Hamburg – the Christmas Capital of the North – Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt:
Hamburg stakes its claim as the Christmas capital of the north. This is because nowhere else in the north of Germany are there so many Christmas markets within such close proximity of each other. From the main train station to its neo-Renaissance town hall alone there are no less than five different Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt to be enjoyed.
Hamburg Christmas Markets
During the festive season, visitors to Hamburg can discover history, tradition and the city’s Hanseatic heritage at one of the many wonderful Hamburg Christmas markets. From the delightful to the unusual, there is a range of Christmas markets to experience.
Visitors can choose from the traditional Weihnachtsmarkt to the Romantic Christmas Market in Niendorf, the maritime flavour of the Christmas market on Fleetinsel or the somewhat risqué Christmas Market in the Reeperbahn, just to mention a few. But the prettiest of Hamburg’s Christmas markets is the one that is set up outside Hamburg’s impressive town hall.
Rathausmarkt Christmas Market
Hosted by Roncalli’s Circus, its lovingly decorated stalls are laden with confectionery, toys, crafts and the punch is even served by clowns and circus artistes. And its old-fashioned carousels never fail to bring a gleam to everyone’s eyes, not just the children’s.
Christmas isn’t Christmas without Santa Claus and every day at 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00 Santa Claus will fly his reindeer sleigh up to the sky, high over the roofs of the Christmas Market stalls, telling the story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.
Other Hamburg Christmas Attractions
Hamburg has so much to offer in the festive season: you can enjoy a mug of glühwein on a boat trip on the Alster, for example, or visit a Christmas exhibition in one of the city’s museums. Every Saturday during Advent there is a Christmas parade through the festively decorated city centre.
Hamburg is a city that is famous for its musicals and Hamburg’s theatres are a magical space for young and old alike as well as the ‘fairytale ship’ anchored along the Jungfernstieg promenade. A visit to Hamburg’s Christmas markets is indeed an unforgettable experience.
Below are some of the Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt to choose from:
Historical Christmas Market (26 Nov – 23 Dec 2012)
Rathausmarkt Square
Daily from 11:00 – 21:00 (Fri and Sat until 22:00)
Maritime Christmas Market (26 Nov – 23 Dec 2012)
Fleetinsel
Daily from 12:00 – 21:00
Traditional Christmas Market (26 Nov – 30 Dec 2012)
St. Peter’s Church
Gerhard-Hauptmann-Platz, Spitalerstrasse
Daily from 11:00 – 21:00
Hanseatic Christmas Market (26 Nov – 23 Dec 2012)
Gänsemarkt Square
Christmas Market on the Jungfernstieg (26 Nov – 31 Dec 2012)
Closed on 24-25 Dec 2012
Daily from 11:00 – 21:00
Santa Pauli on the Reeperbahn (22 Nov – 23 Dec 2012)
Mon – Thu 16:00 – 23:00 | Fri 16:00 – 1:00 am -| Sat 13:00 – 1:00 am | Sun 13:00 – 23:00
Hamburg Winter Dom Fair (9 Nov – 9 Dec 2012)
Heiligengeistfeld
Where to Stay in Hamburg
There are no less than 260 hotels in Hamburg for visitors to choose from. Just within Hamburg Mitte (Central Hamburg), there are over 130 hotels so careful planning is required for your Christmas Market stay.
Luxury hotels like the Park Hyatt Hamburg, Sofitel Hamburgand the Steigenberger Hotel Hamburg are in the Altstadt (Old Town) which is convenient for the Rathausmarkt Historical Christmas Market. In the Neustadt(New Town), hotels range from the 5-star Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten on the beautiful Lake Alster to the very popular 2-star Motel One Hamburg am Michel. For those who want to enjoy Santa Pauli on the Reeperbahn, then the hotels in St. Paulimay be convenient. For the complete list of Hamburg hotels, see HERE.
So, what is your thought on this? Let me know!
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