Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
The markets are really close together and easy to walk around the city. Here is what we loved and what we skipped.
We explored six of Düsseldorf's Christmas markets on foot, from a fairytale Town Hall square to an ice rink on Königsallee, the main shopping street. They sit so close together that you can walk from one to the next without realising you have switched. Here is what we loved, what we paid, which one is our favourite and the one we would skip.
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Where to Stay in Düsseldorf for the Christmas Markets
Düsseldorf's markets are all really close together, so anywhere central is easy to walk from. We stayed in a quiet area near the main shopping street, a seven minute walk from the markets. Here are the areas we recommend.
Near Königsallee, the Shopping Street
This is where we stayed. It is a quiet part of the city, not right in the middle of town, a seven minute walk from the markets and close to the Königsallee shopping street. You get the markets, the shops and a calm street to come back to at night.
Best for:
- Couples
- Friends
- Business trips
- Shopping lovers
Where to stay:
- MUZE Hotel Düsseldorf, we stayed here. It is a 4 star boutique hotel in a mid-century inspired building filled with art. We paid €216 for two nights and were given a free upgrade to a suite.
Look for a hotel near the shopping streets instead of right in the Old Town. We were a seven minute walk from the markets, and it meant we could do a full day of markets and then come back to a quiet room.
Altstadt (Old Town)
Stay here and the Town Hall, Altstadt and Burgplatz markets are on your doorstep, with the Rhine promenade just beyond. The Old Town is the lively part of Düsseldorf, packed with brewhouses and bars, so it is a great base for first-timers, though it can be noisy in the evenings, especially at weekends.
Best for:
- First-time visitors
- Friends
- Nightlife lovers
- Market lovers
Where to stay:
- The Wellem, a luxury boutique hotel in the Old Town, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, with the markets on your doorstep.
Things You Cannot Miss at Düsseldorf's Christmas Markets
Düsseldorf's Christmas market is really a collection of smaller markets that run into each other, which is different to the markets we visited in Cologne. These are the ones we loved, the ones to skip and the order we would walk them.
- The Town Hall Market, our most beautiful market, with the historic town hall and Old Town architecture as a fairytale backdrop, a lit up carousel and a woodworking stall.
- The Kö-Bogen Market by the Apple Store, our favourite, a winter themed square with the best food we found, from garlic mushrooms in a bread roll to a metre-long Kinder Bueno crepe.
- The shopping district market and ice rink, the largest and liveliest market at night, with a rink where you skate around a monument and a wooden ski chalet bar.
- The Dome of Lights, a glowing, cathedral-shaped light installation on Königsallee, and one we would not miss.
The Town Hall Market
The historic town hall and Old Town architecture give this market a fairytale, Christmassy feel the moment you arrive. It is on the smaller side, so you can walk around in 15 to 20 minutes, which makes it cosy and relaxed rather than overwhelming. We visited on a Saturday at 11:30am and did not find it too crowded compared to the others. A carousel lit up at the entrance makes it family friendly, and there is a woodworking stall where you can watch someone making the Christmas decorations they sell.
We loved the large Christmas tree in the middle, and the stalls are full of traditional, handmade gifts: wooden ornaments and miniatures, handmade pictures, essential oils and soaps, painted glass candle holders featuring cities from around the world, souvenirs and even puppets. There are a few food stalls too, with currywurst and bratwurst, champignons in garlic sauce, mulled wine at €5 and local beer bars.
Go on a Saturday late morning. We arrived at 11:30am and it was far less crowded than we expected, which gave us space to browse the handmade stalls.
The Altstadt Market, Flinger Straße
Just around the corner, this is the smallest market in Düsseldorf, with the stalls lining the shopping street. We arrived before the stalls opened at 11am, which was a great chance to enjoy the design of the huts, which represent the architecture of the Old Town. It is famous for the Glühwein Pyramid, a German bar selling mulled wine and eggnog for €5. The stalls sell traditional food and gifts, from homemade alcohol and roasted chestnuts to currywurst, bratwurst, loaded fries and plenty of hanging gingerbread and nuts.
Skip the cinnamon buns at Cinnamood. They looked incredible, with vegan and normal options, but the Biscoff one we tried was quite dry and lacked density. We would grab loaded fries or roasted chestnuts instead.
The Shopping District Market & Ice Rink
This market runs around the designer shops close to the park and the water, and it is the largest and liveliest at night. There are several bars to choose from, singing reindeer and DJs playing in the evening. The ice rink lets you skate around a monument, and a traditional wooden ski chalet bar is the perfect place to watch the skaters with a drink. All of the drinks across this market are the same price, €5 for mulled wine plus a deposit.
The area around the rink is mostly food, with bratwurst and currywurst, crepes, spring rolls, Asian food and fried potato, which is what we ate, costing €5 for three served with apple sauce. There is still a small selection of crafts and cosy wear like hats and gloves. This market has our favourite Christmas tree, where you can climb halfway up and get cosy in a seating area with a drink from the bar.
We would visit the ice rink and Christmas tree in the afternoon instead of the evening, because it gets busier at night. Go in the afternoon if you want it calmer.
The Kö-Bogen Market, by the Apple Store
Our favourite market in Düsseldorf. It is winter themed, with a mix of food and traditional gifts in a square setting, and every food vendor offers something different. There is the usual currywurst, fried potato and fries, a mulled wine bar, and burgers, which were expensive at €12. We ordered the champignons in garlic sauce served in a large bread roll for €6.50, which was incredible and such great value. For dessert we had a Kinder Bueno crepe made with four pieces of Bueno, a metre long and really delicious, also €6.50. They also sold chocolate covered strawberries and hanging gingerbread.
We would order the garlic mushrooms in a bread roll for €6.50 instead of a €12 burger, then finish with the Kinder Bueno crepe to share.
The Schadowstraße Market
Just a few minutes' walk away, Schadowstraße is another of Düsseldorf's main shopping streets, and the stalls line it. It got very busy at night. The stalls are mostly food, including churros and pasta tossed in a cheese wheel, alongside arts and crafts and Christmas decorations. If you are looking for a personalised gift, they offer glass engraving, which we had not seen anywhere else.
The Dome of Lights
The Dome of Lights is a glowing, cathedral-shaped light installation on Königsallee, up to 15 metres high and covered in around 3,500 lights. It goes up at the beginning of November and runs until Christmas, and we would not miss it. It is especially striking in the evening.
The Winter Village, the one we would skip
This was our most disappointing market. It sits just after the Dome of Lights and felt very commercialised, with a big fashion brand sponsor. It is small and gets very cramped because there is not much space between the stalls. The only reason we would recommend going is if you are a fan of Bonne Maman jam, as there is a dedicated stall.
How to Get Around Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf's markets are close together and easy to walk between, and Cologne is an easy day trip.
All of the Christmas markets in Düsseldorf are close to each other, and they are made up of smaller markets you can walk between without realising you are in a different one. If you arrive by public transport, Heinrich-Heine-Allee underground station is the most central stop for the markets.
Cologne is only a 30 minute train journey from Düsseldorf, and it cost us €26 return. There are cheaper trains depending on which ones you pick. We stayed in Düsseldorf and visited the Cologne markets in a day, which meant we got to see both cities. Read our Cologne Christmas markets guide →
Our Favourite Places to Eat in Düsseldorf
We ate our way around the markets, so these are the bites we would go back for, plus the one we would not.
Champignons in garlic sauce, Kö-Bogen Market
Mushrooms in garlic sauce served in a large bread roll for €6.50. It was incredible, and such great value.
Kinder Bueno crepe, Kö-Bogen Market
A metre long and made with four pieces of Bueno, so it is one to share. It was really delicious and cost €6.50.
Fried potato, shopping district market
Crispy fried potato served with apple sauce, €5 for three. It is a great warming snack beside the ice rink.
Mulled wine at the Glühwein Pyramid
The Glühwein Pyramid on the Altstadt Market sells mulled wine and eggnog for €5, and mulled wine is the same price across all the markets, plus a mug deposit.
Chocolate covered strawberries and hanging gingerbread turn up at almost every market. We would save our appetite for the Kö-Bogen Market instead and try the garlic mushrooms there.
Save Money & Travel Tips
The markets are free to wander, and a few small choices make the trip cheaper. Prices are what we paid on our visit.
We stayed in Düsseldorf and day-tripped to Cologne, a 30 minute train for €26 return, and there are cheaper trains depending on which ones you pick. It was half the price of staying in Cologne, and we got to experience both cities' Christmas markets.
This is one of the more affordable Christmas markets we have found in Europe, especially coming from the UK. Food averages about £11 or £12 and a mulled wine can cost £8 to £12 at home, so it is nearly half the price here.
Mulled wine is €5 across all of the markets, plus a deposit for the mug. The Glühwein Pyramid on the Altstadt Market also sells eggnog for €5.
Midweek is the best time to visit. If you are going at the weekend, go early in the morning, because Schadowstraße and the shopping district get very busy at night.
In 2026 the Düsseldorf Christmas markets run from 19 November to 30 December. They are open 11am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with some stalls staying open later. They are closed on 22 November and 25 December, and open 11am to 3pm on Christmas Eve.
Tipping is appreciated but not expected. Rounding up the bill or leaving around 5 to 10 percent is normal, and you usually tell the server the total you would like to pay.
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Düsseldorf or Cologne for Christmas Markets?
We did both on the same trip and they feel completely different. Düsseldorf's markets are smaller and sit so close together that you can walk from one to the next without realising you have changed market. Cologne's are spread across the city, each with a strong theme and a stunning cathedral backdrop.
Düsseldorf Christmas Markets: Frequently Asked Questions
What do we wish we had known before visiting Düsseldorf's Christmas markets?
We wish we had known the markets run into each other, so you cannot tell where one ends and the next begins. We also wish we had skipped the Winter Village, which was small and cramped. We couldn't believe how good the food was at the Kö-Bogen Market though, so we would plan lunch there instead of eating at a restaurant.
What is worth adding to a Düsseldorf itinerary if you have more time?
We would add the Dome of Lights on Königsallee, a glowing cathedral-shaped light installation, and a day trip to Cologne, only 30 minutes away by train. It cost us €26 return, and there are cheaper trains depending on which you pick. The Cologne markets have a stunning cathedral backdrop. We loved doing both cities on one trip.
Is Düsseldorf safe?
We felt comfortable walking around the city centre and between the markets. The shopping district and Schadowstraße markets get very busy at night, so we would keep our bag zipped and in front of us in the crowds, as you would anywhere busy. We visited the quieter markets earlier in the day instead.
When are the Düsseldorf Christmas markets in 2026, and what are the opening hours?
In 2026 the markets run from 19 November to 30 December, open 11am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with some stalls open later. They are closed on 22 November and 25 December, open 11am to 3pm on Christmas Eve, and reopen on 26 December. Check the official site before you travel.
Are the Düsseldorf Christmas markets free to enter?
We did not pay to enter any of the Düsseldorf markets, and you can wander between them as you like. What we spent was on food and drink: mulled wine at €5 plus a mug deposit, €5 for fried potato and €6.50 for garlic mushrooms in a bread roll. We would budget for snacks instead of entry.
Where can you go ice skating at the Düsseldorf Christmas markets?
Kö on Ice is the ice rink at the shopping district market, where you skate around a monument. We loved the traditional wooden ski chalet bar beside it, where you can watch the skaters with a drink. We would visit in the afternoon instead of the evening, because it gets busier at night. Go in the afternoon if you want it calmer.
Which station is closest to the Düsseldorf Christmas markets?
Heinrich-Heine-Allee underground station is the most central stop, between the Old Town and Königsallee. The markets are so close together that we walked between them, and our hotel was only a seven minute walk away. We would stay within walking distance instead of planning transport.
Which Düsseldorf Christmas market is the best?
The Kö-Bogen Market by the Apple Store was our favourite, with the best food we found. The Town Hall Market was the most beautiful, with the historic town hall as a backdrop. The shopping district market around the ice rink was the liveliest at night. We would visit all three and skip the Winter Village.
How much do things cost at the Düsseldorf Christmas markets?
When we visited, mulled wine was €5 plus a mug deposit across all the markets. Fried potato was €5 for three with apple sauce, the champignons in garlic sauce in a bread roll were €6.50, and a metre-long Kinder Bueno crepe was €6.50. We would skip the €12 burgers instead and eat the garlic mushrooms.
Is Düsseldorf or Cologne better for Christmas markets?
We did both. Cologne's markets are strongly themed and spread across the city, with a stunning cathedral backdrop. Düsseldorf's are smaller, closer together and easier to wander. We stayed in Düsseldorf and took the 30 minute train to Cologne for €26 return, because it was half the price of staying in Cologne.
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