Markets by theme
Markets held in a castle courtyard, in the grounds of a palace or on the square in front of it, not just near a castle somewhere in view.
13 cities with a castle or palace market
13 of the market cities we cover hold a Christmas market in a castle courtyard or a palace forecourt, not just with a castle somewhere in the view. Regensburg’s Schloss Thurn und Taxis is the grandest, and in Montreux you can do your Christmas shopping inside Chillon Castle.
Best Index score first. Open them on the map →
| Market | The castle or palace | Market open | Index |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Markets on the forecourts of Schönbrunn and the Upper Belvedere. | 6 Nov – 6 Jan | 8.6 |
 Dresden Mittelalter-Weihnacht im Stallhof | The market is inside the Stallhof courtyard of the Residenzschloss, Dresden Castle. | 25 Nov – 6 Jan | 8.4 |
| A ticketed market in the inner courtyard of Schloss St. Emmeram, the Thurn und Taxis palace. | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | 8.0 |
 Salzburg Festungsadvent (Hohensalzburg Fortress); Hellbrunner Adventzauber (Hellbrunn Palace) | Two markets on castle and palace grounds, in the courtyard of Hohensalzburg Fortress and at Hellbrunn Palace. | 19 Nov – 6 Jan | 7.9 |
 Düsseldorf Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Benrath | A weekend market in front of Benrath Palace. | 19 Nov – 30 Dec | 7.8 |
 Frankfurt Höchster Weihnachtsmarkt (Schlossplatz, Höchst) | A small district market beside the Höchster Schloss, on one weekend only, 28 and 29 November 2026. | 23 Nov – 22 Dec | 7.8 |
 Graz Aufsteirern-Weihnachtsmarkt am Schlossberg | The market spreads through the casemates of the old Schlossberg fortress and round the Liesl bell tower. | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.8 |
 Stuttgart Schlossplatz and the Neues Schloss | Part of the main market sits on the palace square, and the big wheel turns in the Neues Schloss courtyard. | 25 Nov – 23 Dec | 7.8 |
 Berlin Weihnachtsmarkt am Schloss Charlottenburg | The market fills the forecourt of Charlottenburg Palace, and there’s a winter market in the Humboldt Forum courtyard too. | 13 Nov – 3 Jan | 7.7 |
 Hamburg Bergedorfer Weihnachtsmarkt (Schlosswiese at Schloss Bergedorf) | The Bergedorf market runs from the Alte Holstenstraße into the castle gardens and ends on the meadow in front of Schloss Bergedorf. | 23 Nov – 1 Jan | 7.6 |
 | A medieval Christmas market inside the halls and courtyards of Chillon Castle, part of Montreux Noël. | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.5 |
 Munich Weihnachtsdorf im Kaiserhof der Residenz | A Christmas village in the Kaiserhof courtyard of the Munich Residenz. | 20 Nov – 24 Dec | 7.4 |
 Gothenburg Tjolöholm Castle and Gunnebo House (day trips) | A Tudor-style castle market with choirs and a fire show, and a country-house market in Mölndal, both on November and early December weekends. | 14 Nov – 30 Dec | 6.6 |
The ones where you’re actually inside the walls.
Germany · Romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt auf Schloss Thurn und Taxis
The Romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt fills the inner courtyard of Schloss Thurn und Taxis, the princely family’s palace. It’s ticketed, and it’s worth every cent.
Switzerland · Noël Médiéval au Château de Chillon
Noël Médiéval puts a medieval Christmas market inside the halls and courtyards of Chillon Castle, with craftspeople, musicians and animals, on the lake just outside Montreux.
Austria · Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market; K&K Christmas Market at Belvedere Palace
Two palaces, two markets. One fills the forecourt of Schönbrunn, and the other sits in front of the Upper Belvedere.
