Christmas Markets in the Black Forest 2026 at a Glance
The Christmas market in the Black Forest is for many an essential part of Advent, just like cinnamon stars and candlelight. From the Wellnesshotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde in Ühlingen-Birkendorf, the small, family-friendly Advent markets on the High Rhine are a 20 to 45-minute drive away, while the major classics in Freiburg, Basel and Zurich can be reached in a good hour. Those who wish to travel further can reach Constance on Lake Constance, the Advent calendar house in Gengenbach or Colmar in Alsace as a day trip.
On this page you will find 18 confirmed Christmas markets for 2026 with dates, opening hours, location, special features and travel time from the hotel, sorted by distance. All information comes from the organisers or the respective cities themselves.
Note on the status of appointments: The current state of research is September 2026. Some smaller municipalities in the Southern Black Forest will not announce their Advent dates until October. We have collected these markets at the bottom of the page and will add them as soon as the organisers publish them.
| Christmas market | Appointment 2026 | travel time from the hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Bonndorf | 18th to 20th December | approx. 20 minutes |
| Lauchringen | 27th November | approx. 20 minutes |
| Waldshut | 21 November to 22 December | approx. 25 minutes |
| St. Blasien | 4th–6th, 11th–13th and 18th–20th December | approx. 35 minutes |
| Laufenburg | 18th to 20th December | approx. 35 minutes |
| Bad Säckingen | 3rd December | approx. 40 minutes |
| Schaffhausen | 12th and 13th December | approx. 45 minutes |
| Ravenna Gorge | 26 November to 20 December | approx. 50 minutes |
| Basel | 26th November to 23rd December | approx. 60 minutes |
| Freiburg | 19th November to 23rd December | approx. 60 minutes |
| Todtnau | 28 November | approx. 65 minutes |
| Zurich | 19 November to 24 December | approx. 75 minutes |
| Offenburg | 19th November to 23rd December | approx. 1 hour 30 mins |
| Constance | 26th November to 23rd December | approx. 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Gengenbach | 27th November to 23rd December | approx. 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Baden-Baden | 26th November to 6th January 2027 | approx. 2 hours |
| Colmar | 23 November to 30 December | approx. 2 hours |
| Stuttgart | 25th November to 23rd December | approx. 2.5 hours |
Christmas markets in the immediate vicinity (up to 45 minutes)
You can reach these seven markets in under three-quarters of an hour. They are smaller than the city markets, but without the crowds and the hassle of searching for a parking space. They are ideal for an afternoon trip followed by a return to the sauna.
Bonndorf Advent Market (18th to 20th December 2026)
The Bonndorf Advent market takes place around the Catholic parish church and is one of the last of the season, making it just right for the days just before Christmas. It is run by local clubs and associations, which provide food and drink: alongside mulled wine, there is punch and hot Aperol, accompanied by hearty fare from the club kitchens. The atmosphere is distinctly village-like; you are more likely to run into neighbours than tour groups. Journey time from the hotel: around 20 minutes. Those who want to extend their day can combine the visit with the nearby Wutach Gorge, which reveals its quietest side in winter.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Lauchringen Advent Market (27 November 2026)
The nearest Christmas market opens on Friday, 27 November 2026, from 11 am to 9 pm on Bertold-Schmidt-Platz. Around 40 stalls run by local clubs, craftspeople and caterers will thus usher in Advent on the Upper Rhine, traditionally on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent. Because the market takes place on a single day and stays open into the evening, a late visit is well worth it when the fairy lights come into their own.
The range is deliberately kept regional: woodwork, candles, floral arrangements and home baking instead of mass-produced goods. At around a 20-minute drive, Lauchringen, along with Bonndorf, is the most quickly accessible Christmas market from the hotel.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Traditional Waldshut Christmas Market (21st November to 22nd December 2026)
The largest and longest Christmas market on the High Rhine transforms the historic Kaiserstraße into a sea of lights from 21 November to 22 December 2026. Over 30 stalls and a large Christmas pyramid stand against the backdrop of the Waldshut old town with its town houses and the upper gate. The organiser is the Waldshut Advertising and Promotion Association, which has organised the market for decades.
Because the market runs for five weeks, you can almost always find a suitable day. Weekdays are significantly more relaxed than Advent Saturdays. As Kaiserstraße is also the main shopping street, a visit can easily be combined with Christmas shopping. Journey time from the hotel: around 25 minutes. Parking can be found in the multi-storey car parks in the city centre; travelling by train is recommended on Advent weekends.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Christmas Market at the Cathedral in St. Blasien (4th to 20th December 2026, three weekends)
Hardly any Christmas market has a more impressive backdrop: the stalls on the cathedral square stand directly in front of the massive dome of St Blaise's Cathedral, which, with a diameter of 36 metres, is one of the largest domed buildings in Europe after St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Pantheon. When darkness falls and the dome is illuminated, it creates a sight that you will not find a second time in the Black Forest.
The market runs in 2026 over the second, third and fourth weekends of Advent, namely from 4 to 6, 11 to 13 and 18 to 20 December. It is open on Fridays from 16:00 to 21:00, Saturdays from 11:00 to 21:00 and Sundays from 11:00 to 18:00. Over 60 chalets offer crafts, Christmas decorations, wooden goods and regional specialities, accompanied by choir and brass band performances around the cathedral. A look inside the cathedral itself is also worthwhile even without the market. Around 35 minutes' drive from the hotel, the route via the Black Forest is particularly scenic when there is snow.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Old Town Christmas Laufenburg (18th to 20th December 2026)
Laufenburg is a unique place: the town lies on both sides of the Rhine, one half in Baden, the other in Switzerland, connected by a bridge. The Old Town Christmas market is celebrated across borders, so in the course of an evening you stroll through two countries. The winding alleys and staircases of the medieval old town are at least as worth seeing as the stalls themselves.
The 2026 date is the weekend of 18 to 20 December. Remember to bring a valid ID if you want to head over to the Swiss side. Travel time from the hotel: around 35 minutes.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Bad Säckingen Christmas Market (3rd December 2026)
Bad Säckingen is concentrating its 2026 Christmas market onto a single evening: Thursday 3 December, from 17:00 to 21:00 in the old town around the Fridolinsmünster. In previous years the market ran over several days, so it is worth noting the date in your diary rather than dropping by spontaneously.
The route via the historic wooden bridge, at a good 200 metres the longest covered wooden bridge in Europe, is a must on any visit. On the other side, you find yourself in Switzerland. Travel time from the hotel: around 40 minutes.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Schaffhausen Christmas Market (12th and 13th December 2026)
Probably the most atmospheric market in the immediate vicinity takes place in the cloister of All Saints' Abbey, the largest cloister in Switzerland and over 800 years old. The market area extends from Vordergasse and Münstergasse into the abbey precinct with Münsterplatz and Pfalzhof. It is open on Saturday, 12th December, from 11 am to 7 pm and on Sunday, 13th December, from 11 am to 6 pm.
During market hours, the entire area is pedestrianised. Schaffhausen is around a 45-minute drive from the hotel, and it is less than a five-minute walk from the station to the market. Payment is made in francs, and a valid ID belongs in your luggage. Anyone already in the area should take in the Rhine Falls at Neuhausen, which is just a few kilometres away.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
The region's major markets (45 to 90 minutes)
In this category lie the well-known names: the Ravenna Gorge as the most photographed Christmas market in the Black Forest, along with Freiburg, Basel and Zurich. For these destinations you should allow half a day to a whole day.
Romantic Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market (26 November to 20 December 2026)
The Black Forest's best-known Christmas market is situated beneath the arches of the Ravenna Gorge Viaduct in the Höllental valley. The 40-metre-high railway bridge is illuminated in the evenings, with the stalls located directly below it on the valley floor. It is open from Thursday to Sunday: Thursdays from 16:00 to 21:00, and Fridays to Sundays from 14:00 to 21:00. The market will be closed on 10 December.
Tickets are compulsory and only available online. There is no box office. Admission costs 7.50 euros on Thursdays and 9.50 euros from Friday to Sunday, while children aged 6 to 15 go free. Advance ticket sales for 2026 begin on 14th October at 10 am; Subscribers to the Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH newsletter gain access to the booking platform as early as 9am. Weekend dates are typically sold out within a few days. Anyone who is flexible should choose a Thursday: cheaper and noticeably quieter.
When buying your ticket, you choose a time slot of around two hours; visitor numbers are limited to avoid long queues at the entrance and stalls. Available options to book are travel by shuttle bus from Titisee, Hinterzarten, Himmelreich or Freiburg (shuttle included in the ticket), arriving in your own vehicle via designated car parks, or walking to the market. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as the ground in the gorge is natural and slippery when wet. Travel time from the hotel: around 50 minutes.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser · Buy tickets
Basel Christmas Market (26th November to 23rd December 2026)
Basel is regarded as one of Switzerland's finest Christmas markets and is spread across two squares. On the Barfüsserplatz stands a 13-metre-high Christmas pyramid which serves as a meeting place and is visible from afar. The second part on the Münsterplatz lies in front of Basel Minster, amongst trees decorated with glowing snow globes.
It is open daily from 11 am to 8:30 pm, and on 23rd December until 8 pm. Both parts of the market are just a few minutes' walk apart, with the old town in between. Travel time from the hotel is around 60 minutes. In Basel, using a car park on the outskirts of the city plus the tram is worthwhile as the city centre is narrow. Don't forget your ID and Swiss francs, although euros are also accepted in many places in Basel.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Freiburg Christmas Market (19 November to 23 December 2026)
Freiburg is opening its Christmas market from 19 November to 23 December 2026, making it one of the earliest and longest-running markets in the region. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 20:30, Monday to Saturday, with shortened hours on Sundays from 11:30 to 19:30. Over 120 stalls are spread across nine locations in and around the old town, including Rathausplatz, Kartoffelmarkt, Unterlindenplatz and Franziskanerstraße, always following the course of the Bächle. The market has existed in this form since 1973.
The focus is on Black Forest craft: woodcarvings, glassblowing, candles and straw stars. The early opening from 10 am makes Freiburg the only market on this list that you can easily visit in the morning when it is still quiet. Traditionally, Saint Nicholas visits the Rathausplatz on 6 December. Travel time around 60 minutes by car; alternatively by train from Waldshut, which solves the parking problem on Advent Saturdays.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Todtnau Christmas Market (28 November 2026)
Todtnau is holding its Christmas market on a single day, Saturday 28 November 2026, on the market square. Brightly decorated stalls and festively lit streets characterise the scene of a classic Black Forest small-town market. Travel time from the hotel is around 65 minutes.
Anyone making the journey anyway combines the visit with the Todtnau Suspension Bridge, which is open all year round and offers a particularly clear view over the valley in winter.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Christmas markets in Zurich (19 November to 24 December 2026)
Zurich is doubly worth it. The Christkindlimarkt at the Main Station runs from 19 November to 24 December 2026, is one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe with over 100 stalls, making it completely weather-independent, a real selling point on wet and cold December days.
At the same time, from 19 November to 23 December, the market on Sechseläutenplatz opens with a view of the Opera House and Lake Zurich. It is called since 2026 Bellevue Noël and was known until 2025 as the Zürcher Wienachtsdorf, with the old name still leading to outdated information in search engines. In addition, there is the traditional market in the Niederdorf, known as the Dörfli, which is considered the oldest in the city.
The journey time is around 75 minutes. All three markets are within walking distance or a few tram stops of each other. Remember to plan for ID for crossing the border and Swiss francs.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Rewarding day trips (from 90 minutes)
These six markets are too far away for an afternoon, but are among the most famous in Germany, Switzerland and Alsace. They are well suited if you are extending your stay with us by a day anyway.
Offenburg Christmas Market (19 November to 23 December 2026)
The Offenburg Christmas market will run for its 46th year in 2026 and opens daily from 11:00 to 21:00 on the market square in front of the town hall. The Vinzentiusgarten, as a second location, is open from 16:00 to 21:00. Characteristic features are the large Christmas pyramid and the illuminated fir trees against the backdrop of the historic town hall. Travel time around 1 hour 30.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Christmas Market by the Lake in Constance (26 November to 23 December 2026)
The largest Christmas market on Lake Constance stretches from the Marktstätte in the historic old town along the lake shore into the city garden and the harbour. A special feature is the Christmas market boat, a ship moored at the quay with its own catering facilities. It is open Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 20:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 to 21:30; the mulled wine stalls are open daily until 21:30. Journey time is around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Gengenbach Advent Market and the largest Advent calendar house in the world (27th November to 23rd December 2026)
Gengenbach has probably the best-known Advent attraction in the Black Forest: the historic town hall with its 24 windows becomes day by day an world's largest Advent calendar house. Every year, a different artist designs the motifs; in 2026 it is Olaf Hajek with illustrations on the theme of paradises, which will be exhibited concurrently in the Haus Löwenberg Museum. The calendar will remain illuminated until 6 January 2027.
The Advent market runs from 27 November to 23 December, Mondays to Fridays from 14:00 to 20:00, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30. The stage programme in front of the town hall starts at 17:00 on weekdays, and as early as 15:00 at the weekend. Anyone wanting to witness the opening of a window should arrive in good time, as the town hall square fills up quickly. Travel time approx. 1 hour 45 minutes.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Baden-Baden Christmas Market (26th November 2026 to 6th January 2027)
The longest market on this list runs for over six weeks until Epiphany and is located in the spa gardens in front of the Kurhaus on Kaiserallee. It is open daily from 11am to 9pm, with shorter hours on 24th and 31st December (11am to 3pm), on 1st January from 1pm to 9pm, and on the final day, 6th January, from 11am to 6pm. Admission is free.
Special features include an illuminated stained-glass window walkway, the avenue designed as a fairy-tale trail, and eleven gourmet igloos. Because the market is also open between Christmas and New Year, it is an option for anyone arriving only after Christmas. Travel time around 2 hours.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Colmar Christmas Market (23 November to 30 December 2026)
Colmar in Alsace spreads its Christmas market across several squares in the old town, whose timber-framed houses and canals in the Petite Venise district are already considered one of the finest settings in France. It is open from Monday to Thursday between 11 am and 7 pm, and from Friday to Sunday between 10 am and 8 pm.
The gourmet food market, the Ferris wheel and the Christmas funfair at Place Rapp will remain open until 3 January 2027, daily from 11am to 10pm. The culinary scene is dominated by Alsatian classics: tarte flambée, Bredele and mulled wine. Journey time is around 2 hours via Freiburg and the Rhine.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
Stuttgart Christmas Market (25 November to 23 December 2026)
The Stuttgart Christmas Market is one of the largest and oldest in Europe, dating back to the 17th century. Around 250 stalls stretch from the New Palace, via Karlsplatz and Schillerplatz, to the market square. The elaborately decorated stall roofs, which are judged in a separate competition every year, are famous.
The exact opening hours for 2026 had not yet been published by the city at the time of going to press; in the previous year, hours were 11 am to 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday, and 11 am to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. With a travel time of around 2.5 hours, Stuttgart is the furthest destination on this list.
Map & info: Google Maps · Apple Maps · Official website of the organiser
These Christmas markets have not yet been confirmed for 2026
Many smaller municipalities in the Southern Black Forest and on the High Rhine do not finalise their Advent dates until early to mid-October. The following markets take place regularly, but had not yet published a confirmed date as of September 2026:
- Höchenschwand Christmas Market (approx. 20 minutes)
- Stühlingen Christmas Market (approx. 25 minutes)
- Grafenhausen Advent market, on the primary school grounds (approx. 25 minutes)
- Tiengen Christmas Market (approx. 25 minutes)
- Görwihl Advent Market (approx. 30 minutes)
- Klettgau Christmas market (approx. 30 minutes)
- Schluchsee Advent market (approx. 40 minutes)
- Blumberg Christmas market (approx. 40 minutes)
- Christkindelsmärik Strasbourg: one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets, dating back to 1570. The official dates for 2026 were not yet confirmed in September, but the expected period is from late November to 24th December (approx. 2 hrs 15 mins).
We are updating this page as soon as the organisers announce their dates. If you would like to plan a specific market into your schedule, please feel free to ask us directly. The reception usually has the latest dates before they are online.
Important: The Triberg Christmas Magic no longer takes place
The Triberg Christmas Magic at Germany's highest waterfalls was one of the best-known Advent events in the Black Forest for over two decades. It was held for the last time at the end of 2024 and permanently employed. It will not take place in 2026. Many travel portals still list it, which is why we are explicitly mentioning it here. The Triberg Waterfalls themselves are accessible all year round and are illuminated in the evenings, so a visit is still worthwhile, just without the market.
Practical tips for visiting Christmas markets in the Black Forest
The best time
The Saturdays in Advent are the busiest everywhere, especially in Freiburg, Basel and Stuttgart. It is significantly more relaxed on Thursdays and Sunday mornings. For markets lasting several weeks, such as Waldshut, Freiburg or Basel, a visit in the last week of November is worth it: the decoration is already fully in place, but the crowds only really start with the first Sunday of Advent.
Arrival and parking
For Waldshut, Freiburg and Basel, the train is the better choice on Advent weekends, as the city centres are difficult to drive to then. You can only get to the Ravenna Gorge anyway via designated car parks with a shuttle bus. At the small markets in Lauchringen, Bonndorf or St. Blasien, you will usually find a parking space close to the market without any problems.
Expect snow on the high-altitude roads in December. Winter tyres are compulsory in Germany in winter conditions anyway; in Switzerland there is no general requirement for winter tyres, but if you have an accident with summer tyres, you share the liability.
Crossing the border into Switzerland and Alsace
Schaffhausen, Basel, Zurich and the Swiss half of Laufenburg lie outside the EU. Take a valid identity card or passport. Payment is made in Swiss francs; in border towns like Basel and Schaffhausen, euros are usually accepted, but the change is then given in francs and the exchange rate is rarely favourable. For motorways in Switzerland you need a vignette; those who drive on country roads can manage without one.
Please note the duty-free allowances if you buy larger quantities of food or alcohol at the market. Colmar and Strasbourg, on the other hand, are within the EU, so there are no restrictions on personal travel.
What you should try
At Black Forest markets, Schupfnudeln with sauerkraut, steamed dumplings, candied almonds and, of course, mulled wine are well worth it, often with a dash of cherry or plum schnapps from regional distilleries. Along the Upper Rhine, you will frequently find Black Forest ham and farmhouse bread straight from the producer.
On the Swiss side, raclette, gingerbread and Basler Läckerli are the classics, in Alsace tarte flambée, Bredele and mulled wine. When it comes to crafts, it is worth looking at wood carvings, straw stars, blown glass and locally produced candles.
Frequently asked questions about the Black Forest Christmas market
Which Christmas market in the Black Forest is the most famous?
The Romantic Christmas Market in the Ravenna Gorge. The stalls are set up beneath the illuminated Ravenna Viaduct in the Höllental, a backdrop that no other market in the region offers. It is also the only one for which you need an online ticket in advance.
When do the Christmas markets in the Black Forest start in 2026?
The first ones open on 19 November 2026 in Freiburg, Offenburg and Zurich, followed by Waldshut on 21 November and Colmar on 23 November. The smaller markets in the southern Black Forest focus on individual weekends between late November and 20 December.
Which Christmas market is closest to the hotel?
Bonndorf and Lauchringen are each about a 20-minute drive away, closely followed by Waldshut at around 25 minutes. All three make for a good afternoon excursion.
Which market is open even after Christmas?
Baden-Baden runs until 6 January 2027, Colmar until 30 December 2026, with individual attractions there running even until 3 January. All other markets on this list close by 24 December at the latest.
Do you need a ticket for the Ravenna Gorge?
Yes. Admission is exclusively possible via online tickets; there is no box office. Advance ticket sales for 2026 start on 14 October at 10 am, and the weekend dates sell out quickly. Click here for the ticket shop.
Are there Christmas markets that still work in the rain?
The Christkindlimarkt in Zurich main station is completely covered. Partially sheltered are the Schaffhausen market in the cloister of Allerheiligen Abbey and the alleys of the old towns of Waldshut, Freiburg and Colmar.
Relaxation after a Christmas stroll: Hotel Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde
After a day of mulled wine and cold fingers, the way back is short. Our Wellness area with saunas, indoor and outdoor pool, warms reliably, and in Restaurant you can expect Baden cuisine featuring regional products. An overview of our Rooms and tariffs you can find it here, you can book directly on our booking page.
The location in Ühlingen-Birkendorf is favourable for Advent excursions: you are situated between the Upper Rhine and the Upper Black Forest, the Swiss border can be reached in a few minutes, and Freiburg, Basel and Zurich are day trip destinations rather than journeys.
If you want to combine Advent with exercise, you will find rewarding winter destinations in the surrounding area: the Todtnau Suspension Bridge and the Schlüchtsee both are within easy reach and show their quietest side during the cold season.
Conclusion
For Advent 2026, 18 Christmas markets around Ühlingen-Birkendorf have been confirmed, ranging from Bonndorf and Lauchringen within 20 minutes to Stuttgart and Colmar as day trips. Anyone wanting to see the Ravennaschlucht should note October 14th for the ticket pre-sale, as that is the only date on this list that one can genuinely miss.
We will add the remaining dates from the immediate neighbourhood here as soon as the municipalities publish them. And if you are unsure which market suits your stay best: just ask us, we know them all.
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