Six independent Christmas markets, shaped by six separate organisers, sit less than ten
minutes' walk apart in Münster's old town — and each has its very own character. Here we
introduce all six: the smallest and the largest, and the two you'd otherwise barely find
online.
6independent markets
0 €entry, everywhere
~10minutes' walk apart
1old town, one celebration
Four of the markets have their own website — we link to those for dates, opening times
and stallholders. Two don't: the Kiepenkerl and the Giebelhüüskesmarkt. For them, this
page is the best stage they have online.
Lichtermarkt St. Lamberti
Radiance, history and quiet wonders.
At the foot of the mighty St. Lamberti's church, right on the Prinzipalmarkt, the
Lichtermarkt unfolds its own particular glow. Deep-blue pointed-roof huts, warm light
and Münster's great Christmas tree combine into a picture of rare unity and elegance —
festive, stylish and at the same time wonderfully contemplative. The market is
deliberately small and refined: selected handcrafts, unusual gift ideas, lovingly made
one-off pieces, plus almonds, waffles and the much-loved blueberry fruit mulled wine,
long an advent classic in Münster.
Over it all watches the tower of St. Lamberti's, home to Münster's highest workplace:
the tower-keeper's room. For centuries the tower-keeper has been part of the cityscape;
today the tower-keeper climbs the 298 steps every evening and sounds her copper horn
between 8:30 pm and midnight — except on Tuesdays. And the three iron cages on the
tower speak of the turbulent Anabaptist era: the yellow lights inside them, the „Drei
Irrlichter" (three will-o'-the-wisps), lend this festive place a thoughtful, mysterious
depth.
You'll only find this in MünsterBlue pointed-roof huts in the glow of the lights, the mighty St. Lamberti's church, three mysteriously glowing cages and the sound of the copper horn high above the market.
Lambertikirchplatz · Organiser: Interessengemeinschaft Lichtermarkt St. Lamberti · Free entry
In the historic Kiepenkerl quarter around the Spiekerhof lies a Christmas market with
a character all its own: small, cosy, deeply rooted in the Münsterland. Among
half-timbering, sandstone and old houses a snug little Christmas world takes shape,
where for a moment you escape the bustle of the city. A handful of lovingly arranged
wooden huts nestle around the Kiepenkerl and the big Christmas tree — almost like a
little village in the middle of Münster. You stand close together, fall into
conversation easily and get to know new people over a mulled wine, as if you'd long
belonged.
The Kiepenkerl recalls the travelling traders of past centuries, who roamed the
Münsterland with their back-basket — the „Kiepe" — carrying eggs, butter and bacon
into the city and news from village to village: the link between town and country.
Today he stands for Westphalian down-to-earthness, warmth and hospitality. And that's
exactly what you taste here: regional specialities, fragrant almond-and-raisin mulled
wine, hearty bites, vegan variations and a good Westphalian schnapps — closely tied to
the quarter's long-established eateries.
You'll only find this in MünsterA Christmas village that isn't simply put up, but grows out of its own place — between Kiepe, half-timbering and the scent of mulled wine.
No website of its own — you're in exactly the right place here.
Giebelhüüskesmarkt
Where history meets contemporary art.
In front of the medieval walls of the Liebfrauen-Überwasser church, an especially
atmospheric Christmas world opens up in advent. The small, pointed „Giebelhüüskes"
(little gables) echo Münster's historic gabled houses and give the market its name.
Through the archway you enter a sheltered place full of handcraft, unusual gift ideas
and winter treats — and above the rooftops the view reaches all the way to the
floodlit towers of the cathedral. The name, by the way, recalls that the church, seen
from the cathedral hill, lies across the river Aa: „over the water".
At the same time a fresh, student wind blows here — the nearby university makes the
market a meeting point for young, open-minded people. Alongside mulled wine there's
mead, hot Aperol, beer specialities, handbrot, waffles and flammkuchen. Its special
depth comes from the CityAdvent inside the church: year after year, remarkable art
installations turn the space into a place for wonder and quiet reflection. Outside the
cheerful bustle of the market, inside the quiet power of the art.
You'll only find this in MünsterA small Christmas market with a student vibe, historic little gables, a medieval church as its backdrop and internationally noted art right next door.
No website of its own — you're in exactly the right place here.
Aegidii Weihnachtsmarkt
Light, sound and Christmas magic.
In the sheltered courtyard of the Aegidii market a Christmas market full of warmth,
light and familiar advent moments awaits. From afar the six-metre wooden pyramid draws
every eye: with its lovingly carved figures it turns gently in the glow of the lights —
a piece of Ore Mountains tradition in the middle of Münster. Every half hour its
festive chime rings out and makes young and old pause.
A special focal point is the large advent nativity scene, whose figures tell the
Christmas story — a favourite meeting place for families. While children marvel and
hunt for fairy-tale figures, the grown-ups enjoy mulled wine, roasted almonds or
reibekuchen (potato fritters). So the Aegidii market blends a fairy-tale atmosphere
with cosy togetherness.
You'll only find this in MünsterA large Christmas pyramid, a ringing chime and a lovingly arranged advent nativity scene — brought together in one place that lets a small, contemplative Christmas world grow amid the bustle.
On Harsewinkelplatz, right by the famous „Kirschen" (cherries) by Thomas Schütte,
Christmas shows its particularly Münster side. The X-MS is small, personal and full of
stories. Its huts have been given a second life: once strawberry and asparagus stands
from Münster, today they offer a home to regional artists, workshops and creative
minds. You won't find interchangeable goods here, but special things from Münster and
the Münsterland — each with a story behind it.
And it smells of organic mulled wine, cocoa from Telgte, fresh Münsterland chips, vegan
specialities and Westphalian grill. Sustainability isn't just promised here: reusable
instead of disposable, regional suppliers, repurposed stalls. And then there's the
little stage — often live music, sometimes spontaneous, surprising sets no one
announces in advance. Between the glow of the lights, the scent of mulled wine and the
„cherries", moments arise that you can't plan. In the volunteers' hut, social
initiatives are given a stage in the middle of the bustle.
You'll only find this in MünsterA Christmas market between contemporary art, regional craft, sustainable indulgence, genuine commitment and surprising live music.
Around the Historic Town Hall lies what is probably the city's most tradition-rich and
largest Christmas market. Since 1970 the Town Hall courtyard has been transformed into
a festive world of handcraft, gift ideas and treats; around 90 stalls invite you to
browse, surrounded by the historic gabled houses, the Stadtweinhaus and the Hall of
Peace. The market unfolds its magic beneath the great canopy of lights, whose thousands
of little bulbs bathe the sandstone façades in warm gold.
But this place is more than a backdrop: in the Historic Town Hall the Peace of
Westphalia was proclaimed in 1648 — walk across the market here and you move right
through European history. Alongside high-quality handcraft there's flammkuchen, roasted
almonds and feuerzangenbowle, changing pop-up huts always bring something new, and the
charity bazaar links advent cheer with social commitment. A special moment: when music
sounds on Saturdays at 4:48 pm from the „Sentenzbogen" of the Stadtweinhaus, the memory
of the peace year 1648 comes alive.
You'll only find this in MünsterA Christmas market on a historic site of peace, surrounded by faithfully rebuilt gabled houses and spanned by a sparkling canopy of lights.
Rathausinnenhof · Platz des Westfälischen Friedens · Organiser: Halle Münsterland · Free entry
The best part is the way between them: from the Himmelsleiter to the wooden pyramid is
under 25 minutes on foot, past all six markets. What that looks like is told by the
advent walk — and if you'd like to put together your own
loop, use the route planner.
