Lübeck Christmas markets 2026: dates

Lübeck calls itself the "Christmas City of the North", and its old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has a long claim to the title: the first documented mention of a Christmas market here dates from 1648. The short answer for 2026: the main Lübeck Christmas market around the town hall and on Schrangen runs from Monday 23 November to Wednesday 30 December 2026. Around it, the city has about ten other markets, each with its own dates.

Lübeck Christmas markets 2026: dates

Dates from Lübeck's official tourism site (see sources), as of November 2026. We could not read daily opening times on that site, so we do not list them here: check each market's page, especially around 24 to 26 December.

At 38 days, the main market runs past Christmas into the last days of the year:

Season: calendar days from the first to the last day.

The markets at a glance

The Traditional Christmas Market. Around the town hall and on Schrangen, the air smells of roasted almonds, mulled wine and Mutzen, the local fried pastry. Stalls sell tree decorations, toys and regional products.

The Historical Market. A market in the style of the Middle Ages, and the first one to close: its last day is 23 December.

The Fairytale Forest. Beside St Mary's Church, among trees and scenes from fairy tales. It is the obvious stop with children.

Maritime and harbour markets. The Maritime Christmas Market and Harbour Glow on Drehbrückenplatz bring the seafaring side of the Hanseatic city into the season.

Craft markets. The markets in St Peter's Church and in the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, a medieval hospital building, are the places for handmade gifts. Note how short the second one is: 27 November to 6 December. Lübsche Wiehnacht runs on only two weekends.

The Niederegger Bazaar. Lübeck is known for marzipan, and Niederegger is its best-known maker.

When to go

• First week (23 to 29 November): most markets are open; the craft market in St Peter's Church starts on the 24th and the one in the Hospital of the Holy Spirit on the 27th.
• Weekdays are the calmest. Saturdays in Advent are the busiest.
• Between Christmas and New Year: the main market, Starlit Forest and Fairytale Forest last until 30 December; the Maritime market, Harbour Glow and Wichtelwunderland until 29 December. Check holiday hours for 24 to 26 December on the official site.

Getting there

Lübeck's main station is just west of the Holstentor, the old city gate, and the old town island is within walking distance of it. Compare train connections to Lübeck^* on Omio. Our flight box below shows Hamburg, the closest airport we can search, with trains from there to Lübeck.

If you come by car on an Advent Saturday, the city runs a free Christmas shuttle from the Lohmühle car park via Einsiedelstraße to the Sandstraße stop in the old town, every ten minutes from 11:05 am to 8:35 pm. For a day trip by train, leave your bags at luggage storage in Lübeck^* (Radical Storage).

Where to stay

The old town island keeps you on foot from every market. Hotels around the station are a little further out and practical for trains. Travemünde, on the Baltic coast and part of Lübeck, is an option if you want the sea with the market. For December weekends, book early.

Weather in December

Lübeck is cool and damp in December: on average about 5.9 °C by day and 2.0 °C at night, with 64 mm of rain over the month (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2015–2024). Near the Baltic, wind is common, so bring a warm jacket.

How YesTrip helps

In YesTrip, the AI day plan puts the town hall, St Mary's and the Holstentor in walking order on a map. The forecast shows rain or frost for your travel days, and the packing list suggests matching clothes. Travelling with friends? Share the trip and keep track of shared expenses. For museums and tours in Lübeck^*, check Tiqets.

For a second stop, the Hamburg Christmas markets 2026 are nearby, and the Bremen Christmas market 2026 is also in northern Germany. Our guide to the best Christmas markets in Europe compares more cities.

Hamburg trip planDay by day, with map and tips

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