This is what the Zurich Christmas markets have to offer
In Zurich, three big Christmas markets invite you to sip mulled wine, while browsing through the market: The "Christmas village" on Sechseläutenplatz, the covered market at the main train station, and oldest Christmas market in the city in Niederdörfli. We'll reveal what the three markets have to offer.
"Christmas village" in Bellevue
Until the 23rd of December, around 100 red Christmas houses will be bustling on Bellevue on Sechseläutenplatz. In this "Christmas village", as the organizers call it, you’ll find mulled wine, international and traditional Swiss delicacies, but also all sorts of design and art shops where you can shop. The exhibitors change every week. So, there’s always something new to discover. In the "Christmas Village" you can drink, browse, eat and relax. If you want to take a chance with some mulled wine while ice skating, you can do that for 6 franks. Young and old can enjoy skating around on the ice field on Sechseläutenplatz. If you do not have skates in the basement, you can rent them on site for CHF 9. For children, it's a little cheaper to rent skates and have fun on the ice. At the weekend and in the evenings, large numbers of people flock to the "Christmas Village", making it a bit tight in the narrow streets between the red huts. So, if you have time, it’s best to stroll through the market stalls at 11 o'clock in the morning and enjoy a Christmas atmosphere at noon.
Opening hours (until 23 December 2016)
- Market: Monday to Saturday 11am - 10pm, Sunday until 8pm
- Ice rink: Monday to Friday from 9am
- Chalet: Monday to Thursday 11am - 11pm, Friday and Saturday until midnight, Sunday until 10pm
Source: zuerich.com
In the streets of Niederdorf
The Christmas market in Niederdörfli in Zurich's old town is the city's oldest Christmas market. The stalls decorate Niederdorfstrasse, Hirschenplatz and the cozy Rosenhof: the inner courtyard is a bit hidden, but therefore the more cozy and pleasant. When strolling through the "Dörfli", as the locals call it, you can marvel at crafts from all over the world and enjoy mulled wine and other delicacies at various small huts. A cozy evening walk during Advent through Niederdorf is definitely a must!
Opening hours (until 23 December 2016)
- Monday to Saturday 11am - 9pm (food stalls until 10pm)
- Sunday 11am - 7pm (food stalls until 8 pm)
Source: zuerich.com
In the station hall at the main station
When the cold winter wind whistles through the streets and over the squares of Zurich, and the mulled wine in the Niederdorf does not warm enough, then it's time to head to the Christmas market in the main station hall. Here in the sheltered hall you can also enjoy lots to eat and nibble on. From Thailand, via Switzerland, to Sweden - international delicacies are definitely available in all shapes and sizes. And don't forget the huge and pompous Swarovski Christmas tree: No Christmas tree in the city sparkles and glitters like this one. If you would like to enjoy a cup of "Glögg" (delectable Swedish mulled wine) under this sea of glitter on the way home, the main train station is the place to be.
Opening hours (until 24 December 2016)
- Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am - 9pm
- Thursday to Saturday 10.30am - 10pm
- Ends Saturday, December 24th at 4:00 pm
Source: zuerich.com
Room for new things
You want to make room for new things in your home? The placeB decision tree shows that the five same options always remain at the end: Keep, throw away, sell, give away or, of course, store in a self storage box. Here you will find an overview of all personal placeB storage rooms in Zurich.
And this is what it looks like in neighboring countries
The statistics portal statista.com estimates that there are around 56 large and small Christmas markets all around Switzerland. We believe there are probably a few more. The largest Christmas market in Switzerland is held for four days every year at the start of December in Bremgarten, Aargau. The more than 100,000 visitors at over 300 market stalls offer traders an incredible number of different crafts, as well as food and drinks. As can be seen in the infographic, the Swiss love Christmas markets even more than our Austrian neighbors. For example, Switzerland has six more big Christmas markets than Austria. According to statistics, Germany has 2,200 small Christmas markets and 34 larger ones. One of the biggest Christmas markets in Germany, for example, is the Christmas market on Marienplatz in Munich.
