Germany Christmas Markets 2026: Dresden, Munich, Berlin, Rothenburg, Aachen and Düsseldorf Dates

Which German Christmas market should you choose? Dresden's Striezelmarkt is one of the oldest in Germany. Munich's market sits under the Neues Rathaus. Rothenburg looks like a fairy tale even before the lights go on. There are hundreds of markets in Germany, so picking one for a long weekend can be tricky!

We haven't done a German Christmas market weekend as a family yet. However, even at Winter Wonderland in London my visit isn't complete without a German sausage and a mulled wine! And on our Christmas trip to Paris we drove through Germany and stayed a night with a couchsurfing host on the way. So I checked the 2026 dates and opening hours on the official city and organiser sites, and put the best markets in one place for you.

Dates and opening times checked on official sites in November 2026.

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Quick answer

• Most traditional: Dresden's Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt runs from 25 November to 24 December 2026. Come for the giant wooden pyramid and real Dresden Stollen.
• Best for a city break: Munich's Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, with a medieval market around the corner.
• Prettiest small town: the Reiterlesmarkt in Rothenburg ob der Tauber runs from 20 November to 23 December 2026.
• Easiest by train from London: Cologne, Aachen and Düsseldorf. All three are a few hours from Brussels.
• Closed day: most German markets close on Totensonntag, which is Sunday 22 November 2026. Many also close early or for good on Christmas Eve.

Dates at a glance

All entries are free unless the table says otherwise, and you only pay for what you eat, drink and buy. Dresden's tourist board says traders start at 4 pm on the opening day, while the city's own market notice says 4:30 pm, so check before you go.

Dresden: the Striezelmarkt

The Striezelmarkt is the one I would pick for a first German Christmas market trip. It is on the Altmarkt in the old town, and it has been running for centuries. The name comes from "Striezel", an old word for Stollen, the famous fruit loaf dusted with icing sugar.

In the middle of the square stands a huge wooden Christmas pyramid. Dresden's tourist board calls it the world's largest stepped pyramid. Around it you will find stalls with wood carvings from the Erzgebirge (the Ore Mountains), Herrnhut paper stars and the little Pflaumentoffel. This is a lucky figure made from dried prunes, and you can watch craftspeople make things at some stalls.

Dates (2026): 25 November to 24 December. Open daily from 10 am to 9 pm, and until 2 pm on Christmas Eve.

Dresden has more than one market. The Romantic Christmas Market at Dresden Castle runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026. After Christmas, the Rauhnächte market in the Stallhof runs from 27 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. That is handy if you can only travel between Christmas and New Year.

What to try in Dresden

• Dresdner Christstollen: the original Dresden Stollen, a rich yeast loaf with dried fruit and butter. It keeps for weeks, so it makes a good gift to take home.
• Glühwein: hot mulled wine. Ask for "Kinderpunsch" if you want a non-alcoholic fruit punch for kids.
• Räuchermännchen: wooden smoking men that puff incense smoke. They are a typical Erzgebirge craft.

Munich: Christkindlmarkt and the medieval market

Munich's main market fills Marienplatz in front of the Neues Rathaus. In 2026, 138 stalls are approved. What I love is the free music. There is live Advent music from the town hall balcony from Sunday to Thursday, with Bavarian folk music, brass bands and choirs. The organisers also list a Krampus run on 13 December 2026. Krampus is the scary, horned companion of St Nicholas in Alpine tradition. Small kids may find it a bit too much!

Just a few minutes away, the Mittelaltermarkt on Wittelsbacherplatz is a medieval Christmas market. It opens on 20 November 2026 at 6 pm, and there is a cultural programme every Advent weekend. The mugs are modelled on historical originals.

Munich has dozens of other markets. The city's own list for 2026 includes the Weihnachtsdorf in the Residenz, Pink Christmas on Stephansplatz and Winter-Tollwood. Tollwood runs from 24 November to 23 December 2026.

Day trip idea: Salzburg is close to Munich. If you go, Oberndorf near Salzburg is the birthplace of "Silent Night", which I mention in my Salzburg Lake District post. Our Salzburg and Innsbruck Advent guide has the Austrian market dates.

Berlin: Gendarmenmarkt and Charlottenburg

Good news for 2026: the WeihnachtsZauber is on the Gendarmenmarkt again, between the two domed churches and the concert hall. It runs from 23 November to 31 December 2026. Unlike most German markets, it charges a small entry fee of €2. However, entry is free from Monday to Friday between 11 am and 2 pm, except on 24 to 26 and 31 December. Part of the entry fees goes to Berlin's cultural and social projects each year.

The market in front of Schloss Charlottenburg is free to enter and has a lovely setting. It runs from 23 November to 27 December 2026, but it is closed on Christmas Eve. It opens in the afternoon on weekdays, so plan a museum or a walk in the morning.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: the Reiterlesmarkt

Rothenburg is a small medieval walled town in Franconia, and at Christmas it really looks like a postcard. The Reiterlesmarkt fills the Marktplatz, the Grüner Markt, the Kirchplatz and the town hall courtyard. Entry is free.

The market is named after the Reiterle, a figure from Franconian folklore. People once imagined it as a mysterious messenger flying through the sky in the dark season. Today it is the market's friendly mascot.

• Opening ceremony: Friday 20 November 2026 at 5 pm.
• Reiterle opening: a second opening with the Reiterle on Friday 27 November 2026 at 5 pm.
• Market mug: the 2026 mug is designed by the artist Alfons Berse.

Do try a Schneeball (snowball). It is a ball of fried pastry strips, often dusted with sugar, and it is Rothenburg's best-known treat. The market closes earlier than city markets, at 7 pm on most days, so it is a calm one for families.

Aachen and Düsseldorf

Aachen's market wraps around the cathedral and the town hall. It is the first big German city you reach by train from Brussels, so it is great for a short trip. Look out for Aachener Printen, a hard, spiced gingerbread that is the city's speciality.

Düsseldorf has a long season, from 19 November to 30 December 2026. Its tourist board describes six themed markets in the city centre. There is also the Wheel of Vision Ferris wheel on the Burgplatz, with views from 55 metres, and an ice rink called Kö on Ice on the Königsallee.

Cologne and Nuremberg in brief

Cologne and Nuremberg are covered in detail in our Christmas market breaks by train from the UK. Here are the key facts:

• Cologne: the market in front of the cathedral opens early, on 16 November 2026, and runs until 23 December. It is about 5 hours from London by train.
• Nuremberg: the Christkindlesmarkt opens with the Christkind's prologue on 27 November 2026 at 5:30 pm. Try the small Nuremberg sausages and Nuremberg Lebkuchen (soft gingerbread).

Winter walks and day trips

• Saxon Switzerland from Dresden: the S1 S-Bahn takes you to Kurort Rathen in under an hour. From there you can walk up to the famous Bastei Bridge. Read our Bastei and Schwedenlöcher loop guide, and take care on icy steps in winter.
• Bohemian Switzerland: just over the Czech border. Our Pravčická brána hike is a summer favourite, so save it for another trip. Prague is close too, see our Prague Christmas markets guide.
• A Christmas Eve plan: if you are in Dresden on 24 December, do the market in the morning, as it closes at 2 pm. Then take a short walk along the Elbe before the city goes quiet for the evening.

Practical tips

Getting there from the UK

• By train: take Eurostar to Brussels and change for Germany. Brussels to Cologne by ICE takes about 1 hour 50 minutes, with fares from €18.99. London to Düsseldorf takes about 6–7 hours. Berlin is a long day, about 11 hours 15 minutes, as the Hanover–Berlin line is closed for engineering works until December 2027.
• By sleeper: European Sleeper runs from Brussels to Berlin, Dresden and Prague. See our train travel to Europe guide for the days and times.
• By plane: for Munich, Dresden and Rothenburg, flying is quicker. Rothenburg is a small town, so you need a regional train or a car from a bigger city such as Nuremberg.
• EES: UK travellers now register fingerprints and a photo at the Schengen border. ETIAS hasn't started yet. Read our EES and ETIAS guide.

Best time to visit

Weekday afternoons are the calmest. Friday and Saturday evenings are very busy, especially in Dresden, Cologne and Nuremberg. Remember that almost all markets close on Totensonntag, Sunday 22 November 2026. Most also end on 23 or 24 December, so if you want to travel between Christmas and New Year, choose Berlin, Düsseldorf or Dresden's Rauhnächte market.

Cash, mugs, toilets and pushchairs

• Cash or card: more stalls take cards than before, but carry some euros in coins for drinks and toilets.
• Mug deposit (Pfand): you pay a deposit for your mug. You get it back when you return the mug, or you keep the mug as a souvenir. None of the official pages I checked list the 2026 amount, so check at the stall.
• Toilets: expect to pay a small fee at market toilets.
• Pushchairs: the markets get very crowded in the evening. A carrier is easier after dark, or go in the morning with the pushchair.
• Accessibility: old town squares often have cobbles, and the lanes between stalls get packed in the evening. Wheelchair users will find mornings and weekdays much easier.
• Dogs: busy crowds and dropped food are not much fun for dogs. If you bring yours, go at quiet times.

If you travel with a little one in a pushchair, keep them warm. We use the footmuff for our Out n About Nipper, and it is a must in cold weather. You can read more in my Nipper review.

The hand muffs are another winter favourite of mine. You don't have to take your gloves off every time you stop.

A budget for a weekend

The markets themselves are free, apart from Gendarmenmarkt's €2. Your biggest costs are travel and a hotel. As of 2026, Eurostar to Brussels starts from £51 one way, and ICE trains from Brussels start at €18.99 to Cologne and €39.99 to Berlin. Book early for the cheapest fares. To save money at the market, eat at the stalls instead of a restaurant, and bring your own reusable cup for water.

FAQ

When do German Christmas markets open in 2026?

Most open in the second half of November. Cologne's cathedral market opens on 16 November, Munich on 20 November, Dresden on 25 November and Nuremberg on 27 November 2026.

Are German Christmas markets open on Christmas Eve?

Some are, but only until early afternoon. Dresden, Munich and Nuremberg close at 2 pm on 24 December 2026. Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt is open until 6 pm. Charlottenburg is closed that day.

Is the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market on in 2026?

Yes. The WeihnachtsZauber runs from 23 November to 31 December 2026, with €2 entry. Weekday lunchtimes are free.

Which German Christmas market is best for families?

I'd pick Rothenburg for small kids, as it is compact and calmer. Nuremberg has a dedicated children's Christmas area too.

Which German Christmas market is easiest from London?

Cologne and Aachen. You can reach both in about 5 hours by Eurostar and ICE, with one change in Brussels.

Which German Christmas market is on your list? Let me know in the comments!