Christmas Market Essen

Essen makes Christmas dreams come true

14 November to 23 December 2025

Experience the magic and sparkle of the Essen International Christmas Market until 23 December 2025. It has been named the ‘Best Christmas Market’ in Germany three times in a row by ‘European Best Destinations’. From Willy-Brand-Platz to Kennedyplatz and Flachsmarkt, around 170 festively decorated stalls and a high-quality, international range of goods invite you to enjoy a magical Christmas stroll. A major highlight this year is the ‘WDR 2 Christmas Miracle’, which will be held at Burgplatz from 13 to 17 December. Look forward to concerts, stars, lots of music and even more excitement. It's going to be a celebration!

We look forward to seeing you!

Your EMG - Essen Marketing GmbH

Opening hours

14 November – 23 December 2025
daily from 11am to 9pm
Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 10pm

Sunday shopping on 14 December, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Willy-Brandt-Platz

Willy-Brandt-Platz | © EMG

1. Snack bar
2. Venetian horse carousel
3. Confectionery
4. Pasta Parmigiano
5. Sheep‘s cheese in flatbread
6. Rice pudding bowl
7. Raclette specialities
8. The Essen Christmas pyramid
9. Prague ham
10. Potato magic
11. Petit Paris
PH Photobox

Medieval market

Markt/Porschekanzel | © EMG

MA1 Childrens black smith
MA2 The Leatherworker
MA3 Leather & more
MA4 Crêpes & Waffles
MA5 The Tavern
MA6 Holgulus - Wooden Toys
MA8 Fairy Tale Hut - “Coffee & more”
MA9 Ablassfrei - Liqueurs & Gin
MA10 Sausages & more
MA11 Incense & Soap
MA12 Games for Children
MA13 Tavern - Flux Wine Tower
MA14 Sheep products
MA15 Mo‘s Natural Products & Specialties
MA16 The Merchant

Kettwiger Straße | Theaterplatz | Burgplatz | Friedensplatz

Kettwiger Str./Burgplatz | © EMG

12. Fried fish & seafood
13. Bossle‘s flambéed salmon
14. Veggie snacks
15. Sweets
16. Crêperie
17. Fur & Co.
18. Accessories
19. O‘Donnell Moonshine
20. Tarte flambée
21. Mulled wine
22. Press grain pillows
23. Lions Club, cocoa & Löwentee
24. The Belt Cutter “Gurt Kurt”
25. Smash‘d Burger deluxe
26. Almonds & Sweets
27. American Corn Dogs
28. Children‘s Carousel
29. Churros & Co.
30. Zum Ritter Mulled Wine
31. Snack Bar
32. Crêpes
33. Kastel Ceramic Cottage
34. Fire Forest
PH Photobox

Markt | Porschekanzel

Markt/Porschekanzel | © EMG

132. Spices, coffee, tea & accessories
133. Zum lustigen Vogel - mulled wine
134. Almond Roastery
135. Snacks
136/137. Baden bakery/wine tavern
138. Children‘s Carousel
139. Tasty coconut macaroons
140. Arrigo Leather goods
141. Crêpes
142. Ullah steel goods Solingen
143. Merchandise “essen diese”
144. Bar “essen diese”
145. Trdelnik Baumstrietzel
146. Snacks
147. Belgian chocolates Galle
148. Snacks - Der Klopper
149. Almonds & confectionery

Kennedyplatz

Kennedyplatz | © EMG

35. Celona mulled wine
36. Langos
37. Mini pizza & manti
38. Polish specialties snack bar
39. French crêpes
40. Trdelnik Baumstrietzel
41. Confectionery
42. Kühnle‘s potato pancakes and baked potatoes
43. Broel‘s Poffertjes Express
44. Peru potato
45. Kanthak mulled wine
46. X-MAS Lounge / Bakery
47. X-MAS Lounge
48. Hosiery
49. Leather goods
50. Christmas Bakery
51. Mystery Packs - parcel machine
52. children‘s carousel
53. Käthe Wohlfahrt

Gingerbread Alley

54. Perfumery
55. Extremely delicious Salami
56. Fashion items
57. Bonbons Apotheke
58. Visit Essen Merchandise
59. Deva Design - Jewelry
60. Jewelry
61. Nativity figures

Star Alley

62. ABOUKI - handmade art prints, decorations, and accessories
63. Knives & knife sharpening
64. Blütenkosmos
65. Montenau ham
66. Monschau mustard
67. Evergrate ceramic graters
68. Bunzlauer ceramic
69. Fur products
70. Liqueurs
71. Jewelry & minerals
72. Dog bakery
73. Everything for animals
74. Stars from the sky

Fir Alley

75. UNICEF greeting cards
76. Lasse Lakrits - licorice specialties
77. Perfect pans
78. Olive wood - handicrafts
79. Silberrausch - silver jewelry
80. Hats - exclusive
81. Hachel glass engravings
82. Photo holograms in crystal glass
83. Prince scarves
84. French cheese specialties
85. French salami specialties
86. Mallek‘s Gourmet Dreams
87. Designer Jewelry
88. Cashmere Scarves & Cashmere Products
89. Printen bakery
90. Black Forest Distillery & Winery WILD
91. Perlkönig jewelry

Bell Alley

92. Puzzles & Games of Patience
93. Engravings
94. Stainless Steel
95. Ligna Arts Wooden Kits
96. Ligna Arts Puzzles
97. Gusti Leather
98. Zum Ritter - Mulled wine
99. Craft Circus Gin & Co.
100. Presents for you - Decorative items & gift wrapping service
101. Snowball dreams
102. Beer cushions
103. Brush factory Dresden
104. Bee house
105. Bee house

Comet Alley

106. Delicatessen
107. Warmies - Heating pad animals
108. Garten Peter - grain pillows
109. Reclock record player clocks
110. World of beers
111. Top Style Fashion
112. Uncle Hermann‘s Snack Bar
113. Hot Chestnuts
114. Adam‘s Potato Pancakes
115. International Confectionery
116. Thelen‘s Vegetable Cult
117. Prince‘s World of Delights
118. Käthe Wohlfahrt
119. Snack Bar
120. Snack Bar - Schupfnudeln (potato noodles)
121. Chocolate Fruit
122. Leo‘s Casa - Mulled Wine
123. Snack Bar
124. Büglers Original Pasta from the Cheese Loaf
125. East Frisian Specialties
126. Baroque Carousel
127. Rainbow Crêperie meets Vegetable Cult
128. Kimicucina - Stuffed Pizza Rolls
129. Glüh Bar
130. Fire tongs bowl
131. Nativity Scene Wood Carving from South Tyrol

The Mulled Wine Mystery – the winter escape experience only at the Essen Christmas Market

This year, you can solve an exciting fictional crime case, the ‘Mulled Wine Mystery,’ in the middle of the International Christmas Market. In about 90 minutes, you have to find out why mulled wine stand operator Rudi Racken was poisoned. All you need is a smartphone, a little detective work and, above all, a good mood. Once the case has been solved, it's time to raise your mulled wine cups and celebrate together!

The game can be played in teams of 2 to 50 people – perfect for Christmas parties, team events or as a winter escape experience for friends and families. As it can also be played in English, it is perfect for international groups.

So, book your escape game conveniently online today, have the game materials sent to you by post and look forward to an unforgettable team experience amid sparkling lights, humour and the scent of mulled wine – only from 14 November to 23 December 2025 and only at the Essen International Christmas Market!

Book your adventure now: www.gluehweinkrimi.de

Christmas Market Essen

Hotel recommendations

Essener Hof Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western | from 79,00 €

Motel One | from 69,00 €

Four Points Flex by Sheraton Essen | from 75,00 €

Hotel am Brinkerplatz | from 89,00 €

Mercure Hotel Plaza Essen | from 109,00 €

FOUR Essen City Centre | from 79,00 €

Hotel Essen Neumann Hausverwaltung | 1-Room Apt. from 71,40 € (Use code: 202512)

Art Hotel Körschen | from 109,80 €

From 13 to 17 December 2025 at Burgplatz in Essen

WDR 2 Weihnachtswunder

This year, a visit to the International Christmas Market is doubly worthwhile, because from 13 to 17 December, the ‘ WDR 2 Christmas Miracle ’ is coming to Essen, or more precisely to Burgplatz. For over 100 hours, WDR 2 presenters Sabine Heinrich, Steffi Neu, Thomas Bug and Jan Malte Andresen will be broadcasting live non-stop from the specially constructed glass studio. The aim is to bring people together and collect as many donations as possible to fight hunger in the world. All Essen residents, visitors and listeners can submit music requests in exchange for a donation. This will be possible from 24 November on wdr2.de and, of course, live on site at Burgplatz from 13 December. Another highlight: two concerts by renowned artists and bands will take place each day.

The donations will support over 30 projects worldwide, including the Tafeln NRW food banks. WDR's partner is the alliance of German aid organisations ‘Aktion Deutschland Hilft’.

Photo Gallery

Impressions of the International Christmas Market Essen

Sustainable Christmas market with an award

In the spirit of the "European Green Capital 2017", sustainability plays a major role at the International Christmas Market. This year, the Essen Christmas Market was also recognised as the ‘ Best Sustainable Christmas Market in Europe ’ by the travel portal ‘European Best Destinations’!

Only ‘green electricity’ from our partner E.ON is used.
All caterers refrain from using disposable dishes for on-site consumption. Instead, reusable dishes will be available for a deposit and chips/churros will be served in paper bags.
There is a deposit system for cups, glasses and plates.
There is an absolute ban on plastic bags.
The organisers attach great importance to regional, fair trade and organic products as well as a good ecological balance when choosing suppliers.

Roll the film!

Here are a few memories we want to share with you.

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Contact

EMG - Essen Marketing GmbH
Tourist Info
Kettwiger Str. 35
45127 Essen

+49 201 8872333
touristinfo@essen.de

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