Erfurt Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening hours, tips

When the lights go on at the Domplatz on Tuesday 24 November 2026, Erfurt's 176th Christmas market begins. Until 22 December, more than 200 wooden huts stand below the 70 cathedral steps topped by St Mary's Cathedral and the Church of St Severus – one of the most striking backdrops of any German Christmas market. From the main station to the Domplatz the market runs through half the Old Town. Here are the 2026 dates, the opening hours (2025 version – the new ones aren't out yet), a map and tips for your visit.

Erfurt Christmas Market 2026 at a glance

Dates 2026	Tuesday 24 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026
Opening hours	Not yet published for 2026. In 2025 at the Domplatz: Sun–Wed 10am–8pm, Thu 10am–9pm, Fri–Sat 10am–10pm, opening day 10am–9pm
Side sites	Fischmarkt, Schlösserbrücke, Anger, Willy-Brandt-Platz: daily 10am–8pm in 2025
Location	The Domplatz at the heart, plus Fischmarkt, Rathausbrücke, Schlösserbrücke, Anger and Willy-Brandt-Platz by the main station
Entry	free
Getting there	Erfurt Hbf, about 15 minutes' walk to the Domplatz; trams stop at Anger, Fischmarkt and Domplatz

The 2026 dates are confirmed, but Erfurt Tourism hasn't published the exact hours yet. We'll update the table once they're online.

Map: Erfurt Christmas Market

The market starts right at the station, with the first huts on Willy-Brandt-Platz. From there it runs along the Anger, over the Schlösserbrücke and the Rathausbrücke with its fairy-tale forest to the Fischmarkt in front of the Town Hall and finally to the Domplatz. The walk takes about 15 minutes – more like an hour with browsing.

What makes Erfurt special

The cathedral steps

Few squares in Germany are made for a Christmas market like the Domplatz: wide, open and crowned by two Gothic churches on Cathedral Hill. In the evening, with the facades floodlit and the big Christmas pyramid turning, you look out from the steps over a sea of stalls. Erfurt Tourism calls it Thuringia's largest market and counts more than a million visitors a year.

Pyramid, fairy-tale forest and eco bakery

On the Domplatz you'll find the big pyramid, a fairy-tale forest (Märchenwald) and the Öko-Backstube, where pastries are baked fresh. A second fairy-tale forest stands on the Rathausbrücke, right next to the Merchants' Bridge. For children, this stretch from the Fischmarkt to the cathedral is the best part.

175 years of tradition

Erfurt celebrated its 175th Christmas market in 2025, and 2026 is the 176th. The stalls sell traditional crafts from Thuringia and the Ore Mountains: glass tree ornaments, indigo blueprint textiles, pottery, incense smokers and candle arches.

What to eat and drink

• Erfurter Schittchen: Erfurt's name for Christmas stollen, said to be one of Germany's oldest – the classic souvenir.
• Thuringian Rostbratwurst: grilled over charcoal, served in a roll with Thuringian mustard; no visit is complete without one.
• Mulled wine in the Erfurt Christmas market mug, with a deposit.
• Fresh pastries from the eco bakery on the Domplatz.

Erfurt Tourism hasn't released 2026 prices.

An Advent day in Erfurt: our suggestion

1. 10am – main station and Anger: join the market on Willy-Brandt-Platz and stroll along the Anger with its grand town houses towards the Old Town.
2. 11am – Merchants' Bridge: Europe's longest bridge built over its full length with houses is still quiet in the morning; small shops sell crafts, Thuringian specialities and wooden toys.
3. 12.30pm – Fischmarkt and Rathausbrücke: a Rostbratwurst for lunch, then through the fairy-tale forest.
4. 2pm – Augustinian Monastery: a quiet detour to the Augustinian Monastery, where Martin Luther lived as a monk.
5. 3.30pm – Cathedral Hill: up to the cathedral while it's still light; its Gloriosa is one of the largest free-swinging medieval bells in the world.
6. From 4.30pm – the Domplatz in lights: mulled wine below the illuminated steps, then a Schittchen to take home.

Flowers and guided tours

In 2025 the Felsenkeller cellar by the cathedral hosted a floral Christmas exhibition with arrangements and Advent decorations, daily 11am–7pm. Erfurt Tourism and the city transport company also run special Advent tours: a walk with a Christmas elf, a historic tour led by Father Christmas, St Nicholas or an angel, the Altstadt-Express minibus and the vintage "Katerexpress" tram. 2026 dates will appear on the official website.

The view from the Petersberg

Behind the Domplatz rises the Petersberg Citadel, one of the largest surviving city fortresses in central Europe. Stairs lead up from the Domplatz to the plateau, where you look down on the cathedral, St Severus and the sea of market lights, best at blue hour around 4.30pm. Wrap up warm: it's usually windy at the top.

Weimar as a second stop

Just a quarter of an hour away by train, Weimar has Goethe's House, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library and the Park on the Ilm. Weimar has its own Christmas market in the Old Town too; we haven't checked its 2026 dates, so see Weimar's tourist office. Our tip: Erfurt in the afternoon and evening, Weimar the next morning while the museums are quiet.

A weekend in Thuringia and Saxony

Erfurt and Leipzig both open on 24 November 2026, and Dresden's Striezelmarkt a day later, so all three run at the same time between 25 November and 22 December:

• Day 1 – Erfurt: the Merchants' Bridge, the Domplatz and the Petersberg; stay in the Old Town.
• Day 2 – Leipzig: about 45 minutes by ICE, with the Markt, Naschmarkt and Augustusplatz.
• Day 3 – Dresden: just over an hour from Leipzig, with the Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt and the market by the Frauenkirche.

Practical tips for international visitors

When to go

• Weekday mornings: the market opens at 10am, earlier than many others, and it's pleasantly empty until lunchtime.
• Thursday to Saturday had longer hours in 2025, until 10pm on Friday and Saturday.
• Advent weekends: coach groups from all over Germany, so the Domplatz and Merchants' Bridge get very busy.
• The last day is 22 December, a little earlier than in many cities.

Getting there

Erfurt is an ICE hub: about 45 minutes from Leipzig and just over two hours from Berlin or Frankfurt. From the main station it's about 15 minutes on foot to the Domplatz, or take the tram, which stops at Anger, Fischmarkt and Domplatz. Drivers are advised to use the park-and-ride sites on the edge of town, as city-centre car parks are very full in Advent.

Cash, cards and Pfand

Carry some euros in cash, as not every stall takes cards. The Erfurt market mug carries a deposit (Pfand); hand it back for a refund or keep it as a souvenir.

With kids

Two fairy-tale forests, the pyramid and the bakery make Erfurt very child-friendly. The Domplatz is spacious enough for a pushchair, as long as you avoid weekend evenings.

Accessibility

The Domplatz itself is flat, but the Old Town has a lot of cobblestones and the cathedral steps can only be climbed on foot. If you want to visit the cathedral in a wheelchair, ask the cathedral information office about access in advance. Low-floor trams take you step-free to the Domplatz.

Where to stay

The Old Town between the Anger and the Domplatz is the nicest place to stay. Erfurt Tourism offers Advent packages; details for 2026 are still to come. Weimar, a quarter of an hour away by train, is another good base.

Gift idea: the cathedral, St Severus and the Merchants' Bridge on a personalised poster.

Nearby: our tips

• Erfurt Cathedral: Gothic St Mary's with the Gloriosa bell, right above the market.
• Merchants' Bridge: an inhabited bridge lined with shops between Fischmarkt and Wenigemarkt.
• Augustinian Monastery: Luther's monastery, a quiet spot amid the bustle.
• Petersberg Citadel: a fortress behind the Domplatz with views over the city.
• Goethe's House in Weimar: 15 minutes by train, ideal for a second day.

More: Erfurt.

FAQ

When does the Erfurt Christmas market open in 2026?

On Tuesday 24 November 2026. The opening-day time isn't out yet; in 2025 it was 10am–9pm on the first day.

How late is it open?

Until Tuesday 22 December 2026. Daily hours for 2026 haven't been published; in 2025 the Domplatz closed at 8pm Sunday to Wednesday, 9pm on Thursday and 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

Where is the market?

The heart is the Domplatz below the cathedral and St Severus. More huts stand on the Fischmarkt, Rathausbrücke, Schlösserbrücke, Anger and Willy-Brandt-Platz by the main station.

Is entry free?

Yes.

How much is mulled wine in Erfurt?

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

What is an Erfurter Schittchen?

Erfurt's name for Christmas stollen – a rich yeast cake with raisins and butter, said to be one of Germany's oldest stollen.

Can I bring my dog?

The organiser doesn't mention a ban, but the Domplatz is packed in the evening and at weekends; a weekday morning is better with a dog.

Read more

Erfurt pairs well with Saxony: the ICE takes about 45 minutes to the Leipzig Christmas market, which opens the same day, and on to the Striezelmarkt in Dresden. All markets: Christmas markets in Germany 2026.

Erfurt, Leipzig, Dresden? Turn it into a route poster.

Last checked: 16 October 2026. We'll add the 2026 opening hours once Erfurt Tourism publishes them.

Sources

• https://erfurt-weihnachtsmarkt.de/
• https://erfurt-weihnachtsmarkt.de/weihnachtsstadt
• https://erfurt-weihnachtsmarkt.de/anreise
• https://erfurt-weihnachtsmarkt.de/angebote

Image credits

• Photo: Eremeev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cover)
• Photo: H. Zell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0