Freiburg im Breisgau Christmas Market Guide: A Traditional Market in the Heart of the Black Forest

What to Expect at Freiburg’s Christmas Markets (My Honest Review) 

During Advent, most of Freiburg’s Old Town is taken over by Christmas market stalls. There are seven locations in total, all within easy walking distance of each other. 

Rathausplatz

Traveling with kids? Santa visits the Freiburg Christmas market at Rathausplatz at 5pm on December 6th (St. Nicolas Day). There’s also a daily “Children’s Bakery” from 2pm at Kartoffelmarkt; kids can bake cookies for just 4 Euros! 

This, to me, is the heart of the Freiburg Christmas market. This section of the market is dominated by stalls selling handicrafts, jewelry, and decor. 

If you’re on the hunt for Christmas gifts or souvenirs, there are some lovely ceramic Christmas houses for sale, as well as mouth-blown glass, cuckoo clocks (a specialty of the Black Forest region), and — my favorite! — foldable paper stars that you can hang from the ceiling and illuminate from within. 

Claire’s Tip: Look for goods labeled as “Handgemacht” if you’re trying to purchase handmade items. Although I really enjoyed this Christmas market, I did feel like it had more mass produced items for sale than other markets I’ve visited. But so long as you know what to look out for, you can definitely still buy some really nice gifts! 

On the food front, expect a smattering of stalls selling bratwurst (vegan and regular), lots and lots of spiced mulled wine, as well as both Schupfnudeln and Dampfnudeln, which are dumplings common in this region of Germany. 

This part of the Freiburg Christmas market gets very busy in the evenings and on weekends, so I suggest starting your visit here and then working your way outwards to the other, quieter parts of the Old Town. 

Claire’s Tip: If you need a breather, I noticed that the stalls that ran directly along the walls of St. Martin’s Church went mostly overlooked and provided a pocket of calm in the midst of the busy square. 

Franziskanerstraße 

Just around the corner from bustling Rathausplatz, you’ll find my personal favorite section of the Christmas market. 

The stalls lining Franziskanerstraße sold almost solely handicrafts, such as handmade silver jewelry, ceramics, local honey (another favorite of mine!), Christmas decor, and lambskin slippers (which are always very fairly priced at the markets, believe it or not). 

I was pleasantly surprised to see some high-quality imported goods for sale along this street, too. Unsurprisingly, there was French nougat (Freiburg sits on the German-French border), somewhat surprisingly there was Polish pottery, and in a total plot twist I spied some lovely handicrafts that were imported all the way from Nepal! 

Franziskanerstraße also gets busy in the evenings, but since it’s primarily a shopping street there’s better traffic flow since people can’t really hang out here with a warm Glühwein in hand. 

Hidden beyond a picturesque covered walkway that joins the Old Town Hall and the Augustiner Museum, the Christmas market stalls dotted along Turmstraße go all in on delicious gifts you can eat or drink. 

Think: French salamis and pâté, brandies and liquors, and chocolate-covered fruits. There are also a couple jewelry stalls, wool products, and useful baking tools like rolling pins and cookie cutters. 

This is a less picturesque part of the Christmas market that feels kind of like a walk-through area to reach Colombipark, but it’s got some nice stuff so definitely take your time going through the stalls! 

⭐️ A Local’s Tips for Planning a German Christmas Market Trip 🎅

This small market near the art nouveau Colombi Villa is all about the food! There are no handicrafts or trinkets here, just lots and lots of Glühwein, roasted nuts, grilled bratwurst, and crepes. 

I got the feeling that this is the Christmas market the locals flock to when the Old Town gets too full for their liking. If you just want a hot beverage and some room to stand chatting with your travel companions, this is a good place to come. 

Kartoffelmarkt 

You’ll find another sizable cluster of stalls surrounding the fountain at Kartoffelmarkt. 

This was my favorite section of the Christmas market to visit at night because Schiffstraße (which runs right past the square) is lit with star lanterns in the evenings. It makes it look like the entire street is covered by a starry night sky, and the effect is utterly breathtaking. 

Also of note is that the Kartoffelmarkt has one of the very few stalls selling actual Dresdener Stollen, a must-have Christmas dessert in many German homes. 

Unterlindenplatz

The pint-sized Christmas market at Unterlindenplatz is much quieter. Its size means not many people stay to hang out here, but that’s their loss!  

If you’re a wine lover, definitely come here to sip on some regional Tuniberg Glühwein. There’s plenty of standing room at the Tuniberg stall, and I’d argue that this is the most local, and best tasting mulled wine you can find at the Freiburg Christmas market. 

Kaiser-Joseph-Straße 

On every Sunday during advent, additional Christmas market stalls are set up along Kaiser-Joseph-Straße, which is the main shopping street that runs through the heart of Freiburg. 

There’s no food sold along this street, just handicrafts and gifts. 

Local Foods and Drinks You Have to Try 

The absolute, must-try dish at the Christmas markets is the beloved “Lange Rote.” It’s the local sausage, and it just so happens to be one of my favorite German bratwurst varieties. 

The name of this sausage means “Long Red,” which is fitting because the sausage is three times as long as the bun! Order it the traditional way, with grilled onions and your choice of ketchup or mustard. 

I also recommend looking for regional meats and cheeses for sale at the Christmas market (some from the Black Forest and some from the nearby Alsace region of France). Schwarzwälder Schinken (Black Forest Ham) is probably the most famous meat produced here; it’s a type of mild-tasting, smoked ham. 

And although you won’t find it at the Christmas market itself, do NOT leave Freiburg without ordering at least one slice of Black Forest cake! Most cafes in Freiburg sell Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, a decadent chocolate cake layered with cream, cherries, and Kirsch liquor that’s local to this area. 

🍪 25+ Foods and Drinks to Try at a German Christmas Market 🎄

Is the Christmas Market in Freiburg im Breisgau Worth It? Final Thoughts 

So here’s the thing: I had a fantastic time at the Christmas market in Freiburg, and I think you will too. BUT — it’s not the absolute best of the best in Germany. (That prize goes to Wiesbaden, Mainz, Cologne, and / or Dresden, in my humble opinion). 

Freiburg itself is just such a lovely small city, and I think that’s what makes the Christmas market so special. I didn’t think this market had as many truly locally-produced or handmade goods as other Christmas markets I’ve been to, but the food was excellent and the prices were fairly low. 

If you’re traveling through this part of Germany to see other markets, Freiburg is definitely worth stopping by! It’s also a great starting point if you’ll be driving through the Alsace region to see the more famous markets in Colmar and Strasbourg. 

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Christmas Markets to Visit Near Freiburg im Breisgau: 

• Mannheim Christmas Market: A Traditional Market in the Rhein-Neckar Region
• Aachen Christmas Market Guide: A Fusion of Cultures in Charlemagne’s City
• Heidelberg Christmas Market Guide: Quaint Markets in a University City 
• All About the Christmas Market in Bonn (West Germany’s Former Capital!)
• All of my German Christmas market guides!