Christmas Markets in Hamburg: Travel Guide

Last Updated: November 14th 2024.

Germany is a country with many Christmas markets, almost every town or city seems to have one, Hamburg as well. The Christmas markets in Hamburg are magical, plenty and definitely worth your time. It belongs to the best Christmas markets in Europe. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and one of the best cities to visit in Germany. Hamburg lies in the North of Germany and is a Hanseatic city. It has a large harbor, a lake and lots of green inside the city. Hamburg would be perfect to add to a road trip.

Christmas Markets in Hamburg

There’s not just one Hamburg Christmas market, there are 20+(!) in total. The Christmas markets, or Weihnachtsmärkten in German, are all around the city. We discuss all 20+ Hamburg Christmas markets below, they all have their own theme.

Bergedorf

This is the oldest Christmas market of Hamburg. It’s a smaller one in the Bergedorf stadtteil. The market is around the castle, and has a Scandinavian theme. The stalls are red chalets. There are campfires and crafts for kids. The market is from November 27th till December 30th in 2024.

Mönckebergstraße

There are 3 different Christmas markets around the Mönckebergstraße. At the St. Petri church is a small market with a merry-go-round for kids and scenes from fairytales in display. On the Spitalerstraße is a Hanseatic themed Christmas market. This market is perfect to find small gifts and handmade items. There’s a nostalgic Winter village decorated Christmas market on Gerhard-Hauptmann-Platz, with a large Christmas tree. The markets are from November 21st till December 28th in 2024.

Hamburger Rathaus

There’s a historical market each year on the Rathausmarkt. There’s a historical truck from the 1920s in the shape of a merry-go-round and a coffeehouse from Vienna in Jugendstil style. This is one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Hamburg. Santa visits this market 3 times a day. The market opens on November 25th and closes again on December 23rd in 2024.

St. Georg

A pink Winter Pride Christmas market on the Lange Reihe. This market is meant for Queers and their friends. On the weekends there’s live music. The market in the St. Georg stadtviertel is from November 16th till December 22nd in 2024.

Santa Pauli

Sankt Pauli calls itself Santa Pauli in the Advent period. The Christmas market on the Reeperbahn has a ‘red light’ theme. This is after all the nightlife area in Hamburg. The area of erotic and guilty pleasures. So don’t expect to find standard Christmas ornaments here, but ornaments in different shapes. The market is from November 11th till December 23rd in 2024. There’s a stand where you can compose your own glühwein.

Jungfernstieg

The name of the Christmas market on Jungfernstieg is “Weißer Zauber” (white magic). White pagodas with white stars on them are illuminated, which gives a magical feeling. Where all the other markets are rather exuberant this one is in contrast to them. There’s a giant Ferris wheel from 1926 on the market. There are some 80 stalls. The market is from November 18th till December 23rd in 2024.

Harburg

In stadtteil Harburg is a Christmas market from November 21st till December 29th in 2024 on the Rathausplatz. It has art, a fairytale forest and crafting stations.

Michel Kirche & Seemannskirchen

The St. Michael’s church celebrated in 2022 that the Christmas market at the church is being held there already for 100 years. The market takes place in the crypt and the church square. This market is only shortly open from November 29th till December 1st in 2024.

The Seemanskirchen nearby have stalls in Scandinavian theme, where you can get Scandinavian handywork and treats. It’s only open from 15 till 17 and 22 till 24 November in 2024.

Altona/Ottensen

50 Stalls stand in front of the Mercado with a special program for kids from November 21st till December 23rd in 2024.

Grindelviertel

A Christmas market with live music and Christmas specialities from November 25th till December 22nd in 2024.

Eimsbüttel

From November 14th till December 30th in 2024 there’s a Scandinavian winter village on the Osterstraße and Fanny-Mendelssohn-Platz. It has a cultural and kids program. There’s a second Christmas market in front of the Apostelkirche aimed at families, from November 15th till December 22nd in 2024.

Eppendorf

Chalets on the Marie-Jonas-Platz with Advent songs and a visit from Nikolaus on December 6th. The market is from November 21st till December 30th in 2024.

Fleetinsel

This small Christmas market in a maritime style has two illuminated sailboats in Christmas style. It’s on from November 21st till December 22nd in 2024.

Gänsemarkt

From November 18th till December 23rd in 2024 there’s a small Christmas market with lebkuchen houses. It’s near the Lessing monument.

Hafencity

This small Christmas market has a Winter golf track. It’s on Überseequartier from November 18th till December 29th in 2024.

Hoheluft

A small Christmas market on the Kirchplatz St. Markus with regional and fairtrade products. It’s on from November 27th till December 22nd in 2024.

Niendorf

On Tibarg is a Nordic Christmas market with chalets and a crafts tipi. It’s there from November 28th till December 23rd in 2024.

Wandsbek

On the Wandsbeker Markt is a Christmas village and a large ice skating rink from November 1st 2024 till January 1st 2025.

Winterhude

From November 14th till December 23rd in 2024 there’s a small Christmas market on Winterhuder Marktplatz.

Freilichtmuseum am Kiekeberg

On Rosengarten-Ehestorf is a Christmas market with craftsman’s workers. It’s from November 29th till Decmeber 1st and from December 13th till 15th in 2024. Entrance costs 11 euros for adults, kids are free of charge.

Barmbek

There’s a village with a merry-go-round, puppet theater and crafts workshops on Piazzeta-Ralph-Giordano from November 14th till December 30st in 2024.

Other Christmas Activities

Christmas markets are abundant in Hamburg, but there’s more.

On all 4 Saturdays of the Advent a Christmas parade passes through the Mönckebergstraße. It’s a festive parade with Santa, lebkuchen manner, reindeers and angels. The parade is at 2pm and 5pm.

The shops and streets downtown are all illuminated and decorated, adding to the festive spirit.

How to Visit

To see the opening times of each market visit this site.

Hamburg is reachable by plane, car and public transit. Inside the city public transit works best, you can take the metro or a bus.

How Long for a Visit

Visiting all the Christmas markets would take several days, but if you concentrate on the 5 in the inner city you would have enough time with 1 to 2 days. The 5 in the inner city are Hamburger Rathaus, Jungfernstieg, Mönckebergstraße, Santa Pauli and the Michel and Seemanskirchen.

Airport

Hamburg has its own international airport, Hamburg Airport (Flughaven Hamburg) in stadtteil Fuhlsbüttel. It’s a major international airport, which is connected with the rest of Hamburg through public transit.

Where to Eat

Eat at the Christmas markets. All of them have stalls with the traditional food on Christmas markets, such as currywurst, roasted chestnuts, pretzels and lebkuchen.

Get yourself some glühwein and/or a hot chocolate with rum. You’ll get these in a mug with the year and Hamburg written on them. You can return the mugs and get your deposit back, but they make for a great souvenir.

Where to Stay

We have the luck that we can stay with family, but if you don’t have that luck, Hamburg has lots of choice. Take a look at The Suites Rainvilleterrasse, Holiday Inn Hamburg City Nord or INNSiDE by Meliá Hamburg Hafen.

Weather

The weather can be cold, foggy, grey, rainy and moist. January is the coldest month, but November and December can already have some snow. However the winters in Hamburg are considered mild.

The average low in November is 3°C/38°F and the average high is 8°C/47°F. December has an average low of 0.5°C/33°F and an average high of 5°C/41°F. Expect in November some 65 millimeters/2.6 inches of rainfall and in December some 75 millimeters/3 inches of rainfall.

So pack in layers and don’t forget your hat, mittens and shawl.

So That’s It About Christmas Markets in Hamburg

Now you know everything you need to know for a visit to the Weihnachtsmärkte in Hamburg.

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