You have come to the right place, Lübeck offers history and stories at every turn. And if you want to give Santa Claus a helping hand, you will find a large number of shopping opportunities especially during Advent in the Old Town - often in a beautiful historical setting.
Here, the "Queen of the Hanseatic League” will show you its dark side in the robes of the night. At Advent, the “Christmas City of the North” offers impressive costumed tours through the UNESCO World Heritage Site decked out in the Christmas spirit. Dive deep into the Lübeck of myth and legend. Stroll through the confines of medieval lanes and alleys, slip into enchanted sponsored courtyards where time seems to have stood still. The atmospheric tours will lead you past listed burgher houses which stand as dumb witnesses of their time and tell of courageous merchants, scheming canons and proud ladies under the cover of darkness.
Hear the details of colourful goings-on in the Hanseatic town. Then head to one of the traditional restaurants on the Old Town island where councillors, ship-owners and merchants sat together over freshly brewed “zwickelbier” in the moonlight.
The tour in English will take place on 2nd an 16th at 11.30 am and starts at the Tourist Information Office at the Holsten Gate.
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Price: € 15.00 per Person
A colourful range of gifts awaits you at the heart of Lübeck’s Old Town. Shop or just browse and be inspired, the UNESCO World Heritage site is the perfect location for it. Away from the Christmas markets, in the cross-streets of the Old Town, the feeling of celebration is palpable. Numerous, mostly family-run shops in an atmosphere of historical burgher houses will surprise you with special gift ideas. Here you will find specialist bookshops, second-hand bookshops, goldsmiths, jewellers and perfumeries. There is old and new, beautiful and strange, unique specimens and specialities.
With 120 shops, bars, cafés and restaurants spread over a length of only 517 metres, Hüxstraße is sure to put you in the mood for Christmas.
Equally popular are Fleischhauerstraße which has spruced itself up mightily in the last few months and Glockengießerstraße. A quick detour to the festively decorated Niederegger headquarters is not to be missed. This is where Lübeck marzipan was born. Here you can discover this delicious sweet in almost every flavour. Incidentally, the fir cones and nutcrackers are still made from traditional moulds dating back to 1850.
In times when distance to other people has become the norm, it may seem almost strange to some to suddenly plunge back into the big Christmas hustle and bustle. But there is an alternative: On the following pages you will find three walks that invite you to a more cautious approach to the Christmas Markets. Take a stroll through the decorated and illuminated Old Town and finally enjoy the busy markets in a relaxed way, filled with beautiful impressions.
Pass through the Holsten Gate and turn left before the bridge onto the footpath along the river Trave and enjoy the view of the illuminated trees towards the opposite bank. At the Music and Congress Centre, cross the small bridge to the other side to the museum harbour and turn left here, past the illuminated historic ships. At Drehbrückenplatz you can enjoy the market "Harbour Glow" and on the last November weekends it sure is worth taking a detour to Schuppen 6 for the Craftsmen’s Christmas Market "Lübsche Wiehnacht". Then it's off into the Engelsgrube, which offers a wonderful view directly onto St. Jacob’s Church, especially in the afternoon or evening. Once in Breite Straße, you have direct access to St. Jacob's Church with all its Christmas events, the Maritime Christmas Market at Koberg, Craftsmen’s Christmas Market inside the Hoghehus and the Arts and Craft Market inside the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. Pass the Hoghehus and walk up Kleine Burgstraße, where you can listen to the stories of the talking Fairytale Tree (German only). Further up the street, you'll finally reach the European Hansemuseum where you can end your Christmas stroll in a relaxed and cosy atmosphere.
At the Holsten Gate, turn right into the inconspicuous Wallstraße and shortly afterwards, behind the boules court, turn left onto the footpath opposite the University of Music Lübeck. Here you have a wonderful view of the illuminated Lover’s Bridge and Lübeck's Old Town, especially the sublime tower of St. Peter’s Church. For a good reason this stretch is called "Malerwinkel" (painter's corner) as it offers one of the most picturesque views over the Old Town. Cross the river Trave at the Dankwarts bridge and walk up Dankwartsgrube. At the end of the street, turn right and pass the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The impressive Cathedral stretches out right before you in all its glory. The next street on the left is the famous "Purgatory", but don't be afraid to walk through it. When you reach Mühlenstraße, cross it at the pedestrian lights and walk ahead into St.-Annen-Straße, where it's worth taking a short detour to the St. Anne’s Museum. Before St. Giles’ Church, turn left into Schildstraße and walk straight ahead to Klingenberg. Turn right and walk along Sandstraße into Breite Straße, the main street of Lübeck's Traditional Christmas Markets. In front of the Town Hall you will find the traditional market on the left and the Niederegger headquarters on the right. Continue straight ahead and you will see the two towers of St. Mary's Church on your left, at the foot of which the Historic Christmas Market and the Fairytale Forest await you. Back in Breite Straße, directly opposite St. Mary’s, is the Schrangen with the Starlit Forest market, where you can round off the tour with a hot mulled wine.
This trail is especially suitable for little feet and makes children's hearts beat faster. The tour begins in the Pixy Forest at the European Hansemuseum, which you probably already know. Here you can write down your Christmas wish and hang it on the wishing tree. Now head for Kleine Burgstraße, where the Fairytale Tree tells exciting Christmas stories. A little further on, past the Koberg, there are all kinds of things to discover in St. Jacob's. In the nave of the church, a large pot of “wishing punch” floats on the ceiling, you can write on angel cards and even take on a role in the traditional Christmas story. Now follow the Breite Straße. 24 display cabinets with various Christmassy decorations are waiting for you to admire at the Christmas market huts. Can you find them all? Next you have the chance to explore the second Pixy Forest on Schrangen near St. Mary’s Church. Meanwhile, your parents can enjoy a mulled wine in the adjacent Starlit Forest. If you've had enough pixy dust, just drop by the Fairytale Forest market and let the many fairytales charm you in. Afterwards, it's worth visiting St. Mary’s Church. Do you know the little mouse Rosemary? Let's see if you can find her. Last but not least, directly opposite the entrance to the church is the Town Hall courtyard. The Glass Dome looks like a life-size snow globe, which you are welcome to enter. It's time for a souvenir photo with your family! Have fun!