Visit the Aachen Christmas Market in Germany in 2026

Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) has a lovely historic old town that provides the perfect setting for one of the easiest major German Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkt) to reach from Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The Advent market opening day is 20 November 2026.

Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) in Germany has a lively Christmas market (Aachener Weihnachtsmarkt) that is popular with German and foreign visitors. Aachen is the westernmost city in Germany and is located near the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. It is thus also one of the most popular Christmas markets with British visitors who prefer to travel by train or road rather than flying to Germany. By train, Aachen is a short ride from Brussels, with easy connections from the Eurostar, or around a three-hour drive from most ferry ports. Check Trainline for timetables for both trains and long-distance buses to Aachen from most European destinations. Visitors to Aachen enjoy sights related to Charlemagne, fine art, and the very relaxing Carolus Therme hot water day spa.

German Christmas Market in Aachen in 2026

Aachen’s main traditional Christmas market is concentrated on the large public squares around the cathedral (Dom), town hall (Rathaus), and historic buildings in the old town area. The cathedral, which combines styles from the Carolingian era to the present, is the perfect background to the market. The church is particularly romantic when covered in snow — a White Christmas is unfortunately fairly rare.

Around 120 festively decorated wooden stalls sell Christmas-related wares ranging from freshly baked waffles to leatherware and wooden toys at the main market. Two further smaller Advent Markets are nearby at Holzgraben (around 20 stands) and Kugelbrunnen (food stands and a carousel/merry-go-round for children).

As with other famous Christmas markets in Germany, the emphasis is on traditional Christmas decorations, wooden toys, and handmade gifts. Mass-produced plastic items and low-quality clothes are generally not sold at German Christmas markets. Prices are therefore not that cheap, but quality and workmanship are high — the best way to find a special gift.

During Christmas time, many German cities are beautifully decorated, with many streets, public buildings, shops, and private houses lit up with festive lights and colorful decorations during the holiday season.

Buy Aachener Printen in Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany

Food and drink are integral parts of German Christmas markets and the Christmas season. Grilled sausages, potato cakes, waffles, and pancakes are standards, but every city or town will sell its own specialties and traditional cakes too. The local sweet treat specialty is the Aachener Printen (Biscuits d’Aix) – a type of Lebkuchen with Christmas spices.

Glühwein (hot mulled wine) is the drink of choice at German Christmas markets, but non-alcoholic drinks are of course always available too. Kinderpunsch is warm fruit juice (usually with light spices) for children and non-drinkers, while hot chocolate is always popular too. Usually, a Pfand (deposit) is added to cover the cost of a glass or Glühwein mug. It is refunded, but many visitors prefer to keep the beautifully decorated mug as a souvenir.

Visiting the Aachener Weihnachtsmarkt in Aix-la-Chapelle

The Christmas market in Aachen has relatively long opening hours and a long opening period. It usually starts a few days before Advent and closes shortly before Christmas Eve. The Christmas Market in Aachen operates daily from late November to December 23 from 11 am to 9 pm. Admission is free.

In 2026, the Aachen Christmas market is held daily from 20 November to 23 December 2026 from 11 am to 9 pm. Exceptions are Sunday 22 November (Totensonntag or Sunday of the Dead)(6 to 9 pm), Saturday 12 December (11 am to 10 pm), and the final day, Wednesday 23 December (11 am to 8 pm).

The Aachener Weihnachtsmarkt is not the oldest Christmas market in Germany — Dresden usually claims that honor. However, it is one of the easiest major German Christmas markets to reach from Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Top Sights in Aachen, Germany

Aachen has a long history and many tourist attractions and historical sights worth seeing. The city is closely associated with Charlemagne (Karl der Große, literally Charles the Great) and the first emperors of the Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation).

The Aachen Cathedral (Dom) is where German kings were crowned from 936 to 1531 (thereafter in Frankfurt am Main). The core of the church is still the octagon built by Charlemagne, while his gilt shrine and throne are some of the top sights to see in the cathedral, which combines styles from many different periods. Tourist visiting hours generally start at 11 am on weekdays and Saturdays and at 1 pm on Sundays; hours may change for services and special events.

Aachen has a surprisingly large number and a wide variety of museums and art galleries. The Middle Ages are important, but Aachen also has splendid galleries with modern art, old masters, and applied arts.

Relax in the Carolus Therme Hot Water Day Spa in Aachen

The hot water springs in Aachen were popular with the Romans and may well have motivated Charlemagne to build one of his most important palaces in Aix-la-Chapelle.

The historic spa buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, but the modern facilities of the Carolus Therme are just as welcoming to all visitors (minimum age is six years). Visitors relax in the hot water baths and saunas or book special day spa treatments, facials, massages, or water cures.

The Carolus Therme hot springs spa is open daily from 9 am to 11 pm. The spa is even open over the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, although with shorter hours.

→ For more details, see Relax in the Carolus Therme Day Spa in Aachen.

Transportation to the Christmas Market in Aachen in Germany

Getting to Aachen is easy by car, bus, or train. Aachen lies between Brussels and Cologne (Köln), close to the Dutch city of Maastricht. Driving is pleasant in this part of Germany, but parking is often difficult in the old town area. Especially during the Christmas market period, it is sensible to use the very cheap park-and-ride lots.

The closest airport to Aachen is Maastricht-Aachen (MST) in the Netherlands (40 km), but Cologne-Bonn and Düsseldorf (both around 90 km away) have far more flights. If flying to Germany, many visitors may reach other German Christmas markets in bigger cities more easily, such as the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, the Frankfurt Christmas market, or the more than 50 Weihnachtsmärkte in Berlin.

Trains to Aachen

It is easy to reach Aachen by train. High-speed Eurostar (previously Thalys) trains from Paris via Brussels to Cologne stop in Aachen, as do the German Intercity-Express (ICE) trains from Frankfurt am Main via Cologne to Brussels. Further trains are available from Brussels and Cologne. Travel times by train are around 36 minutes on long-distance express trains (ICE/Eurostar) or 54 minutes on (cheaper) regional trains from Cologne and just over an hour on the fast trains from Brussels.

Seat reservations are compulsory on Eurostar trains, while they are usually optional on ICE trains.

As Aachen is in North Rhine-Westphalia, the cheap 24h Ticket NRW is valid on local trains. This is often a good deal for travel from, for example, Köln or Düsseldorf.

Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) has an excellent online timetable for public transportation options in Germany and the rest of Europe. Trainline is also very easy to use and may add bus options too. Coaches such as FlixBus are the cheapest way to travel but are usually slower than trains.

Travel times from London can be as fast as four hours by Eurostar trains or 11 hours by bus. Trainline sells tickets for both train and bus options.

→ See Travel by Bus, Train, or Coach from the UK to Aachen for more on transportation options from Britain.

More on Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) in Germany

• Visit Aachen Cathedral – overview, opening hours & guided tours
• Building of Aachen Cathedral – history and exterior appearance
• Interior of Aachen Cathedral
• The Throne of Charlemagne (Karlsthron)
• See the Choir of Aachen Cathedral – remains of Charlemagne in the Karlsschrein reliquary
• Aachen Cathedral Treasury
• Top Sights and Christmas Market in Aachen
• Relax in the Carolus Thermen hot water day spa
• Transportation to Aachen in Germany
• Transportation to Maastricht-Aachen Airport (MST)
• Transportation timetables to Aachen on Trainline or Deutsche Bahn
• Book hotels in Aachen on Booking.
• More photos on Flickr.