Dresden
51°03′ N 13°44′ ECityPop. 562,764Saxony and the Ore Mountains
Dresden suits travellers who want several Christmas markets within a short walk of each other in a rebuilt Baroque old town, and December is the city's busiest hotel month, so book early. The 592nd Striezelmarkt opens on the Altmarkt from 25 November to 24 December 2026.
Photo Derbrauni · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Basing yourself in Dresden puts the Striezelmarkt, the Neumarkt, the Stallhof and the Augustusmarkt across the Elbe all within walking distance, and three of them reopen between Christmas and Epiphany. Freiberg and Bautzen both make day trips by regional train.
Things to do in Dresden
Take the train from Dresden
- Dresden to Berlinfastest 1 h 39 min, published by Deutsche Bahn (checked Oct 10, 2026) · timetable
- Dresden to Leipzigfastest 1 h 09 min, published by Deutsche Bahn (checked Oct 10, 2026) · timetable
- Dresden to Seiffen · timetable
- Dresden to Praguefastest 2 h 11 min, published by České dráhy (checked Oct 10, 2026) · timetable
The city itself runs the Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt, and it dates the market to a grant of 1434. Advent on the Neumarkt and the medieval market in the Stallhof of the royal palace lie a few minutes' walk away. Over the Augustus Bridge the international Augustusmarkt fills the Hauptstraße in the Neustadt. Dresden's tourism board lists ten markets in all, down to a small one in Loschwitz by the Blaues Wunder bridge.
Music runs through the season. The Dresdner Kreuzchor sings at many of the Saturday vespers in the Kreuzkirche, and the Frauenkirche fills its Advent calendar with concerts and services. On the Saturday before Advent 2 the Stollenfest parades a giant stollen through the old town, and in 2026 that's 5 December.
Dresden's hotels fill in December. Dresden Marketing's figures for December 2024 put room occupancy at 79 percent, with room rates 23 percent above the year's average. In 2025 the city's tourism company called the last Advent weekend an especially strong one for travel.
Worth knowing
- Book your room early; December is the city's fullest hotel month.
- Buy Striezeltaler, 11 market coins for 10 euros, at the Dresden Information pavilion among the Striezelmarkt's show workshops.
Quick answers about Dresden
How many Christmas markets does Dresden have?
Dresden's tourism board lists ten Christmas markets for 2026, among them the Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt, Advent on the Neumarkt, the Stallhof medieval market and the Augustusmarkt. Most lie within walking distance of each other in the old town and the Innere Neustadt.
Which Dresden Christmas markets are open after Christmas?
Advent on the Neumarkt, the Stallhof market and the Augustusmarkt all reopen on 27 December 2026. The Striezelmarkt closes for good on 24 December.
Is Dresden a good place to stay?
Basing yourself in Dresden puts the Striezelmarkt, the Neumarkt, the Stallhof and the Augustusmarkt across the Elbe all within walking distance, and three of them reopen between Christmas and Epiphany. Freiberg and Bautzen both make day trips by regional train.
Within 12 km
Places to stay nearby
