Zurich Christmas Market | 2024 Dates, Must-Knows & History!

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Zurich’s Christmas Markets are among the best-known in Switzerland for many reasons: from a giant 50ft Swarovski Christmas tree to a light installation so special, locals have a loving nickname for it, there’s plenty of amazing Christmas festivities to enjoy in Switzerland’s largest city.

We first visited Zurich’s Christmas markets in 2018 and absolutely loved exploring the city’s various markets while soaking in the enchanting and festive atmosphere.

To this day, it remains one of our favorite Christmas market destinations in Switzerland.

So, are you looking to learn more about Zurich’s Christmas market scene, or perhaps need some guidance on planning your own trip there?

In this post, we’ll be covering…

Practical Info for Zurich Christmas Market
Why Visit Zurich Christmas Market?
Christmas Markets in Zurich to Visit
More Photos of Zurich Christmas Market

We hope you find it helpful and interesting!

Practical Info for Zurich Christmas Market

Here are some quick must-knows for Zurich Christmas Market this year:

Dates: Varies by market, but you’ll find most markets open from Nov 21 – Dec 23, 2024. Check out list of Switzerland Christmas Market Opening Dates for exact details.
Official website: Click here

In need of a place to stay? Here are some quick hotel recommendations:

Budget: Check prices and availability
Mid-Range: Check prices and availability
Luxury: Check prices and availability

Why Visit Zurich’s Christmas Markets?

Wondering whether or not Zurich’s Christmas are worth a visit? Here are some reasons that you should definitely consider adding it to your list!

Spectacular lighting displays

During the Christmas season, Zurich’s main shopping street is lined with such spectacular lights (over 12,000 of them) that they even have their own nickname – Lucy!

The switching on ceremony of Lucy is actually one of the festive highlights of the Christmas season in Zurich, so if you’re lucky enough to time your visit for the same day (as we did), then we’d highly recommend checking it out!

The world’s sparkliest Christmas tree

Besides Lucy, Zurich also happens to be home to one of the world’s most spectacular Christmas trees – a 50ft tall tree decked out in over 6,000 Swarovski crystals.

You can find this tree at the Christkindlimarkt inside Zurich’s main train station.

Ease of walkability between markets

Lastly, while Zurich has quite a few Christmas markets to offer visitors, most of them are within walking distance of each other, which means you can easily explore them all on foot.

This makes hopping from market to market really simple, and allows you to get plenty of shopping/food in for less time.

Christmas Markets in Zurich to Visit

Wondering where to find the Christmas markets in Zurich? Here are some highlights:

The Christkindlimarkt at Zurich Central Station

At Zurich Central Station, you’ll find a wow-worthy Christkindlimarkt that has one of the most impressive focal points of any Christmas market in Switzerland – a glittering 50ft tree covered in Swarovski crystals.

You’ll also find 150 stalls around the tree, making it one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe.

Our honest opinion though? Most of the stalls here were selling mass-produced goods that weren’t particularly enticing. So, we’d recommend coming to see the tree and maybe grab a bite to eat, but save your shopping for some of the other Christmas markets in Zurich!

The Zurich Christmas Village (Wienachtsdorf) at Sechseläutenplatz in Bellevue

Right by Zurich’s opera house at Sechseläutenplatz is where you’ll find one of our personal favorite Christmas markets in Zurich – the Wienachtsdorf, AKA the Zurich Christmas Village.

Here, you’ll find 100+ market stalls, a large skating rink, Bavarian curling and other fun activities for kids like a traditional carousel… not to mention plenty of tasty stalls to grab a bite to eat!

If it’s a wonderful atmosphere you’re looking for, this Zurich Christmas Market is a must-visit.

The Zurich City Christmas Market

In the heart of Zurich’s main shopping strip, you’ll find the Zurich City Christmas Market, where rustic wooden chalets sell a wide variety of unique handicrafts and tasty food items to fuel you as you shop.

With its location between two giant department stores (Jelmoli and Globus), this is an ideal Christmas market to visit in Zurich if your goal is to shop and find gifts for everyone on your list.

Of course, there are plenty of beautiful twinkly lights to make the experience all the more atmospheric.

The Werdmühleplatz Christmas Market

At Werdmühleplatz, you’ll find a cute little cluster of Christmas Market stalls, along with one of Zurich’s top Christmas attractions: a Singing Christmas Tree which hosts choirs from around the country for performances.

This tradition has been ongoing since 1998, and is a highlight of any Zurich Christmas visit.

Dörfli Weinachtsmarkt im Niederdorf

Lastly, in Zurich’s Old Town (in various areas including Stüssihoffstatt, Rosenhof, Niederdorfstrasse, Hirschenplatz and around the Grossmünster), there’s the charming Dörfli Weinachtsmarkt, where you’ll find market stalls scattered all around the area’s picture-perfect pastel streets.

Besides market stalls and cute Christmassy facades, this Christmas market also hosts a variety of cool performances throughout the season, from fire jugglers to alphorn performances.