For an authentic Christmas market experience, Dresden is a prime destination- home to the world’s oldest Christmas market, The Striezelmarkt, which has run every advent since 1434. Extravagantly decorated, Dresden’s Christmas markets consist of cosy clusters of stalls, offering a range of traditional crafts, tasty cuisine and hot Glühwein. The Dresden Christmas markets offer a wide range of handcrafted goods, bringing together and supporting local industries such as woodwork, pottery and mining. Look out for Erzgebirge wooden crafts such as toys, nutcrackers and Christmas pyramids.

The Erzgebirge region, located in southeastern Germany, is renowned for its exquisite traditional wooden toys and crafts. Some of the most popular Erzgebirge toys include:

• Nutcrackers: These iconic wooden figurines, often depicting characters from folklore, fairy tales, and traditional professions, serve both as decorative pieces and functional nutcrackers.
• Christmas Pyramids: Elaborately crafted wooden pyramids adorned with figurines and candles, creating a mesmerizing display when the propeller is spun by the heat of the lit candles.
• Smokers (Räuchermännchen): These decorative incense burners feature various characters, such as miners, craftsmen, and animals, and emit aromatic incense smoke through their mouths when used.
• Schwibbogen: These ornamental wooden arches, traditionally featuring romantic candlelit scenes or festive motifs, are a symbol of the region's craftsmanship.
• Wooden Ornaments: Delicate wooden ornaments, including angels, miners, and forest animals, are meticulously handcrafted and are commonly used for decorating Christmas trees.

The Striezelmarkt

Germany’s oldest and most beloved Christmas market, located in Dresden’s central Altmarkt Square. The ‘Striezel’ in Striezelmarkt refers to ‘stollen’, a spiced fruit loaf that has been enjoyed in Germany’s festive season for centuries. This market transports you back to the traditional joy of Christmas, with an authentic festive atmosphere.

This market demonstrates its dedication to local craft through its elaborate wooden decorations. The market houses the world’s largest Erzgebirgische Stufenpyramide (Carved Christmas pyramid - see above). Additionally, there is a spectacular wooden fairytale castle, used as an advent calendar with daily puppet show performances occurring in each window.

A visit to the Striezelmarkt would be incomplete without tasting the Dresdner Christollen, the festive spiced loaf the market is named after. Paired perfectly with a warm Glühwein, indulging in the local treats is an excellent way to warm up from the winter chill.

This market can become very busy on the weekends so we recommend visiting on weeknights.

Augustusmarkt

The second largest Christmas market in Dresden, the Augustusmarkt provides a quirky take on the traditional Christmas market. Adored by locals, this market is ideal for those looking for a quieter experience.

Traditional wooden huts are replaced by a 500 metre stretch of white and gold pagodas, creating an elegant atmosphere to stroll through. Offering traditional crafts and a mixture of traditional and international cuisine, Augustusmarkt’s pagodas provide an opportunity for Christmas shopping and indulging in delicious food and drink. A magnificent, blue illuminated tree with dripping icicles is the centrepiece of this market, accompanied by a gold glittering tree and large Ferris wheel that provides views of Dresden’s historic old town.

The Christmas Market on the Neumarkt

The Christmas market on the Neumarkt has the charming backdrop of the Frauenkirche, reconstructed from 1994 to 2005. This market provides a traditional experience, with stalls selling handmade crafts and traditional cuisine. Sweet smells of kräppelchen (fried pastry pieces dusted in sugar) drift through the air as kurrende singers walk through the market playing melodies from lutes. A nativity scene with real sheep is the centrepiece for this classic Christmas market.