Christmas Markets in Northern Germany 2026: Hamburg to Lübeck

In the north, Advent begins on Monday 23 November 2026: Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover and Lübeck open on the same day, Goslar two days later. The markets look different from those in the south. Instead of mountains and half-timbered gables you get brick, water and harbour atmosphere: the Rathausmarkt with its flying Santa, a pirate village on the Weser, marzipan in Lübeck and an illuminated Christmas forest in the Harz. From 25 November to 22 December all five cities are open at the same time. Below you'll find the checked dates, a comparison and three routes for an Advent weekend in the north.

Christmas markets in northern Germany 2026 compared

City	Dates 2026	Highlight	More
Hamburg	Rathausmarkt 23 Nov–23 Dec	flying Santa daily at 4, 6 and 8pm, more than 20 markets in the city	Hamburg
Bremen	23 Nov–23 Dec	market in front of the World Heritage town hall and the Schlachte-Zauber on the Weser	Bremen
Hanover	Old town 23 Nov–22 Dec, station village until 30 Dec	Finnish village, wish-fountain forest, historic quarter	Hanover
Lübeck	23 Nov–30 Dec	eleven Christmas worlds on the old-town island, crafts in churches	Lübeck
Goslar	25 Nov–30 Dec	Christmas forest with over 160,000 lights in a UNESCO World Heritage town	Goslar

All details come from the city and organiser pages we checked for our city guides. Where an organiser hasn't published something for 2026 yet, the city guide says so.

The markets at a glance

Hamburg: Rathausmarkt, Gänsemarkt and the Kiez

The Historical Christmas Market in front of Hamburg town hall runs from 23 November to 23 December and is open daily from 11am to 9pm, according to hamburg.de. At 4, 6 and 8pm Santa glides over the market. In the city centre you'll also find the Gingerbread Village on the Gänsemarkt, the market at St. Petri and the White Magic market on the Jungfernstieg, whose 2026 dates are still open. Santa Pauli on the Kiez starts as early as 9 November and is aimed at adults. More in our Hamburg Christmas market guide.

Bremen: Marktplatz and Schlachte-Zauber

Both Bremen markets open on 23 November and close on 23 December. The Christmas market in front of the town hall and Roland has over 170 stalls, while the Schlachte-Zauber on the Weser has around 100 huts and a historic pirate village. At the opening there are fireworks over the river at about 6:30pm. Between the two markets lies the Böttcherstraße, only a few minutes' walk. All details: Bremen Christmas market 2026.

Hanover: four markets in the old town

The old-town market around the Marktkirche runs from 23 November to 22 December, daily 11am to 9pm. It consists of the traditional market, the Finnish Village on the Ballhofplatz, the wish-fountain forest and a medieval quarter at the Historical Museum. Worth knowing for planning: the Christmas village in front of the main station stays open until 30 December (closed on 25 December). The Lister Meile and the ticketed ZooLights come on top. All hours are in our Hanover Christmas market guide.

Lübeck: the Christmas city of the north

From 23 November to 30 December eleven Christmas worlds spread across the old-town island: the classic market at the town hall, a historic market at the Marienkirchhof, the fairy-tale forest, the maritime market on the Koberg with its Ferris wheel and the Hafenglühen by the water. There are also craft markets in St. Petri and the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital, which charge admission. From Hamburg, a regional express reaches Lübeck in about 45 minutes. More: Lübeck Christmas market 2026.

Goslar: a Christmas forest in a World Heritage town

In the old town of Goslar around 70 huts stand from 25 November to 30 December. The Christmas forest on the Schuhhof is open until 10pm, the rest of the market until 8pm. On 12 and 13 December the World Heritage Rammelsberg mine turns into a market above and below ground, for which you need a ticket. Our Goslar Christmas market guide covers parking, shuttles and hours.

Three routes through the north

Route 1: Hamburg and Lübeck

The classic weekend. On the first day in Hamburg you walk from the Rathausmarkt (arrive before 4pm, when Santa flies) to St. Petri, the Jungfernstieg and in the evening to the Gänsemarkt. On the second day you take the train to Lübeck. From the main station it is about ten minutes on foot across the Holstentor to the old-town island. Lübeck deserves a whole day, from marzipan at Niederegger to the Koberg after dark.

Route 2: Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck in three days

Day 1: Bremen with the cathedral, Marktplatz, Böttcherstraße and the Schlachte-Zauber in the evening. Day 2: Hamburg, about an hour by train. Day 3: Lübeck, about 45 minutes from Hamburg. All three markets are open between 23 November and 23 December. On regional trains between Bremen and Hamburg the Deutschlandticket is valid, but at weekends the trains are full, so allow some buffer.

Route 3: The north after Christmas

If you can only travel between the years, the north offers a better choice than many other regions: Lübeck and Goslar are open until 30 December, and so is the Christmas village at Hanover's main station (closed on 25 December). Hamburg and Bremen end on 23 December. Lübeck is closed on 24 and 25 December; in Goslar the market closes at 2pm on 24 December and is open 12 to 7pm on 25 and 26 December.

What to eat in the north

• Schmalzkuchen and Mutzen: The north German fried pastry with icing sugar is called Schmalzkuchen in Bremen and appears as Mutzen on Lübeck's Rathausmarkt.
• Bremer Knipp and Bremer Klaben: the hearty oat-and-pork sausage with fried potatoes and the city's heavy raisin bread. A sweet souvenir is Bremer Kluten, peppermint sticks dipped in dark chocolate.
• Marzipan: Café Niederegger in Lübeck runs its Christmas bazaar from 23 November to 24 December.
• Elderflower punch: on Lübeck's Koberg, a northern alternative to mulled wine.
• Roast goose on a spit: with dumplings and red cabbage at the Gingerbread Village on Hamburg's Gänsemarkt.
• Finnish specialities: at the Finnish Village on Hanover's Ballhofplatz.

Organisers haven't published 2026 mulled wine prices yet, so we don't quote estimates.

Rules and good to know in 2026

• Totensonntag (22 November): The markets in Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover and Lübeck open only the day after. Only the Lübsche Wiehnacht in Lübeck's Schuppen 6 already runs on 21 and 22 November.
• Admission: The markets themselves are free. You pay for the craft markets in Lübeck (St. Petri €4, Heiligen-Geist-Hospital €4, Schuppen 6 €2), for the Christmas Rammelsberg in Goslar and for the ZooLights in Hanover.
• Dogs: In Lübeck, dogs are allowed on a lead. At the Christmas Rammelsberg, dogs are not permitted, assistance dogs excepted. For the other markets the organisers name no ban.
• Reusables: At Hamburg's Rathausmarkt plastic packaging is taboo, food comes on reusable dishes with a deposit, and the lights go out from 11pm. In Goslar, catering relies on reusable cups.
• Santa Pauli: The market in Hamburg-St. Pauli is aimed at adults.

Practical tips

When to go

On weekdays the north is noticeably quieter, as both Bremen Tourism and Lübeck's tourist office recommend. On Advent Saturdays Hamburg adds a Christmas parade at 2pm and 5pm, which makes the city centre especially busy. The weather is often wet: good covered options are Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland and the Speicherstadt, and in Hanover the dome hall of the New Town Hall.

Getting there

Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover are ICE hubs, and from Hamburg you reach Lübeck by regional express. Car parks fill up early on Advent Saturdays. On Advent Saturdays Lübeck offers free park and ride with a shuttle bus from Lohmühle and Einsiedelstraße. In Goslar you can park for free at the large Osterfeld car park.

With kids and where to stay

Families will love the flying Santa in Hamburg, the Wichtelwunderland and fairy-tale forest in Lübeck, the free daily children's programme in Hanover and the carousels in Goslar. Hotel prices in Hamburg rise on Advent weekends; on weekdays it is easier to find deals.

Gift idea: Create a route poster for Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen and keep your northern Advent on the wall.

Frequently asked questions

When do the Christmas markets in northern Germany open in 2026?

Hamburg (Rathausmarkt), Bremen, Hanover and Lübeck on Monday 23 November 2026. Goslar follows on 25 November. Santa Pauli in Hamburg starts as early as 9 November.

Which northern markets are still open after Christmas?

Lübeck and Goslar until 30 December, and in Hanover the Christmas village at the main station until 30 December. Hamburg and Bremen close on 23 December, Hanover's old-town market on 22 December.

How do I get from Hamburg to Lübeck?

By regional express in about 45 minutes. From Lübeck's main station it is roughly ten minutes on foot across the Holstentor to the market.

Do the northern Christmas markets charge admission?

The markets themselves do not. You pay for the craft markets in Lübeck, the Christmas Rammelsberg in Goslar on 12 and 13 December and the ZooLights in Hanover.

Which market is best for children?

Lübeck with the Wichtelwunderland, fairy-tale forest and Ferris wheel, Hamburg with the flying Santa and Hanover with its fixed, free daily programme. Santa Pauli in Hamburg is not for children.

Can I visit Bremen and Hamburg in one day?

It is possible, and the journey takes roughly an hour. A weekend with an overnight stay is more relaxed, because both markets only develop their atmosphere after dark.

Read more

All the big markets of the country with a map and routes are in our overview Christmas markets in Germany 2026. More regions: Eastern Germany, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg.

When the trip is over, trace your journey on a route poster, a lovely gift for everyone who came along.

Last checked: 26 October 2026. We re-checked the opening hours of Hamburg's Rathausmarkt on hamburg.de on 26 October. Before the season starts we will compare the remaining hours once more.

Sources

• https://www.hamburg.de/tourismus/weihnachten-hamburg/weihnachtsmarkt-hamburg/weihnachtsmarkt-rathausmarkt-301092
• https://www.hamburg.de/tourismus/weihnachten-hamburg/weihnachtsmarkt-hamburg
• https://www.bremen.de/tourismus/weihnachtsmarkt
• https://www.marktwelt-bremen.de/markt/schlachte-zauber/
• https://www.hannover.de/Veranstaltungskalender/Weihnachten/Weihnachtsmarkt-Hannover
• https://www.luebeck-tourismus.de/kultur/weihnachtsstadt-des-nordens
• https://www.luebeck-tourismus.de/kultur/weihnachtsstadt-des-nordens/weihnachtsmaerkte
• https://www.weihnachtswald.de/
• https://www.weihnachtswald.de/programm/weihnachtlicher-rammelsberg

Image credits

• Photo: Daniel Åhs Karlsson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (cover)
• Photo: Dmorwen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0