Updated October 2026. Every date on this page is for the 2026 season and was checked against the market’s or city’s official website.
Short answer: Most German Christmas markets open between Thursday 19 and Friday 27 November 2026 and close on 23 or 24 December. Cologne starts first (16 November), Nuremberg opens on 27 November, and a few Alpine markets, like Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Berchtesgaden, keep going into January. Many close on Sunday 22 November for a public day of remembrance.
We live in Kiefersfelden, right on the Austrian border, so Advent here means wooden huts, brass bands and the smell of roasted almonds in nearly every town. People ask me all the time which markets are worth the trip. This page is my answer, with the dates you need and the full calendar one click away.
Browse every 2026 market by date in our Christmas Market Calendar
When do German Christmas markets open in 2026?
The old rule is that markets open around the start of Advent, and the first Sunday of Advent in 2026 is 29 November. These days most cities open the week before. A few dates worth knowing:
- Totensonntag, Sunday 22 November: a quiet day of remembrance in much of Germany. Cologne, Rothenburg, Freiburg, Regensburg’s castle market and several others are closed that day, and Munich’s stalls stay shut too. Plan your first weekend around it.
- Christmas Eve: markets that stay open on 24 December usually close at 14:00 (Munich, Nuremberg, Dresden, Augsburg).
- After Christmas: only a handful carry on. Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt runs to 31 December, Lübeck and Düsseldorf to 30 December, Berchtesgaden to 3 January 2027 and Garmisch-Partenkirchen to 5 January 2027.
The famous markets: 2026 dates at a glance
| Market | City | 2026 dates | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christkindlesmarkt | Nuremberg | 27 Nov to 24 Dec | Christkind opens it Fri 27 Nov at 17:30 |
| Christkindlmarkt (Marienplatz) | Munich | 20 Nov to 24 Dec | Closed Sun 22 Nov |
| Striezelmarkt | Dresden | 25 Nov to 24 Dec | Stollen Festival Sat 5 Dec |
| Market at the Cathedral | Cologne | 16 Nov to 23 Dec | Closed Sun 22 Nov |
| Christmas Market | Stuttgart | 25 Nov to 23 Dec | Famous decorated stall roofs |
| Römerberg market | Frankfurt | 23 Nov to 22 Dec | Tower brass Wed and Sat, 18:00 |
| Reiterlesmarkt | Rothenburg ob der Tauber | 20 Nov to 23 Dec | Closed Sun 22 Nov |
| Christmas Market | Leipzig | 24 Nov to 23 Dec | Spreads across the whole center |
| WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt | Berlin | 23 Nov to 31 Dec | Open through New Year’s Eve |
| Rathausmarkt | Hamburg | 23 Nov to 23 Dec | Santa’s sleigh flies over at 16:00, 18:00, 20:00 |
| Christmas Market | Aachen | 20 Nov to 23 Dec | Try Aachener Printen (spiced gingerbread) |
| Christkindlesmarkt | Augsburg | 23 Nov to 24 Dec | Angels in the town hall windows at 18:00 on select days |
Hours change from market to market, so I’ve put each one’s opening times in the calendar.
My favorites, and why
Nuremberg is the one everyone has heard of, and it’s of course worth it. The Christkind (a local teenager chosen every two years) opens the market from the church balcony with a short prologue, and the whole square goes quiet to listen. Yes, Saturdays are the most popular days. My tip is to come on a weekday morning, when you can actually see the stalls and the Nürnberger Lebkuchen. See our Nuremberg guide for the rest of the city.
Dresden’s Striezelmarkt has a strong claim to being Germany’s oldest Christmas market (it was first mentioned in 1434). It’s the place for wooden Christmas pyramids, smoking men (Räuchermännchen, little incense figures) and real Dresden Stollen. More in our Dresden guide.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber feels like a storybook town all year, and the Reiterlesmarkt adds about 60 booths between the market square and St. Jakob’s church. It’s a favorite with families, because the whole walled town is easy to walk. Our Rothenburg page has more.
Cologne is a great pick if you like variety. The Cathedral market sits right under the twin spires, and the Angel Market on the Neumarkt and Heinzels Wintermärchen in the old town are each a short walk away. See our Cologne guide.
Regensburg’s Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Palace is a ticketed one (adults €6.50 to €13.50 depending on the day, kids €3.50 and free on Sundays). Torches, craftspeople at work and the palace courtyards make it feel like its own little world.
Near the Alps: Bavarian picks close to home
These are the ones I’d send a friend to if they’re staying in southern Bavaria. Most are on a regional train line.
- Rosenheim (27 Nov to 24 Dec): a classic old-town market under an hour from Munich.
- Fraueninsel in the Chiemsee (26 to 29 Nov and 3 to 6 Dec): an island market you reach by boat. Only two long weekends, so plan ahead.
- Berchtesgaden (20 Nov to 3 Jan 2027): mountains all around, and it stays open into the new year (closed 25 Dec).
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen (20 Nov to 5 Jan 2027): in the Kurpark below the Zugspitze mountains.
- Mittenwald (10 to 13 Dec): four days around the painted parish church, with nativity scenes and brass music.
- Bad Tölz (27 Nov to 24 Dec): on the sloping Marktstraße, with a Krampus run on 12 December.
- Bad Wiessee on the Tegernsee (Advent weekends, 28 Nov to 20 Dec): a lakeside market on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Oberaudorf (12 and 19 Dec) and our own Kieferer Dorfadvent (27 Nov): small village markets in the Inn Valley, where locals tend to meet up for a Glühwein with friends.
For full train tips for this area, read Christmas Markets Near Munich: 5 Day Trips by Train. And if you want to see the furry, horned side of Advent, our Krampus runs guide has 2026 dates.
Short-run markets you can easily miss
Some of the prettiest markets only open for a weekend or two. Put these in your calendar first and plan the rest around them:
| Market | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Oberammergau (one day only) | Sun 29 Nov, 10:00 to 18:00 |
| Burghausen Burgweihnacht, in the world’s longest castle | 11 to 13 Dec |
| Burghausen Advent in den Grüben | 27 to 29 Nov and 4 to 6 Dec |
| Lindau Hafenweihnacht, on Lake Constance | Thu to Sun, 26 Nov to 20 Dec |
| Ravenna Gorge, Black Forest | Thu to Sun, 26 Nov to 20 Dec (regular tickets already sold out) |
| Prien am Chiemsee | Fri to Sun, 27 Nov to 20 Dec |
| Mittenwald | 10 to 13 Dec |
Where to stay for Christmas market trips
Markets in the big cities are open every day, so one base can cover several. Nuremberg works well for Bamberg, Würzburg and Rothenburg. Munich puts Rosenheim, the Chiemsee and the lakes within easy reach. Hotels in Nuremberg and on the first two Advent weekends book up early, so it’s smart to reserve now and pick a room with free cancellation.
Tips that make a market day easier
The mug deposit (Pfand). Glühwein and Kinderpunsch (the alcohol-free punch for kids) come in a ceramic mug, and you pay a deposit of a few euros on top. Bring the mug back to any stall at that market and you get the deposit back. Or keep it. Lots of people collect them, and each market’s mug has its own design for the year.
Bring some cash. More stalls take cards every year, but small stands and village markets often prefer cash, and it’s quicker.
Go early or on a weekday. Evenings and Saturdays are the most popular times. A weekday afternoon gives you room to browse, and you’ll still see the lights come on around 16:30.
Dress for standing still. You’ll be outside for hours without moving much. Warm boots, a hat and gloves make the evening so much more fun.
Take the train. Parking near the old towns is hard to find in December, and every market on this page is easy to reach by public transport.
Keep bags zipped. As in any crowd, it’s smart to carry a cross-body bag and keep your phone in a front pocket.
FAQ
When do the Christmas markets in Germany start in 2026?
Most open between 19 and 27 November 2026. Cologne’s Cathedral market is one of the first, on 16 November. Munich opens on 20 November, Frankfurt on 23 November, Dresden on 25 November and Nuremberg on 27 November.
Which is the most famous Christmas market in Germany?
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is the best known around the world. Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is one of the oldest, first mentioned in 1434. Cologne’s Cathedral market is one of the most visited.
Are German Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?
Most are not. Nearly all close on 23 or 24 December, often at 14:00 on Christmas Eve. A few, like Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt, Düsseldorf, Lübeck, Berchtesgaden and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, keep going after Christmas. Holiday hours vary, so check each market for 25 and 26 December.
Are Christmas markets closed on Totensonntag?
Many are. In 2026 Totensonntag is Sunday 22 November. Cologne, Munich, Rothenburg, Freiburg, Trier and Regensburg’s castle market are among those closed that day. Check our calendar for each market.
Do you need tickets for German Christmas markets?
Almost all are free to enter. A few special ones charge admission, such as the Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Palace in Regensburg, the Ravenna Gorge market in the Black Forest and the Burghausen Burgweihnacht (€5 for adults).