Visiting the Dresden Christmas markets had been a long time dream of mine. I imagined strolling along cobbled streets, taking in the overwhelming scent of mulled wine and chestnuts roasting on hot coals. Admiring the twinkling lights amidst the century-old architecture and towering churches. And what I imagined is exactly the Christmas fairytale I found. Dresden was my favorite stop along my Christmas market road trip.
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Dresden is home to the world’s oldest Christmas market, but the Christmas magic only begins there. It’s no wonder why it’s one of the most visited Christmas destinations worldwide.
The Striezelmarkt is the market I had in my dreamy Dresden visions. Dating back to 1434, the Striezelmarkt is in fact the oldest Christmas market in the world.
The Striezelmarkt is held every year, for nearly 600 years, at the Altmarkt Square. The market is centered around the 25 meter high twinkling fir Christmas tree with a perfectly placed star atop. It along with the world’s largest Erzgebirge Christmas pyramid, standing at nearly 15 meters tall, attracts everyone’s eyes. I felt wide-eyed like a child on Christmas morning. This was indeed the most impressive pyramid of all.
The market is big, and on each lane you’ll find something else new and exciting to try from traditional crafts to local delicacies. If you see something you don’t recognize, just ask, the vendors are surprisingly friendly. You can also take a ride on the ferris wheel to admire the view from above.
We found the crowds manageable on a Sunday and Monday. Nothing like what I expected after visiting Prague the few days before. As we were staying very close by, we even popped by for lunch time too. This market has the most diverse food and drinks on offer.
Whilst many come to Dresden just to visit the Striezelmarkt, this is only just the beginning. For a little more of the Striezelmarkt see my reel on Instagram.
Just a stone’s throw away from the Striezelmarkt is the more charming Christmas market on the Neumarkt. The Christmas Market on the Neumarkt was my favorite Christmas market of the entire roadtrip.
The market is nestled on the square behind the Frauenkirche. The Frauenkirche creates the most stunning backdrop you can imagine. Here, twinkling stars sit atop each and every tree, and there is a romantic light given off by the Frauenkirche itself.
There is an emphasis on authenticity and tradition at the Neumarkt. There are plenty of local handcrafted goods and original items that you won’t be able to find at the neighboring markets. The market is also less busy and has a more intimate spirit. We also tasted some of the best food and drinks here.
There is no wonder the Christmas Market on the Neumarkt is often called the “postcard of Christmas markets”.
Note, I was enjoying this market so much, I forgot to take any good photos apart from this very cool cauldron where they mixed apple cider and beer together, served warm.
Be sure not to miss the Medieval Market. Here you sometimes need to pay a small entrance fee on weekend evenings. We were able to avoid this by simply arriving early or late.
The Medieval Market takes place within the walls of the Dresden Royal Palace. Within this backdrop, history comes to life. Vendors wear traditional medieval outfits and sell food, drinks and even crafts of time’s past. There are jugglers and other entertainment for your enjoyment.
On many evenings there are also live medieval music and dance performances to enhance the atmosphere. Behind the stage you’ll find long tables to enjoy your medieval fare. Many of the other markets had limited seating, so this is good to note.
There are a few other quirky finds, like the famous “rocking pig” and the public paths. There are two giant wooden bathtubs where 16 people can enjoy a hot bath right there, in the center of the market. You are a bit on display, but if you can get past that, it’s truly a unique experience.
The Medieval Market is also called the Stallhof Advent Festival.
A little surprise amidst the German markets, is the Finnish Market. The Finnish Market takes visitors into the magical world of a Finnish winter. It’s a smaller market than the others. There are a few stalls selling Christmas gifts and mulled wine, but the main attraction is the smoked salmon. Salmon is smoked in the square in a traditional method, over open wood flame. The smell fills the air, making it difficult to avoid your mouth from watering. Order a plate or two and enjoy it inside the teepees, by the fire.
There is also a small market called the Romantic Market. We simply walked by here on our way from one market to another. It is small, but there are some fun seating areas in horse drawn carriages, if you need a small rest from the busier market squares.
Cross the Elbe river and you’ll find the Augustusmarkt along the Hausptrasse from the Goldener Reiter (Golden Horseman) to Albertplatz Square. The market and the neighboring streets are decorated with bright lights and a famous blue Christmas tree.
At the Augustusmarkt you’ll find a mix of local and international stalls. If you are a bit tired of German flavors, the Augustusmarkt is the place to visit. There are also many photo ops at the Augustusmarkt including the illuminated Dresden sign, the ferris wheel overlooking the city, and the blue Christmas tree.
We tried a giant sweet ball and some hearty soup to warm the soul. Since this market runs along a street I recommend exploring one side and then looping back to explore the other. Don’t worry, there will always be a gluhwein stall nearby!
Before catching the bus to Poland, we also stopped by the Winterlights Market. This market is just by the central station and is considered the entry and exit way to the Christmas spirit. It just so happens to be located on the Pragerstrasse, where you’ll find Dresden’s best shopping.
If I had to choose a market to skip this would be it, it felt less authentic and more forced than the others, but still a pleasant place to pass some time.
This is by no means a complete list, but here are a few of our favorite things we ate and drink at the Dresden Christmas markets.
Sweets are abundant at the Christmas markets. In addition to German classics they also have chocolate, chocolate covered fruit, hot chocolate, crepes, waffles, marzipan, chimney cakes and more. Here are a few classics:
We found the perfect spot to stay in Dresden to enjoy the Christmas markets. Limehome Dresden has a few locations in the city. The location on the Wallstrasse was just a block from the Striezelmarkt. It’s on a more main road, but it was surprisingly quiet. There are no views or thrills, but it was affordable and perfectly located for getting around.
Dresden’s Christmas markets offer all the Christmas magic I hoped for. I promise if you visit, you’ll have a Christmas experience you’ll never forget too.
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