At Christmas time, the Hanseatic city wraps itself in a delightful festive atmosphere of countless twinkling lights and enchanting decorations. Thanks to the wide range of activities that enrich your leisure activities not only throughout the year, but also at Christmas, you can really get into the holiday spirit and make your festivities varied.
To help you plan your Christmas celebrations, we present the 10 best festive experiences in Hamburg. Fascinating Christmas markets, festive concerts and unique boat trips – the Christmas capital of the North won’t let you down during the best time of the year!
1. visit the enchanting Christmas markets
Some of Hamburg’s enchanting Christmas markets open their doors in November. These include the famous historic Christmas market at the town hall and the Hamburg DOM, the biggest funfair of the winter. You can also visit the unusual Santa Pauli Christmas market on the Reeperbahn, where you can spend exciting evenings. The variety of Christmas markets continues: there is a maritime Christmas market at the harbor and a Winter Pride market. From November 23, the city center shines in festive splendor and attracts you with a variety of sparkling stalls.
2. the fairytale ships on the Jungfernstieg
Children aged 4 and over can be enchanted this winter at the fairytale and baking ships on the Binnenalster! From November 28 to December 23, a festive Christmas program will take place there, where your little ones can immerse themselves in a magical world full of fairytale stories and wonders. There will be joint activities such as cookie baking, face painting and much more, while mom and dad can take the time to do their Christmas shopping or simply enjoy a little break from the hustle and bustle.
3rd Simple Music Ensemble World – music that connects
What could put you in a more festive mood than a magical Christmas concert? An ensemble of international musicians unite on the stage of Halle 424 to bring the most beautiful melodies of the season to life. From Somewhere in My Memory from “Kevin – Alone at Home“ to Silent Night and many other pieces – the powerful performances of Simple Music Ensemble World ensure contemplative evenings for the whole family. Click here for your tickets!
4th gift hunt during Christmas shopping
In Hamburg at Christmas, you have the opportunity to experience a festive afternoon of shopping in an enchanting festive atmosphere. Decorated for Christmas, Neuer Wall offers the most exclusive and pleasant shopping experience in the city. Here you can discover a variety of stores of all kinds, from exquisite sweet stores to design labels and Christmas crafts. In this shopping paradise, you can treat your loved ones and yourself just in time for the festive season.
5. experience a magical lights tour at the harbor
On the 1-hour boat trip through the festively illuminated Speicherstadt and the famous port of Hamburg with its sparkling Christmas tree, you can enjoy an unforgettable view. At 6 pm, you will be accompanied by a live German audio guide who will take you through the festively illuminated harbor city. During this maritime experience under the starry sky, you can discover important Hamburg landmarks and let yourself be drawn into the Christmas atmosphere.
6 We Call It Ballet
A poetic ballet show full of magical lights – the dream of an ideal Christmas activity! The twinkling of the lights on the magical Christmas market stalls in the city is echoed on the stage of the Kulturkirche Altona with “We Call It Ballet”. In this special show, you are invited to experience a fascinating symbiosis of classical ballet and modern technology. Professional ballet dancers will present Tchaikovsky’s timeless fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty” and whisk you away into a world full of grace and magic. Be enchanted by this innovative production and enjoy contemplative evenings that will warm your heart.
7. enjoy a delicious Christmas goose
The sparkling Hanseatic city offers you the traditional Christmas opportunity to enjoy a delicious Christmas goose or duck in first-class restaurants. One of the top places to eat in Hamburg is Brechtmanns Bistro, where you can either dine on site or have the goose prepared for you to take home. The Alster Au and the Hobenköök are also popular for a sumptuous duck or goose dinner accompanied by red cabbage and potato dumplings.
8. sled along on the ice
Despite the frosty temperatures outside, there are many ways to have fun outdoors in Hamburg at Christmas. The EisArena Hamburg in the Planten un Blomen park is one of the largest artificial ice rinks in Germany. It offers ice skating training for everyone as well as a special Ladies Night with a free drink every 1st and 3rd Thursday. The Stellingen, Eisland Farmsen and Wandsbeker Winterzauber ice rinks also offer further opportunities for ice skating. What are you waiting for with so much choice? Get on the ice!
9. attend a candlelight Christmas concert
What would a contemplative Christmas be without the right festive music to really get us in the mood? Candlelight presents you with a very special Christmas concert in Hamburg. The greatest movie classics of the season are brought to life with a classical music performance on stage in a sea of candles.
10. visit the most beautiful Christmas programs
Experience a contemplative Christmas at the atmospheric church services in Hamburg’s main churches. A varied Christmas program awaits you at St. Michaelis, St. Jacobi, St. Katharinen, St. Petri and St. Nikolai. These historic churches in Hamburg conjure up a unique atmosphere full of peace and contemplation during Advent and Christmas. The lovingly decorated churches offer a place of peace and contemplation to experience the true meaning of Christmas.
11. festive atmosphere at Ahrensburg Castle
Just a short drive from Hamburg, you will find one of the most beautiful castles in Schleswig-Holstein. During the Christmas season, Ahresnburg Castle is transformed into a real winter wonderland. Be enchanted by the festive decorations, the Advent market on the castle grounds and the guided tours and enjoy the coziness of this unique place.