We spent several winters exploring the Christmas markets in Europe, first in London, then in Vienna and Prague, followed by a two-week trip through southern Germany and France. We had always heard wonderful things about the Dresden Christmas markets, but we could never quite fit them into our itinerary.
The Dresden Christmas markets are known as being one of, if not the best, Christmas markets in all of Europe.
On our fourth trip to the European Christmas markets, we made sure to fit Dresden into our itinerary, and we are so glad we did.
Dresden is home to Germany’s oldest Christmas market, dating back to 1434, and is well known for its beautiful decorations and festive atmosphere. Surrounding the markets is Dresden’s Old Town, filled with history, churches, palaces, towers to climb, and charming cobblestone streets, making the entire city a joy to explore during the Christmas season.
The Dresden Christmas market is one of our favorite Christmas markets in Europe. In this guide, we’ll let you know exactly how to visit the markets, where they are located (there is more than one, and they are spread out across the city), and include photos so you know what to expect.
About the Dresden Christmas Markets
Many markets open in late November and run until Christmas Eve, with a few of the larger ones staying open through the end of the year.
If a market is open beyond December 25, it will typically close Christmas day and have reduced hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Check the official website for hours on these days (we provide the links throughout this guide).
Most stalls open around 10 or 11 am, but the markets really come alive in the afternoon once it gets dark, though this is also when crowds are at their peak.
Markets are noticeably more crowded on weekends, sometimes overwhelmingly so, so weekdays are the best time to visit when possible. Be sure to check opening times, as some markets only operate on weekends.
Bring cash, as some stalls only accept cash payments, and a few markets charge a small entrance fee.
Any drink served in a glass comes with a refundable deposit (pfand) which ranges from €3 to €5. You can return the glass to get your money back or keep it as a souvenir.
The opening dates and times listed below are based on 2025 information and are subject to change.
Dresden Christmas Markets
There are several Christmas markets throughout the city, with the Dresdner Striezelmarkt in Altmarkt being the main Christmas market. Below, we provide information and photos of each.
Dresdner Striezelmarkt in Altmarkt
Open: November 26 to December 24, 2025
Hours: Daily 10 am to 9 pm
Location: Altmarkt
Website: striezelmarkt.dresden.de
The Dresdner Striezelmarkt is the oldest Christmas market in the world, first documented in 1434, and one of the best Christmas markets we have seen anywhere in Europe. It is held on Altmarkt Square in Dresden’s Old Town. Although the square was destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style to preserve its historic character.
In December, Altmarkt Square is fully transformed for Christmas. Each of the 200+ stalls are uniquely decorated, topped with glühwein bottles, animated figures, or festive animals, and trimmed with Christmas wreaths and lights. At the entrance stands the massive Christmas pyramid, which earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999.
The market offers an impressive variety of stalls selling traditional wooden figurines, Christmas scenes, pottery, jewelry, and nutcrackers. Food options range from bratwurst and elk burgers to pulled pork sandwiches, empanadas, noodles, Rahmbrot (bread with toppings), and Dresdner Christstollen (Dresden’s famous fruit bread). Beyond the stalls are a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a small train ride for children.
A central stage hosts live performances throughout the day, including Saxon folk singers, choirs, and puppet shows. Viewing platforms within the market provide excellent photo opportunities.
Here is the Dresdner Striezelmarkt in photos (we have a lot to share, as this market is so much fun to visit and photograph, and we were here several times during our 2 day visit to Dresden).
PRO TRAVEL TIP: For an elevated view, visit the library across the street and walk up to the second-floor balcony. You can also pay a small fee to climb the tower of the Kreuzkirche, located at the corner of the square, for views over the market and the city.
Here are the views from the tower of the Kreuzkirche ↓
Like most Christmas markets, Striezelmarkt becomes very crowded in the evenings, especially on weekends. We recommend visiting during the day to fully appreciate the stalls and decorations, then returning after dark for a more festive atmosphere.
Frauenkirche Christmas Markets (Neumarkt and Münzgasse)
Open: November 26 to December 24, 2025
Hours: Daily 10 am to 9 pm
Location: Neumarkt & Münzgasse
Website: weihnachtsmarkt-dresden.de
The area surrounding the Frauenkirche Dresden, or Church of Our Lady, is home to two charming Christmas markets.
The larger market, Advent on the Neumarkt, features stalls designed to resemble those from about 100 years ago, reflecting traditional guild craftsmanship. Here you will find handmade pottery, glassware, lace, and high-quality food from a variety of cuisines. Santa Claus visits daily at scheduled times listed on the website.
The smaller Münzgasse market runs along a street lined with restaurants and food stalls. It has its own selection of treats and is marked by a Christmas pyramid decorated with wooden figurines. Together, these markets create a festive atmosphere in one of Dresden’s most beautiful settings.
Stallhof Medieval Market
Open: November 26 to December 23, 2025
Hours: Daily 11 am to 9:30 pm
Location: Stallhof, Schlossstraße/Schlossplatz
Website: mittelalter-weihnacht.de
Step back in time at the medieval Christmas market held in the Stallhof courtyard of the Royal Palace. This courtyard once hosted tournaments, and today it provides the perfect backdrop for a medieval-themed market.
This market is amazing and not to be missed. It’s small but incredibly charming and photogenic, with its medieval theme. We really enjoyed shopping here, and we all took turns at archery.
Stalls are designed to resemble castles, taverns, and tents, with flags waving overhead and vendors dressed in period clothing. Many stalls serve hearty food and spiced mead, while shops sell medieval-themed goods such as drinking horns, toy swords, and traditional clothing. Jugglers and musicians perform throughout the day, and visitors can even try their hand at archery.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you want low crowds, the best time to visit is just after opening. It gets busy mid-afternoon into the early evening.
Romantic Christmas Market
Open: November 28 to December 24, 2025
Location: Next to Taschenbergpalais
Website: dresden.de
The Romantic Christmas Market is small but conveniently located just south of the Royal Palace and close to the Striezelmarkt. It’s also a very short walk from Stalhof Medieval Market.
With around 10 stalls, it sells traditional Christmas market goods and offers a festive atmosphere amid beautiful Baroque buildings. While it is not a destination market, you will likely pass by it while exploring the Old Town.
Augustusmarkt, Dresden’s International Christmas Market
Open: November 26, 2025 to January 4, 2026
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11 am to 9 pm; Friday 11 am to 10 pm; Saturday 10 am to 10 pm
Location: Neustadt, on the pedestrian street between Neustädter Markt and Albertplatz
Website: augustusmarkt.de
Located across Augustus Bridge from the historic center, Augustusmarkt honors Augustus II the Strong and the grandeur of his reign. At the entrance stands a golden statue of Augustus alongside a glittering Ferris wheel. From here, a row of white pagoda-style stalls decorated with golden garlands stretches toward Albertplatz.
This is Dresden’s international Christmas market, offering a wide range of international food and gifts. It is more relaxed than the markets in the Old Town, though the stall decorations are less elaborate. If you are short on time, this is one market you can skip.
Finn Village Market
Open: November 27 to December 31, 2025
Hours: Daily from 12 pm to 9 pm, with later hours Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Location: On Dr.-Külz-Ring next to Altmarkt-Galerie
Website: finnvillage.de
The Finn Village Christmas Market is a very small but cozy market with just a few stalls. You will find flammlachs, glögi, a gin bar, two shops selling Finnish specialties, a heated tent for dining, and a small indoor seating area with fur blankets.
This market has a more upscale feel and is a pleasant place to relax, though it was very quiet when we visited. In 2025, the market was located near Dr. Külz Ring and Prager Street, but its location has changed in past years. Check the website for the current location during your visit.
Winterlights of Dresden
Open: November 27 to December 23, 2025
Location: Prager Straße
Website: dresden.de
Winterlights of Dresden is located on Prager Street, the city’s main shopping street. The market features traditional stalls selling food and gifts, along with an ice-skating rink. We did not find anything particularly memorable here and would only recommend visiting if you have extra time.
Map of the Dresden Christmas Markets
Below is a map showing the location of the Dresden Christmas markets.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
How Much Time Do You Need to Visit the Dresden Christmas Markets?
One day is just enough time to visit the Christmas markets plus tour a few of the city’s attractions. With just one day, we recommend visiting the Dresdner Striezelmarkt, the Frauernkirche Christmas Market, the Stallhof Medeival Market, and the Romantic Christmas Market. This wouldn’t leave you much time for sightseeing, but you could add in visits to Zwinger Palace, the Royal Palace, and climb a tower or two for elevated views over Dresden.
Two days is the perfect amount of time to tour the city and visit all of its Christmas markets.
We spent two full days in Dresden, dividing our time between the Christmas markets and city sites. Dresden is small and easily walkable, with a fantastic tram system to get around a bit faster.
Where to Stay in Dresden
We stayed at Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe which is located on Neumarkt, the location of the Frauenkirche Christmas Market. This hotel has a fantastic location, next to one of Dresden’s best Christmas markets, and it is a 5-minute walk to the Dresdner Stiezelmarkt (the main Christmas market) and to the Elbe River.
We considered staying at NH Collection Dresden Altmarkt, which sits on Altmarkt and some rooms have views of the Christmas market. However, we were concerned about noise at night, so stayed at Steigenberger instead. If you want a view of Dresden’s main Christmas market from your hotel room, this is the place to stay.
Other hotels in the city center, within walking distance of the main Christmas markets, are Townhouse Dresden, Aparthotel Neumarkt, and Aparthotel Münzgasse An der Frauenkirche (3-star hotel with apartments, perfect for families).
About Our Visit to the German Christmas Markets
Our visit to Dresden was our fourth European Christmas market trip and our second German Christmas market trip.
In December 2025, we started in Berlin, then traveled to Wrocław, Poland and other towns and cities across northern Germany, including Dresden, Erfurt, Cologne, Traben-Trarbach, Trier, Heidelberg, and Frankfurt. Dresden is a must-see, Wrocław was amazing, and we also really liked Erfurt, Traben-Trarbach, and Cologne.
In 2024, Julie and I spent just under two weeks visiting the markets in Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, plus the Alsace region of France (Colmar and Strasbourg). This trip was amazing and we’ve written several southern Germany Christmas market itineraries to help you plan your time.
On prior trips to Europe in December, we visited Christmas markets in London, Prague, and Vienna.
If visiting the Christmas markets in Europe is on your to-do list, you can see all of our Christmas market guides in the link below ↓
If you have any questions about the Dresden Christmas markets, or if you would like to share your favorites, let us know in the comment section below.
Plan Your Trip to Germany
Below are our guides on more places to visit in Germany, plus our favorite Christmas markets in Europe.
Germany Travel Guide | How to Plan a Trip to Germany
Travel advice for Germany. Visit Bavaria, Munich, Berlin, Berchtesgaden, and Neuschwanstein Castle. Get travel itineraries and learn where to stay and where to eat.
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