Best Christmas Markets in Hamburg – Short travel guide to Hamburg

I don’t like the cold season at all, so, for me, the only exciting thing about winter is definitely the Christmas time. Cuz who doesn’t like Christmas, right? My secret not-so-secret winter wish is to be able to visit a different Christmas market every year. I’ve seen several in my country already, but they are not the most spectacular ones. 

As Germany is well known for its magical Christmas markets, last year I decided it’s time to give it a try. So Hamburg was on the list. Actually, Strasbourg and Colmar were initially on the table, but due to Covid situation, the flight to France was cancelled and we had to rethink the plan. 

Hamburg is the second biggest city in Germany, after Berlin. Besides its harbour famous area, Hamburg is also known for lots of theatres and museums, which make it one of the biggest cultural center in Europe. Hamburg prides itself with the world’s largest warehouse district, the Speicherstadt, which is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Back in the days, tons of coffee, spices, dried fruits and tobacco were stored there.

In terms of weather, the city is quite moody. There’s always a mix of soft rain, wind and sun, which is not my favorite part about Germany. During winter, it’s pretty cold and you should be prepared with warm clothes.

Getting around in Hamburg

Hamburg’s public transport is well connected and it serves pretty much every corner of the city. From the airport, you can reach town in about 30 min by train. For tourists, there are several options such as single, daily or weekly tickets, that are valid for all trains, buses and ferries. You can buy them from HVV ticket machines. The price range depends on the trip distance. For example,  for a short single trip we paid 1.80€. 

More details about Hamburg public transport can be found here.

Accommodation in Hamburg

Usually when I’m going in a city break, I look for central hotels, so I can save time getting around the city. In Hamburg, the best area to look for accommodation during Christmas, is near Rathaus, as it’s a very beautiful area and close to the Christmas markets. 

You can have a look at Novum hotels, which are all located in the heart of the city. Prices range between 60€ and 100€ per night for a double room, and some of them have breakfast included in the price.  

Hamburg Christmas Markets

Every year, there are many markets that take place in different parts of the city. We visited those which were closest to the city center, where our hotel was. Here are 3 of the best Hamburg Christmas markets you shouldn’t miss:

Rathausmarkt

You’ll find it right in from of the city hall and it is one of the top attractions in Hamburg in terms of Christmas markets 

Jungfernstieg

St. Pauli