Dresden Striezelmarkt
Germany’s oldest documented Christmas market (first mentioned in 1434), on the Altmarkt, with Ore Mountain crafts and Dresden Stollen. Opening 25 Nov 16:00 to 21:00, then daily 10:00 to 21:00, 24 Dec 10:00 to 14:00. Stollen Festival Saturday 5 Dec. Free entry. Hours as published by the organizer in October 2026; check the official site before you go.
Insider tips
The Striezelmarkt was first mentioned in 1434, so it has a strong claim to being Germany’s oldest Christmas market. More than 200 traders fill the Altmarkt, and this is the place for crafts from the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge): wooden Christmas pyramids, nutcrackers and Räuchermännchen, the little incense-smoking figures. Watch for the show workshops, where you can see the crafts and real Dresden Christstollen being made. The Stollen Festival is on Saturday 5 December. Weekends are the most popular time in general, so if you’d rather browse in peace, pick a weekday afternoon. On opening day, 25 November, the market starts at 16:00.
Getting there
From Dresden Hauptbahnhof you can walk straight up the Prager Straße shopping street to the Altmarkt. Trams also stop at the Altmarkt stop, at the edge of the market on Wilsdruffer Straße, across from the Kulturpalast.
Nearby markets
Dresden has several smaller markets within walking distance, including the Advent market on the Neumarkt by the Frauenkirche, the medieval Christmas market in the Stallhof of the Royal Palace and the Augustusmarkt on the Hauptstraße across the Elbe. For a second city, the Leipzig Christmas Market is an easy train trip away.
See every 2026 date in our guide to German Christmas markets, and plan your visit with our Dresden travel guide.