Your Essential Travel Guide To Hamburg Christmas Markets
Discover Hamburg Christmas Markets
During the Christmas period, the whole of Hamburg between the Elbe and the Alster lake is lit with colorful lights, filled with the aroma of mulled wine and ginger cookies, music and markets fill the streets. Shopping in the centre of Hamburg is a real pleasure during Christmas as small boutiques, shops and shopping centres are all decorated for the Christmas atmosphere. There is also a parade every Saturday of December.
Children will also enjoy Hamburg on the fairy-tale ships especially designed for them. Here children can learn to bake and decorate Christmas cookies or enjoy drawing, reading fairy tale books or playing games. On the theater ship different performances are organized for children every day. What is Christmas without Santa Clause? During Christmas you'll see him around the Town Hall Square on his sleigh, accompanied by elves and deers.
Getting to Hamburg
By Car From Kiel take the A7. Then follow the direction Altona / Hamburg. Once in Hamburg we recommend you park your car at the shopping centre Europa Passage.
By Train From Kiel get a train towards Central Station Hauptbahnhof (HBF). Once there, you can easily acess Mönckebergstrasse or Spitalerstrasse in the direction of the Town Hall Square.
Christmas markets
Starting from enf of November, Hamburg is filled with Christmas markets with many options to enjoy mulled wine or find Christmas gifts.
Ghesenmarkt: this year, the stalls on Ghesenmarkt square will be decorated with quotes from the writer Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. You'll also find mulled wine with spices, local delicacies and craft workshops. Address: Gänsemarkt, 20354 Hamburg.
Town Hall Square: right in the heart of Hamburg, this Christmas market is highly recomended. Here about 80 merchants and artisans from all over Germany expose their products and work. As an annual tradition, you will also see Santa Claus flying around the square telling magical Christmas stories. A great entertainment for adults and kids.
More Christmas markets
Spitalerstraße: this is one of the most famous pedestrian shopping streets. Here you'll be able to feel the real Christmas atmosphere. Christmas lights brighten the urban architecture and local craftsmen offer you seasonal delicacies and unique souvenirs. All the clothing shops are also open everyday excluding sundays during the whole Christmas fair period.
Winter Forest: right in the heart of the city, the Winter Forest consists of elegantly decorated stalls, amazing aromatic mulled wine and tasty treats.
Places to visit
Town Hall Square: this is the oldest sqaure in Hamburg, where many events and concerts are often held. We recommend you visit St. Michael church, do some shopping in Mönckebergstraße or grab a coffee in one of the many cafes.
Elbe Tunnel: Created in 1911, this tunnel is 426 metres long, with four large transport lifts across the Elbe. Today, many people still use it to get from city centre to the port. On the other side of the river Elbe is the Steinwerder, which offers an amazing view over Hamburg. Visit www.hamburg-tourism.de
Fish Market: The Traditional Fish Market, located in the area of St. Paul, has been open to visitors every Sunday since the 18th century. In addition to fresh or smocked fish, there is a great atmosphere of fun with live music and dancers.
More places to visit
Submarine: The former Russian espionage submarine, now a museum, is located in an exceptionally beautiful district, where you'll be amazed by the traditional architecture at the port.
The Miniature Museum: The pride of the Hamburg Museum of Miniatures is Europe’s largest model of railways, which displays the railways of Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia. Here you will be able to see a miniature version of the cities railway system, lifestyle in the city, mountains, lakes and other landscapes, all curated in the details.
Dungeon Horror Museum: This museum will take you through the dark corners of the 600 years history of Hamburg. Porfessiona actors will perform scenes from the period of the Inquisition and the Hamburg fire, ending with a torture room. Here you'll also learn how torture instruments work, run through a maze, get saved from a fire, visit the house of the mentally ill and learn what it means to become a prisoner.
Shopping and Nightlife
For the shopping lovers, Hamburg has so many options to offer from clothing shops, electronic stores, shopping centres, to cafes and restaurants:
- karstadt
- Europa passage
- Peek&cloppenburg
- Saturn
- Goertz
- Stilwerk
- Alstertal
- Ikea
- Einkaufszentrum Hamburger straße
If you'd like to experience the Hamburg nightlife head to Reeperbahn where most nightclubs, bars, cafes and exotic shops are located.
Things to do
Elbe Tunnel: Created in 1911, this tunnel is 426 metres long, with four large transport lifts across the Elbe. Today, many people still use it to get from city centre to the port. On the other side of the river Elbe is the Steinwerder, which offers an amazing view over Hamburg. Visit www.hamburg-tourism.de
Fish Market: The Traditional Fish Market, located in the area of St. Paul, has been open to visitors every Sunday since the 18th century; there is a fun atmosphere with live music and dancers.
Museums: If museums are of interest, Hamburg has many of them for you to browse. From the Minitur Wonderland and U-Boot Submarine Museum to the Hamburg Dungeon and Chocoversum, you will not be bored here.
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Travel Guides
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Visit Hamburg to explore Germanys second largest city – the ‘Gateway to the World’.
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