Dortmund Christmas City

Dortmund Christmas City — Market with a World Record Tree

The Dortmund Christmas City is one of Germany's most famous Christmas markets — known primarily for its world record Christmas tree. On Hansaplatz, a constructivist fir tree arrangement made of real Nordmann firs is erected annually: 45 meters high, adorned with around 138,000 LEDs. This makes it the world's largest walk-in Christmas tree. The Christmas City 2026 runs from November 19 to December 30.

Over 250 Stalls in the City Center

The market stalls are spread across several squares and streets in the city center:

• Hansaplatz — Main square with the world record tree
• Alter Markt — Historic market square
• Reinoldikirchplatz — In front of the Reinoldikirche
• Friedensplatz — Southern city center hub
• Westenhellweg and Ostenhellweg as pedestrian zones

In total, over 250 market stalls participate — from woodcarvers, nativity scene artists, gingerbread bakers, glass manufacturers to mulled wine and potato pancake stands.

Opening Hours 2026

• Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
• Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
• Sunday: 12:00 PM–9:00 PM

Special Days and Closures

• November 22 (Totensonntag/Sunday of the Dead) — closed
• December 24 (Christmas Eve) — open only until 2 PM
• December 25 (Christmas Day) — closed
• December 26 to December 30 — open as usual

Mulled Wine and Potato Pancakes — The Classics

As at any German Christmas market, Glühwein (mulled wine - classic red, white, with a shot) and Reibekuchen mit Apfelmus (potato pancakes with apple sauce - a Ruhr region specialty) are the classics. These are complemented by typical bratwurst stands, candied almonds, gingerbread hearts, Schmalzkuchen (lard cakes), and mulled wine collector mugs with Christmas City motifs.

Family Program — Children's Christmas Market

On the Alter Markt, you'll find the children's Christmas market with a carousel, a children's stage, and activities. There are also guided tours with St. Nicholas, craft workshops, and a special non-alcoholic children's mulled wine variant called "Kinder-Punsch" (children's punch).

Tourist Destination in the Ruhr Region

The Dortmund Christmas City attracts around 3.5 million visitors each year — many from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Scandinavia. This makes it the most important Christmas market in the region and one of the top Christmas markets in Germany. Other important Christmas markets in North Rhine-Westphalia: Aachen, Cologne, and Münster.

Dortmund — The Christmas Tree Capital

The world record Christmas tree has been the city's trademark since the 1990s and is erected every year in the weeks leading up to the market's opening. The structure supports around 1,700 Nordmann firs arranged in a "pyramid." The lighting was converted to LEDs in 2010 — energy-efficient and with the same brilliance.