Ultimate Guide To The Best Christmas Markets In Düsseldorf
Christmas is one of my favorite seasons of the year! Everything gets festive, cities are lit up with Christmas lights, and especially here in Europe, Christmas Markets pop up! In my opinion, Düsseldorf has one of the most beautiful Christmas market scenery in Germany and is probably one of the most underrated ones. When I read through lists of the best Christmas Markets in Germany, I read a lot about Dresden or Nuremberg but very seldom about Düsseldorf. Therefore, I prepared a guide to the best Christmas Markets in Düsseldorf!
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Christmas Markets In Düsseldorf
All over the city center and the old town of Düsseldorf, you’ll find nine different themed Christmas Markets. Each has its unique style and topic like handcrafting, fairytale, little angels, and stars.
To explore Düsseldorf and its Christmas Markets, you first need to know where to find them! The easiest way to start strolling them is to find your way to the city center. The best starting points are Heinrich-Heine-Allee, which is the easiest way to get there from Düsseldorf’s central station. From here, you can head to the right or the left. You’re in the middle of all the Christmas Markets. This one is probably a good option when you have at least two days for visiting.
However, the list below follows a route from one end of the Christmas Market trail to the other end. That might be the best route when you have only one day and need to save a little bit of time walking around. In that case, we kick off our tour at the Underground station/ tram station Schadowstraße.
By the way, you can also enjoy the festive season in Düsseldorf for free!
1. Kö-Bogen-Markt
When you come up the stairs from the underground station or hop off the tram at Schadowstraße, you can already see it. The Christmas market by the Kö-Bogen will amaze you with its picturesque view of the Hofgarten, Düsseldorf’s most central city park.
At the spectacular Magic Sky canopy, you can listen to live music sessions or take part in the Christmas Carol singing. By the way, this is only one of a few free things to do during the Christmas season in Düsseldorf!
That is also the place where the popular children’s activity tent can be found. And you have to taste the wild boar sausage and the quince-apple-punch. Yummy! My favorite!
2. Schadow-Markt
The next stop on our tour is Schadowstraße and its Christmas Huts. While shopping in the surrounding mall, you can enjoy craftworks, snacks, and seasonal beverages like Feuerzangenbowle and more.
3. Märchen-Markt
Almost at the end of Schadowstraße, you will come to the Fairytale-Market at Schadowplatz. A village in wintry white will spread festive cheer with all the flair reminiscent of Scandinavia. If you have a look at the top of the stalls, you can find scenes from famous fairytales of the Brother’s Grimm, which gave this market its name; “Fairytale market.” Look for Mother Hulda, Sleeping Beauty, or Snow White. Will you be able to find them?
4. Winter Wonderland
When you leave the shopping area around Kö-Bogen and Königsallee and head towards the old town, you’ll come across the Winter Wonderland. It includes an ice rink and some huts around it where you can drink mulled wine, Füchschen Altbier, eat Crepes, sausages, and many more. If you want to try playing a traditional German version of curling, make sure that you book a spot for Eisstockschießen in advance. To find this one, follow the Königsallee until the end or look out for the Hotel Steigenberger*. It’s located right in front of it!
5. Engelchenmarkt
The next one on that tour is the Engelchenmarkt, which means little angel. You will notice it because of the little golden angels sitting on the top of the stalls. That´s why it´s called Engelchenmarkt!
It´s located beside the Carschhaus and next to the tube station Heinrich-Heine-Allee.
One highlight of this Christmas Market is in the historic bandstand, where you can find a bar inside it. The “Grillstübchen” you can see here offers the best German sausages called “Bratwurst” or “Krakauer.” Try it, and you will love it. Some vegetarian options are available at the stalls of the “Peru-Kartoffel” or the “Flammkuchen.” Or, if you look for some typical German sweets, find the booth with the “Aachener Printen,” a specialty from Aachen.
6. Sternchenmarkt
At “Stadtbrückchen,” is a bit hidden in the inner courtyard of Wilhelm-Marx-Haus, just across the street from the Engelchenmarkt, you’ll find the Sternchenmarkt. The best time to visit the Sternchenmarkt is when it gets dark. Then you can see why it’s called “Little Star Market.” It looks like millions of tiny and glittering stars, crystals, and snow-covered huts.
7. Old Town Market
Dive deeper into the old town, and you’ll find another Christmas Market of Düsseldorf. The Flinger Straße is the heart of the Old Town and links the Engelchenmarkt at Heinrich-Heine-Platz with the Handicraft market at Marktplatz. The style of the Christmas market huts shows the old Düsseldorf burgher houses. One highlight is the traditional and giant pyramid opposite the Carschhaus department store and is a popular spot for friends to meet up and have a great start with having a mulled wine before exploring the other Christmas Markets.
8. Handwerker-Markt on Marktplatz
Located in front of Düsseldorf’s city hall and the foot of the equestrian statue of Elector Jan Wellem, visitors will discover a Christmas Market Village with huts and cabins modeled on the style of the Renaissance brick-built city hall in the heart of Düsseldorf’s Old Town. You will find glass-blowers, woodturners, painters, pewterers, and brush makers who offer their wares. You can also watch how they produce and built more of their art. For more children’s fun, there is a restored carousel, which is almost 100 years old. And if you get cold, you can have an original Vintner “Glühwein” or “Feuerzangenbowle” to warm you up again.
9. French Markt at Burgplatz
At Burgplatz, you can not only find the giant fair wheel (also known as Wheel of Vision) but even more stalls with typical French delicacies. Enjoy the views of the lit-up city while taking a ride on the wheel and some more mulled wine or an “Altbier” (the traditional beer here in Düsseldorf) afterward.
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And here ends our little tour of the Christmas Markets in Düsseldorf!
What do you think? Are you ready for a Christmas adventure? Leave me a comment and tell me your thoughts!
We stopped here a couple of years ago and went to one of the Christmas markets, but I’m not sure which! I actually didn’t know there was more than one before reading your post.
Would love to travel in November and December just to visit Christmas markets all over the world. Great guide to Dusseldorf.
Wow, I really need to get to Dusseldorf! These markets looks so charming. I love that you can also do a French market there!
Cannot wait for Christmas Market season this year! Do you know the 2021 dates yet?
Hi Linnea, yeah, I can´t wait either. So far it looks like 18th November – 30th December 2021. Let me know when you plan to come around. Maybe we could meet up for a Glühwein, or two 🙂
Hello there! This article couldn’t be written any better!
Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He continually kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him.
Pretty suure he’ll have a good read. Thanks for
sharing!
OMG!! A bucket list item for me. Thanks so much for sharing.
I haven’t been to any xmas markets in Germany, but it looks incredible. Will try to make it happen next year! Great guide 😀
Thanks for sharing. These markets look amazing! I’d have a hard time not buying everything in sight!
Great guide! Thanks for sharing, will definitely have to plan a Christmas trip to Dusseldorf one year!
I’ve only been to a Christmas market in France! I’m hoping to maybe go to one (or a few by the looks of this list!!) next year!
Wow, I didn’t realise that there were so many Christmas markets in Dusseldorf – what a fab post!
German Christmas Markets are just the best. I am headed to Hamburg next week.
Nine Christmas markets just in Dusseldorf!? They really do take Christmas seriously! I am so impressed. Stadtbrückchen looks amaaaazing with all those lights!
Oh I just love European Christmas markets!!! These look absolutely fantastic, too. Thank you for the tips!
German Christmas markets are the best, aren’t they? Never done the one in Düsseldorf, though, should probably get there quickly 😉
I really want to see these Christmas markets! I was meant to go this weekend to Hamburg but my flight was cancelled.
The problem with Europe’s Christmas markets is that you want to visit them all. Düsseldorf is definitely on my bucket list now!
What lovely markets. I’d have to visit Europe in winter sometime, particularly Germany to see such fun markets.. and shop a ton 😊
Ahhh, the Sternchenmarket is it, it looks so inviting. I’ve been to Düsseldorf many years ago but not during Christmas. I liked the atmosphere of the city.
Nicola, Sternchenmarkt is indeed awesome! Especially, when it gets dark and the “Sternchen” (Little Stars get lit up!
I’ve never been to Duesseldorf, but I’m thinking of going there soon hopefully. And since I haven’t yet booked anything for December, who knows… 🙂
Yeah, Nina! Come over and enjoy the festive atmosphere here! Let me know when you´re around, I can give you a little Christmas Market Tour 😉
These look so beautiful! I would love to go to a Christmas market someday. These look extraordinary.
Hi Katrina, are there any Christmas Markets around your place?
Loved it
Thanks a lot, Sagar!
I love Christmas markets, these sound amazing!
Yeah, I love them, too! Soon, I´ll explore the Christmas Market of one of our neighboring cities!