We’re in that time of year when the days are shorter, and winter has fully taken hold. All around the globe, people combat the winter darkness with Christmas lights, candles, and torches. They fend off winter blues with celebrations, Christmas caroling, and festive drinks.
In Germany, this spirit comes alive especially vividly, combining all these elements with treats like Mutzen, Bratwürstchen, and Lebkuchen to create some of the world’s best Christmas markets. Let’s explore the finest Christmas markets of Lübeck.
While Berlin’s Christmas markets are definitely worth a visit, they don’t hold the historical weight of those in Lübeck in northern Germany. Lübeck’s markets date back to 1648, with the market by the Rathaus, or City Hall, first mentioned in official records back then. Today, the small UNESCO heritage old town island hosts nine different Christmas markets that attract over two million visitors.
With more than 200 stalls, you can find Christmas tree decorations, toys, and gifts for your family while enjoying the aromas of roasted almonds, glühwein, crepes, and Bratwürstchen.
Christmas Wonderland at Obertrave
Entering Lübeck at the famous Holstentor, turn right after Hostenbrücke to reach the Christmas Wonderland at Obertrave. This cozy, narrow market features tents with gift ideas and a stall selling various hot drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Green coniferous trees create small oases for enjoying mulled wine, with lit torches and benches to rest on. A wish tree and a kissing arch add to the good spirit, and one of the tents even offers a baking class for children, where you might see kids pressing star-shaped molds into dough.
Handicraft Christmas Market St. Petri
Heading east to St. Petri Church, you’ll find the indoor Handicraft Christmas Market inside the airy, white church. This market offers a special selection of handmade items such as ceramics, woodworks, textiles, jewelry, glassware, and amber. The St. Petri Café ensures you won’t go hungry or thirsty. The entrance fee of 2.5€ also includes access to the 50-meter-high church tower, offering wonderful views of the festive city.
The Christmas Market at Markt
From the church, head to the main Christmas Market at Markt, in front of the Rathaus. With a picturesque medieval backdrop and festive lights, you can spend hours enjoying the atmosphere, sipping on Glühwein, Lumumba, Feuerzangenbowle, or punch, and savoring treats like Mutzen, crepes, Bratwurst, Currywurst, crab meat sandwiches, gingerbread, and roasted almonds. This bustling market is the heart and stomach of Lübeck, offering numerous stalls selling handmade leather bags, warm muffs, delicious jams and spices, olive wood kitchen utensils, and beeswax candles.
Historical Christmas Market
North of Markt, at the base of Marienkirche, the Historical Christmas Market unfolds in the old cemetery with a medieval ambiance. Craftsmen like copper- and silversmiths display their work, musicians in historical outfits play period music, and stalls sell historically themed items such as jewelry, clothing, woodworks, leatherworks, and fleeces. As night falls, fires are lit, casting a warm glow on the red brick walls of the church and adding a cozy atmosphere to the market.
Fairytale Forest at Marienkirche
On the other side of Marienkirche, the Fairytale Forest comes alive with characters from beloved childhood stories like Puss in Boots, Snow White, and Cinderella. This enchanting market features 20 Christmas stalls and a postal office for letters to Santa. It closes earlier than others, at 7 PM, making it a great spot for families with children.
Schrangen Christmas Market
East of Marienkirche, the pedestrian street Schrangen transforms into the Schrangen Christmas Market. This quieter market, surrounded by temporary evergreen woodland, offers a mulled wine bar and rustic food. The atmosphere is enhanced by Christmas carols and German horn concerts.
Lübeck’s main pedestrian street, Breite Strasse, becomes somewhat narrower during the Christmas season due to the many stalls along the road offering hot drinks and festive snacks.
Wunschpunsch
Continue north to St. Jakobi Church where Wunschpunsch, or wish punch, draws you inside. The whitewashed vestibule is beautifully lit with Christmas lights. On the right, they serve punch, while on the left, you can stand by huge oak barrels or sit on wooden benches to soak in the ambiance. Wunschpunsch operates from 4 to 8 PM, and if you arrive at 5 PM, you can enjoy a 20-minute organ concert.
Maritime Christmas Market
Our final stop is the Maritime Christmas Market just north of St. Jakobi. Easily spotted thanks to its large Ferris wheel, this market ends the tour on a festive note with a nautical theme featuring old wooden barrels, nets, and a shipwreck. Historical buildings surround the square, adding to its charm.
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