The Dusseldorf Christmas markets have more to offer than you realize! This guide has everything you need to make the most of them.
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2024 update: the Mannheim Christmas markets will be open November 21 – December 30!
Dusseldorf may not make the international radar of great Christmas markets, but I loved them! They’re well decorated, small enough to explore in a day or two, and well situated around lots of other great Christmas market cities! Here’s everything you need to plan your time at the Dusseldorf Christmas markets.
Dusseldorf Christmas Markets Specialties
One of the biggest strengths of the Dusseldorf Christmas markets is that they’re so international! Whether you’re craving another country’s specialty like Hungarian langos, Czech chimney cakes, or Italian pasta, you can find it here.
Another benefit: I noticed way more options for gluten-free or vegan visitors here than you find at many other Christmas markets.
That being said, while you’re in Dusseldorf, here are some of the local bites you should try at a restaurant even if you don’t find them at the market:
Sauerbraten is a roasted meat with a slightly sour marinade. A weird description, but it’s delicious! It’s less common at the markets, but if you stop for a meal at a brewery, it’s my number one meal recommendation.
Like all parts of Germany, this area has a regional beer specialty. Altbier is more full-bodied than your average German bier, and I really liked it! It’s served in small glasses, and breweries typically track your order by marking your coaster with a tally count.
Killepitsch is a local liqueur used as a digestive after a meal! The flavor is herbal, made of 98 different herbs, berries, and fruit.
Dusseldorf Christmas Market Locations
Dusseldorf Christmas markets tend to flow one right into the others, so the distinctions are less important. But here are the major locations to make sure you see them all!
Each one has food and drink mixed in, even if that particular one has a specialty.
Major Markets:
The Altstadt Market is on Flingerstrasse, and it’s the perfect place to start your exploring! These booths are intricately painted and features a cute Christmas pyramid.
Handwerker Markt was probably my favorite. The focus here is artisans, so there are tons of great options for handmade souvenirs. Many are working right in there booths! The biggest tree is here, and it sits in the heart of the old town, Marktplatz.
If you’re looking for a place to hang out for a bit, head to Eisbahn in Corneliusplatz. It’s a massive ice rink, one of the biggest I’ve seen at a Christmas market. This is great because even when there are plenty of people, the ice doesn’t feel overrun. The booths here are almost entirely bars, so it’s a great place to take a break and peoplewatch with a gluhwein.
Marchen Markt translates to fairy tale market and has characters from the Grimm fairytales and a merry-go-round! Found in Schadowplatz, this is the biggest market and has the biggest variety of booths and food options.
Smaller markets
Burgplatz is smaller but has a massive Ferris wheel year round. All the booths are ornately painted like historic homes and shops. Go to this one in daytime to get the full effect! It’s also right along the river!
Ko-Lichter Markt along a canal that’s beautifully lit up. It goes from the lit archway at Bastionsbrücke up Königsallee up to the ice rink. It lines a major street, so not a major amount of pedestrian space, but it’s a pretty walk at night!
A few market areas flow off the Marchen Markt. Schadow Markt on Shadowstrasse has a few booths of Asian dishes if you need to break up the European food options. Then also head to Kö-Bogen and Ingenhoven-Tal Düsseldorf for smaller (read: quieter) offshoots over here too!
Dusseldorf Logistics
First, let me be honest about Dusseldorf for a minute. While the Christmas markets here are so much fun, the city itself is a bit… boring.
Don’t get me wrong: it’s 100% worth visiting the Dusseldorf Christmas markets!! But it’s worth noting that unlike many other towns hosting charming markets, Dusseldorf is a modern city with modern buildings, so it lacks that year-round charm historic cities bring to the table.
We used it as a home base for exploring the smaller cities nearby and I highly recommend it. But I’d stay three days max: one for arrival and exploring the Dusseldorf Christmas markets and one and a half for day trips nearby.
Because of the day tripping, I opted for a hotel closer to the train station than the center of Old Town. While I usually prioritize being in the middle of the action, I knew we’d be taking the train plenty and it was nice to not have to walk too far to get there in the mornings.
Hotel Dusseldorf Mitte hit that sweet spot of being a high quality, reasonably priced hotel that was less than 10 minutes’ walk to the train station and less than 15 minutes to the heart of things. There were also plenty of restaurants only steps away!
Nearby Christmas markets to add on
Dusseldorf makes a great jumping-off point for day trips to several nearby cities like Essen or Dortmund, home to the biggest Christmas tree in the world!
You can find everything here and more on my Dusseldorf + small town day trips guide on Thatch! It also includes details for the Christmas markets in Dortmund and Essen.
Only an hour away is Cologne, one of my all-time favorite Christmas markets! It’s easy to spend a couple of nights in Dusseldorf and then a few in Cologne to maximize distances for day trips. But if you’re pressed for time, stay in Cologne over Dusseldorf. From Cologne, you also have a whole different selection of easy smaller city day trips as well.
You’re also only a few hours from Heidelberg, Brussels, or Amsterdam by train or car!
Want more Christmas market inspiration? Check all my blog posts for free guides, or try my interactive guides for more comprehensive coverage of the markets!
