Dusseldorf Prepares to Open Christmas Market in November

Those looking for an extra-traditional holiday season should make plans to head to Germany this winter, where Dusseldorf's Christmas market is set to open on November 20 and will run through December 23. 

In fact, Dusseldorf hosts seven Christmas markets with different themes throughout the city's central Old Town. Among them is “Angel’s Market,” a village of artisans with glassblowing, candle-making and other holiday-related crafts; and a “Star Market” with thousands of crystals and sparkling lights.  The famous square in front of city hall, the “Marktplatz,” is another highlight of the market and has Christmas huts that are replicas of Düsseldorf’s historic town houses.

The market is right in the center of one of Germany’s best shopping destinations, and parts of the market are connected to the city’s biggest shopping streets: Düsseldorf’s luxury shopping avenue Königsallee (King’s Boulevard) and Schadowstrasse. The section of the market on Schadow Street situated directly in front of the “Kö-Bogen” (the new Königsallee extension) with its luxury stores is designed in Scandinavian style and enchants visitors with a village all in white called “Schneehüttendorf” (village of snow huts).  An ice rink is also part of Düsseldorf’s Christmas Market

The city’s tourism office is offering a seasonal walking tour through the festive Old Town, called “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells” offered on Fridays and Saturdays at 4:00 pm from November 21 – December 20.  Tickets are available at the two tourist information offices: Tourist Information Old Town (Marktstraße/corner Rheinstraße, which is also the tour’s meeting point), and Tourist Information Main Station (Hauptbahnhof, Immermannstr. 65 b).

Even better, visitors during the holiday season can add overnight stays for extended shopping and sightseeing, taking advantage of special Christmas Market hotel packages available through the city’s tourism website.  Specials are offered for stays between November 20 and December 23. All packages include breakfast, a DüsseldorfCard (free public transportation within city limits plus 30 free or reduced admissions to city attractions), and a city information package.

The market is open daily from 11 am to 8 pm between November 20 and December 23, 2014  (closed November 23).  For more information on Düsseldorf’s Christmas Market, visit www.duesseldorf-weihnachtsmarkt.deFor more information on special holiday hotel packages, visit www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de. And for more information on the destination Düsseldorf, visit www.visitduesseldorf.de.