I’m getting us in the festive spirit for my last post pre-Christmas. Anyone who reads this blog knows I adore Germany, it feels like a second home to me and has so much to offer visitors. One of the most famous of those offerings are the world class Christmas markets, and last week we just couldn’t resist a visit to Hamburg to see them.
The joy about Hamburg is that it has not one, not two, not three, but SIXTEEN individual Christmas markets. So if you’re looking for a perfect option for a festive break – look no further. It’s time to get Christmassy.
Looking for things to do in Hamburg beyond the Christmas markets? Check out my city guide HERE (post coming soon).
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Important Information for visiting Hamburg’s Christmas Markets
Visiting Hamburg’s Christmas markets is truly a magical experience. The lights sparkling everywhere, the smells of Glühwein and constant backdrop of music and carols is enough to get even the biggest scrooge feeling festive. However, they can also be an overwhelming experience given the volume of people, so it’s really important to plan in advance. Here are some top tips to help you.
- Opening Times – typically 11am – 10pm, but check individual sites before visiting.
- Crowds – The markets get VERY busy; peak time is 6pm-9pm so if you want lighter crowds visit early or late.
- Wrap up warm – Germany is cold during winter and layers will be essential.
- Food – German Christmas markets are a perfect chance to try some local food. Make sure you try:
- Bratwurst im Brötchen (sausage in a bread roll)
- Currywurst (sausage with curry sauce)
- Glühwein (hot spiced wine – comes as red, white or rose)
- Flammkucken (flatbread pizzas)
- Kartoffelpuffer (Potato Pancakes)
- Eierpunsch (Eggnog)
- Payment – Some stalls only take cash, so be sure to have some on you.
- Drinks – You will normally be charged a fee which includes the mugs. If you return them, you will get some cash back.
Top Visitor Tip: If you want to browse the stalls, visit on a weekday pre lunch time to experience the lowest levels of crowds.
Christmas Markets in Hamburg
Hamburg offers an astounding 16 Christmas markets. During our 3 night stay in the city, we managed to visit 9 of them. Each one mentioned below is one we visited, and I’ve tried to give a comprehensive guide to them individually.
Historic Christmas Market on Rathausmarkt
- Headline: The main Christmas Market in Hamburg
- Location: In front of the City Hall (Rathaus)
- Crowds: As busy as it gets
- Offerings: Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Shop, Multiple Gift stalls (including candles, hats, lights, wooden toys and Christmas decorations), Multiple food stalls (including sausages, hog roast, potato pancakes, flatbread pizzas, crepes, roasted nuts, biscuits, sweets and nougat), Multiple drinks bars (serving beer, Glühwein, eggnog, hot chocolate and every alcoholic version of hot chocolate you can think of!), Carousel
- Something Special: In the evenings, a real Santa in a sleigh “flies” across the sky waving
- Overall Score: 4/5
Santa Pauli Christmas Market
- Headline: Adults only Christmas Market
- Location: Sankt Pauli, a 30 minute walk from the city centre
- Crowds: Busy
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls (including phallic candles, sex toys, risqué ceramics, and Christmas decorations that definitely aren’t suitable for children), Multiple food stalls (including sausages, potato pancakes, crepes, roasted nuts, biscuits and sweets), Multiple drinks bars, Photobooth
- Something Special: Evening entertainment under a glitterball, including strip shows, OR pop over the road to beautiful Weingarten sechsundzwanzig (much more my style).
- Overall Score: 4/5
Weißer Weinachtszauber auf dem Jungfernsteig
- Headline: A quieter market great for shopping
- Location: Jungfernsteig
- Crowds: Medium
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls (including socks, scarves & gloves, ceramics, kitchen utensils, wooden items, herbs & spices, glass wear, Christmas decorations, lights, and much more), Multiple food stalls (mainly sausages), Multiple drinks bars
- Something Special: Waterside, to pair with a Christmas boat cruise
- Overall Score: 4/5
Christmas Market am Michael
- Headline: Small Christmas market outside a stunning church
- Location: Englische Planke
- Crowds: Low
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls, Multiple food stalls, Multiple drinks bars (all on a small scale vs those mentioned above), nativity scenes, stunning church interior with regular music performances
- Something Special: Live classical music performances inside the church
- Overall Score: 4/5
Winterwald in Hamburg
- Headline: Themed as a market within a winter forest
- Location: Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz
- Crowds: Medium
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls (including Christmas decorations, gift cards, wooden toys), Multiple food stalls (including sausages, kebabs, donuts and potato pancakes), Multiple drinks bars
- Something Special: Drinks with the bark of a forest underfoot
- Overall Score: 3.5/5
Spitalerstrasse Christmas Market
- Headline: City centre Christmas market
- Location: Spitalerstrasse
- Crowds: Medium
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls, Multiple food stalls, Multiple drinks bars (all on a small scale vs those mentioned above), Situated down the main shopping high street close to multiple major shops (e.g. LEGO, Zara)
- Something Special: City centre shopping on the doorstep
- Overall Score: 3/5
St. Petri Christmas Market
- Headline: Small Christmas market outside a church
- Location: Mönckebergstraße
- Crowds: Low
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls, Multiple food stalls, Multiple drinks bars (all on a small scale vs those mentioned above), nativity scenes
- Something Special: Beautiful nativity scenes inside the church
- Overall Score: 3/5
HafenCity Christmas Market
- Headline: Off the beaten track market in big white tents
- Location: HafenCity, 30 minutes south of the city centre
- Crowds: Low
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls, Multiple food stalls, Multiple drinks bars (all on a small scale vs those mentioned above), Mini Golf course
- Something Special: A game of winter themed mini golf
- Overall Score: 2.5/5
Fleetinsel Christmas Market
- Headline: Waterside market with magical white tents
- Location: Michaelisbrücke, Rödingsmarkt
- Crowds: Low
- Offerings: Multiple Gift stalls, Multiple food stalls, Multiple drinks bars (all on a small scale vs those mentioned above)
- Something Special: Walking out to the river to see the boats lit up in Christmas lights
- Overall Score: 2.5/5
Summary Tip: My favourite markets were Jungfernsteig for shopping, Rathausmarkt for full festive vibes and am Michel for traditional magic.
Other Christmas Markets
There are a number of Christmas markets which we didn’t manage to squeeze in to our visit, I am particularly sad not to have made it to Gänsemarkt:
- Ottensen Christmas Market – quite far out of town, known for its Scandinavian theme and traditional puppet shows.
- Uberquell Christmas Market – right on the river front, about 30 minutes from the city centre, known for its 14 meter curling ice lanes.
- Hamburg Winterdom – close to St Pauli, known for its large funfair Ferris wheel and regular fireworks nights during the Advent period.
- God Jul – central, Scandinavian traditional atmosphere, focusing on carols and religious concerts in the local church
- Marche de Noel – central, French themed market, with beautiful hanging lights over the top of all the stalls.
- Gänsemarkt Christmas Market – central, known for its unique stalls modelled on gingerbread houses
- Winter Pride St Georg – central, LGBTQ hot spot, known for its music (including scene DJs on Fridays and Saturdays)
So there you have it – my ultimate guide to the Christmas Markets in Hamburg. There are so many to choose from that you can’t help but get in the festive spirit on a visit to the city. What do you think? Have you ever been to a German Christmas Market, or would you like to go to one? Let me know in the comments below.
And with that, I wish you all very merry Christmas.
Saasdia Travel Gid
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