Set on the stunning River of Main, Frankfurt is a charming German city with a dramatic cityscape. It is a modern metropolis that is characterized by its towering buildings, upscale attractions, art museums, and its booming economy. Even with its contemporary facade, this city is still rich in cultural heritage, and Altstadt is the place to go to if you want to learn more about their culture on a deeper level. Frankfurt is a fantastic vacation destination, offering several things to do for tourists around the world, and it is even more beautiful during the yuletide season. As the winter air starts to envelop the city and sparkling lights begin to illuminate every home, delightful Christmas markets emerge to provide people with festive entertainment. For an in-depth guide on where to find them, read this list of the most delightful Christmas markets in and near Frankfurt, Germany.
Popular picks in Frankfurt
Renowned as the oldest museum foundation in the country, Städel Museum offers a glimpse into European art from the early fourteenth century to the present. It features 3,100 paintings and over 100,000 drawings and prints, as well as artwork of renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and others.
Enjoy a stroll on the Eiserner Steg footbridge on the sourther bank of the Main River. The neo-Gothic style bridge is crossed by 10,000 pedestrians daily.
Winter in Frankfurt
- According to Weather Atlas, the temperature in Frankfurt can dip to -1.1°C (30°F) during January and February. It also rains consistently in December and decreases a bit during February.
Filter by options
Christmas traditions in Germany
As per the deutschland.de, the preparations for Christmas can be seen as early as September with gingerbread and Spekulatius biscuits dominating the supermarket shelves. Here are some of the popular Christmas traditions followed here:
- Putting up and decorating a Christmas tree
- Gifting each other gift vouchers or money
- Christmas is celebrated on 25th and 26th December when families come together, enjoy meals, and unwrap their presents
Apart from this, the city and the nearby areas also witness several Christmas markets that you can visit with your loved ones. To learn more about these markets, check out our detailed guide here.
Christmas markets in and near Frankfurt
1. Frankfurt Christmas Market
If you are planning to spend the holiday season in Frankfurt, make the most of your experience by visiting the magical Frankfurt Christmas Market that takes place in St Paul’s Square. On record, it is considered the grandest and most visited Christmas market in the whole of Germany, attracting thousands of visitors every year. The square, with its old-town vibes and quaint homes, is the perfect setting for a dreamy festival. It’s usually organized from late November to the end of December.
The place is filled with beautifully decorated cottages that sell various goods and excellent gift items. Plus, a stunning Christmas tree in the middle of the square sits as its centerpiece. As a traveler, I am always excited to meet new people and will surely visit this market to make new friends. Make sure to try out Bethmännchen, a type of marzipan pastry that is sure to delight those with a sweet tooth. Munch it down with a cup of hot apple wine!
If you’re looking for interesting souvenirs, Quetschemännchens should be great. These human figurines are made from dried plums and nuts held together with wire.
Frankfurt Christmas Market
Address: Römerberg, Paulsplatz, Mainkai, Hauptwache, Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz, Roßmarkt, Germany
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official tourism website of Frankfurt
Website: Frankfurt Christmas Market
Market highlights: Bethmännchen (sweet marzipan pastries), Quetschemännchen (figurines made from dried plums and nuts), hot apple wine
2. Hanau Christmas Market
A lovely town that is known for hosting the longest Advent celebration in Germany, Hanau is an enchanting destination for tourists and locals who plan to enjoy their Christmas holidays. Visitors will be treated to a beautiful paradise of fairy lights, Christmas ornaments, and the aroma of freshly baked goods combined with the sound of classic Christmas carols playing in the background.
In total, 75 stands will be present for this year’s events, and their products vary from personalized crafts and toys to accessories, clothing, home decor, and even palatable delights. I believe this market is ideal for families with kids who’ll enjoy a ride in the Ferris wheel and magical train.
Hanau Christmas Market
Address: Am Markt 14 - 18, 63450 Hanau, Germany
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official website of Hanau
Market highlights: Freshly baked food, personalized crafts and toys, clothing, and home decor, carnival rides
3. Darmstadt Christmas Market
Die Innenstadt leuchtet! Der Blick von Oben zeigt ein einziges Lichtermeer #darmstadt #weihnachten #weihnachtsmarkt #visitdarmstadt Rüdiger Dunker
Posted by Darmstädter Weihnachtsmarkt on Friday, December 15, 2023
A lot of fantastic items await shoppers who plan to take part in this year’s Darmstadt Christmas Market. This is a dreamy place that is filled with the fragrance of culinary delights whipped up by various holiday cabins.
You can enjoy some gingerbread as you stroll around the marketplace, shop for Christmas presents for your loved ones, or dine in one of the restaurants at the Christmas market. To top it all off, live bands will provide entertainment to busy shoppers. Darmstadt also sees contributions from its twin cities, including Hungarian lángos (a type of flatbread) and wine and cheese from Saanen.
Darmstadt Christmas Market
Address: Marktpl. 1, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany
Dates: For updated dates, please visit the official tourism website of Darmstadt
Website: Darmstadt Christmas Market
Market highlights: Hungarian lángos and wine and cheese from Saanen (Switzerland)
4. Aschaffenburg Christmas Market
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Another enchanting Christmas market that you should add to your itinerary is the Aschaffenburg Christmas Market in Schloßplatz 1. With the Johannisburg Palace as its backdrop, nothing comes close to the charm of this trade fair. Together with the picturesque views and the gorgeous Christmas ornaments and sparkling lights, this market will make you glad you celebrated your holidays in Germany.
Savor a mulled red wine or go hard on a mulled brandy as you stroll around the place, scoring some handicraft finds or personalized artwork for your special someone. Plus, you will surely want to take lots of souvenir pictures with the giant Christmas pyramid that stands proudly in the middle of the square. Make sure to get some photos of the Franconian nativity scene.
Aschaffenburg Christmas Market
Address: Schloßplatz 1, 63739 Aschaffenburg, Germany
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the Official Website of Aschaffenburg
Website: Aschaffenburg Christmas Market
Market highlights: Mulled wine, roasted almonds, potato pancakes, grilled sausages, life-sized wooden figures, a children’s carousel and a Ferris wheel
5. Mainz Christmas Market
Don’t miss the festivities and fun at Mainz Christmas Market. This annual yuletide festival will take place right in front of the historic St. Martin’s Cathedral. The place will glow with a hundred sparkling lights and beautifully designed cottages that will present you with specialty crafts and culinary delights.
A stage across the cathedral will serve as a platform for a children’s choir, a fairytale performance, and other magical live shows. Not only that, but a lovely Christmas village will make you fall in love even more with Christmas in Mainz. The Christmas pyramid will be a sight to behold. Make sure to grab a Christmas card from the Gutenberg Museum’s print shop!
Mainz Christmas Market
Address: Mainz Cathedral, Liebfrauenpl. 4, 55116 Mainz, Germany
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit The Official Website of Mainz
Website: Mainz Christmas Market
Market highlights: Tasty treats, handicrafts, roasted almonds, and Christmas cards
6. Twinkling Star Christmas Market
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A captivating Christmas gathering that welcomes guests of all ages, Twinkling Star Christmas Market will take your breath away. During the Advent season, a vibrant festival takes place in the charming Schlossplatz.
A giant Christmas tree serves as an iconic symbol that will illuminate the square, together with huge lanterns and numerous stalls selling Christmas goods and culinary delights. The stalls sell almost everything you’d expect be it ceramics, felt, wood, hay figures, and even chocolate tools! I will surely visit this market while vacationing in Wiesbaden during the holiday season. While visiting this market, be sure to ride the historic horse carousel with your loved ones.
Twinkling Star Christmas Market
Address: Schlossplatz, Marktkirche, Wiesbaden, Germany
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit The Official Website of Wiesbaden
Website: Twinkling Star Christmas Market
Market highlights: Souvenirs, gifts, enchanting lighting in the form of Wiesbaden lilies, barbecue specialties, and mulled wine
7. Christmas Market Michelstadt
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Surely, there is nothing more ideal during the season of giving than to shop for gifts for the ones who are dear to you. Make the shopping experience extra special by indulging in the festive spirit of Christmas Market Michelstadt. Situated in the heart of the city, this vibrant trade fair will enchant you with a plethora of stalls selling diverse Christmas offerings.
Products vary from freshly baked gingerbread, Hungarian sausages, and mulled red wine to knitted jackets, artisan products, and gorgeous jewelry. As an avid traveler, I am excited to buy quirk souvenirs and will surely hunt for some when I visit here. Have your camera ready, as every corner of this place is definitely Instagram-worthy.
Christmas Market Michelstadt
Address: Marktplace, 64720 Michelstadt, Germany
Dates: For updated dates and hours, please visit the official website of Michelstädter Weihnachtsmarkt
Website: Christmas Market Michelstadt
Market highlights: Freshly baked gingerbread, Hungarian sausages, mulled red wine, knitted jackets, artisan products, and gorgeous jewelry
Fall in love with Frankfurt
Frankfurt is a dream vacation destination all year round, and it is even more captivating during the Christmas holidays. Make the most of the yuletide season by visiting as many Christmas markets as possible. We have narrowed down a list of the most magical festivals in and near Frankfurt that you should not miss. Use this as your guide for a delightful Christmas adventure in Germany.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
