DECEMBER 2022
The Christmas markets of Heidelberg were never really on my radar, but on our way back from the Alsace we were able to bring a quick visit to charming Heidelberg. What makes the Christmas markets in Heidelberg special are that they are very small scaled, you will find several small markets scattered through the city. On the Karlsplatz you will find a beautiful ice skating rink, with Schloss Heidelberg towering over the city as your backdrop.
Practical information
We visited during the week, so it wasn’t incredibly busy at the markets. We parked our car in the garage underneath the Karlsplatz, so we were close to where all the action was happening. From the Karlsplatz all the Christmas markets are within walking distance. In Germany the Christmas markets usually close before Christmas. In Heidelberg the Christmas markets are open until December 22. They open at 11AM and on Saturday they last until 10PM and the other days until 9PM, so plenty of time to explore (2022 information).
Heidelberg Christmas markets
One of the best markets to start is the Karlsplatz one, this is where you will find the small, but cute ice skating rink. You can buy tickets for the rink for € 6 for adults and € 4 for children, rental of skates costs € 5. The ice rink stays open longer than the markets and you can still skate here in the first week of January. Next to the ice rink we found a very cute bar, which was decorated with red details, where we found shelter against the rain. I can imagine this area being even more lovely at night!
From Karlsplatz it is only a short walk to the Kornmarkt, where you will find a small market, that features a children’s ride and is decorated with many, many trees. This market had many food stalls, such as a raclette one and a wine bar, but I am sure this is switched up yearly.
The Marktplatz is the next Christmas market, it featured one particularly lovely item and that were the wine barrels in which you could enjoy your food. We discovered that the stalls sold Kaiserschmarrn, so we had to let Hugo taste these little pancakes.
We really enjoyed our quick visit to Heidelberg, I would love to explore some more another time. Apparently, you can get amazing views from Schloss Heidelberg and I would also love to do a river walk enjoying views of the old town. Unfortunately, we still had a long drive and had to say bye-bye to Heidelberg too soon.
