A Complete 2025 Guide to the Heidelberg Christmas Market

The Heidelberg Christmas Market is an extremely popular Christmas market in Germany, due to its picturesque scenery and local nature. 

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How to Get to Heidelberg

The easiest way to get to Heidelberg is through Frankfurt, which is also the largest transport hub in Germany.  From Frankfurt, the easiest way to get to Heidelberg is by train, which is just over an hour south of the city. 

When flying through Frankfurt read: How to maximize One Day in Frankfurt

Heidelberg is also only a few hours of travel by train from other major cities such as Cologne, Munich and Zurich.  This means you can easily see different christmas markets across Germany, France and Switzerland during your visit. 

The easiest way to book your train tickets is directly through Bahn, the German train website.  If you like using a third party service, I’ve also had good luck with Omio and Trainline. 

Once you arrive in Heidelberg you can take the local public transportation to your hotel.  Tickets booths are located at the tram and bus stations.  A single ride is around €3.50 whereas you can get a full day ticket for under €6. 

To get to the markets, you can walk or take public transit to start at one end of the old town. From there, walk along the Haupstraße under the shooting star lights that frame the street overhead. 

What to know before visiting the Heidelberg Christmas market

Heidelberg Christmas market dates

This traditional German Christmas market opens November 24th and runs through December 22nd with a few exceptions. The Bismarckplatz and Kornmarkt are open through January 1st.  While the ice skating rink at Karlsplatz is open through January 11th. 

The markets are open Sunday through Friday from 11am until 9pm, and Saturdays from 11am to 10pm. 

Heidelberg Christmas market location

The Heidelberg Christmas market is really a series of markets throughout the old town square versus one large market. The markets are located in the old town and follow along the Haupstraße starting at Bismarckplatz and ending at Karlsplatz. 

Heidelberg Christmas market map

Glühwein mugs

The Christmas markets in Germany are known for Glühwein and their souvenir mugs.  Larger cities will have different mugs for each market, whereas smaller cities, like Heidelberg, have one mug used throughout the city.  The mugs have a €3 deposit, which means when you return them they will refund your money, or you keep them for a low cost souvenir.  If you plan to keep your mug, you can go back to any of the bars and swap out for a clean mug.

Glühwein is a staple at the holidays in and around Germany.  This is a hot mulled wine with added spices.  You will find Glühwein not only in the christmas markets, but also at most restaurants. The Glühwein in Heidelberg was typically €4, but there are other alcoholic and non alcoholic (hot aperol, cocoa, cider) drinks that are available as well.  You can enjoy your beverage at one of the many standing tables throughout the market.  If you want to stay on the move, it is legal to wander around with your “open container”. 

Navigating the Heidelberg Christmas Market

When visiting Heidelberg at Christmas, you can easily visit all the Christmas markets in one day due to the size and proximity of each.  The best way is to start at one end of the old town, and work your way along the Haupstraße until you reach the other end.  

Bismarckplatz: Your entry to the Heidelberg Christmas Markets

The Bismarckplatz Heidelberg market is one of the smallest of the Heidelberg Christmas markets.  It functions less as a market and more as a kick off of the festivities leading into the old town.  Here you’ll only find about 5 stalls with food and drinks, which means you can grab a glühwein or cocoa before heading to the next market. 

This market does not have any stalls for gifts (other than sweets), so you’ll have to make your way along the market route for any christmas gifts or souvenirs. 

There are three nearby bus and tram stations.  Bismarckplatz also serves as a busy train station connecting routes that connect to the city north of the river. Two blocks south are Seegarten and the adjacent Gaisbergstrasse stations. 

Anatomiegarten: The best market to sit and enjoy a drink

Just a short walk from Bismarckplatz is Anatomiegarten.  Like Bismarckplatz, this market is extremely small and one again only has food stalls. However, on one side of the square, adjacent to the food stalls is Strohauer’s, a local cafe.  They have an outdoor drink stand and seating area.  They have beautifully decorated the trees with Christmas lights to sit and enjoy your beverage of choice. 

Universitätsplatz: The Largest Heidelberg Christmas Market

Universitätsplatz is not only the most central of the markets in Heidelberg, it’s also the largest.  This location is also where you’ll find the majority of gift vendors. From handmade ornaments, hats and scarves to soaps, you’ll find something special to take away.  

You will also find shops along the Haupstraße between Universitätsplatz and the Kornmarkt.  On the main street is the large Käthe Wohlfahrt retail shop.  This is the most famous Christmas shop in Germany with an enormous selection of ornaments, christmas villages and other holiday decor. 

This market is also home for the requisite Christmas pyramid (with one of the many drink vendors at the base), as well as an antique carousel perfect for the family.  There are a few carousels throughout the market, but this is the largest in Heidelberg.

Along with the many gift vendors, Universitätsplatz has the largest selection of food and drink stalls of all the Heidelberg markets. 

Marktplatz: Have a drink in a wine barrel

This lively market is another that is dedicated exclusively to food and drinks.  However, unlike the others, it has some specialty seating areas.  This market has a special wood barrel theme, honoring the giant wood wine barrels located in the nearby Schloss Heidelberg (castle).  Along one side of the square are small private seating rooms made out of wood barrels.  These can hold around 4-6 people, and have a door to keep out the cold.  

At the entrance of the market is also a special structure shaped like a giant wood barrel.  At the base is one of the many bars throughout the market.  Above the bar is a large room taking the main shape of the barrel, with small balconies overhead.  The balcony was unfortunately not accessible while I visited. However, if the room or the balconies are open, these will have great views of the market below. 

Like a few of the other markets, this one also has a small carousel for children.  And, this is the only market with a photo opp with Santa.  Keep in mind however that there is a fee of €7 for photos, but the money goes back to the organization that hosts the market annually. 

Kornmarkt: The most whimsical market in Heidelberg

Towards the end of your tour is the Kornmarkt Heidelberg market. This market is surrounded inside and out by fir trees decorated in Christmas lights. Surrounding the statue of the Virgin Mary at the center of the square is a small childrens train. The Kornmarkt is mostly filled with drink stands, but is also one of the least populated.  This makes it the perfect market for anyone that wants somewhere beautiful, but less crowded to enjoy a drink.  You also have a small glimpse of the castle, but nothing compared to the view from Karlsplatz. 

Karlsplatz: The most scenic Heidelberg Christmas Market

The Karlsplatz market is the last market along the Haupstraße, but it is well worth the journey.  On the hill above the market sits Heidelberg castle, which is illuminated at night creating a picture perfect scene.  This market has a large number of food stalls and a wine garden behind the largest of the drink stands. There is also a beautiful ice rink with the castle overhead. 

Ice skating

Ice skating is available in 90 minute sessions.  Tickets are €7 for adults and €5 for children.  If you need skates, you can rent them for €5.  Unlike the markets, the skating rink stays open through January 6th.  For more information on hours and dates open, review the official website. 

Getting back to town

If you’re ending at Karlsplatz and don’t want to walk the 30+ minutes back through the old town there are a few nearby bus routes.  Walk south 2 blocks to the Rathaus/Bergbahn stop (located at the funicular) and catch the number 20 bus.  Or, walk 2-3 blocks north towards the river to the Neckarmünplatz stop, which services a number of bus routes. 

Hotels near Heidelberg Christmas Market

Budget friendly travel:

I stayed one night at the Hotel Mille Stelle.  This hotel is definitely an economy and budget friendly accommodation, but it has everything you need for a quick stay.  The rooms are clean and have private bathrooms (not always a standard in this part of Europe). There’s even a working elevator, which is always a huge bonus.  The hotel is only a few blocks from the Bismarckplatz, and just two tram stops from the central train station. 

In the heart of Old Town

One of the highest rated hotels in the Old Town is the Hotel Zur Alten Brücke.  This hotel has a prime location on the river and directly across from the historic Old Bridge. It’s also only two blocks from the Marktplatz.  

Unique stay

If you want to stay somewhere really special, and do not need to be in the heart of the city, look into the Berggasthof Königstuhl hotel.  This hotel is on a hill at the top of the funicular, which means there are incredible panoramic views of the city and river below. You will need a car or taxi to get up to the hotel.  The funicular is €16 round trip, and while fun, is not the fastest or most efficient way to get to or from the hotel. 

FAQs

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