Where is your dream Christmas market destination? I
created a list with Christmas Markets after I visited the ones in Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden in Germany and Vienna in Austria. Today, we are going to have a closer look at
Hamburg’s Christmas Markets. Hamburg in
the far north of Germany is officially called Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and neighbouring states are Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. Germany’s second-largest city has forever been called the ‘gateway to the world’ because
of its large port.
Most visitors come to town to visit the port and
its surrounding boroughs (or districts). Hamburg has always
been the meeting place for people from different nations and cultures. The city by the river Elbe is well known for its red-light
district and that has always attracted seafarers visiting the port town. It
was just announced that a street in the new centre is going to be named after a
famous prostitute who died in 2009. She worked in Hamburg as a domina and later
as a street worker for drug-addicted girls. A total of ten streets will be
named after famous Hamburg women to remind people of the city's history. There
is a lot of history to discover on a trip to Hamburg, but if you visit in
December, you would want to start with the Christmas markets. You will
find everything from handcrafted wooden products to delicious German Christmas
delicacies, up to the ever so popular mulled wine. It is December, and if you
spent a few hours outside, you most certainly need hot drinks to stay warm and
enjoy the fun.
In many German homes, Christmas remains more of a
quiet and traditional time. But then there are also the beloved Christmas
Markets. More than six million visitors come to see the 18
Christmas markets of Hamburg each Christmas season. You can start planning your
Christmas season trip to Hamburg with this choice of five markets plus one magical
and off-the-beaten-path Christmas Market, that is forty kilometres from town
and easy to reach by bus. It is best to come hungry.
2022 Guide to Five Fantastic Christmas Markets in Hamburg plus one off the beaten path
1. Christmas Market Jungfernstieg Hamburg 2022
Christmas market with an amazing view of Hamburg. There
is a giant Christmas tree on a pontoon, on the river Alster and at the quay,
there are lots of colourful small vessels plus a huge Ferris wheel. Due to its
location, there is this winterly breeze. It is magical, wait till you see the
Christmas parade, and inquire at one of the stalls for the times of the
Christmas Parade on weekends.
Information: 17 November to 29 December
2022. Hours: 11am to 9pm. Closed 20 November 2022, and 24 and
25 December 2022.
2. Traditional Christmas Market at the Town Hall Hamburg 2022
This is a massive market in front of the town hall.
It is a pretty maze of little lanes, and yes, these lanes are packed with
people who love this Christmas Market as much as everybody. You can buy
handmade toys, delicacies, soap, flowers, and Christmas decoration. There are
lots of stalls that sell mulled wine, sweet treats and food. Watch out for
Father Christmas, occasionally gliding over the market on his slide.
Information: 25 November to 23
December 2022. Hours: 11am to 9pm. Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm.
3. Christmas Market Fleetinsel Hamburg 2022
A maritime-inspired picturesque little Christmas
Market on an island between the Alster and the river Elbe. It is slightly off
the beaten path, and well worth the short walk. From here it is only a few more
steps to the port of Hamburg.
Information: 21 November to 23
December 2022. Hours: 12pm to 9pm.
4. Christmas Market Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz Hamburg 2022
This one is just off the main shopping strip and has
the atmosphere of a tiny village. There are many wooden stalls selling a
Christmassy choice of delicacies, but the real highlight is an old
merry-go-round.
Information: 17 November to 30 December 2022. Closed 20 November 2022, and 25 December 2022. Hours: MOnday to Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 11am to 9pm.
5. Christmas Market Spitalerstrasse Hamburg 2022
Romantic looking Christmas Market on one the
biggest shopping streets in Hamburg, have a browse, you will find lots of
handcrafted things. It conveniently leads directly to the central station.
Information: 17 November to 30
December 2022. Hours: 10am to 9pm (hours food stalls 10am to 11pm). Closed 20
November, and 25 December 2022.
6. Christmas Market off the beaten path: Basthorst in Schleswig-Holstein 2022
This is certainly one of the cutest Christmas
Markets in Germany. Travel Germany - Wonderful Gut Basthorst Christmas Market 2022.
How to get to Hamburg?
Visit the website of Hamburg airport to find your
flight. Please do not fly within Germany, but always use the train. Visit the website of the Deutsche Bahn to search
for train tickets.
More Christmas Markets in Europe 2022
Christmas Market Etiquette - How to Have a Merry Visit
Travel Austria. 2022 Guideto Christmas Markets in Vienna
2022 Guide to ChristmasMarkets in Hamburg plus one off-the-beaten-path
Travel Germany - Wonderful Gut Basthorst Christmas Market
Travel Germany. 2022 Guideto Christmas Markets in Munich
2022 Guide to Christmas Markets in Dresden
Canaletto Christmas Market 2022 in Saxony’s Pirna
Travel Germany: 2022 guide to off-the-beaten-path Christmas markets in Berlin
Travel Germany - 2022 Guide to Christmas Markets in Berlin
From Berlin with love
The article has been updated in November 2022 for accuracy.