Christmas wishes for in-laws USA families love to send at the holidays carry warmth, gratitude, and a little American cheer. Whether you are writing to your mother-in-law in Texas, your father-in-law in Ohio, or your brother-in-law and sister-in-law across the country, the right words can make the family dinner feel even closer. This list brings together heartfelt, funny, and short messages made for American homes, snowy mornings, and long drives home for Christmas. In-laws become family in the truest sense at Christmas. They welcome you to the table, share treasured recipes, cheer for the same football team, and help trim the tree. A thoughtful wish thanks them for that welcome and tells them how much their love means through the year. Use these 45 wishes in a card, a text, a holiday letter, or a toast at the table. Pick one that fits your family, add a personal line about a shared memory, and send it early so it arrives before the turkey is carved and the eggnog is poured. Last up...
Christmas in Lübeck is one of the most magical festive experiences in northern Germany, and this Hanseatic city earns its nickname with every glowing square and candlelit lane. Known as the Weihnachtsstadt des Nordens, which means the Christmas City of the North, Lübeck pairs centuries of trading history with the sweet smell of marzipan, warm Glühwein and Advent music drifting from its great brick churches.
The main market has been documented since 1648, and today the season stretches from the Rathausmarkt in front of the town hall to the fairy tale forest behind St Marien Church, the craft halls of the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital and the harbour glow at the waterfront. Everything sits within easy walking distance on the old town island, so a single afternoon can carry you from market to market without ever leaving the festive lights behind.
This guide brings together the 15 best things to do at Christmas in Lübeck, from the main market squares and marzipan tastings to tower views, concerts and quiet evening walks along the Trave. Whether you are visiting for a day trip from Hamburg or staying for a full Advent weekend, use it to plan a trip that mixes the famous sights with the smaller markets most visitors miss. Learn a few words before you go: Frohe Weihnachten means Merry Christmas, a Weihnachtsmarkt is a Christmas market, and Glühwein is the mulled wine you will be drinking all weekend.
A note on dates: Lübeck markets typically open in late November and run until around 30 December, with individual markets closing on different days. Dates for the 2026 season are provisional and can shift, so please check the official Lübeck tourism site before you travel or book accommodation.
Last updated: November 6, 2026
Jump to: Explore the Christmas Markets | Taste the Flavours | See the Sights | Music, Light and Festive Evenings | Plan Your Visit | FAQs | More Christmas Inspiration
Explore the Christmas Markets
Lübeck does not have one Christmas market. It has a whole constellation of them, each with its own character, and walking between them is half the pleasure.
1. Wander the main Lübecker Weihnachtsmarkt on the Markt. Start beneath the brick Gothic Rathaus, where rows of wooden chalets sell ornaments, candles and woolly hats under strings of lights. Arrive in the late afternoon, when the town hall glows and the square fills with the smell of roasted almonds.
2. Step back in time at the Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt by St Marien Church. Traders in period dress demonstrate old crafts such as blacksmithing, candle dipping and woodturning beside the great church. It is the most atmospheric corner of the season, and the smell of woodsmoke hangs over the whole churchyard.
3. Hunt for handmade gifts at the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital craft market. Inside the vaulted halls of this 13th century hospital, artisans sell ceramics, glass, textiles and jewellery from tiny wooden cabins. Come here for gifts nobody else will be giving, and for a warm pause away from the cold squares outside.
Taste the Flavours of a Lübeck Christmas
Lübeck is the marzipan capital of Europe, and Christmas is when the city shows it off. Save room in your bag, and in your stomach, for the tastings below.
4. Taste marzipan at Niederegger on Breite Strasse. The famous marzipan house has been making its almond sweet here since 1806, and its cafe and museum sit right on the main shopping street. Try a classic marzipan loaf, pick up Christmas shapes for gifts, and look for the marzipan models of the Holstentor in the window.
5. Warm up with Glühwein and a mug to keep. Every market pours its own spiced red wine, and many stalls serve it in a decorated mug you can keep as a souvenir or return for a small deposit refund. White Glühwein and non-alcoholic Kinderpunsch are widely available too, so everyone in the group can join in.
6. Sample stollen, roasted almonds and hearty market food. Follow your nose to the nut roasters and bakers, then try a slice of marzipan stollen, a paper cone of hot chestnuts, or a bratwurst eaten standing at a tall table. Northern treats such as smoked fish and Labskaus also appear on menus for visitors who want something truly local.
See the Sights of the Hanseatic Old Town
Lübeck old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and Christmas lights make its brick Gothic churches and merchant houses look their best. These three stops show the city at its most photogenic.
7. Photograph the Holstentor at dusk. The twin-towered Holsten Gate is the symbol of Lübeck, and it looks superb as the lights come on and the market crowds gather in front of it. Cross to the far side of the Trave for the classic postcard view, then visit the small museum inside to learn how the gate guarded the city.
8. Climb St Petri tower for the view over the rooftops. A lift carries you up the tower of St Petri Church to a platform with sweeping views across the old town island, its seven spires and the market squares below. On a clear December evening you can trace the whole route of the markets by their lights.
9. Walk the Trave waterfront past the salt storehouses. The old Salzspeicher warehouses stand in a row beside the river near the Holstentor, a reminder of the salt trade that made Lübeck rich. Stroll along the Obertrave as the lights reflect on the water, and watch for the harbour market stalls glowing further along the quay.
Enjoy Music, Light and Festive Evenings
Lübeck keeps its best moments for after dark, when the concerts begin, the Ferris wheel turns and the old town glows. Plan at least one evening here.
10. Hear a Christmas concert in St Marien Church. The great Marienkirche hosts Advent concerts and choir performances through December, filling the vast brick interior with music. Check the notice boards at the church door for times, and arrive early, as popular evenings fill quickly.
11. Ride the Ferris wheel at the Maritimer Weihnachtsmarkt on the Koberg. The maritime market in the old seafarers quarter pairs harbour views with a Ferris wheel, fish snacks and Matrosenpunch, a warming sailor punch. It is the liveliest market after dark, with live music on many evenings.
12. Follow the lights on an evening old town walk. When the stalls begin to close, take a slow loop from the Markt through the quiet lanes and courtyards behind Breite Strasse. The shop windows, the church spires and the smell of pine make the walk itself feel like a Christmas scene, and the crowds thin out beautifully.
Plan Your Visit Like a Local
A little planning goes a long way in Lübeck, especially on Advent weekends, when day trippers arrive in large numbers. These three tips keep the trip smooth.
13. Take the easy day trip from Hamburg. Direct trains link Hamburg Hauptbahnhof with Lübeck in under an hour, and the station is a short walk from the Holstentor. Arrive before lunch to enjoy the markets in daylight, then stay for the evening lights before catching a late train back.
14. Stay overnight and see the markets after dark. If you can, book a night in the old town so you can enjoy the markets without watching the clock. Early mornings are wonderfully quiet, and the squares belong to locals and photographers before the day trippers arrive.
15. Shop for marzipan gifts after Christmas Day. The main market runs on past Christmas, and the days just after 25 December are often quieter and cheaper for marzipan shopping, with seasonal chocolate and gift sets reduced at Niederegger. It is a smart way to stock up for next year while the city is still dressed for the season.
Families with Kids
Children love the Märchenwald, or fairy tale forest, behind St Marien Church, where small wooden huts show scenes from Grimm fairy tales. Add a ride on the merry-go-round, a mug of Kinderpunsch and a visit to the puppet theatre museum for a full family afternoon.
Couples
Couples should time their visit for dusk, when the Holstentor glows and the markets light up. Share a mug of Glühwein at the harbour market, book a table for a candlelit dinner in the old town, and finish with a slow walk along the Trave.
Budget Travellers
Lübeck is kind to careful budgets, since the markets themselves are free to enter and the old town is best enjoyed on foot. Eat at the market stalls instead of restaurants, keep one Glühwein mug as your souvenir, and travel midweek, when trains and rooms cost less.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Lübeck
When do the Lübeck Christmas markets open in 2026?
The season typically runs from late November to around 30 December, with the main market on the Markt open longest and smaller markets closing earlier. Dates for 2026 are provisional, so check the official Lübeck tourism site before you book travel.
Where is the main Christmas market in Lübeck?
The main Lübecker Weihnachtsmarkt stands on the Markt, the square in front of the brick Gothic Rathaus in the old town. The other markets, including the historic market by St Marien Church and the maritime market on the Koberg, are all a short walk away.
What is Lübeck famous for at Christmas?
Lübeck is famous for marzipan, made here by Niederegger since 1806, and for its Christmas market tradition, first documented in 1648. The city calls itself the Christmas City of the North, and its UNESCO-listed old town holds around eleven festive markets each Advent.
Is Lübeck worth visiting as a day trip from Hamburg?
Yes, Lübeck is one of the easiest festive day trips in Germany. Direct trains from Hamburg take under an hour, the station is a short walk from the Holstentor, and the whole old town and its markets can be explored on foot in a single day.
How many Christmas markets does Lübeck have?
Lübeck counts around eleven festive markets across its old town island, from the large main market on the Markt to the historic market, the craft market in the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital, the fairy tale forest for children and the harbour market by the water.
What should I buy at the Lübeck Christmas market?
Start with marzipan in Christmas shapes from Niederegger, then look for handmade ornaments, candles, wooden toys and local crafts at the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital market. A decorated Glühwein mug makes a simple souvenir that you will actually use again.
More Christmas Inspiration
Keep planning your German Christmas with these guides from our blog:
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