Wiesbaden is a gorgeous spa city in the heart of Germany’s wine region. Its Christmas market has a cozy, local vibe, incredible food, and high-quality products that make it one of the BEST I’ve ever visited. Here’s everything you should know about visiting Wiesbaden’s Christmas market in 2025.
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I’ve traveled to Christmas markets all over Germany in the six years I’ve lived in Berlin and have visited many more than I’ve had time to write about here on my blog. So know that when I say — hand on my heart — that the Christmas market in Wiesbaden is one of the BEST EVER in Germany, I mean it.
The “Shooting Star Market” that stretches around the Schlossplatz in the heart of the city boasts more than 100 stalls. In the evenings, an array of artificial lilies are lit up with LED lights to gently illuminate the market. The effect is a gently twinkling, cozy Christmas market that’s managed to retain a local flair.
For years, I’ve said that the Christmas market in Mainz (just 15 minutes from Wiesbaden!) is my all-time favorite, but after visiting Wiesbaden’s Christmas market … well, let’s just say it might be a tie now.
Happy Advent! ~Claire
Dates, Locations & Opening Hours
📆 Dates: November 25 – December 23, 2025
📌 Location: Schlossplatz and in front of the Marktkirche
⏰ Hours: Monday- Thursday 10:30am – 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 10:30am – 9.30pm, Sunday noon- 9 pm
What to Expect at the Wiesbaden Christmas Market (My Honest Review)
As you walk past Dernsches Gelände towards the Christmas market via Marktstraße, you’ll be greeted by an archway lit up with twinkle lights. “Sternschnuppenmarkt,” the Shooting Star Market in the heart of Wiesbaden, is nestled between the City Hall, the Hesse State Parliament building, and the red brick neo-gothic Market Church.
One of the first can’t-miss sights of the market is the soaring Christmas tree located on the southwest side of the City Hall. The towering evergreen is strung with lights, and a simple yet lovely carved nativity scene rests at its base.
As you begin walking through the market towards the Marktplatz, your eye can’t help but be drawn towards the historic carousel that merrily goes ‘round and ‘round all night long. (For the smaller visitors, there’s a cute children’s carousel in front of the Market Church).
Down Shloßplatz, in front of the Parliament building, there’s a line of stalls selling more practical items like spices, kitchenware, and locally made stollen and marmalades. I also spied plenty of soaps and precious stones (including “crack-it-yourself” geodes!).
And you can’t miss the mainstage in front of City Hall that hosts evening performances Friday through Sunday.
⭐️ A Local’s Tips for Planning a German Christmas Market Trip 🎅
Beautiful ambience aside, what made the Christmas market in Wiesbaden stand out to me was the quality of just about everything.
The food was absolutely delicious, and the prices were much less expensive than similar items at the neighboring Frankfurt Christmas markets.
The goods for sale also seemed to be of much higher quality, with an emphasis on locally produced or even handmade goods (not every single stall was like this, but it felt like 70% of them represented the region). And the prices! I saw sizable beeswax candles for just 5 Euros that I know for a fact cost twice as much where I live in Berlin.
Another standout feature of this Christmas market were the onsite artisans who were hard at work creating items to sell. Of note was the Krumpholz goldsmith who was working on delicate handmade jewelry right there in his stall; the prices were very high, but the craftsmanship was unparalleled!
I loved how easy it was to find one-of-a-kind regional wares at this Christmas market. It’s what I wish all Christmas markets in Germany were like, but unfortunately so many of them have turned to mass-produced goods to meet the demands of the thousands of visitors who visit from all around the world. (And because of the financial damage done by last-minute closures during the Covid pandemic.)
I sincerely hope that the Wiesbaden city council continues to prioritize its local vintners, craftspeople, and artisans in the coming years — because the Christmas market they’ve built is really, really special.
And I haven’t even talked about the food yet!
Local Foods and Drinks You Have to Try
You can’t come to Germany’s wine region and not sample the local wine! Specifically, I suggest trying the Rheingauer Glühwein, which is a beautifully spiced mulled wine that’s produced in this region of Germany.
Claire’s Tip: There are TONS of Glühwein stalls at this market, but not all of them are selling wine from the Rheingau region! Look specifically for stalls selling “Rheingauer Glühwein.” They’re usually the local vintners, and their stalls are often a bit simpler and not as elaborately decorated.
Other foods to note are the many handmade German Christmas cookies (called Plätzchen) sold at this market. There’s a fantastic cart selling 15+ varieties of cookies near the western entrance of the market (Marktstraße near Prinzengäßchen).
You can also find a special variety of gingerbread (Lebkuchen) that comes from the Odenwald region nearby. Unlike the nut-heavy Elisenlebkuchen from Nuremberg that’s sold at many markets, the gingerbread here has a delicate floral flavor and pillowy soft texture thanks to the honey in the dough.
I also saw stalls selling various flavored mustards (very German!), fine Belgian chocolates, specialty meats and cheeses from the Black Forest region, and “Snowballs” which are a favorite Christmas market treat of mine hailing from Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
🍪 25+ Foods and Drinks to Try at a German Christmas Market 🎄
Tips for Your Visit
- Arrive before sunset so you can see the market light up. The market will be a little less crowded during the day, and watching all of the lights turn on is magical!
- Weekends and evenings are the busiest times to visit. Even though this is more of a “locals market,” visitors still pour in from Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, and other parts of the Rheingau. Remember that this is the state capital of Hesse, so locals love to visit Wiesbaden to do their Christmas shopping.
- Bring cash, even though more and more places are starting to accept card. I always like to keep 4 to 6 Euros worth of coins on me as well to pay for the deposit on my mug. You get the money back when you return the mug, but having change on hand makes the entire transaction easier.
Looking for More Things to Do In and Around Wiesbaden?
I’ve now spent several weeks in Wiesbaden, if you add up all of the times I’ve traveled here this past year. I’ve written extensively about all of my favorite things to do in Wiesbaden, and I also have a guide to the best day trips in the region that are easy to reach via train.
Enjoy Your Trip to Wiesbaden!
I can heartily recommend a visit to the Wiesbaden Christmas market, whether you live in the area and want to explore your region more or you’re a tourist flying in from out of town to see the German Christmas markets firsthand.
Definitely pair your visit with the nearby Christmas market in Mainz for the best that the Rheingau has to offer at Christmastime!
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