Ultimate Guide to Düsseldorf’s Christmas Markets
Düsseldorf is one of Germany’s more popular destinations for Christmas Markets, and every year in December the city comes alive for Christmas while locals and tourists alike flock there for the fesitivities. Düsseldorf is nearby Cologne and Essen both of which have popular Christmas Markets and a trip to all 3 can be easily combined!
I enjoyed Düsseldorf Christmas Markets, but preferred Dresden (locatedin Eastern Germany near Prague) and the more low-key Essen Christmas Market, a short train ride from Düsseldorf. I visited Düsseldorf Christmas Market on a Saturday right before Christmas and think the insane number of people may have detracted from the overall expereince. I’d love to go back and visit on a weekday!
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- Düsseldorf Christmas Market Locations & Map
- What to Eat at Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
- Tips for Visiting Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
- Düsseldorf Christmas Markets Dates & Hours 2024
- Where to Stay in Düsseldorf
- Getting to Düsseldorf
- Düsseldorf Christmas Market Overall Rating
Düsseldorf Christmas Market Locations & Map
Düsseldorf has 7 different Christmas Markets spread across the city center. They’re all within walking distance of each other and each of the market has a different theme. It’s easy to see all of these in one day if you’re short on time!
- Handwerker Christmas Market at Rathauplatz
- Aldstadt Market on Flinger Straße
- Burgplatz French Village Christmas Market
- Kö-Bogen Christmas Market
- Corneliusplatz Ice Rink & Kö-Lichter-Christmas Market
- Märchen-Markt on Shadowplatz
- Schadow-Markt on Schadowstraße
Handwerker Christmas Market at Rathauplatz
The Handwerker Christmas Market at Rathauplatz is located right in the heart of Düsseldorf & is a can’t miss stop. The market sits directly in front of City Hall (Rathaus) This market is small and picturesque, but the crowds on a Saturday afternoon were so intense you couldn’t even really do a full lap of the market, or get close enough to order any food or drink!
I didn’t spend too much time here, because the crowds were overwhelming and there were too many people to stop and enjoy! It’s a traditinally styled German Christmas market with a focus on selling handmade goods.
Aldstadt Market on Flinger Straße
Right down the street from Handwerker Christmas Market at Rathauplatz is the Aldstadt Market on Flinger Straße. Stalls run down the Flinger Straße where it meets Marktstraße. This area can be slightly less crowded than Rathausplatiz.
Burgplatz French Village Christmas Market
Another popular market near Rathausplatz is Burgplatz French Village Christmas Market. This market sits right along the Rhein River and is meant to be designed and styled like a French Vilage. They serve French food at many of the stalls.
You’ll also find a large ferris wheel here that’s a great way to escape the crowds and geta view over the entire city!
Kö-Bogen Christmas Market
I spent a lot of my time at the Kö-Bogen Market while in Düsseldorf, mostly because the glühwein bar (pictured above) had an elevated viewing platform and it was a great way to get a bit of space from the crowds and enjoy a glass of Glühwein with a view!
Corneliusplatz Ice Rink & Kö-Lichter-Christmas Market
Right next to Kö-Bogen you’ll find the Corneliusplatz Ice Rink & Kö-Lichter-Christmas Market. Düsseldorf has a large ice rink and curling lanes located right in Corneliusplatz next to the Kö-Lichter-Christmas Market. This area was absolute insanity on a Saturday afternoon, making it impossible to even get near the ice skating rink or curling.
Märchen-Markt on Shadowplatz
Märchen-Markt on Shadowplatz seemed to me like the place to hang & drink in Düsseldorf. This area was still quite crowded, but there was more room to have a drink and stand around without being in the way of a bunch of people trying to navigate!
Schadow-Markt on Schadowstraße
Another Christmas Market located on Düsseldorf’s most popular shopping street, Schadowstraße. This smaller market is located right near Märchen-Markt.
What to Eat at Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
You;ll never go hungry at a Christmas Market in Germany and you’ll find a lot of the same foods at many of the markets across Germany, but each has their own specialities you should try! In Düsseldorf don’t miss:
- Gebrannte Mandeln – Roasted Almonds – you will smell these everywhere you go! Do not miss
- Reibekuchen – potato pancakes, hot, greay and freshly cooked cannot be missed!
- Glühwein – duh a staple at any Christmas market! You need a way to stay warm
- Bratwurst – a must-try at any German Christmas Market!
Tips for Visiting Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
- Bring cash the markets are all cash only!
- When buying Glühwein or punch – they come in ceraic mugs, you pay an extra 2-3 euro as a deposit for the mug that will be returned to you if you return thr mug, otherwise keep it as a souvenir!
- Despite there being 7 different markets, they’re all located near one another, so it’s easy to visit them all in one day!
- Try to avoid a Saturday if you want less crowds, it gets extremely crowded on the weekend afternoons!
- Düsseldorf is near Essen, Cologne, Duisburg and Dortmund if you want to combine visiting a few Christmas markets into one trip!
Düsseldorf Christmas Markets Dates & Hours 2024
Dates Nov 21 2024 – Dec 30 2024
Timed
Sun-Thu: 11AM – 8PM
Fri & Sat: 11AM – 9PM
Where to Stay in Düsseldorf
If you’re visiting Düsseldorf for the Christmas Markets I definitelt recommend staying in the Old Town area of the city where the 7 main markets are all located. Some of my top recommendations would be
Steigenberger Parkhotel, Düsseldorf
For an upscale option right in the heart of the city center try Steigenberger Parkhotel, Düsseldorf. This hotel sits right next to the Ice Skating & Curling Rinks + the Kö-Lichter & Kö-Bogen Markets.
The Wellem – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
For a bit of a quieter option that’s still close to the heart of the city (a short walk from Burgplatz and Rathauplatz) try The Wellem – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Getting to Düsseldorf
By Train:
Düsseldorf is well connected to all other major cities in Germany via train. The main station in Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf HBF, is about a 20-30 minute walk to the Old Town area of Düsseldorf where the Christmas Markets are located.
Train times from Düsseldorf to nearby Cities:
- Essen – 25 minutes
- Duisburg – 15 minutes
- Dortmund – 45 minutes
- Cologne – 30 minutes
By Plane:
Düsseldorf also has an international airport if you’re coming from farther where it doesn’t make sense to travel via train. The airport is connected via train to the citt center and it takes only 8 minutes
Düsseldorf Christmas Market Overall Rating
11 of 11
While I enjoyed Düsseldorf & the Christmas Markets there it ultimately was my least favorite of the 11 I visited. The crowds were incredibly overwhleming, making it hard to enjoy the experience & difficult to even grab a glass of Glühwein to enjoy. I’d like to go back and visit on a non weekend or try to get there earlier in the morning to see if it was better (I went the 3rd Saturday of December and got there mid afternoon)
