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Europe Germany Hamburg Events Historic Christmas Market on Rathausmarkt

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Historic Christmas Market on Rathausmarkt

The guide was updated: 2024-04-25

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Christmas Charms in Hamburg – Private Walking Tour

Woodcarvers from the Tyrol, gingerbread bakers from Aachen and Nuremberg, ceramics from Lausitz, silversmiths and many others welcome you to marvel, participate, taste and enjoy. Every year at Christmas time, against the impressive backdrop of the venerable, historic Town Hall of the Free and the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, approximately eighty traders arrive for one of the city's largest and loveliest Christmas markets. The lovingly designed market architecture by Roncalli director Bernhard Paul makes the Christmas market stand out from the conventional pre-Christmas events in other cities. A particular point of attraction is the Spielzeuggasse (toy street). This is where merchants from around the world offer toys that make not only children's hearts beat faster.

Useful Information

Address: City Hall Christmas Market, Hamburg
Opening hours: From late November until Christmas
Public Transport: U3 Rathaus, U1/2/3 Jungfernstieg

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Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Long Night of Museums

Long Night of Museums

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Hamburg Port Birthday — Hafengeburtstag Hamburg

Hamburg Port Birthday — Hafengeburtstag Hamburg

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Hamburg Harley Days

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MS Dockville — Festival of Music & Art

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International Summer Festival at Kampnagel

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Historic Christmas Market on Rathausmarkt

Historic Christmas Market on Rathausmarkt

Woodcarvers from the Tyrol, gingerbread bakers from Aachen and Nuremberg, ceramics from Lausitz, silversmiths and many others welcome you to marvel, participate, taste and enjoy. Every year at Christmas time, against the impressive backdrop of the venerable, historic Town Hall of the Free and the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, approximately eighty traders arrive for one of the city's largest and loveliest Christmas markets. The lovingly designed market architecture by Roncalli director Bernhard Paul makes the Christmas market stand out from the conventional pre-Christmas events in other cities. A particular point of attraction is the Spielzeuggasse (toy street). This is where merchants from around the world offer toys that make not only children's hearts beat faster.

Santa Pauli — Christmas in the Kiez

Santa Pauli — Christmas in the Kiez

At Hamburg's naughtiest Christmas market, it's not only the mulled wine that gets the visitors hot. Live music, a fireplace lounge on the winter deck and a strip tent are a temptation to naughty and frivolous merriment on a Christmas market stroll on Spielbudenplatz. The market stays open late into the night, in keeping with its special location on the Reeperbahn. The most unbridled Christmas market of the lovely Hanseatic city not only guarantees conventional Christmas market stands, but also offers an open-air art gallery and Sunday children's programme — fun for young and old alike. For those who fancy mulled wine, the Winterdeck is the place to be. The cosy bar with a blazing fireplace provides visitors with the Christmas drinks they desire. The over-18s fir forest, set up in the manner of the Reeperbahn, offers strip shows as well as frivolous and crackling erotic readings.

White Magic on Jungfernstieg

White Magic on Jungfernstieg

The entire market is dazzling with Christmas lights. Its themes, the colour of the lights and luminosity match the contemporary architectural language of the location. The appearance of the Christmas market blends in harmoniously with the ambience around Hamburg's newly designed luxury boulevard with the local hotels, businesses, the Alsterhaus and other exclusive boutiques. A lovely Christmas market for atmospheric hours.

Fleetinsel Christmas Market

Fleetinsel Christmas Market

Between Stadthausbrücke and Rödingsmarkt is a clever mixture of Hanseatic tradition and a modern attitude to life. The proximity to the harbour and the direct connection to the Alster lend the Fleet Christmas market a very special maritime atmosphere. The delicious Christmas specialities or a contemplative glass of mulled wine with friends or family can help you forget the hustle and bustle of the pre-Christmas season — in the peaceful tranquillity of a renovated square, without the street noise and glaring lights. Stands with gift items are also an invitation to take a stroll. Meanwhile, the younger visitors can have fun on the children's carousel.

New Year's Eve at the Waterfront

New Year's Eve at the Waterfront

Fireworks are great, but you know what is even greater — fireworks reflected in the water. You get double the visual punch, a huge variety of delicacies served from street food stalls, plus the jubilant holiday cheers from the celebrating crowds. The fireworks close to the Landungsbrücken are supported acoustically with the signal horns of all ships in the harbour. For a quieter atmosphere with less hustle and bustle head to the Alster. The inhabitants of Hamburg lighten up their own fireworks around the Inner and Outer Alster lakes. Another option for the turn of the year is a harbour tour which provides the perfect view over the fireworks from the waterfront.

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