visitors can stroll down paths lined with Christmas trees and stalls or try out some of the rides and arcades.

As for food, there are all kinds of dishes on offer. From the plenty of varieties of sausage, herring sandwiches, and sautéed mushrooms, to roasted almonds, cotton candy, and gingerbread.

Another sweet treat not to miss is Schmalzkuchen, which are small fried pastry pieces made of dough, covered with powdered sugar, a bit like doughnuts. Just like with all the Christmas markets in Hamburg, at Winter DOM you can quench your thirst with hot alcoholic drinks and beer.

Located in the centre of Hamburg, Henri Hotel is the best hotel to stay in for your Christmas trip. It is just an 8-minute walk from the largest market, Weihnachtsmarkt on Rathausmarkt, and is not too far from any of the other markets mentioned.

The hotel features stylish and roomy studios that all come with free Wi-Fi, a large flat-screen TV, minibar, and hot drink facilities. Rooms also boast an open bathroom concept with separate toilet, and upgraded studios and suites come with kitchenettes, dining tables, and sitting areas.

The onsite restaurant, Henri‘s Kontor Kitchen and Lounge, offers a delicious buffet breakfast, along with snacks and drinks 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Guests can enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s fitness room, meanwhile, spa services and parking are both available for a fee.

Hamburg is a perfect destination to spend the Christmas period. With so many wonderful markets held, there will be something for everyone. A Christmas trip here will really get you in a festive mood and help you to make it a Christmas you won’t forget.

I hope this article has helped you discover some of the best Christmas markets to visit while you’re in Hamburg. All that you have to do now is get everything booked as soon as possible and start looking forward to your wonderfully, merry holiday.

For anyone still unsure of the best areas to stay in Hamburg for their festive trip, check out our article here for a full guide to the top neighbourhoods in the city.