3 things to see at Christmas time in Hamburg, Germany

Last updated on July 18, 2026

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Planning a trip to Hamburg fo Christmas? Here are three things you can do in Hamburg at Christmas!

Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte)

The Rahaus Christmas market in Hamburg with the green roofed Rathous in the background — The Rahaus Christmas market in Hamburg

Handmade clay smoking incense houses in the form of traditional half timbered houses

Christmas markets are outdoor markets that are set up around Christmas time, where traditonally, artisans sold handcrafted goods, dried meat products, sweets, nuts, dried fruit, baked goods, wooden toys, hot food and drink, and Christmas decorations like candles, lights, and star figures or adorable clay houses with real smoking chimneys. Although common throughout Europe, Christmas markets started in Germany and today is visited by both locals and tourists.

Roasted pork with potatoes and sauerkraut

Christmas markets, are set up the first week or so of November, and open mid-November until the end of December or even start of January for larger ones. It is free to enter and a great place to get some authentic real, local souvenirs.

A staple of every market is glühwein, an alcoholic, warm, spiced, sweet wine that comes in a reusable ceramic or glass cup for a 2€ deposit which you get back when you return the cup, or you can keep like many others do as a souvenir. If you want to stay away from alcohol (always a good choice), you can get Kinderpunsch instead, which is essentially the same thing but not alcoholic, as it is made from grape and apple juice.

3 large copper pots of steaming glühwein with mugs on top

Read more about Christmas markets and my three recommended ones in Hamburg here.

Christmas Parade (Weihnachtsparaden)

In Hamburg, there is a Christmas parade that occurs on each of the four Advent Saturdays (the four Saturdays before Christmas day, in 2024 they are November 30, December 7, 14 and 21), where people dress up in Christmas themed costumes and dance through the street or parade through the street on floats with music. Joining in on the parade is Santa and the Christkind. The parade is on Mönckebergstraße (Mönckeberg Street) at 2 and 5pm local time. For details, see their website here. It is located literally along the same street as part of the Gänsemarkt Christmas market (outside a shopping center on one side of the street and the entry/exit to the S-bahn on the other) so you can see both on the same day. Check out the above.

Christmas train (Historische S-Bahn Weihnachtszug)

Every year at Christmas, there is a “Hamburg historical Christmas train” that loops around the city center of Hamburg. This is a special 3-car old style train with a vintage appearance, both in and out. The train is decorated with Christmas decorations and you can buy tea and jam donuts on board. Santa also visits the train and hands out presents to small children. The cars are also separated into first and second class, but only as a novelty.

The conductor serving jam donuts and tea in the vintage Hamburg Christmas train — Conductor serving jam donuts and tea

Santa handing out gifts to small children on the train

Outside the Hamburg Christmas Train — Outside the vintage Hamburg Christmas Train

Inside the Hamburg Christmas Train, blue plush seats in first lass — First class inside the Hamburg Christmas Train

Previously it stopped at several different stations in in the city center for a few minutes each that gave great photo opportunities, but this year it only allows boarding at Barmbek, and requires free reservations (all fully booked now unfortunately).

For more details, check out their website here.

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