Zurich Christmas Markets 2024: Swiss Festivity & Fun

Christmas in Zurich is everything you imagine Christmas to be: twinkling trees, warm mulled wine, fairy lights, tasty treats, and the sound of Christmas carols in the cool, crisp air.

Yet, the plethora of Zurich Christmas markets can leave you spoiled for choice, unsure of where to begin.

We’ve been to these markets ourselves and have put together some helpful insights and handy tips to streamline your festive journey through this Swiss city. This guide offers a straightforward overview of Zurich’s top Christmas markets, along with practical tips to enhance your experience.

Dive into our festive findings below to discover Zurich at Christmas time and find the Xmas market that resonates with you the most. Spoiler alert – you might find it hard to pick just one!

For those enchanted by Switzerland’s festive spirit, don’t miss our dedicated post on the best Swiss Christmas markets across the country.

ZURICH CHRISTMAS MARKETS 2024

Zurich has not one but four main Christmas Markets and a couple of smaller ones, each with its unique experience and all within walking distance of each other. We managed to visit all of them in one day.

Best Christmas Markets Zurich:

The four major Christmas Markets in Zurich are:

1. Zurich Old Town – Niederdorf Christmas Market
2. Urban Christmas Village -Wienachtsdorf Market
3. The Singing Christmas Tree – Werdmuhleplatz Christmas Market
4. Zurich Train Station -Christkindlimarkt

And a couple of smaller Christmas Markets:

5. Zurich Munsterhof -Weihnachtsmarkt Münsterhof
6. City Christmas Market – Zurcher Weihnachtsallee

Jump ahead to any of these markets by clicking the link.

Zurich Christmas Market 2024 Summary

Our Top Tips for Visiting Zurich’s Christmas Markets

First of all, let’s help with some translation:

• Weinachtsmarkt means Christmas Market or Christmas Fair
• Chriskindlimarkt also means Christmas Market or Christmas Fair
• Wienachtsdorf means Christmas Village
• Zürcher means someone from Zurich

Our Favourite Zurich Moments

It’s hard to pinpoint the best Christmas Markets in Zurich because they all have a unique charm, but these are our top moments from our visit.

• 🎄The Singing Christmas Tree at Werdmühleplatz – Listening to the choirs while sipping honey wine.
• ✨The magical Lucy Lights on Bahnhofstrasse – 12,000 twinkling lights strung up over the main street
• 🏮 Watching the Christmas Lichterschwimmen – tiny lanterns floating down the Limmat River.
• 🎄The Christmas markets after sunset – when the twinkling lights can best impart their festive spirit.

Nighttime Visits to the Markets

Should your schedule allow, experiencing the markets after dusk is highly recommended for a full-fledged festive feel. Our time in Zurich was limited to a day, so we toured half of the markets while the sun was up.

However, if you’ve got more time, venturing to each of the four primary markets during the evening hours is worthwhile. That’s when the Christmas lights add a special touch to the atmosphere.

Evening hours attract the most visitors, creating a lively buzz. It’s the perfect time to immerse in the holiday spirit. For a more tranquil shopping experience, daytime visits are advisable due to thinner crowds.

The good news is, with sunset around 4.45 pm in December, there’s ample opportunity to witness the markets illuminated by twinkling lights.

Daytime Visits to The Markets

The daytime ambience of the Christmas markets had its charm, yet the grey skies and lack of snow dampened the magical feel usually amplified by the Christmas lights come nightfall.

It’s the quieter time for a leisurely browse through the stalls, with more space to explore and shop.

Zurich Weather

We had imagined Zurich blanketed in snow, but the city sees merely an average of 5 snowy days in December.

Luckily for us, after immersing ourselves in the festive ambience of Zurich’s Christmas markets, we were off to the pristine snowy slopes of Bettmeralp, where snow was guaranteed. Our adventures continued on skis amidst the stunning Swiss Alps, a tale shared in our post about our Christmas ski trip to Bettmeralp.

Zurich Temperature in December

In Zurich, December’s temperatures hover around a high of 3.7°C and a low of -0.7°C. Layering up is key to combat the chill. Our cozy retreat to Hotel Bristol was a warm respite, though it took a bit for our extremities to thaw despite being clad in gloves and snow boots!

Click on the expand button in the top right-hand corner, and you will find the key on the left-hand side. The red stars are the Christmas Markets in Zurich. 

Zurich Christmas Market Guide 2024

There are four main markets to discover, and another two smaller ones. Each has its own distinct style. We list these below, with their opening dates and times.

You can also find their specific location on the map above.

1. NIEDERDORF’S DÖRFLI CHRISTMAS MARKET

Zurich’s oldest Christmas Market, Dörfli Weihnachtsmarkt,  is held in the  Niederdorf quarter of the picturesque Zurich Old Town. Here, the festive market stalls line the main thoroughfare and festoon off into the side streets.

The aroma of mulled wine and cinnamon weaves its way through the tiny festive alleyways as you peruse the Christmas goodies and gifts on offer. 

The Dorfli Market is the perfect place to lose yourself in the Christmas atmosphere. 

💝🍫 If you’re visiting Zurich at Christmastime, you’ll likely want to indulge in some Swiss chocolate — a quintessential part of a Swiss experience. You can combine a sightseeing tour with a visit to the Lindt Home of Chocolate and enjoy unlimited chocolate tasting.

Dörfli Christmas market spills out around Niederdorfstrasse, and the 11th-Century Fraumunster Church, on the opposite side of the River Limmat, makes for an eye-catching backdrop.

From here, you can walk along the Limmat riverfront towards the next Zurich Christmas Market, the Wienachtsdorf Market.

🏊🏼‍♀️ Interesting Extra: Every December, the Limmat River plays host to the “Samichlausschwimmen.” At the beginning of December, around 300 people, some dressed in Santa outfits, swim in the freezing cold river to raise money for charity.

2. SECHSELÄUTENPLATZ WIENACHTSDORF MARKET – THE URBAN CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

The largest Zurich Christmas Market is ‘Wienachtsdorf’, the urban Christmas Village. You’ll find it near the Lake Zurich shoreline, at Sechseläutenplatz in front of the Zurich Opera House. 

Over a hundred stalls form the ‘Village’, with many culinary delights, local handicrafts and an ice rink where the children can skate with giant-sized plastic penguins.

The Fondue Chalet sells traditional Swiss fare, and there is plenty of glüwein (red wine, sweetened and heated with mulled spices and citrus). Sample the local raclette (a type of cheese that is melted and scraped onto potatoes or bread) or dip it into a festive fondue.

The Christmas village also hosts a variety of performances, including stilt walking, operas, storytelling and crafts – check out the program here.

💡Quick Tip: This market operates on a cashless basis

The Opera House, behind the Sechseläutenplatz Christmas Market, also gets into the Christmas spirit. Each day at 5.30 pm, you can listen to the Opera House Christmas Musical Advent Calendar — the musical countdown to Christmas.

It is held in the entrance foyer, admission is free, and the program for each day and each performance is only 15 minutes long.

The Advent performances run from the 1st to the 23rd of December, with each day’s program announced on its Facebook page.

👧🏻 For Kids: Just north of the Weinachtsdorf Christmas village is the Bellvue tram stop for the St. Nicholas tram, Jelmoli Marlitram (Märlitram) — a Christmas-themed fairytale tram for kids aged 4-10 years old. On the tram, Santa and angels read Christmas stories as it trundles along a circular route, returning to the same stop.

 3. THE ‘SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE’ AT WEIHNACHTSMÄRT CHRISTMAS MARKET

Our Singing Christmas Tree Video

The Singing Christmas Tree and Weihnachtsmart are just off the main shopping street of Bahnhofstrasse, the street where the ‘Lucy Lights’ of Zurich shimmer and shine.    

Even though it was raining as we headed towards the Singing Christmas tree, the surreal image of thousands of twinkling stars was made even more beautiful by the reflections on the rain-soaked street. 

These lights are named ‘Lucy’ after the Beatles’ song, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Each of the LED bulbs  (around 12000) is surrounded by cut glass crystal to create a romantic Christmas diamond and star-like effect.  

This iconic Christmas Market, Zurich Bahnhofstrasse, was our favourite Christmas market in Zurich because of its unique ‘Singing Christmas Tree’. 

Unfortunately, when we were there, the rain gave no thought to the evening’s festivities. It bucketed down, just as the ‘Singing Christmas Tree’ prepared to serenade its audience. Nevertheless, the choir took its place on the tiered podium, in the shape of a giant Christmas tree, seemingly unperturbed by the relentless downpour.

Meanwhile, visitors and locals alike sipped mulled wine and huddled beneath umbrellas, enjoying the impressive spectacle. 

You’ll also find a cozy Wooden Fondue Chalet here — the perfect Swiss comfort food to warm you after watching the sensational singing Christmas tree. 

4. CHRISTKINDLIMARKT – ZURICH TRAIN STATION CHRISTMAS MARKET

With warm mulled wine pleasantly flowing through our veins, we returned to the train station and Zurich’s most centrally located Christmas Market, Christkindlimarkt. It is one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe and is held in the main concourse of Zurich Train Station.

When we visited, the centrepiece was a 10-meter (32 ft) tall Christmas tree decorated with thousands of Swarovski crystals.

But for Christmas 2023, it’s a chocolate delight with thousands of Lindor chocolate balls and golden teddies decorating the tree. And an extra big Lindor chocolate ball takes pride at the top of the tree.

There is a Lindt booth selling Lindt Teddies with on-the-spot personalized collars as well. And you can hop on the golden sled for a festive selfie.

It is the 30th anniversary of the Christkindlimarkt Zurich at the main station, so they also have a special program for kids as well as this chocolate-laden tree.

Zurich: Lindt Home of Chocolate Guided Tour & Entry Ticket

4.7

• Indulge in delicious Swiss Lindt chocolates and pralines
• Explore the fascinating history of chocolate and its introduction to Europe
• Admire a grand chocolate fountain and sample at various tasting stations
• Learn about the origins and production of your preferred chocolate varieties
• Experience guided tastings with a master chocolatier, understanding chocolate nuances

Buy this experience here

This was by far the busiest Christmas market we visited (though we did visit in the evening), with packed stalls enticing onlookers with their festive temptations. We lost count of the varieties of mulled wines on offer and the wide array of food stalls.

5. WEINACHTSMARKT MÜNSTERHOF CHRISTMAS MARKET

The Münsterhof Christmas market is located beside the Fraumunster Church. The focus of the market is to sell high-quality gifts made or designed in Zurich and the surrounding area.

A Culture Tent nearby provides entertainment, including workshops and performances by the Zurich Music Conservatory. 

6. Zürcher Weihnachtsallee – The City Christmas Market

The City Christmas Market, the snacks and gifts market, is near the train station at Lintheschergasse — between the Jelmoli and Globus department stores. Market traders sell their handicrafts in decorated market huts. There is also a domed bar on Europaplatz and a fondue chalet on Gustav-Gull-Platz.

What is the Best Christmas Market in Zurich?

In our opinion, the best Zurich Christmas market is the “Singing Christmas Tree” at the Weihnachtsmärt Market. The tiered podium, shaped like a giant Christmas tree, hosts the choir amidst a breathtaking backdrop of thousands of twinkling lights.

However, determining the best Christmas markets in Zurich is a matter of personal preference, as each market offers its own unique charm and attractions.

Another contender for us was the Niederdorf Christmas Market. Situated in the heart of Zurich’s picturesque Old Town, this market captures the essence of the holiday season with its historic setting and festive ambience. The Niederdorf Christmas Market is Zurich’s oldest, and its location and traditional charm make it a favourite of ours.

If you have kids, then the Sechseläutenplatz Christmas Market, in front of the opera house, is a great choice with its fun ice rink.

OTHER CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN ZURICH

ILLUMINARIUM

In the inner courtyard of the Landesmuseum Zurich, the Illuminarium shows off its enchanting winter wonderland of light, illumination, illusion, music and culinary delights. In front of the courtyard, which has free access, there are light-filled cocktail bars and food bars for winter snacks. 

Opening Times:

TBC (Closed: December 24th and December 25th)

‘LICHTERSCHWIMMEN’ EVENT

At the traditional ‘Lichterschwimmen’ event in Zurich, hundreds of tiny lanterns are launched from Stadthausquai, and they float down the Limmat River, creating a magical scene in the middle of Zurich.

Zurich Tourism organises the event and also serves hot punch and pastries for onlookers at Weinplatz as a way of saying thank you to the people of Zurich for their hospitality towards national and international visitors. 

We were lucky enough to witness this event when we were in Zurich.

This year’s event is TBC.

SANTA CLAUS PARADE (SAMICHLAUS PARADE)

On the last Sunday of November, Santa Claus and his helpers have a parade through Bahnhofstrasse and give out gingerbread cookies to the children. 

SALTO

Salto is a circus of acrobatics that plays annually in Zurich. This year’s show is Neverland, filled with pirates, fairies and hidden treasure.

Salto is described as:

“…a surreal-poetic event that brings together wonderful energies, colours, artistry, lights, sounds and music.’ 

Salto dates for 2024: TBC

Other Activities in Zurich

Not only are there plenty of Christmas activities in Zurich, but there are also many interesting experiences to be had that, although not Christmassy, can be bought as a treat … it is Christmas, after all.

Tours and Day Trips from Zurich

While in Zurich, you might like to make the most of the opportunities to visit the scenic surrounding areas.

Here are a few highly-rated day trips that depart from Zurich:

HOW TO GET TO ZURICH

TRAVEL TO ZURICH BY AIR

Travel from Zurich’s International Airport to the city centre is easy by train because it runs directly from the airport. 

Zurich Airport to Zurich Main Train Station (Zurich HB) by train takes about 15 minutes. 

(We flew into Zurich from Athens, (a 2.5-hour flight). This Christmas holiday was amid our year-long Europe Motorhome trip, so we left the Campervan in Athens while we had a family Christmas skiing in Bettmeralp, with Zurich being our first stop.)  

📃 👉 Check your Swiss Visa Requirements Here

TRAVEL TO ZURICH BY TRAIN

Zurich’s main Train Centre is situated in the centre of Zurich, therefore access to the city is easy. 

Go to the Swiss Rail website (SSB) to get the timetable, tickets and other information. 

TRAVEL TO ZURICH BY ROAD

Driving to Zurich in winter is a distinct experience and requires a tad more preparation to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. Here’s a concise guide to help you navigate the winter roads to Zurich. For more information, check out our Road Trip Planning Guide.

Preparing for Your Winter Road Trip:

• Winter Tyres:
  • It’s mandatory to have winter tyres fitted for your journey. They provide better grip and are essential for safety on snowy or icy roads.
• Vehicle Check-up:
  • A thorough vehicle check-up is crucial to ensure it’s winter-ready. This includes checking the battery, antifreeze levels, brakes, and heating system.
• Route Planning:
  • Plan your route meticulously and consider having alternative routes. Some roads might be closed due to heavy snowfall.

On The Road:

• Driving Etiquette:
  • Drive at reduced speeds, keep a safe distance from other vehicles, and be prepared for sudden weather changes.
• Toll Stickers (Vignette):
  • A vignette is required to drive on motorways in Switzerland. Purchase it at border crossings or petrol stations, or buy an E-Vignette online.
• Rest Stops:
  • Plan your rest stops. In winter, daylight hours are fewer, and driving in the dark on unfamiliar snowy roads can be challenging.

Tips:

• Parking:
  • Upon arrival, check if your accommodation provides parking. Alternatively, find accommodation out of the city near a train station. This may be cheaper, and you can then easily catch a train straight into the heart of Zurich and to Europe’s largest indoor Christmas Market at Zurich Train Station.
  • You can then walk to all of the other markets and explore on foot.

• Stay Informed:
  • Keep an eye on the weather forecast and road conditions, especially for snowfall and icy road warnings.
• Emergency Kit:
  • Carry an emergency kit including a snow shovel, blanket, food and water, and a flashlight.

Embarking on a road trip to Zurich in winter is an adventurous choice. With the right preparation and a spirit of adventure, it can be a journey as captivating as the destination itself. Stay safe and enjoy the picturesque drive to Zurich!

WHERE TO STAY IN ZURICH

Budget Option

Ibis Budget CityWest: Value hotel  is located in the trendy Zurich West district, 10 minutes by public transport from the city centre and Zurich Main Station 

Click here for MORE INFO

Mid-Range Option

Bristol Hotel – We stayed here, and it was just a 5-minute walk from Zürich’s main train station – an excellent location. A great basic hotel that included breakfast and was perfect for our one-night stay.

Click here for MORE INFO

Luxury Option

Atlantis by Giardano: provides exclusive rooms and suites with contemporary design, as well as an indoor and outdoor pool.

Click here for MORE INFO

🛏 Looking for more places to stay in Zurich? Search for a great deal here on Booking .com 

FAQs on Christmas Markets in Zurich

1. Does Zurich have a Christmas Market?

Yes, Zurich’s Christmas markets offer a range of experiences, from the traditional Niederdorf Christmas Market in the Old Town to the urban Wienachtsdorf Market near Lake Zurich, with options like the Singing Christmas Tree at the Weihnachtsmärt Christmas Market and the Christkindlimarkt at Zurich Train Station.

2. Does Zurich have Good Christmas Markets?

Absolutely, Zurich features exceptional Christmas markets, including the 50-foot Swarovski tree at the Christkindlimarkt in the Train Station and an ice rink at the Wienachtsdorf Market. The diverse market varieties and the enchanting Singing Christmas Tree at the Weihnachtsmärt Market add to the city’s festive charm, making Zurich a hub for captivating Christmas markets.

3. What are the dates of the Zurich Christmas Markets?

The Zurich Christmas market dates for 2024 are as follows:

• Niederdorf Christmas Market: TBC
• Wienachtsdorf Market: TBC
• Werdmuhleplatz Christmas Market: TBC
• Christkindlimarkt at Zurich Train Station: TBC

Zurich Christmas Markets … That’s a Wrap

The Zurich Christmas Market is a highlight of the city’s holiday season, offering a variety of stalls, food, and festive activities. It provides a lively atmosphere that attracts both locals and international visitors.

If you’re planning a return visit to Switzerland in warmer weather, consider exploring more of the country on the road. Our summer campervanning journey through Switzerland provides ample inspiration and showcases the diverse experiences the country offers year-round.

If you enjoyed this article, you may like these FREE RESOURCES:

• FREE 23-page Road Trip / Travel Planner, including menu planner, journal pages and budgeting)
• FREE Travel Guides (many countries)
• FREE Phone Wallpapers
• FREE Photo Ebooks
• Monthly Travel News 

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY READING:

• Perfect Travel Gifts for Christmas
• Banff National Park, Canada – What to do in Winter
• Christmas in July – Mid Cheer Around the World