The Frankfurt Christmas market was first mentioned in a document at the end of the 14th century, making it the oldest Christmas market in Germany after Bautzen. Over the last hundred years, the magnificently decorated market has also established itself as one of the largest and most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany. The colorful stalls around the Römerberg, the heart of Frankfurt's Christmas market, attract over three million visitors year after year. Nowadays, the market with its 200 stalls no longer just covers the Römerberg, but stretches from the Hauptwache to the Mainkai, opposite the famous Iron Footbridge.
In addition to the obligatory sausages, mulled wine and other delicacies, the 2016 Christmas market also offers visitors Christmas candles in all shapes and sizes, arts and crafts, Christmas tree decorations, honey and many other beautiful things. For lovers of Frankfurt baking, for example, there is the Frankfurter Bethmännchen Hütte. Here you can find the delicious Bethmännchen, and even if the prices for a few pieces of the delicacy are relatively high, you can't go past them. There are roasted almonds in every conceivable flavor, crepes stands, the honey house, wooden bird food ribs and houses of lights at the Christmas market, as well as the traditional glass ball house. Here you will find Christmas baubles in every conceivable variation. From simple to elaborately decorated to absolutely kitschy, there is something to suit every taste. Finally, there are also the sales huts of Käthe Wolfart from Rothenburg an der Tauber. Here you will find wooden jewelry, dolls and other small items that vary considerably in quality and price. But here, too, there is something for almost every taste!
However, the heart of the Frankfurt Christmas market has been and remains the large Christmas tree in front of the Römer and the stalls surrounding it since the 19th century.
Around the tree you will find, among other things, the Frankfurt Candle House and wood carpentry shops, where you can buy particularly unusual incense smokers and beautiful wooden decorations for your Christmas tree. Of course, there is also plenty of mulled wine and gingerbread. It is noticeable that the range of culinary offerings is increasing from year to year. Gone are the days when currywurst was the ultimate treat. Now almost every nation is represented with its own stand. Whether Italian, Greek or Turkish specialties, there is (almost) nothing that is not available at the Frankfurt Christmas market.
A very nice corner of the large market is also Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz, where the traditional ROSA WEIHNACHT will once again be celebrated in 2016. It's usually a little quieter here than on the Römerberg and it's definitely worth stopping by, even if you don't belong to the target group of the gay community.
A nice tradition are also the parallel sales exhibitions of Frankfurt artists, which, as every year, take place in the Paulskirche (27.11. - 21.12. daily 12.00 to 20.00 and in the Römerhallen (02.12. - 21.12, 12.00 - 20.00). A visit from St. Nicholas on the stage at Römerberg on 06.12. (17.30) and the Frankfurt City Ringing with 50 bells from 10 churches (27.11., 16.30 - 17.00 and 24.12., 17.00 - 17.30) will also ensure a festive atmosphere among visitors! There are also Advent concerts "International Christmas" on the stage at Römerberg, which take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:10 pm.
All in all, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is well worth a visit again this year. However, you will find many of the offers on offer several times during a tour, so that a certain monotony can easily set in, which can of course be quickly washed down at one of the countless mulled wine stands.
The Roßmarkt has been part of the Frankfurt Christmas market since 2021, meaning that the market stretches from the Roßmarkt across the Zeil down to the Römerberg and the Main.
There are also many Christmas stalls at the Hauptwache. It's well worth a visit, as Frankfurt's largest shopping street, the Zeil, right opposite the Hauptwache, invites you to go Christmas shopping.
INFOS
Opening times:
27.11. - 21.12.2023
Mon. - Sat: 10.00 - 21.00
Sun: 11.00 - 21.00
Tower blowing: Wed + Sat each. 18.00
City ringing: 27.11., 16.30-17.00 and 24.12., 17.00-17.30 hrs
(50 bells from 10 churches)
Visit from St. Nicholas: 06.12., 17.30
Advent singing in Liebfrauen
In cooperation with the Catholic and Protestant churches in Frankfurt am Main
an Advent singing is planned again. Times are yet to be published.
During the Christmas market, Tourismus+Congress GmbH will also be offering a special city tour entitled GLÜHWEIN, GESCHICHTEN & GEBÄCK, which is now extremely popular not only with tourists.
This year's mulled wine cup continues the series of themed cups started last year, which are dedicated to a specific theme each year. The theme of the mock-up cup is yet to be announced.
