Esslingen Christmas market: magic or lack? Visitors are divided!
Esslingen, known for its award-winning Christmas market, attracts a million visitors every year and offers a historic ambience.

Esslingen Christmas market: magic or lack? Visitors are divided!
The pre-Christmas season in Germany is just around the corner and the Christmas markets attract with festive atmosphere and handmade products. A particularly notable market is the Esslingen Christmas market, run by The Sunday Times was named one of the 29 best Christmas markets in Europe. It takes 22nd place and attracts around a million visitors every year.
Known for its historic ambience and 180 stalls, the market is located in Esslingen, Baden-Württemberg, just around 25 minutes by car from Stuttgart Airport. Many visitors appreciate the cozy atmosphere and the handmade products, but there are also critical voices. Some visitors are unhappy with the overcrowding, especially on weekends, and the higher prices and see the market as less Christmassy. Some therefore recommend visiting alternative Christmas markets in other cities, while international guests in particular are often enthusiastic.
A look at other Christmas markets in the region
There are a number of other Christmas markets in Baden-Württemberg that invite you to celebrate the festive season. Loud SWR The markets are currently active and open every day. The Christmas market in Freiburg, for example, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and expects numerous visitors. The Christmas market in Karlsruhe, which opens its doors until January 6th, is also very popular and is open to visitors every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In particular, the Advent market in Gengenbach, which takes place from November 29th to December 23rd, 2024, and the Christmas market in Heidelberg, which is open from November 25th to December 22nd, have their own charms. These markets offer a wide range of culinary and artisanal delicacies that will make every Christmas lover's heart beat faster.
Entrance fees and their justification
A topic that is discussed again and again is the admission prices for some Christmas markets, which will open in 2023 derwesten.de was picked up. While some privately operated markets charge an entry fee, the legal situation is exciting. A decision by the Berlin Administrative Court from 2014 states that entrance fees are not in the overriding public interest. However, many Christmas markets continue to charge fees.
An example of this is the Christmas market at Grünwald Castle in North Rhine-Westphalia, where adults have to pay 8 euros. The mystical Christmas market in the Ravenna Gorge also requires visitors to enter. Given the rising costs of food and drinks, such as mulled wine, which costs 21 euros in Munich, visitors should not ignore these additional expenses.
Overall, it can be said that the Christmas market season in Germany is a special time for shared experiences, even if opinions differ about the quality and prices of the offerings. Whether in Esslingen or one of the numerous other cities, the Christmas spirit can be felt everywhere. We can only hope that both the markets and their visitors have a good hand and can enjoy the Advent season to the fullest.