Stein am Rhein Christmas Market
Planning

Swiss Christmas Market dates [2023]

September 28, 2019 Last Updated on May 28, 2023

If you are going to be spending Christmas in Switzerland, chances are you’ll get to experience one of the many Christmas markets.

Switzerland is the perfect destination to enjoy the festive season and the best way to immerse yourself in one of the most popular Swiss Christmas traditions is to head to the nearest market.

There are many Christmas markets in Switzerland – you’ll find them in both cities and smaller towns and villages – and they are loved by locals and tourists alike.

A typical Swiss Christmas market features wooden huts or chalets assembled in the town square.  Sellers offer a variety of goods including handmade crafts perfect for gifts, Christmas ornaments, Christmas trees and food and drink.

NOTE: This post will be updated with 2023 Switzerland Christmas Market dates as they become available. Dates are subject to change.


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Some of the largest Switzerland Christmas markets include:

Zurich Christmas Market – Whilst there are numerous markets in Zurich each festive season the most romantic is also Zurich’s oldest Christmas market. It’s held at Niederdorfstrasse in the heart of the Old Town. 

At Werdmuhlepltaz you’ll find a market and what is probably the most unusual Swiss Christmas tree.  The Singing Christmas Tree features choristers standing on a Christmas-tree-shaped vertical podium who entertain the crowds with their carols.

Basel Christmas Market – The oldest Christmas Market in Switzerland, Basel’s Christmas Market can be found in the Old Town. 

More than 180 stalls add to the festive charm and they are watched over by a huge Christmas tree decorated by Johann Wanner, a Basel local who, for more than 50 years has created beautiful hand-blown and hand-painted Christmas decorations.  

Why not join an organised coach tour to visit the Swiss Christmas Markets? Click here to search available tours.

Bern Christmas MarketBern is home to a number of Christmas markets but one with a slight difference is the Bernese Christmas market which is held in front of the Munster (Cathedral). 

This market has an ethos to only sell unique items that the artisan stall holders have produced in their own studios. Rather than offering customers mass-produced goods, only lovingly handcrafted products are for sale.

Montreux Christmas Market – Widely regarded as one of the best Christmas markets in Switzerland, Montreux’s market can be found along the lakeside promenade where more than 160 chalets sell their wares.

This is a favourite market amongst children as, each evening, Santa and his reindeer can be seen flying across the sky.

Read more: Best Christmas Markets in Switzerland

Basel’s Christmas market, with its giant tree decorated by Johann Wanner. Image © swiss-image.ch / Andre Meier

Below you will find a list of the dates that Switzerland’s Christmas Markets in 2022. These are not all the Christmas markets in Switzerland but still offer plenty of options for visitors to Switzerland at Christmas time.

This article will be updated with all the 2022 dates as they are announced.

Switzerland Christmas Market dates for 2023 (to be confirmed)

Bern1 – 23 December
More info >
Basel23 November – 23 December
More info >
Brienz26 – 27 November
More info >
Chur26 – 27 November
More info >
Einsiedeln25 November – 4 December
More info >
Geneva17 November – 23 December
More info >
Gruyeres9 – 11 & 16 – 18 December
More info >
InterlakenCancelled this year
More info >
Kandersteg/Blausee10 – 11 December
More info >
Lausanne17 November – 31 December
More info >
Locarno8 December
More info >
Lugano03 – 24 December
More info >
Luzern1 – 21 December
More info >
Martigny9 – 23 December
More info >
Montreux18 November – 24 December
More info >
Mount Pilatus18 – 20 November
More info >
Rapperswil-Jona1- 18 December Every Thursday – Sunday
More info >
Saanen6 & 17 December
Schaffhausen10 & 11 December
More info >
Solothurn7 & 8 December
More info >
Spiez3 December
More info >
Stein am Rhein30 November 2023 – 1 January 2024
More info >
St Gallen24 November – 24 December
More info >
St Moritz3 December
More info >
Thun8 – 23 December
More info >
Vaduz (Liechtenstein)1 – 24 December
More info >
Veytaux-Chillon Castleto be confirmed
Winterthur24 November – 23 December
More info >
Yverdon-les-Bains27 November – 24 December
More info >
Zugto be confirmed
More info >
Zurich25 November – 24 December
More info >

Whilst you are in Switzerland during the winter for the Christmas markets, you might also be planning a mountain excursion or two. In this article you can see the dates that the Swiss cableways and funiculars will be closed. You might also find our essential information for visiting Switzerland in winter helpful.


Switzerland’s Christmas Markets podcast

Click this link or the green button below to listen to our podcast about Christmas markets and events in Switzerland.


Switzerland Travel Essentials

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Top image: Christmas market at Stein am Rhein. Credit: swiss-image.ch/Jan Geerk