Düsseldorf Christmas Market 2026: dates, hours, tips

From 19 November to 30 December 2026, central Düsseldorf turns into one big Christmas world. Instead of a single large market there are several themed markets a few minutes' walk apart – from the Town Hall in the Old Town along the Königsallee to Schadowstraße. In between, hundreds of fir trees line the streets, the Lichterdom canopy of lights glows over the Kö, and a 55-metre Ferris wheel turns on Burgplatz above the Rhine. Here are the 2026 opening hours with all exceptions, a map and tips on linking the markets.

Düsseldorf Christmas Market 2026 at a glance

Dates 2026	Thursday 19 November to Wednesday 30 December 2026
Opening hours	Sun–Thu 11am–8pm, Fri–Sat 11am–9pm; individual traders may stay open until 10pm daily
Closed	Sunday 22 November (Totensonntag) and 25 December
Special hours	Christmas Eve (24 December) 11am–3pm; 26 December 2pm–9pm
Location	City centre: Old Town around Marktplatz and Burgplatz, Flinger Straße, Königsallee with Corneliusplatz, Schadowstraße
Entry	free
Getting there	U-Bahn to Heinrich-Heine-Allee; park-and-ride at the airport (P13)

Map: the markets in the city centre

Düsseldorf has no single "main" market: the themed markets are roughly the same size and so close together that you can drift from one to the next. A good loop starts at Burgplatz on the Rhine, passes the Marktplatz in front of the Town Hall and Flinger Straße to the Königsallee and ends on Schadowstraße. It's about two kilometres – a relaxed afternoon with breaks.

The themed markets: what's where

Düsseldorf Tourism publishes the exact 2026 line-up shortly before opening. In 2025 there were seven themed markets, and the basic layout has been similar for years:

On the Rhine: Roncalli's Christmas Promenade

Between Burgplatz and the old harbour, Circus Roncalli sets up its winter fairy tale: vintage circus wagons, glass orangeries looking over the Rhine, crafts, acrobatics and music. In 2025 there was organic mulled wine from a Palatinate winemaker and two pop-up restaurants. Above it turns the "Wheel of Vision" Ferris wheel – from 55 metres you look over the lit-up Old Town to the Rhine Tower.

At the Town Hall: the Craftsmen's Market

On the Marktplatz between the Town Hall and the Old Treasury, below the equestrian statue of Elector Jan Wellem, you can watch artisans at work: wood carvings, candles, hand puppets. With a children's carousel and activities, it's the most traditional of the markets.

Flinger Straße: the Old Town Market

A few steps on, prettily decorated huts sell regional specialities, liqueurs, chestnuts and the Gagliardi almonds that are a small legend in Düsseldorf. The Altbier brewpubs of the Old Town are minutes away.

On the Kö: Lichterdom, Winter Village and ice rink

In Advent a canopy of lights, the Lichterdom, stretches over the Königsallee – one of the city's favourite photo spots. In 2025 a Winter Village was added between Girardet Bridge and Corneliusplatz, with upmarket food and champagne next to the mulled wine. At the north end of the Kö, on Corneliusplatz, the "Kö on Ice" rink has real ice, a curling lane and the two-storey Füchschen-Alm hut.

Kö-Bogen, Fairy-Tale Market and Schadow Market

A market with modern design and street food sits by the Kö-Bogen. The Fairy-Tale Market with its children's carousel is a must for families, and the loop ends at Schadowplatz with gift ideas for last-minute shopping. In 2025, a Punch and Judy show played on four dates on Gustaf-Gründgens-Platz in front of the Schauspielhaus.

What to eat and drink

• Altbier: Düsseldorf's dark, top-fermented beer is best in one of the Old Town brewpubs, just steps from the market.
• Candied almonds in every flavour – in 2025 even matcha almonds on the Kö.
• Reibekuchen, crisp potato fritters served with apple sauce – in Düsseldorf you'll also find them in the Old Town pubs.
• Raclette from the huts on the Rhine and organic mulled wine on the promenade.
• Mulled wine from the Glühtürmchen tower stall on Corneliusplatz, a popular meeting point.

2026 prices aren't known yet. No extra cash machines are set up at the markets, so bring some cash or pay by card where possible.

An Advent day in Düsseldorf: our suggestion

1. 11am – art first: warm up in the Kunstsammlung NRW (K20) on Grabbeplatz, with Klee, Picasso and Beuys.
2. 1pm – Marktplatz and Flinger Straße: the Craftsmen's Market at the Town Hall, lunch at the Old Town Market.
3. 2.30pm – Burgplatz and the Rhine: Roncalli's promenade and a turn on the Ferris wheel.
4. 4.30pm – Königsallee: the Lichterdom lights up as it gets dark; then the Winter Village and ice rink on Corneliusplatz.
5. 6.30pm – Kö-Bogen and Schadowstraße: last presents, then back to the Old Town for an Altbier.

The stories behind the Kö, the Hofgarten and Burgplatz are told in our audio guide "Düsseldorf: The Village That Became a Capital" – twelve stops over 3.2 km from the Kö through the Old Town to the Rhine, in English or German. The first two stops are free in your phone's browser.

An Advent weekend on the Rhine

With Düsseldorf open until 30 December and Cologne only half an hour away by train, the two cities combine easily. Our three-day plan:

• Day 1 – Düsseldorf: the Kunstsammlung, the themed markets from the Old Town to Schadowstraße, and the Ferris wheel on Burgplatz at night.
• Day 2 – Cologne: the cathedral market, the Old Town market with the Heumarkt ice rink and the harbour market by the Chocolate Museum. Back by S-Bahn, or stay the night.
• Day 3 – Aachen or Dortmund: west to Aachen's market around the cathedral and Town Hall, or east to Dortmund's Christmas City with its 45-metre tree.

Regional trains between all these cities are covered by the Deutschlandticket; book saver fares early for ICE routes.

Practical tips for international visitors

When to go

• Weekday mornings are pleasantly quiet.
• Advent Saturdays are the busiest days, and car parks fill early.
• Fridays and Saturdays you have until 9pm, with some stalls open until 10pm.
• After Christmas: from 2pm on 26 December and normal hours 27–30 December – great for a post-holiday outing.

Getting there and parking

Düsseldorf Tourism strongly recommends public transport: Heinrich-Heine-Allee U-Bahn station lies right between the Old Town and the Kö, a few minutes from the main station. Düsseldorf Airport has its own train station, and the S-Bahn gets you to the centre quickly. Drivers can buy a park-and-ride combi ticket at the airport (car park P13) that includes the Rheinbahn ride into town. On the Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December, the Provinzial car park at Hohensandweg 41 by the A46 is free from 10am to 10pm, with public transport onward. In town, try the Rheinufer underground car park, Schadowstraße or Carlsplatz.

With kids

The Craftsmen's and Fairy-Tale Markets have carousels, and there's acrobatics on the promenade; for most children the Ferris wheel is the highlight. Old Town lanes get crowded in the evening, so come in the afternoon with a pushchair.

Accessibility

The Kö, Schadowstraße and the Rhine promenade are wide and flat; the Old Town has cobblestones and narrow gaps between huts. Düsseldorf Tourism lists accessibility information and free accessible city tours on its website.

Where to stay

Hotels cluster around the main station, the Kö and the Old Town. Prices rise sharply during trade fairs, so check the fair calendar before booking. Cologne is only half an hour away by train and works as an alternative base or second stop.

Gift idea: the Rhine Tower, Old Town and Kö on a personalised poster.

Nearby: our tips

• Düsseldorf Old Town: brewpubs, the Rhine promenade and the markets around the Town Hall.
• Königsallee: the Lichterdom, the Winter Village and the ice rink on Corneliusplatz.
• Rhine Tower: an observation deck at about 170 metres, with the light clock on its shaft at night.
• Kunstsammlung NRW (K20/K21): 20th- and 21st-century art, perfect on a rainy day.
• Benrath Palace: a Rococo pleasure palace in the south of the city, reachable by tram.

More: Düsseldorf.

FAQ

When does the Düsseldorf Christmas market open in 2026?

On Thursday 19 November 2026 at 11am.

How late is it open?

Until Wednesday 30 December 2026: Sunday to Thursday until 8pm, Friday and Saturday until 9pm. Individual traders may sell until 10pm.

Which days is it closed?

On Totensonntag (22 November) and Christmas Day (25 December). On Christmas Eve it's open 11am–3pm, on 26 December 2pm–9pm.

Which is the biggest market in Düsseldorf?

None: the themed markets are about the same size and close together. Link them on a walk from Burgplatz to Schadowstraße.

Is entry free?

Yes, all city-centre markets are free. The Ferris wheel and ice rink cost extra.

How much is mulled wine in Düsseldorf?

2026 prices haven't been published. Add a mug deposit.

Where should I park?

Ideally outside the centre: use the airport park-and-ride combi ticket or, on December Saturdays, the free Provinzial car park on Hohensandweg, then take the train to Heinrich-Heine-Allee.

Can I bring my dog?

Düsseldorf Tourism doesn't mention a ban, but the Old Town is very crowded in the evening; mornings are better with a dog.

Read more

Düsseldorf and Cologne are just half an hour apart by train: the Cologne Cathedral Christmas market opens as early as 16 November. Head into the Ruhr for about an hour to Dortmund's Christmas City with its 45-metre tree, or west to the Aachen Christmas market. All markets: Christmas markets in Germany 2026.

Düsseldorf, Cologne, Aachen? Turn your route into a route poster.

Last checked: 16 October 2026. We'll add the 2026 line-up of themed markets once Düsseldorf Tourism publishes it.

Sources

• https://www.visitduesseldorf.de/erleben/veranstaltungen/weihnachten-in-duesseldorf
• https://www.visitduesseldorf.de/erleben/veranstaltungen/weihnachten-in-duesseldorf/faq
• https://www.visitduesseldorf.de/storys/2025/11/25/weihnachtsmarkt-duesseldorf/

Image credits

• Photo: Anil Öztas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cover)
• Photo: CK85, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0