Leipzig Christmas Market

The market in brief

The Leipzig Christmas Market is documented since 1458, which the city promotes as the second oldest in Germany. It spreads over several areas in the old town instead of one square, and a visit is partly a walk through lit streets, passages and squares. It is a good fit if you want a market and a city weekend in one trip.

This page concerns the 2028 edition, which has a quite different calendar shape from other years because Christmas lands on a Monday.

2028 dates and how firm they are

The planner has the 2028 market running from Tuesday 28 November to Saturday 23 December, and the status is estimated. That means the dates were projected from earlier editions and the tourism office's material, not announced for 2028. The market could start or end a few days differently, and hours vary by day. The end on a Saturday, the day before Christmas Eve, is a plausible pattern but not a promise.

Look at the official Leipzig tourism website before booking, especially if your trip depends on the first or last week.

Character and history

Founded in the 15th century, the market grew along with Leipzig's role as a trade and fair city. Its character today is varied: traditional wooden huts, handicrafts and food in some areas, family attractions in others. The historic centre around the Markt gives it a natural stage.

Leipzig has deep ties to music. Johann Sebastian Bach worked at the Thomaskirche from 1723, and Advent concerts continue that tradition. Leipzig church programmes for December 2028 will appear closer to the date.

What to see, do and eat

Combine a stroll with a sit-down break. Local treats include Leipziger Lerche, a marzipan and cherry pastry, and Eierschecke, a Saxon cake with a quark layer. Roasted almonds, Bratwurst and mulled wine are everywhere. If you want a proper meal, try a Saxon restaurant serving Leipziger Allerlei, the vegetable dish with a long local tradition.

Outside the market, museums are an easy plan for cold afternoons, and the Mädlerpassage and Auerbachs Keller area is a lively corner of the old town.

Getting there and where to stay

Leipzig Hauptbahnhof lies right next to the old town, so rail is the practical choice. Direct trains come from Berlin, Dresden, Erfurt and further afield. If you drive, park on the edge of the centre and use the tram. Advent weekend hotels sell out first, so reserve rooms early, and consider midweek stays, which tend to be easier to find.

A hotel just outside the city ring combined with a short tram ride gives you the market without the premium.

Holidays and bridge days in Saxony, 2028

In 2028 the Buß- und Bettag falls on Wednesday 22 November, six days before the planned opening, so it is outside the market. There is no weekday public holiday in Saxony during the market. The first Advent Sunday is 3 December, so a Friday to Sunday weekend, 1 to 3 December, costs one vacation day, and the weekends of 8 to 10 and 15 to 17 December cost one each.

The end on Saturday 23 December sits right before Christmas Eve on Sunday 24 December. Christmas Day is Monday 25 and Boxing Day Tuesday 26 December, public holidays in every state. If you take Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December, three vacation days, you are off from Saturday 23 December to Monday 1 January 2029, ten days, and can close the market visit into a longer break.

Tips and who it suits

The market suits couples, families and friends who like walking and eating well. Weekday evenings are the quietest, Saturday afternoons the most crowded. Bring cash for small stalls and wear warm shoes. As the 2028 dates are only estimated, keep bookings flexible until the organisers confirm the schedule.