With the festive holiday season just around the corner, the city of Hamburg sees more than 30 glistening Christmas markets set up throughout its main squares! At the beautifully decorated huts, visitors can enjoy and indulge in everything from mulled wine and roasted chestnuts to traditional dishes and German beer in an enchanting winter atmosphere.

The biggest and most beautiful Christmas markets in Hamburg 

Hamburg’s city centre is dotted with Christmas markets, but the biggest one is located on Rathausmarkt square, by the city hall. Festive wooden stands offer everything you could want, including handmade toys, glassware and accessories. Run by Roncalli, the Historic Christmas Market has around 80 stalls, and a flying Santa Claus crosses the market in his sleigh daily at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm.

Over in St. Pauli, home to the famous Reeperbahn, the Santa Pauli market on Spielbudenplatz is billed as the world's first erotic Christmas market. Visitors can enjoy a mug of Glühwein while browsing through some spicy gift ideas, and there is an adults-only area with strip shows.

Next to the more traditional Christmas stalls, a show stage features nightly live music and an open-air gallery for the entire family. 

Historic Christmas Market

• Location: Rathausmarkt (in front of the City Hall), Hamburg
• Date: November 23-December 23
• Time: 11am-9pm

Winterwald

• Location: Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz and Mönckebergbrunnen, Hamburg
• Date: November 18-December 23, closed November 22
• Time: 11am-9pm

White Magic

• Location: Jungfernstieg, Hamburg
• Date: November 18-December 23, closed November 22
• Time: Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm

Santa Pauli

• Location: Spielbudenplatz, St. Pauli, Hamburg
• Date: November 9-December 23
• Monday-Wednesday 4pm-11pm, Thursday 4pm-midnight, Friday 4pm-1am, Saturday Time: 1pm-1am, Sunday 1pm-11pm

Fleet Christmas Market

• Location: near Stadthausbrücke S-Bahn station, Hamburg
• Date: November 23-December 23
• Time: Sunday-Thursday 12pm-9pm, Friday-Saturday 12pm-10pm

Get into the Christmas spirit at Hamburg’s Christmas markets

At the historic Speicherstadt, the HafenCity Christmas market in the Überseequartier offers visitors an old-fashioned winter atmosphere against the backdrop of modern architecture and ships. Enjoy the wide food and drink selection or try out the ice-skating rink! 

If you want to enjoy a fairy-like Christmas market, be sure to stop by the enchanting market at Bergedorf Castle, one of Hamburg’s last remaining castles. This local Christmas market is set up on the grounds and offers handmade gifts, sugary treats and handicraft workshops for children.

Christmas parades every Saturday in December

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Hamburg's city centre takes on a delightfully joyous spirit. For the four Saturdays in December, this merry countenance is expressed as the Hamburg Christmas parades. Twice a day, dancing angels, elves and reindeer parade through the city centre - accompanied by colourful floats, festive music and Santa Claus himself!

The Hamburg Christmas parades run along Mönckebergstrasse at 2pm and 5pm on Advent Saturdays.

Visiting Hamburg’s Christmas Markets

Santa Pauli opens as early as November 9, and most of the main markets are up and running by November 23, staying open until December 23. Entry to the Rathausmarkt market and Santa Pauli is free.

For the latest updates on all of Hamburg’s fantastical Christmas markets, directions on how to get to them via public transport, or dates, please visit Hamburg’s official tourism website. 

Video credit:  YouTube / Circus-Theater Roncalli