Eckernförde Christmas Market

Advent Magic in the Baltic Seaside Town

The Eckernförde Christmas Market is one of the most traditional markets on the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic coast. Its centerpiece is the church square around St. Nicolai Church — a late Gothic brick church from the 13th century, whose silhouette serves as a natural backdrop for the stalls and lights. For over five weeks, the town center transforms into an Advent landscape for you to stroll through.

Program and Atmosphere

You'll find more than just mulled wine here: local arts and crafts, baked apples, gingerbread, punch, mulled wine, a nostalgic wooden carousel, fairy tales told by Kasper Hoppe, live concerts by choirs, rock bands, and ukulele groups, carriage rides through the town center, and visits from St. Nicholas on several Advent Saturdays. A gingerbread house competition for children under 12 and a book sale for local clubs round off the program.

St. Nicolai Church as a Participant

The church itself is also part of the market: it is open on several days during the market period until mid-December and offers concerts and services. The St. Nicholas Rally with Drums & Pipes and the Lucia Procession with a Danish-influenced light procession are calendar highlights — Eckernförde is located on the bay near the Danish border, and Scandinavian influence is noticeably shaping the Advent program.

Eckernförde and the Rendsburg-Eckernförde District

The port town of Eckernförde in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district of Schleswig-Holstein has a maritime tradition that is also evident in the pre-Christmas period. With just under 22,000 inhabitants and a medieval old town by the water, the town offers the ideal backdrop for a relaxing Advent visit. The market is free to enter and a popular destination for day-trippers from Kiel, Schleswig, and the entire region.