Zurich Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location

The Zurich Christmas markets run from Thursday 19 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, or to Thursday 24 December for the markets in the main station and on Münsterhof, according to Zürich Tourism. Zurich has no single main market: its 6 city-centre markets are spread between the main station, Bahnhofstrasse, the Old Town and Bellevue on the lake, and all are free to enter.

This guide covers the confirmed 2026 dates and hours of each market, the new Bellevue Noël that replaces the old Wienachtsdorf, what to eat and buy, and how to get around.

When do the Zurich Christmas markets open in 2026?

The Zurich Christmas markets open on Thursday 19 November 2026, the same evening the “Lucy” Christmas lights are switched on along Bahnhofstrasse at 18:00. The dates of each city-centre market are listed below.

None of the city-centre markets open after Christmas Eve. If you are in Zurich between Christmas and New Year, the Uetliberg Winter Wonderland on Zurich’s local mountain runs until 31 January 2027.

Which are the main Christmas markets in Zurich?

Zurich’s Christmas season is a set of separate markets, each with its own organiser, hours and character. The 6 city-centre markets are described below.

Bellevue Noël at Sechseläutenplatz

Bellevue Noël is Zurich’s largest outdoor Christmas market, on Sechseläutenplatz between the Zurich Opera House and the lake. It opens from 19 November to 23 December 2026, Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00 and on Sunday from 11:00 to 20:00. The market has more than 100 market and food stalls, a fondue chalet for up to 400 guests, a children’s area with a carousel, and a 40 m (131 ft) wide walkable Advent wreath built from Swiss wood, about 5 m (16 ft) above the square. Entry to the wreath is free but needs a timed ticket, bookable online or at the market, and a lift in one of the candles takes wheelchair users to the top.

Bellevue Noël is new for 2026. It replaces the Zürcher Wienachtsdorf, which ran on the same square for 10 years, so guides that still describe the Wienachtsdorf are out of date.

Polarzauber at Zurich main station

Polarzauber is the indoor Christmas market in the concourse of Zurich main station, open from Thursday 19 November to Thursday 24 December 2026. The organisers call it the largest indoor Christmas market in Switzerland, with more than 100 stalls under the giant Lindt Christmas tree. The gift stalls open from 11:00 to 21:00 Sunday to Wednesday and until 22:00 Thursday to Saturday, and the food stalls stay open an hour longer. Until 2024 it was called the Christkindlimarkt, a name older guides still use.

The Singing Christmas Tree on Werdmühleplatz

The Singing Christmas Tree market on Werdmühleplatz, just off Bahnhofstrasse, is built around a stage in the shape of a giant Christmas tree where more than 40 choirs sing during the season. In 2026 it returns for the 28th time, from 19 November to 23 December. The market opens Monday to Thursday from 16:00 to 21:00, Friday from 16:00 to 22:00, Saturday from 13:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 13:00 to 21:00. Choirs sing at 17:30 and 18:30 on weekdays, with an extra set at 19:30 on Fridays, and from 14:30 at weekends. It is about 5 minutes’ walk from the main station, and a fondue chalet sits next to the stage.

Christmas Market Dörfli in the Niederdorf

The Christmas Market Dörfli is Zurich’s oldest Christmas market, set in the Niederdorf quarter of the Old Town between Central and the Grossmünster. It runs from 19 November to 23 December 2026, with stalls along Niederdorfstrasse and on Hirschenplatz. On Rosenhof, children can skate for free on a small ice rink, with skate hire for a small fee.

Münsterhof Christmas Market

The Münsterhof Christmas Market fills the square framed by the Fraumünster church and the old guild houses, from 19 November to 24 December 2026. Its motto is “From Zurich for Zurich”, and its stalls focus on local businesses and Zurich brands, such as Tirggel biscuits from Bäckerei St. Jakob. A culture tent hosts concerts, readings and workshops.

St Peter’s Church is a short walk uphill from Münsterhof, and our guide to things to do in Zurich covers it with the rest of the Old Town.

Zürcher Weihnachtsallee on Europaallee

The Zürcher Weihnachtsallee lines Europaallee next to the main station, from 19 November to 23 December 2026. Around 80 stallholders sell design pieces, jewellery and fashion, with street food from around the world, a karaoke bar, the “Glüehstube” bar and a fondue chalet.

What food and drink can you buy at the Zurich Christmas markets?

Cheese fondue is the signature dish of the Zurich Christmas markets, and Bellevue Noël, the Singing Christmas Tree, Polarzauber and the Weihnachtsallee all have fondue chalets or a fondue wagon. Zürich Tourism lists mulled wine, melting raclette and sweet waffles as the scents of the markets. The foods and drinks to look for are listed below.

• Fondue. Melted Swiss cheese for dipping bread, served in the market chalets. Bellevue Noël’s chalet uses pasteurised cheese and also offers an alcohol-free fondue.
• Raclette. Melted cheese scraped over potatoes or bread.
• Glühwein. Mulled wine, the standard warming drink at every market.
• Roasted almonds. Sugar-roasted almonds, sold hot at the stalls.
• Tirggel. Zurich’s traditional thin honey biscuit, sold at the Münsterhof market.
• Street food. Polarzauber and the Weihnachtsallee add international dishes, such as Tibetan dumplings, Thai food and empanadas.

Bellevue Noël charges a deposit on its reusable crockery: CHF 5 (about $6, £5) for a mug, CHF 4 (about $5, £4) for a plate or bowl, and CHF 2 (about $2.50, £2) for a cup. Its food stalls, bars and chalet are cashless. For the dishes behind the stalls, see our guide to Swiss food.

What can you buy at the Zurich Christmas markets?

The Zurich Christmas markets sell crafts and gifts with a strong local focus, especially at Bellevue Noël and Münsterhof. The typical buys are listed below.

• Local brand products. Sauces, socks, stationery and biscuits from Zurich companies at the Münsterhof market.
• Handmade crafts. Glass objects, ceramics, scented candles and jewellery, for example at Polarzauber.
• Design and fashion. Jewellery, accessories and sustainable fashion from the Weihnachtsallee stalls.
• Christmas decorations. Ornaments and handmade decorations across the markets.

What else is on in Zurich during Advent?

Zurich runs a programme of Advent events alongside the markets, and the main ones in 2026 are listed below.

1. Lucy Christmas lights. More than a kilometre of lights along Bahnhofstrasse, switched on at 18:00 on Thursday 19 November 2026.
2. Samichlaus parade. Samichläuse (the Swiss St Nicholas), their Schmutzli helpers and the Märlitram fairy-tale tram parade along Bahnhofstrasse to Bürkliplatz on Sunday 29 November 2026, starting at 17:00.
3. Samichlaus swim. Around 300 swimmers in Santa hats swim through the Limmat on Sunday 6 December 2026.
4. Lichterschwimmen. Hundreds of candle boats made by schoolchildren float down the Limmat from 18:00 on Thursday 17 December 2026.
5. Candle dipping. The Zürcher Kerzenziehen at Hechtplatz, running since 1969, lets you dip your own beeswax candle from 14 November to 21 December 2026.
6. Uetliberg Winter Wonderland. Lights, market stalls, candle-making and curling on Zurich’s local mountain, from 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.

How do you get to the Zurich Christmas markets?

You can reach all 6 Zurich Christmas markets on foot or by tram from Zurich main station, which is also the site of Polarzauber.

First, take the train to Zurich main station (Zürich HB). Trains from Zurich Airport take about 10 minutes, and Polarzauber is inside the station concourse. Before you travel, check train connections to Zurich, and if you are flying in, compare flights to Zurich.

Second, walk from the station. The Weihnachtsallee is next to the station on Europaallee, the Singing Christmas Tree is about 5 minutes’ walk down Bahnhofstrasse, and the Niederdorf and Münsterhof markets are across the Limmat and along its left bank in the Old Town.

Third, take the tram to Bellevue for Bellevue Noël. Tram lines 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 15 stop at Bellevue, right on the square. The organisers advise against driving, because streets around Bellevue are busy and parking is scarce in Advent. Our guide to getting around Switzerland covers trains and passes.

Where to stay near the Zurich Christmas markets?

The most convenient base is the area around Zurich main station or the Old Town, because 4 of the 6 markets are within a few minutes’ walk of the station and the other 2 are a short tram ride or walk away. Zurich hotels fill early for December weekends, so compare hotels and apartments in Zurich as soon as your dates are set. Booking.com lists more Swiss hotels, so compare hotels in Switzerland on Booking.com as a second check.

Zurich combines well with Switzerland’s other big Christmas market, about an hour away by train, and our Basel Christmas market guide covers its dates and squares.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the main Christmas market in Zurich?

Zurich has no single main Christmas market. The largest outdoor market is Bellevue Noël on Sechseläutenplatz by the Opera House, and the largest indoor one is Polarzauber inside Zurich main station.

When does the Zurich Christmas market end?

The Zurich Christmas markets end on Wednesday 23 December 2026, except Polarzauber at the main station and the Münsterhof market, which stay open until Thursday 24 December. The Uetliberg Winter Wonderland runs until 31 January 2027.

Is the Zurich Christmas market free?

The Zurich Christmas markets are free to enter, including the walkable Advent wreath at Bellevue Noël, which needs a free timed ticket. You pay only for food, drink, rides and the crockery deposit.

Is the Zurich Christmas market worth it?

The Zurich Christmas markets are worth visiting for the Singing Christmas Tree’s daily choirs, the walkable Advent wreath at Bellevue Noël and the fondue chalets. Zurich is an expensive city, so budget more for food and drink than you would at a German market.

Are there Christmas markets in Basel, Switzerland?

Basel has its own Christmas market, held on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz from Thursday 26 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, according to the Canton of Basel-Stadt. Basel is about an hour from Zurich by train, so you can visit both on one trip.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 4 tips below come from the 2026 programmes and FAQs of the market organisers.

1. Book the Advent wreath for a set time. Entry to the walkable wreath at Bellevue Noël is free, but places are limited by time slot, and the organisers hold a ticket for only 15 minutes before releasing it.
2. Visit Bellevue Noël early on a weekday afternoon. The organisers say that is when the square has the most room, while evenings and weekends are busiest.
3. Time the Singing Christmas Tree for 17:30. The first choir set on weekdays starts at 17:30, and at weekends the singing starts at 14:30.
4. Do not plan a Zurich market trip after 24 December. Every city-centre market has closed by Christmas Day, so between Christmas and New Year head up the Uetliberg instead.

About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers Switzerland for independent travellers, including the Christmas markets, hotels, tours and transport worth booking in Zurich, and updates this page when prices, dates and rules change.