DECEMBER 2025

I don’t think people associate the industrial Ruhr area with Christmas markets, but I discovered that the area is really charming over the  festive period. We visited Wuppertal and Essen for some Christmas vibes over the weekend and Essen turned out to be our favorite. The city might be modern, but they sure know how to decorate. Especially if you love to indulge in over-the-top light installations, Essen is a great visit! Another great thing is that lodging is very affordable, which is not always the case with Christmas markets locations.

Where to stay

Another thing that is great about Essen is that lodging is quite affordable if you book on time. Most of the large chain hotels are represented in Essen and they offer great deals with breakfast included. We chose Aparthotel TU-TU, which had a great location near the Christmas markets and a cheap parking option. We paid € 78 for a room for a night on a weekend. If you are looking for a more cozy option, the Moxy and the Niu are generally good hotels to stay. 

Essen’s Christmas markets

In 2025 the Christmas markets of Essen are held from November 14 until December 25. Essen has several Christmas markets, which spread out all throughout the city. The market at the Willy-Brandt-Platz is located next to the train station and is the one that features the large tree and Weihnachtspiramide. I personally found this market super atmospheric, with a vintage-style carousel and the teddy bear light installation. 

From the Willy-Brandt-Platz you can walk straight to the Flachsmarkt, along the way you will be surprised with more Christmas magic. Essen has an animal theme when it comes to light decorations which makes it very fun for kids to spot all the different animals. This definitely kept my little one entertained.  The medieval market is located at the Flachsmarkt. I loved this theme, with all the open firers and cozy corners to enjoy your drinks. 

The busiest Christmas market is located at the Kennedyplatz. This is the most spectacular one that features a gigantic umbrella of lights. There is a bar with a balcony where you can look over this gorgeous market and some other cute themed bars. At the Kennedyplatz you will also find the famous Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas store. This market gets really crowded at night, so if you want to have your dinner here, make sure to order before 17.30h. 

If you are looking for a quieter market, there is one in front of the Theater. We had a flammkuchen here, as this is where the queues are shortest. You could also do a wine tasting here, so this market attracted a slightly more refined crowd 😉

Overall we loved the Christmas markets of Essen. We encountered lots of pop-up performances, of rock bands, concert bands and choirs, which added to the festive vibes. 

Other recommendations in the area

It is possible to visit several Christmas markets in one weekend, as there is a high density in the Ruhr area. We did a combo with the Wuppertal Christmas markets. Other options are Duisburg, Bochum (flying Santa!) and Dortmund. In Duisburg on a specific weekend you can even visit a Christmas market in the industrial Landschaftspark.