Frankfurt Christmas Market - Best Places to Visit During the Holiday Season

Discover the festive charm of the Frankfurt Christmas market with our guide to the best places to visit during the holiday season, offering a blend of traditional delights and seasonal cheer.

It’s that magical time of year... again! Despite the pandemic, there’s no better way to embrace the Christmas spirit than wandering through festive markets filled with delicious food, sparkling lights, and cheerful holiday music. Each year, a new quest begins for Rafael and me to discover different Christmas markets. In 2022, we explored Antwerp Chrisstmas market and Maastricht Christmas market in 2022, as well as Ghent Christmas market in 2019. With many larger markets in the Netherlands closed due to pandemic restrictions, we heard that Germany was still celebrating. So, we hopped on a train and hit our old-base Frankfurt to check the Christmas treat it could offer us!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Frankfurt is internationally renowned for its Christmas market, which even has its own international branch in Birmingham, its sister city. The city center comes alive with beautiful Christmas lights and decorated wooden stalls offering traditional delicacies, as well as a wide range of gifts like Christmas decorations, arts and crafts, and knitwear. The festive atmosphere is sure to impress any Christmas lover. Typically running from late November until just before Christmas Day, the Frankfurt Christmas market draws visitors from around the world. To avoid the crowds, it’s best to visit on weekdays instead of Fridays or Saturdays. For more information, visit the Frankfurt Tourist Office website.

The Christmas market is held from 25 November to 22 December, offering a festive experience throughout the holiday season.

The Christmas market is open every day with the following schedule:

• Mon. to Sat.: from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday: from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission to the Christmas market is free of charge, allowing everyone to enjoy the market’s festive atmosphere.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS HISTORY

The origins of Christmas markets date back to the 13th century, when "December markets" were created to help residents gather meat and essential supplies for winter. Frankfurt's market is one of the earliest examples, first mentioned in official records in 1393. Unlike these practical December markets, the Christmas markets that emerged later in the Middle Ages within the Germanic Holy Roman Empire had a more festive purpose. The Striezelmarkt in Dresden, established in 1434, is recognized as the first true Christmas market, initially held on Christmas Eve. It allowed townspeople to purchase meat and food for their holiday meals after Advent fasting while enjoying traditional religious performances.

As the tradition of Christmas markets spread beyond Germany, they gained popularity in various countries around the world. Today, these markets are celebrated throughout the Advent season, transforming towns and cities into festive wonderlands filled with twinkling lights and cheerful decorations. These markets welcome everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, fostering a strong sense of community and joy during the holiday season.

Set against the backdrop of the historic Römerberg square, the Frankfurt Christmas market has evolved significantly over the centuries. While it continues to offer delicious food and drink, the market has also embraced new traditions, featuring handcrafted wooden toys, gingerbread treats, and a traditional large Christmas tree, which became a festive decoration only in the early 19th century. This blend of old and new customs highlights the market's adaptability, making it a cherished destination for visitors from all walks of life.

GETTING THERE

Frankfurt, being one of Germany's largest cities, is incredibly accessible, especially from other major European cities like Berlin, Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam, whether it's by train, plane, or car.

• By train: We recommend traveling to Frankfurt by train for its convenience and efficiency. The Hauptbanhof (Frankfurt main train station) is one of Europe's busiest stations, offering connections to major German and European cities.
• By car: Coming by car is also straightforward, as Frankfurt is intersected by several autobahns near Frankfurt Airport. The A3 from The Netherlands and the A5 from Switzerland provide easy access to the city.
• By plane: For international travelers, Frankfurt Airport is a major gateway, serving over 100 countries worldwide. Getting to the city center from the airport is a breeze, with its own train station (DB Rail Terminal) connecting to other major German cities, and an S-Bahn station linking directly to Frankfurt main train station in just 10 minutes.

Thanks to Frankfurt's central location in Europe, it has become one of the largest hubs in the region, making it one of the most accessible destinations in Europe year-round.

THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Frankfurt Christmas market takes place during the holiday season and is open every day. What characterizes Frankfurt Christmas market is that there is not just one Christmas market, but several! These different markets are spread over several locations in the city, which gives Frankfurt a magical holiday vibe! Below we have listed the top three places where you can find the best parts of the Christmas market.

The Christmas market at Hauptwache, one of the largest and most central squares in Frankfurt, is one of the city's main Christmas markets. We highly recommend that you start your Christmas markets tour here. You will find mainly food stalls with traditional German sweets as well as typical seasonal cheesy dishes. If you have some time, we highly recommend you enter the Galeria store, whether to buy delicious chocolates on the basement level or to enjoy the iconic view of Frankfurt from the top of this huge department store (see photo below).

Paulsplatz is one of the largest squares in Frankfurt old town and is dominated by the imposing St. Paul's Church. This is the second stop we recommend you make during your walk through the Christmas markets. Here you will also find many rows of stalls, but this time not only food stalls, but also gift stalls. Here you can indeed buy traditional handicrafts from the region, which make nice gifts and souvenirs.

Römer is undeniably the most iconic square in Frankfurt and is certainly the place that comes to mind when you imagine Frankfurt during the holiday season! This is also the reason why we suggest to end your Christmas markets tour, so you can save the best for last! Römer (or Römerberg) is located in Frankfurt old town and is home to the city's main and largest Christmas market. The famous imposing Christmas tree in front of the city hall is located here, which will leave you speechless! Here again you will find many rows of stalls but also a vintage carousel where children (and many adults as well) love to take a ride. In short, Römer is the perfect place to get the perfect Christmas vibe while drinking some mulled wine (Glühwein) and eating some cheesy snacks!

WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK?

You can't leave a German Christmas market without trying some traditional treats. Germany is home to many specialties, which are all the more visible during the holiday season:

• Glüwhein (Mulled wine): A warm holiday favorite, Glühwein is made from red wine simmered with spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy while exploring the Christmas market, offering comfort and festive warmth.
• Apfelwhein (Hot apple wine): A beloved local drink, Apfelwein is especially enjoyed hot with spices during the holiday season—a bit like mulled wine but with a delicious apple twist. A must-try in Frankfurt!
• Schneeball (Snowball): This traditional pastry from Rothenburg ob der Tauber is made of shortcrust dough, shaped into a ball, and dusted with powdered sugar. While it looks tempting, it might not be as tasty as it appears!
• Brezel (Pretzel): This German snack by excellence is perhaps one of the most famous snack Germany has exported. It is a baked pastry made of dough that takes the shape of a knot. A must try on a German Christmas market.
• Flammlachs (Blazed Salmon): This Finnish-inspired dish features salmon fillets attached to wooden boards and roasted vertically in front of a wood fire. Brushed with saltwater as it cooks, Flammlachs has become a popular treat at German Christmas markets.
• Bratwurst (Sausage): A classic German Christmas market dish, bratwurst is a must-try! Served in a bun or with fries, these sausages are a staple of German cuisine. Another favorite is currywurst, a sausage topped with curry sauce, perfect for a hearty snack.

In short, you can't leave a German Christmas market without trying some of these things. We highly recommend you to take some time to eat and drink as this is definitely a big part of German Christmas markets!

WHAT TO BUY?

There are plenty of things to buy as gifts or souvenirs in a German Christmas market, and Frankfurt Christmas market is no exception to it:

• Miniature Christmas houses: These charming ceramic replicas of traditional German houses make perfect Christmas souvenirs. When in Frankfurt, look for replicas of iconic buildings like the town hall or those around Römer Square.
• Bembel: A traditional handmade pottery jug unique to the region, Bembel is typically used to serve apple wine. Its distinct style and regional significance make it a lovely memento of your visit.
• Weihnachtsstollen (Stollen): A must-try at German Christmas markets, Stollen is a festive fruit bread filled with nuts, spices, and dried fruits, often containing marzipan and dusted with powdered sugar.
• Lebkuchenherzen (Gingerbread hearts): These honey-sweetened German cakes are a beloved Christmas treat. Shaped into hearts and decorated, they’re a tasty part of Germany’s holiday traditions, similar in flavor to gingerbread.

As you can see, you won't leave a German Christmas market empty-handed! German Christmas markets are all about local food and handcrafted gifts and, most importantly, about traditions that have been around for centuries.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So in a nutshell, we were really glad we had the opportunity to visit one of the most famous Christmas market this year. Of course with the pandemic, it is scary to go to an overcrowded market but everything seems well controlled by the local police and everyone was using masks. In short, we think Frankfurt has managed to put together a very good Christmas market experience that is definitely worth a visit!

And now it's your turn to let us know what you think about the city of Frankfurt and its famous Christmas market. Have you every ever been there? What else would you recommend doing in this city? We look forward to reading your comments in the section below.

Tags: Germany