Won’t you take a wander with me on a magical journey to enjoy the delights of the Dusseldorf Christmas Markets? We travelled from a gloomy London morning to Düsseldorf in less than 90 minutes. Join us as we share our ultimate guide for the best time ever at the Düsseldorf Christmas markets.
We spent four days and three nights exploring these Christmas Markets. Let me show you around and personally guide you to where we found the best festive treasures, where we shopped, and where we ate in this European gem!
Why visit Düsseldorf’s Christmas Markets?
If you’re searching for the best Christmas markets in Europe, you will be spoiled for choice. Germany was the birthplace of Christmas markets and is a great option if you want the real deal. Düsseldorf is an easy trip from the UK with plenty to see and experience. Düsseldorf’s Christmas Markets are lesser known than the most popular German Christmas Markets in Nuremberg, Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne.
For me, Düsseldorf in late November, before the crowds, was a perfect start to our European Winter adventures.
A Christmas City Awaits
Düsseldorf, despite being Germany’s 7th largest city, still thinks of itself as the village (the German word is Dorf) on the River Dussel. They are proud that everything is close by in Düsseldorf, which is perfect for market wanders.
As an aside, this fashion capital of Germany is renowned for its arts and music. So, a Christmas visit offers the chance to explore more of this great city, including Museums, a Rhine River cruise, and The World’s Longest Bar.
Choice of Christmas Markets
Each year, Dusseldorf’s Christmas markets grow bigger and better. There will be seven markets in 2024.
The Christmas markets are scattered across various shopping areas and are all within a reasonable walkable distance of each other. Two are in the Altstadt (Old Town) and Ferris Wheel areas. The other four are almost connected and around the Ko part of town. Here, you’ll find Ice Skating and Curling. Merry go-rounds, Festive Lights, and Christmas Trees galore at both!
New for 2024, you will find one along the Rhine embankment promenade and one during the weekends at Benrath Palace, one of the finest historic landmarks in the district of Düsseldorf.
On December 1st, all shops will be open from 1-6 pm.
Public Transport
Düsseldorf’s public transportation is easy to navigate. The trams and trains helped enormously speed up our travels, so we didn’t miss a thing and saved our legs.
Wren’s Tip: A Düsseldorf Card offers free entry and discounts to museums and other sightseeing attractions and free public transport for the card’s duration. Bargain!
Upon arrival, take the train from Dusseldorf Airport to Düsseldorf Hbf in the City Centre. It takes 8 mins and is included in the Dusseldorf Card. (otherwise, a Single one-way ticket was around €3.30)
Seven Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
Discovering Düsseldorf’s Christmas Markets is like a brilliant speed date, with each market having its unique personality. Amidst hundreds of Christmas trees and thousands of sparkling lights, finding a favourite might feel challenging, yet the experience is unforgettable.
We gravitated to familiar spots, fully embracing German Christmas Market life. By 4 pm daily, picture me with a bratwurst in one hand and a steaming mug of glühwein in the other, saying Prost! in front of a massive Christmas Tree – in my mind, the perfect festive combo!
Düsseldorf’s festive charm extends beyond the markets to all the usual winter wonderland favourites. We found both curling and the Eislaufbahn (skating rink) at Königsallee, where there’s a Ferris Wheel down by the Rhine River.
Our Best Dusseldorf Christmas Markets:
Our Best Atmosphere: Kö-Lichter Markt
Best romantic Old Town Market: Handwerker Markt (Artisans Market)
The Best Glühwein and Bratwurst: Kö-Bogen Markt
Best for Gift Shopping: Altstadt Markt – Old Town Market
Kö-Lichter Markt
Location: Königsallee
Wren’s winner for Best Atmosphere.
Whilst you might be itching to get into the old-world charms of the Old Town, we suggest you start at the central Christmas Market, Kö Lichter Markt. Take a wander along the ‘Kö’, as the locals call Königsallee, one of the largest Boulevards in Germany. Dusseldorf’s most prestigious shopping street is a fancy place to start. We loved the atmosphere around the Ice rink and the huge Christmas tree-topped gluhwein stand in front of the Kö Bogen building.
Kö on Ice
Ice Rink
Having not been brought up with ice skating, I’m not about to break an arm having a go in Dusseldorf (just call me a wimp), but I do appreciate the spectacle of seeing people of all ages skating around. It seemed good value at €8 for adults and €6 for children.
How a Curling Rink can be green!
Watching the curling was interesting, particularly when we found out that rather than being played on ice, it was played on a plastic surface that slides well. This year, this is part of a new initiative to protect the environment and reduce real ice. We learned more about Düsseldorf’s active concern for the environment during a fabulous tour called Climate Walk in Düsseldorf.
Address: “Kö on Ice”, Corneliusplatz, 40212 Düsseldorf
Kö on Ice website: For prices, opening hours, and further details.
Kö-Bogen Markt
Location: Market 1: Kö-Bogen Market 2: Ingenhoven-Tal
Best Gluhwein and Bratwurst.
Whilst I fully expected my favourite market to be in the Old Town of Dusseldorf, we were drawn again and again to the Kö-Bogen area with its unique architecture. It seemed that here, the wonderful Gluh Turmchen Christmas tree against the backdrop of the Kö-Bogen building was Dusseldorf’s Christmas market at its best.
We found The best Glühwein at the double-storey wooden Gluh Turmchen Stall (Number 403 Gluhwein und Ander Heissgetrunke). You can’t miss it; a giant Christmas tree is on top of an upstairs indoor bar. The bratwurst served at the neighbouring stall (Number 402 Prager Schinken) was the perfect accompaniment. Look for the huge mustard and tomato sauce dispensers to add to your favourite sausage!
Of course, wander to find Christmas market stalls surrounding the famous Kö-Bogen II. The Building famous for the largest green façade in Europe (brown in winter!) has quickly become one of the most photographed places in the city. At Christmas time, the Kö-Bogen market shines between the Schauspielhaus Theatre and Kö-Bogen II.
With a scenic location overlooking Hofgarten, this Düsseldorf market is a must, especially if you have children to enjoy the special kid’s activity tent. The Lichterhimmel at this market is where various live musical performances will take place throughout the season.
Handwerker Markt – Artisans Market
Location: Marktplatz
Wren’s winner for the most romantic Dusseldorf Christmas Market.
The captivating Düsseldorf Rathaus (City Hall) square in the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town) forms a fairytale backdrop. Cheery red Christmas huts and welcoming lights huddle beneath the magnificent Jan Wellem horse statue and a towering tree!
We found all sorts of traditional handicrafts here, and you can meet the makers, enjoy woodturning and glassblowing demonstrations, and even see an artist with an open studio. The market stalls sell wooden kitchenware, glass blowing, and handprinted candles, and we bought some lovely wooden festive tree ornaments.
I could have bought myself a full nativity scene, so many Nutcracker dolls, or those wonderful Weihnachtspyramiden (Christmas pyramids that turn around with a candle underneath. I didn’t (I’m on Eurowings with limited luggage!)
You find the usual wonderful Christmas mulled wine and punch, pretzels, chestnuts, bratwurst & fries, crepes, almonds, French gourmet specialities, poffertjes, and potato fritters and fries.
The glühwein stall at Number 109 came highly recommended. Have you ever tried white glühwein? No, neither have I, but we’re told it’s worth the trip. The hot punch bowls stall at Number 107 looks amazing, and I’m sure they taste good, too!
Wren’s Tip: Do not miss the Nativity Scene Stall Number 104. We did. Just call me glühwein distracted. If you find it, send me some snaps—I mean photos, not brandy schnapps!
Altstadt Markt – Old Town Market
Location: Flinger Straße
Wren’s winner for the best gift shopping.
The Altstadt Christmas Market is found along one of the Old Town’s most popular streets, Flinger Straße. This wide pedestrian shopping street with 17th—and 18th-century buildings is a charming backdrop. The stalls themselves are modelled after old Düsseldorf townhouses, and each stand is different.
We found a couple of stalls particularly appealing. One was Stand 214, which stocked modern-style Christmas decorations, and the second was Stand 223, which draws you in with its Christmas scent. There, you’ll find fir cones, dried oranges, and cinnamon galore in garden-style Christmas decorations.
At the corner of Flinger Straße next to the U2 Store, you’ll encounter Bruno’s glühwein Pyramid selling mulled wine. It’s an attraction in its own right. If you look at the peculiar figures rotating around, you’ll see they don’t look at all like traditional Christmas figures, and they are based on everyday people.
Märchen Markt – Fairytale Market
Location: Schadowplatz
Wren’s Winner for Best Christmas Market Magic.
The white-roofed market huts are topped with characters from the Grimm Brothers’ fairytales. The Märchen (Fairytale) Market is located between Schadowstrasse and Königsallee. This Fairytale Market is the perfect place for those who love German fairy tales. 15,000 LEDs bathe the square in a glowing, magical light, creating a fairytale world for all ages.
Schadow Markt
Location: Schadowstrasse
Schadow-Markt was on our walk back to our hotel along one of Düsseldorf’s main shopping streets in the more modern part of the city. I liked the cookie-cutter stall and the hand-painted candles. The good thing here is that if the weather gets too chilly, there’s always the perfect excuse to pop into the TK Max store to pick up a bargain!
New in 2024
Roncallis Werhnachtspromenade is new in 2024. The newly created market will be located on the picturesque Rhine promenade between Burgplatz and Alter Holzbrücke, in cooperation with the Roncalli Circus.
Other Winter Wonderland Attractions
Ferris wheel at Burgplatz market
Best Rainy Day Christmas Market Activity – ride the Ferris Wheel!
Around the Burgplatz on the bank of the Rhine, you can’t miss the enormous Ferris wheel ’Wheel of Vision’. There are 42 gondolas to elevate your festive spirit with a spin on the giant Ferris wheel overlooking the Rhine. The completely enclosed and heated gondolas provide excellent protection from wind, rain, and cold.
For all the information and prices on the Wheel of Vision Website.
KD Christmas Festive Cruise
How about a Christmas River cruise on the Rhine with St. Nicholas? Live music, drinks, and snacks are available. This two-hour Advent cruise was an enjoyable way to get to know Dusseldorf from the water. It was a very smooth and slickly operated cruise. The boat was decked out in festive style and had comfortable seating. It was large enough to walk around, and you could stand on the deck to take photos.
Wren’s tip: Sit on the left for up-close views along the massive Rhine riverbank.
Christmas Window Displays
Nearby, at Galleria Dusseldorf, alongside Heinrich Heine Allee and Königsallee, the windows are full of Steiff Teddy Bears, some of them animated.
Where to stay
HENRI Hotel Düsseldorf
We stayed at this hotel and loved the quirky design touches everywhere from shower gel bottles with songs in the shower printed on the outside to the most fabulous brekkie ever! The hotel has a stylish ’60s & ’70s design, we loved our room and our stay.
The HENRI Düsseldorf is within walking distance of the legendary Kö so that we could walk to the Christmas markets. We also found the nearby tram stop a bonus for those days when we had walked and walked.
A traditional bonus German dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We loved this. It consists of bread, sausage, cheese, and raw vegetables, and it is already included in the room price.
We can thoroughly recommend this hotel. The staff is wonderful, the breakfast is brilliant, and the room is perfect for a good night’s sleep.
Things you must know!
Dress warmly
No amount of glühwein will hack it for those bitterly cold days if you’re not properly attired! Dress in layers. You will be grateful for your hats, scarves, gloves, warm coats, pocket warmers, and don’t forget the lip salve! Also, with all those cobblestones, be careful of your footwear!
I bought my faux fur Bucket TeddyBear hat and scarf as a last-minute purchase at Accessorize at Heathrow Airport. This combo kept me cosy and warm! Of course, you will find lots of places to shop for great hats at the markets, too.
Spending a penny!
I was surprised to find that there were no free toilet facilities at the Christmas markets. However, having splashed out my €0.70 (GB 60p, AUS $1.15) to use the spotlessly clean portaloos or Toilettenwagens that you will find along the Christmas routes, all is forgiven. The Ladies who collect the money are friendly, and they even supply much-needed hand cream. Bless them!
Travel to the Düsseldorf Christmas Markets
Travelling from London to Germany by train is easier than you think. You can hop on a Eurostar service from London to Brussels or Paris in under two hours. From there you can catch trains to several cities—it’s a great way to see more of the German winter countryside and tick off several cities in one trip.
The quickest route is to fly. For us, the 8.20 a.m. Eurowings flight was an early start.
Final Thoughts on the Dusseldorf Christmas Markets
We loved visiting Dusseldorf to experience the Winterwonderland and the festive fun of the Dusseldorf Christmas Markets. I highly recommend visiting Dusseldorf – the seven Christmas markets offer differing experiences and captivating atmospheres, ensuring there’s something for every festive enthusiast.
You will find charming medieval cobbled streets and enchanting themed markets; Düsseldorf’s Winterwonderland truly captures the season’s spirit. Immerse yourself in the Christmas magic, savouring everything from the giant Ferris wheel overlooking the Rhine to delightful treats like mulled wine and gingerbread. Visit Düsseldorf and let the six unique Christmas markets weave unforgettable memories of joy and festive cheer, as they did for us.
We hope you have enjoyed our Ultimate Guide to the Dusseldorf Christmas Markets. Have you experienced Christmas Market travel? I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below or on our social channels @littlewanderingwren on Instagram or Facebook.
Disclosure: Little Wandering Wren was a guest of #VisitDüsseldorf. All opinions are my own.
Save, Pin, or Bookmark this festive Dusseldorf Travel Guide to plan your trip to the Dusseldorf Christmas Markets!
For more Festive Fun, please check out Bangkok Baubles, Christmas Cheer, and Holiday Gift Giving: Giving the Joy of Holiday Gift Giving.
10 comments
Hello Wren,
You look very warm and cute . The Christmas market looks fun, I love all the beautiful decorations.
Dusseldorf looks like a fun place to visit. Thanks for sharing your trip photos. Take care, have a wonderful week!
Hi Eileen, I’m so glad you could stop by at this busy time for a virtual visit to Dusseldorf. It was such a fun visit, I had no idea we would have six Dusseldorf Christmas Markets to explore. I hope your countdown to the Christmas festivities are going well.
Wren x
Dusseldorf at Christmas looks like a magical place. Thanks for taking me there.
So lovely for you to join us Carol for a wander around Dusseldorf Christmas markets, it truly is a magical place.
Have a lovely day.
Wren x
Wow, what a cute spot for Christmas.
Such a fun way to enjoy the traditional German Christmas fun. Yes, it’s a very cute Spot. From markets to ice skating, curling and a Ferris Wheel we loved our stay in Dusseldorf! Hope you have finished your Christmas crocheting!
Have fun
Wren x
Certainly lots to see and do. I enjoyed your photographs.
Christmas is not far off now!
I’ve just a few more presents to wrap.
Wishing you happy December days.
All the best Jan
Thank you so much Jan, yes lots to see and do in Dusseldorf and a lovely city for photographs. We enjoyed our time at the Christmas markets and also managed to fit in a fair amount of sightseeing. The HopOn HopOff Bus gives a good familiarisation tour & The AltBier Safari was a great introduction to The World’s Longest Bar area and the German beers.
Happy Christmas to you!
Wren x
I loved this visit to Dusseldorf! What a charming town. I’ve always wanted to go to the Christmas markets, not that I NEED a thing! It might end up being very dangerous, though! Now I have a good idea of what to expect.
What a wonderfully detailed post with fun, colorful photos! Seeing the Christmas Markets has been on my travel wish list for years. Thanks for sharing!