Frankfurt Christmas Market Guide 2024 (Events, Travel Tips)

Last Updated on 28th October 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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If you’re planning a trip to Frankfurt during the festive season then you’re in for a real treat. The entirety of the city centre is transformed into a winter wonderland, meaning that many people like to say that Frankfurt has the most wondrous Christmas Market in Europe. And after reading this guide, I’m sure that you’ll agree! Here’s your ultimate Frankfurt Christmas Market guide for 2024.

Please note that Christmas Market is known as Weihnachtsmarkt in German and so you’ll likely see this term a fair bit! The Frankfurt Christmas market is known in German as Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt. Frankfurt’s official name is Frankfurt am Main.

Frankfurt Christmas Market dates 2023: 25.11.24 – 22.12.24

Times: Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm & Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Introducing the Christmas Market at Frankfurt

The city of Frankfurt is one of Germany’s greatest financial hubs, and many people picture the town as being full of stressed bankers and high rise buildings. However, an entirely different side of the city reveals itself come Christmastime when the whole place is covered in sparkling lights and the streets are filled with wooden chalets.

Frankfurt’s Christmas Market is particularly special thanks to the fact that it boasts the claim of being one of the oldest and most historic Christmas Markets in Europe.

Indeed, there is solid evidence that the market dates all the way back to 1393 when residents of Frankfurt came together to celebrate Advent. During the Middle Ages, the market would have looked very different from how it does today.

There was a real focus on entertainment, and events included mystery plays and the only vendors allowed at the market were those who resided within Frankfurt. The tradition of erecting a giant tree on Römerberg did not begin until the early 19th century.

Römerberg was incredibly damaged by bombings during WWII but the tradition of hosting Christmas Markets was continued throughout the rest of the city. In the 1980s, the main square was restored to its former glory and the main Christmas Market resumed its former location on Römerberg.

Today, Frankfurt is home to one of the biggest Christmas Markets in Germany, both in terms of size and in visitor numbers (the market sees a staggering 3 million visitors on an annual basis). The market has now been exported all over Europe and affiliated markets can be found as far away as Birmingham, England.

Frankfurt Christmas Market locations

Most of the Christmas Markets run into one another in the centre, meaning that it’s hard to tell where one ends and the next begins. The markets roughly span the area between Hauptwache down to the River Main and so if you stroll around any of the pedestrianised parts of the old town, you’re sure to come across a market or two!

Most of the markets are pretty similar in terms of their offerings. You’ll find Glühwein (mulled wine) for sale at pretty much every market area, as well as hot snacks (the air is filled with the sweet scent of roasted nuts and hot chocolate) and handicrafts like bowls, scarves, and Christmas ornaments.

Römerberg

The main Christmas Market is on Römerberg, a historic square filled with timber-framed buildings and cobbled stones that has been the town centre of Frankfurt since the Middle Ages.

At Christmas, the square is presided over by a 30-metre-high tree and the market stalls spill into the side streets, all the way down to the banks of the River Main, including along Mainkai. There are over 240 stalls here selling Christmas market treats, as well as wood carvings, candles, clothing, and more.

This is also where you’ll find a giant carousel. I loved checking out this market both during the day time and at night. While the day had fewer crowds, the night offered a magical illuminated atmosphere, with carol singers on a stage and the scent of mulled wine filling the air.

This is one of the busiest Christmas Markets in Europe and so visiting during the evening or on weekends can get incredibly congested. Not only did we have to queue for a while to get drinks, but I found it quite hard to see the decorations as I’m not that tall and couldn’t see above people’s heads!

I definitely recommend heading here during the day time to enjoy the architecture of the square and see the market with fewer crowds. If you want to get good photos, head here in the late afternoon, just after the sun sets!

Römerhallen and Saint Paul’s Church

Searching for a particularly unique handcrafted good or ware? The speciality market you should be sure to head to is the handicraft fair which is held in Römerhallen and Saint Paul’s Church. Here you can find all sorts of beautiful gifts such as jewellery, candles, wood carvings, and scarves.

Paulsplatz 

The next square over from Römerberg is Paulsplatz, which has its own Christmas Market (though since stalls fill the streets between Römerberg and Paulsplatz it can feel as if this is just a continuation of the main market.) There are a number of food and drink stalls, though no particular standouts.

Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz

This is the pink market and the entire square is bathed in a warm pink/ violet glow. There are even pink Christmas trees and decorations! This is the LGBTQIA+ Christmas Market, though of course people from all walks of life are invited to the square to revel in the festive ambiance and sip on some hot drinks.

Hauptwache 

The main shopping street in Frankfurt is covered in festive lights and illuminations hang from the trees and shop fronts above. This is actually an extension of the main Christmas Market but I highly recommend heading here if you want to try some tasty market treats!

As well as traditional Christmas Market food (raclette and Reibekuchen), we saw biscuits for sale, as well as Baumstriezel (chimney cakes), sausages, and Flammkuchen (Flatbread Pizza).

This is undoubtedly the most gourmet of the Christmas Markets in Frankfurt, and we particularly enjoyed all of the tiny Christmas Market chalets framed against the high rise modern buildings above.

City XMAS

This is held at the Stiftstrasse intersection and is a non religious focused event which celebrates the spirit of the festive season. You’ll find non-religious music here and stands selling things like hot wine, waffles, and fries. This wasn’t a very busy market and had a pretty laid-back, chill vibe.

City Beach market

This market isn’t the largest but it may well boast the title of having the most unique location of any Christmas Market in Frankfurt. It’s actually on the 5th floor of the Konstabler Car Park, overlooking the Dom Römer Church.

There are mainly drink stands here and you can get everything from hot juice to hot Aperol Spritz, and I even spied a hot rosé mulled wine (though we’ve sampled quite a lot of misses when it comes to hot drinks that aren’t hot red wine and so we gave it a miss). There isn’t a huge selection of food but you can get waffles or churros.

 Roßmarkt

This is one Christmas Market which I didn’t necessarily see mentioned in many guides online, and that’s probably because a market has only been taking place here since 2021. There were actually a few rides to go on here for kids and we enjoyed a drink in the shadow of a central Christmas pyramid.

There wasn’t anything particularly unique about the food offerings here but you’ll find all of the usual suspects like fries, mushrooms, giant sausages, and sweet treats.

Frankfurt Christmas market at the Thurn und Taxis Palace

This isn’t the largest Christmas market in the city but is pretty cosy and comprises of a handful of chalets in front of a pastel-hued building. There’s mainly food and drink stalls here so you should really head here for the relaxed ambiance and nice architecture more than anything else!

Sachsenhäuser Landwehrweg

A little further away from the other Christmas Markets and the other side of the River Main, you’ll find the Sachsenhäuser Landwehrweg Christmas Market, lying in the shadow of the Goethenturm surrounded by the forest. This Christmas Market is particularly focused on kids.

Weihnachtsmarkt Offenbach

This market is the furthest from the centre and takes place in the delightful district of Offenbach. This is truly a local’s market and you can find all of the usual favourites like Glühwein, waffles, and potato pancakes for sale.

Main Terrasse Weihnachtsmarkt

This isn’t actually a Christmas Market per se but is instead a few chalets grouped together overlooking the River Main. This market has a cosy atmosphere and you can grab a drink while watching the big lights of the city’s skyscrapers reflected on the river rushing past you below.

Niche Christmas Markets

There are a few events which only take place for a couple of days during the Advent season but are worth checking out if you happen to be in Frankfurt when they take place.

• Schwedischer Weihnachtsmarkt (Swedish Christmas Market): The Swedish Christmas Market takes place during the first weekend of Advent and is organised by the Swedish parish in Frankfurt. This takes place in the parish hall in Frankfurt-Preungesheim and you can buy Swedish handicrafts, as well as traditional food and drink like princess torte, fish, cheese and Glögg.
• Finnischer Weihnachtsbasar (Finnish Christmas Bazaar): This takes place during the first weekend of Advent in the Dornbuschkirche for just two afternoons. There are plenty of Finnish treats for sale as well as local artisanal goods.

Must try food and drink at the Frankfurt Christmas Market

Frankfurt is home to an abundance of food stalls and it can be hard to choose as to what you should buy. If you’ve never been to a Christmas Market before, then check out our Christmas Market food guide. Otherwise, read on to discover unique specialities of the Frankfurt Xmas Market…

• Brenten and Bethmännchen: These are probably the most famous Christmas Market food to originate in Frankfurt and are essentially baked marzipan cookies. In Bethmännchen, the marzipan is generally rolled into balls and topped with three halved almonds. Brenten come in different shapes.
• Apple wine (Apfelwein): This is not generally served in a Christmas Market mug but in its own plain cup. Apple wine is its very own thing and should not be confused with cider (though I have to admit that it tastes pretty similar!)
• Vegan food: When strolling around the market, I was surprised to see just how many vegan offerings there were. As well as traditional vegan favourites like churros or roasted almonds and hot chestnuts, there’s Reibekuchen (potato pancakes) and other savoury dishes (beware that if you don’t consume rennet, then you should avoid things like raclette and Käsespätzle unless they are labelled as vegetarian- I once found a vegan version in a market near Bonn).

Frankfurt Christmas Market mug

Since 2000, Frankfurt has released an annual specially designed Christmas Market mug, which has become something of a collector’s item. The 2021 design was to celebrate Frankfurt’s festivals and to serve as an ode to the festivals which were cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

Other Christmas events in Frankfurt 

Chiming of the Church Bells

There are only a few times a year when all of Frankfurt’s downtown church bells chime in unison (there are 10 churches in total). During the festive period, this happens on November the 1st and on the 24th of December.

Winterlichter at Palmengarten

This isn’t a Christmas Market per se but is instead an illuminated park. Of course, the best time to visit is during the evening when you can enjoy all of the festive lights twinkling overhead. There are sound and light installations, as well as light objects. The illuminations take place from the 9th December – 14th January 2024 excluding Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Tips for visiting the Frankfurt Christmas Markets

Even though we’re now in 2023, cash remains king at the Christmas Markets. Many stalls will only accept cash and so be sure to have a bit handy on you if you want to buy an extra delicious treat or drink!

You should also have some extra cash spare for the deposit (pfand). When you’ve finished your drink, you can keep the mug or return it to get your cash back.

Frankfurt was unusual in that we had to give our glasses back to the stand where we had ordered our drinks from. They gave us a token and we had to return it together with our mug in order to get the deposit back.

Getting to Frankfurt 

Frankfurt is home to the busiest airport in Germany and is probably most associated with bankers. All of this changes during the festive period when millions of people flock to the populous city to enjoy the gorgeous markets.

There are direct train links to the rest of Europe so you can easily do a full Christmas Markets tour via the train. For example, Frankfurt is only an hour and a quarter away via train from Cologne, which is home to one of the most gorgeous Christmas Markets I’ve ever seen!

Where to stay in Frankfurt

As you can imagine, Christmas is one of the busiest times to visit Frankfurt, meaning that it can also be one of the most expensive times to check out the city. I highly recommend booking your hotel well ahead of time (at least several months in advance) to secure the best quality/price in terms of accommodation. Here are some of the best places to stay in Frankfurt based on web-reviews/ location:

Budget- Premier Inn Frankfurt City Europaviertel: This hotel is right by the train station (which isn’t necessarily the nicest area of the city but does mean that the price of this hotel is a bit lower than other locations). Amenities include free Wi-Fi and a bar onsite. Check prices and availability here.

Mid-range- NH Collection Frankfurt City: This no-frills hotel is conveniently located just a short walk away from the historic town centre. Modern rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, work desks and chairs, plus minibars. Check prices and availability here.

Luxury- Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof: For an unforgettable stay during your time in Frankfurt, you’ll want to check yourself into this five-star hotel. Set against the backdrop of a 19th-century built building, amenities include a hot tub, spa, free parking, and a restaurant onsite. Check prices and availability here.

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