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.
2023 Guide to Five Fantastic Christmas Markets in Hamburg plus one off the beaten path
1. Christmas Market Jungfernstieg Hamburg 2023
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: 23 November to 29 December
2023. Hours: 11am to 9pm. Closed 24 and
25 December 2023.
2. Traditional Christmas Market at the Town Hall Hamburg 2023
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: 27 November to 23
December 2023. Hours: 11am to 9pm. Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm.
3. Christmas Market Fleetinsel Hamburg 2023
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: 27 November to 23
December 2023. Hours: 12pm to 9pm.
4. Christmas Market Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz Hamburg 2023
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: 23 November to 23 December 2023. Hours: Monday to Sunday 11am to 11pm.
5. Christmas Market Spitalerstrasse Hamburg 2023
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: 23 November to 30
December 2023. Hours: 11am to 9pm (hours food stalls 11am to 11pm). Closed 24/25/26 December 2023.
6. Christmas Market off the beaten path: Basthorst in Schleswig-Holstein 2023
This is certainly one of the cutest Christmas
Markets in Germany. Travel Germany - Wonderful Gut Basthorst Christmas Market 2023.
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.
The article has been
updated in October 2023 for accuracy.