Glitz, glamour, delicacies
Mulled wine, magical lights and festive music: Saxony’s Christmas markets ooze flair and every one of them has their own unique character. Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is Germany’s oldest Christmas market while small historic towns such as Meissen provide the perfect backdrop for cosy moments. Apart from that, we can also hear Christmas carols and smell delicious treats.
Take a look & enjoy!
Countless possibilities
Hardly any other region captures the magic of the festive season quite like Saxony. From the Ore Mountains to Upper Lusatia, and across Dresden and Leipzig, Saxony's Christmas markets are deeply rooted in local culture. Each destination offers a completely unique season experience, drawing visitors to discover traditional Christmas traditions and crafts.
If you are looking for genuine Saxon craftsmanship, don't miss the Christmas markets in Seiffen, Annaberg-Buchholz, and Leipzig. Here, master woodcarvers showcase their skills live. You can watch traditional decorations being made by hand, from intricate nutcrackers to smoking incense men or pyramids.
History enthusiasts will love Saxony's heritage-rich markets. Dresden is home to the famous Striezelmarkt, celebrated as one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets. Further afield in Görlitz and Pirna, beautifully restored Renaissance buildings, live music, and twinkling fairy lights create an enchanting backdrop for a visit.
For families, Saxony’s towns transform into winter wonderlands. Children’s carousels, Ferris wheels, festive baking workshops, and storytelling sessions make for an unforgettable family day out. To experience true local warmth, head to the smaller village markets where community spirit takes centre stage.
For a truly magical experience, visit Saxony's historic landmarks. Königstein Fortress hosts a spectacular traditional market within its ancient stone walls. Meanwhile, the grand castles of Moritzburg and Wackerbarth near Dresden come alive with stunning light displays, classical music, and rich history, offering an extraordinary festive escape.
Dream yourself away to Saxony, the land of Christmas
Wenzelsmarkt Bautzen - more than 600 years of advent magic
Silesian Christmas market, merging traditions from two countries
The world-famous Striezelmarkt - Germany's oldest Christmas market
Traditional Christmas market around the famous Frauenkirche
Christmas market featuring a giant Advent calendar built directly into the illuminated windows of the historic Late Gothic town hall
Christmas market showcasing authentic Ore Mountain mining traditions with glowing pyramids and its world-famous Grand Miners' Parade
Romantic Christmas market set in a historic castle town with an iconic, giant carved wooden pyramid
Traditional Christmas market nestled against a historic town-centre backdrop
Christmas market on Augustusplatz featuring a towering Ferris wheel, a multi-storey Finnish village, and global festive foods.
Christmas magic in the iconic Mädler Passage
13 top recommendations in the region’s charming towns and cities
Bautzen's “Wenzelsmarkt” (27 Nov - 22 Dec 2026), first mentioned in the 14th century, welcomes visitors in the town’s historic quarter with a glittering sea of lights and attractions such as arts and crafts, delicious Stollen cake and Christmas brass concerts. Especially for children: Santa Claus is on site every afternoon, opening a window of the market’s large Advent calendar!
Chemnitz’s Christmas market (27 Nov - 23 Dec 2026) features a good 200 stalls, perfect for Christmas shopping and festive treats galore. Check out the special Medieval market on Innere Klosterstrasse for historical Christmas magic and pencil in 30 November when the traditional festive miners’ parade takes place!
Dresden‘s “Striezelmarkt” is considered to be Germany’s oldest Christmas market. Visiting its 592nd edition (25 Nov - 24 Dec 2026), you can discover some – literally – great examples of the region’s typical wooden Christmas decorations, made in the Ore Mountains, including the world's tallest wooden pyramid (14.61 metres) and a huge walk-in Schwibbogen (light arch).
Tip: Don’t miss the unique Dresden Stollen Festival on 6th December when a huge Stollen Christmas cake will be paraded through town!
The Silesian Christmas Market in Görlitz (4 - 20 Dec 2026) features special church services reminding us of the Christmas message, baking, reading, theatre, singing and music, plus the “Görlitz Christkind” (Christ child) which makes a daily appearance on the market. Tip: Browse the arts and craft market in the Silesian Museum.
On third weekend of Advent (11 -13 Dec 2026), Hoyerswerda hosts the “Teschenmarkt”, named after the imperial princess Ursula Katharina von Teschen. Perfect for a seasonal stroll, the Christmas markets in the old town offer baked apples, mulled wine and all kinds of hearty treats, plus a varied programme for young and old on the market square.
Leipzig’s traditional Christmas market (24 Nov - 23 Dec 2026) features over 300 stalls in front of the Old Town Hall and in the city centre. There’s lots to see and do, including “Santa Claus consultations”, the special historical market "Alt-Leipzig", a fairy-tale forest and a 38-metre-high Ferris wheel on Augustusplatz square.
The historic market square with its Late Gothic town hall, Renaissance town houses and the Church of Our Lady provide a very atmospheric backdrop for Meissen’s Christmas market (24 Nov - 24 Dec 2026). Festively decorated market stalls offer their Christmas wares while the town hall is transformed into a giant Advent calendar revealing a new Christmas surprise every day.
The Canaletto Market in Pirna is one of the few Christmas markets still open after the holidays (24 Nov - 23 Dec and 27 - 30 Dec 2026). The market’s look is inspired by the Italian painter Canaletto and features romantic illuminations on the market square. Not to be missed!
The Christmas market in Schwarzenberg (4 Dec - 13 Dec 2026) is clustered around a historic wooden Christmas pyramid and features plenty of special Ore Mountains Christmas traditions, including a “Weihnachtsberg” with life-sized figures. These mountain-like models of the region’s landscape are set up during the Christmas period and portray the nativity scene and mining motifs. There is also a Medieval market in the local castle’s courtyard as well as a fairy-tale and miners’ parade.
Zittau’s Christmas Market (5 - 13 Dec 2026) is perfect for getting into the festive spirit. In addition to mulled wine, gingerbread and other treats, Santa Claus and angels, music and dance, a puppet show, a spectacular fire show and lots of Moravian Star decorations are featured. And why not hop on the historic narrow-gauge railway for an atmospheric trip into the nearby Zittau Mountains?
At Zwickau's Christmas market (23 Nov - 22 Dec 2026), you can compete with the glitter of a large Christmas pyramid and check out typical Ore Mountains folk art. Or how about trying the special Zwickau mulled wine? Every afternoon, Santa Claus makes an appearance for the kids and there is also a miners’ parade with traditional costumes and a marching band on Dec. 12.
In Saxony’s Vogtland region, Plauen’s Christmas market (24 Nov - 22 Dec 2026) on the Altmarkt square is a real highlight, featuring a traditional light procession for its opening. Should you be in Plauen on the second weekend of Advent (5/6 Dec), check out the historical Christmas market in the town’s old Weavers' Houses and “Komturhof” estate.
In Königstein, the fortress of the same name provides a stunning – and romantic! – backdrop for a festive “Winter's Tale”. This historical Christmas market (28/29 Nov, 5/6 Dec, 12/13 Dec and 19/20 Dec 2026) is all about authenticity with musicians, jugglers, puppeteers and traditional traders. Game goulash is prepared in large pots over open fire and children can enjoy rides on a hand-operated carousel. The hustle and bustle continues in the fortress’s underground passageways – and every day, a window of Germany's longest Advent calendar (112 metres) is opened. Tickets can only be purchased online in advance!
Tradition meets the big city
Enjoy one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the Ore Mountains
Regional specialities: Try Freiberg Mettensuppe, Ore Mountains flatbread and mulled wine made from Saxon grapes.
Particularly impressive is the festive miners’ parade, which brings the rich mining heritage of the ‘Silver City’ of Freiberg to life. The miners’ parade always takes place on the Saturday before the second Sunday in Advent.
Take a look behind the scenes at traditional Saxon woodcraft workshops. From candle arches to incense-burning figurines, you can buy your own unique souvenir and take home a wonderfully authentic memento.
Historic setting: Freiberg’s Obermarkt is situated in the heart of the medieval old town, with its magnificent town houses and the imposing St Nicholas’ Church.
Discover even more things to do in the region
The perfect stage for 10 Christmas highlights
Saxony is a land of castles. At Christmas time, many of them are transformed into charming Christmas locations with individual markets, musical performances and a lot of atmosphere.
When the days get shorter and the smell of mulled wine wafts through the vineyards of Radebeul, a very special period starts at Wackerbarth Castle. From November 2026 to February 2027, the splendid wine growing estate provides a romantic and magical winter experience, with special culinary delights on offer every day and a curated cultural programme each weekend. “Wackerbarth's Winter Magic” will warm your hearts and light up the eyes of young and old. Enjoy the wine estate’s delicious mulled wine and delicacies from the castle kitchen!
Christmas Garden Dresden transforms Pillnitz Palace and Park into a magical winter wonderland between 19 November 2026 and 10 January 2027. Go on an enchanting festive journey and follow a good one-mile walkway featuring glittering illuminations. Seasonal food and drinks are available at different stations.
The Christmas market at Moritzburg Castle takes place from 11 to 13 Dec 2026 against the castle’s breath-taking Baroque backdrop. There is also a special annual winter exhibition from 20 November 2026 to 28 February 2027 which recreates the magic of “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella”, a fairy-tale movie that is traditionally shown on German TV for Christmas and was shot at Moritzburg Castle.
On the second December weekend (5/6 Dec 2026), Colditz Castle puts on its traditional fairy-tale castle Christmas event. Stalls offer regional delicacies in the courtyards of the festively decorated Renaissance castle and in the vaulted cellars traditional crafts are on display.
Set in beautiful surroundings, Burgk Castle in Freital invites visitors on 28/29 November 2026 and 5/6 December 2026 to enjoy mulled wine,“Kräppelchen” (think doughnuts, but different), gingerbread and other delicacies in the castle courtyard. There are stalls selling arts and crafts and various children’s activities, including a petting zoo.
The wait for Christmas will be easier to bear if you take a special festive tour of Rochlitz Castle, featuring singing and dancing – and you are welcome to join in. The acoustics in the chapel are marvellous and so is the food prepared in the historic castle kitchen! The Christmas market takes place on 13 Dec 2026.
Hoflößnitz in Radebeul, Saxony's oldest wine-growing estate, will host a festive family weekend from 14 to 15 December 2026, with live music, Christmas market stalls and handicraft and baking workshops for kids.
Tip: Enjoy the view of the romantic, wintery Elbe River valley!
Weesenstein Castle invites you to a romantic Christmas market on the 1st Advent (28/29 Nov 2026) with plenty of delicacies to taste and gift stalls to rummage about. A children’s theater and atmospheric traditional brass music under the Christmas tree will complete your visit at the castle.
Head to Rammenau Castle, one of Saxony’s most beautiful Baroque ensembles, for festive fairy-tale moments. The 18th century manor house (very romantic!) hosts a range of special events in the run-up to Christmas, including a small family Christmas market on 29 Nov 2026, Christmas concerts and festive Christmas dinners.
The private winery „Schloss Proschwitz“ near Meissen opens its doors to the public for their romantic Christmas market on 26 to 29 Nov 2026 with carefully selected stalls selling hand crafted Christmas decoration, gifts and of course their own mulled wine and other delicacies.
Highlights & insider tips
Tips for Christmas markets in the Ore Mountains
Ore Mountains
Highlights:
A unique experience:
Tips for Christmas markets in the region
Upper Lusatia
Highlights:
A unique experience:
Tips for Christmas markets in the region
Dresden Elbland
Highlights:
Tips for Christmas markets in the region
Vogtland
Highlights:
Tips for Christmas markets in the region
Saxon Switzerland
Highlights:
Tips for Christmas markets in the region
Leipzig Region
As well as the many individual Christmas markets in Leipzig, the surrounding region also boasts a number of romantic Christmas markets:
Checklist for you
Trying regional mulled wine: A must at every Christmas market. Mulled wine from the Ore Mountains, flavoured with local spices, is the perfect way to warm up and is a real treat.
Saxon bratwurst with mustard: The classic bratwurst is a must. Alternatively, an Erzgebirge ‘Fettbemme’ – bread with lard and onions – makes for a hearty snack.
Incense cones as souvenirs: Take some Crottendorfer or Neudorfer incense cones home with you. Their scent is unmistakable and brings that typical Christmas magic into your living room.
Authentic woodcraft from the Ore Mountains: Candle arches, nutcrackers and incense burners from the Ore Mountains are a must for festive decorations. You’ll find unique, handcrafted pieces at the markets. If you’re looking for an artistic alternative to wood, the Herrnhut stars are just the thing. The stars come in a variety of colours and sizes.
Christmas music: Listen to the traditional sounds of brass bands and choirs, which perfectly set the festive mood. Advent concerts in churches round off the experience.
Winter sports in Saxony
Slopes, cross-country trails, winter fun
