Frankfurt Christmas Market

The Frankfurt Christmas Market is situated throughout the city centre around Mainkai (Main quay), Paulsplatz and Römerberg and held annually from the end of November until Christmas it features a multitude of market stalls with hand made Christmas gifts but its worth going just for the festive atmosphere for a weekend.

A brief history of the Frankfurt Christmas Market

The Christmas Market (Christkindchesmarket) is certainly one of the best in the Hessen region and sets the standard not only for Germany but around the globe – in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester in the United Kingdom they have created the most authentic version of the German Christmas Market based upon the market in Frankfurt.

The Christmas market in Frankfurt has been held annually for over the last 600 years since 1393 when it was first officially mentioned and could even have begun further back than then, making it one of the oldest as well as the most popular Christmas markets in Germany and Europe. Since it began it has always been held at Römerberg traditionally accompanied by a play based on the reconcilation between King Otto the Great and his brother Heinrich during Christmas mass, if you go to Frankfurts Historical Museum, you can see a painting by Alfred Rethel depicting the event.

It was only from the 1800′s that familar elements from modern day Christmas celebrations found their way into the Frankfurters Christmas market, such as the sale of evergreen firs/ Christmas trees outside the town hall along with the magnificent gigantic display tree that visitors see today. Typically you will find locally made handicrafts, toys and of course Christmas sweets such as Brenten, Bethmaennchen and Quetschemaennchen – Frankfurt author and poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was said to be one of the biggest fans of this confectionary. It’s a great place to find the some truly authentic, original and pleasing Christmas gifts as well as a great place to lose yourself and explore – if you’re lucky enough to be there for when there is snow it’s truly magical when mixed with the wonderful aromas of baked apples, gingerbread, mulled wine and roasted nuts.

Getting to the Frankfurt Christmas Fair

Only 15 minutes from Frankfurts airport (Frankfurt Hahn) using public transport (don’t bother using a car), just get on the S-bahn, Trams or U-bahn and follow everybody else – best place to get off is at either Paulsplatz or Römerberg but it’s worth considering getting off at Hauptwache to walk through the market. The area on the map highlighted in blue shows roughly the area of the market – also marked on are the tree (which everyone should see) and the nearest public transport links. Also remember that if you get the Frankfurt discount card from any tourist office then you get free public transport.

Hotels near Frankfurt Christmas Market

Baring in mind these hotels get booked out quickly you may have to find accommodation a bit further away but then the public transport is really that good that it’s not actually that much of an issue. You can see on the map above the location of 7 hotels that are very close to the Christmas Market, these are:

• Das Spenerhaud Hotel


• Hotel Am Dom


• Hotel Miramar


• Hotel Neue Kräme


• Hotel Zeil


• Hotel Zentrum


• Steinenberger Frankfurter Hof

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2010

Official Opening Ceremony hosted by Frankfurts Lord Mayor Petra Roth at Römerberg stage
24th November 5pm

The Chiming of Frankfurt’s Church Bells – 10 churches and 50 bells
27th November 4.30 – 5pm
4th December 5 – 5.30pm

Carillon of St. Nicholas’ Church
Daily at Römerberg around 9am, 12pm and 5pm

The Tower Horns – Balcony of St. Nicholas’ Church at Römerberg
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6pm

Visit by Santa Claus at Römerberg stage
6th December from 5pm

Advent concerts – “International Christmas” at Römerberg stage
Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 5.10pm
26th November Herchenröder Quartett 1013 e.V.
27th November Korean Choir
28th November German American Community Choir
3rd December Neeber-Schuler Choir
4th December Swensk Ton e.V. (Swedish Choir)
5th December Germania Sindlingen
10th December Choir of Christ the King
11th December  Female Choir Sossenheim
12th December Italian children’s choir “Coro Dello Zecchino”
17th December Frankfurt Police Choir e. V.
18th December Female Choir Nieder-Eschbach
19th December Rödelheimer Neuner

Christmas market featuring various Frankfurt artists
Paulskirche 24th November – 22nd December, 12 – 8pm
Römerhallen 03rd December – 22nd December 12 – 8pm

“Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!”
Advent and Christmas songs at Church of Our Lady
27th November – 19th December, daily at 7.30pm

Take a ride on an historical steam train at the river embankment Eiserner Steg
11th December 1 – 5 pm
12th December 11am – 5pm

Also worth checking out are the guided tours of the Christmas markets from the tourist information point at Römer which take about an hour and a half and will guide you through around and even above the markets for a few Euros and you also get a carousel ride, hot mulled wine and some of the traditional sweets.

No related posts.