Stuttgart Christmas Market

What the Stuttgart Christmas Market is

The Stuttgart Christmas Market spreads across the city centre around the Altes Schloss, the Schillerplatz and the Marktplatz, with hundreds of stalls in a compact walking route. It is one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe according to the event data. This page covers the 2027 edition.

The market lies close to the main station, which makes it easy to combine with a city trip.

Dates for 2027: estimated

Our data lists Wednesday 24 November to Thursday 23 December 2027, 30 days, with the status estimated. The organiser has not announced the 2027 dates, and we followed the pattern of recent years, in which the market opened on the Wednesday before the first Sunday of Advent. The first Advent in 2027 is 28 November.

Closing on 23 December is also based on that pattern. Until the official announcement, keep hotel and rail bookings flexible.

Character, sights and food

Stuttgart's market has a long tradition and is documented from the late seventeenth century, according to the city's own descriptions. Today it is known for its covered stalls with rich decoration and for the Rathaus, which hosts a large Advent calendar in the form of its facade windows.

The setting is a mix of Renaissance courtyard, modern squares and arcades, so you can cover a lot of ground without leaving the pedestrian zone.

Look for hand-made ornaments, candles, wood carvings and regional crafts. Local food includes Maultaschen, Schupfnudeln, roasted chestnuts and Flammkuchen, with Glühwein and Feuerzangenbowle to drink. The children's Christmas world near Karlsplatz is aimed at families.

Museums such as the Landesmuseum Württemberg in the Altes Schloss offer a warm break during the day.

Getting there and where to stay

The market is about a ten minute walk from the Stuttgart main station, and the Stadtbahn and S-Bahn stop at Schlossplatz and Hauptbahnhof. Long-distance trains connect with Munich, Frankfurt and Zurich. Parking garages are in the city, but driving into the centre on market days is slow.

Hotels close to the market sell out for Advent weekends, so reserve early or use the S-Bahn from Esslingen or Ludwigsburg.

Public holidays and vacation days in Baden-Württemberg, 2027

The estimated opening day is Wednesday 24 November 2027 and the last day is Thursday 23 December. Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 December, so there is no extra weekday holiday. Allerheiligen on 1 November, a holiday in Baden-Württemberg, is a Monday earlier in the autumn and does not touch the market.

A weekend visit on 27 and 28 November, the first Advent weekend, needs no vacation days. A trip on Friday 3 December costs one day. For Christmas, Friday 24 December is a normal workday unless your employer closes; taking Monday 27 to Friday 31 December gives five vacation days for nine days off up to Sunday 2 January. Dreikönig on Thursday 6 January 2028 is a further holiday, a bridge Friday 7 January gives four days off for one vacation day.

Tips and who it suits

The market suits couples, families and day trippers from across southwest Germany. Weekday afternoons are calmer, and the evenings are best for light displays.

Since the dates are an estimate, check the official market site in autumn before you book.

The first Advent weekend of 27 to 28 November brings the biggest crowds, so for a quieter visit choose a weekday afternoon in early December. Warm drinks come with a refundable mug deposit at many stalls, which you can reuse or return. Plan time for the surrounding shops and for a warm meal away from the market, since lunch queues at the stalls can be long. If you arrive by train, leave margin for delayed services on busy December days. Use the opening Wednesday, 24 November, if you want the first taste of the season with smaller crowds.