Hamburg

Hamburg in December is all lights, mulled wine and Christmas markets, in a port city of canals, red brick warehouses and a huge lake in the middle of town. We went in December 2025 to see its Christmas markets.

Getting there

We flew with Lufthansa from Porto to Hamburg, changing in Frankfurt.

Where to Sleep?

We stayed at Motel One Hamburg am Michel, near St Michael's Church.

Tip: The prices and opening hours here are the ones we noted when we planned the trip. Check them before you go.

The Christmas markets

1. Rathausmarkt

The main and most iconic Christmas market in Hamburg, in front of the grand City Hall. Look up at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm, when Santa flies over the market on his sleigh. Open from 11am to 9pm.

Step inside the City Hall too. At Christmas there is a very big tree in its hall, all red, white and gold.

2. Weisser Zauber, Jungfernstieg

A romantic market of white tents on the promenade along the Binnenalster lake, with a historic Ferris wheel from 1899. Try the schmalzkuchen here. Open from 11am to 9pm.

3. Santa Pauli, St Pauli

The cheeky Christmas market on Spielbudenplatz, just off the Reeperbahn in St Pauli, with music, shows and a very different vibe from the traditional markets. It opens in the late afternoon on weekdays (4pm to 11pm in our notes) and from 1pm on Sundays.

4. Winterwald

The Christmas market of the shopping streets, around the Mönckebergbrunnen and Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz, designed as a winter forest in the middle of the city. Open from 11am to 9pm.

Besides the markets

1. St Petri Church

Hamburg's oldest parish church, next to the Rathausmarkt. Go inside to see the decorations and light a candle, and climb the tower for a view over the Christmas market. The tower was €5 (€3.50 for students).

2. Europa Passage

A shopping center with an indoor slide, fun for adults too. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 8pm.

3. Speicherstadt

The largest warehouse district in the world, red brick buildings on oak piles along the canals, built from 1883 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4. Deichstrasse

Timber-framed houses on the Nikolaifleet canal, a glimpse of what Hamburg looked like before the great fire of 1842.

5. Chocoversum

A chocolate museum where you learn how chocolate is made, and make your own. The English guided tour was €29 (€23 reduced), booked online.

6. Hamburg Christmas Garden

A walk through a park lit up with Christmas light installations. Tickets were €16.50 to €27.50, depending on the time.

7. Ice skating

The Eis Arena, open from 10am to 10pm. A ticket was €14, and skate hire €9.50.

What to eat and drink

• Glühwein, German mulled wine, the drink of every Christmas market.
• Bratwurst, grilled sausages.
• Schmalzkuchen, little fried dough balls covered in sugar.