Christmas and New Year's Eve
The true north is always worth a visit - especially at the end of November and in December, Schleswig-Holstein is unique. After all, where else can you enjoy the pre-Christmas period by the sea or with Scandinavian flair?
"This year we're doing it differently!" - To make your wish for a stress-free pre-Christmas period and relaxed holidays come true, there are a variety of options available to you in the Schleswig-Holstein vacation region to make December just the way you want it. Now is the time to plan Christmas and the days before and after: with or without your family, a break on the North Sea islands, a visit to the festively decorated Christmas markets in the heart of Schleswig-Holstein or perhaps a New Year's Eve celebration on the Baltic Sea beach?
Christmas markets with a special charm against a historic city backdrop, such as in Husum or Lübeck - also known as the "Christmas City of the North" - herald the most wonderful time of the year. If you are on vacation on the North Sea, a trip to the Husum Christmas House will get you in the festive mood. Whether it's the cozy, rustic arts and crafts markets on old estates or the cold sea air mixed with the scent of sweet Christmas cookies and mulled wine - in the true north, no one can escape the magic of Advent.
Even after Christmas, things don't get boring in Schleswig-Holstein. Discover our New Year's Eve highlights on and between the coasts, experience North German New Year traditions and start the new year with a fresh breeze in your hair. Happy holidays!
On the North Sea
Friedrichstadt
Schleswig-Holstein's Little Amsterdam gets Christmassy and cozy on the first weekend of Advent. The Christmas season is ushered in between glowing gabled houses and glittering canals in Friedrichstadt.
Husum
Festively decorated between the impressive house fronts and with a maritime flair, the Husum Christmas market on the market square welcomes its guests. The "Christmas town on the North Sea" offers a varied program with concerts and a visit to the "Husum Christmas House".
Sylt
The island of Sylt offers many opportunities to get into the Christmas spirit with cocoa and mulled wine during the winter season. Find inspiration for your Christmas presents in the Keitum barn or purchase lovingly made Christmas decorations for your own home from the Morsum Christmas market.
Tönning
Experience the Christmas event with handicrafts, a petting zoo and Christmas carols in the historic Packhaus at Tönning harbor. The packing house is a large Advent calendar - the windows and doors are marked with numbers from 1 to 24. Hidden behind them are new program items for the whole family to discover every day.
Between the coasts
Stocksee
At the Gut Stockseehof, around 110 exhibitors offer thousands of gift ideas and everything you need to look forward to Christmas in the warm Christmas market barn, the large Christmas tent and on the estate farm.
Pronstorf
Once a year, the Gut Pronstorf shines in Christmas splendor. A cozy village of huts in the avenue garden makes the hearts of arts and crafts lovers beat faster. A colorful Christmas program is offered for children in the children's barn.
Mölln
When the temperatures drop, the decorated Old Town will once again be a cozy Christmas destination this year. The large, festively decorated Christmas tree in the middle of the old market square gets visitors to the Mölln Christmas market in the mood for the festive season. The last presents can be bought at the stalls and Christmas treats can be sampled. In the warm music hut, you can sing along to your heart's content during the live program.
Lauenburg
The Lauenburg Christmas market at the castle starts in a dreamlike setting directly on the illuminated Lauenburg Castle Square on the 2nd weekend in Advent. Visitors can enjoy classic Christmas market delicacies with a fantastic view of the Elbe.
On the Baltic Sea
Kiel
In Kiel, you can experience the magic of Christmas at several Christmas markets within walking distance of each other. You can start your winter Christmas stroll at the festively decorated traditional market on Holstenplatz. Asmus-Bremer-Platz and the Old Town are the perfect places to nibble on a sweet treat. The cozy Christmas village on Kiel's town hall square attracts visitors from near and far with its airy tightrope act.
Lübeck
Visit Lübeck's famous Christmas markets and experience the magic of Christmas in the atmospheric old town. The Hanseatic city invites you to stroll through traditional and historic Christmas markets - for younger guests there is the fairytale forest at St. Mary's Church and the Christmas Wonderland to discover.
Flensburg
In Germany's northernmost city, the Christmas market impresses with its Scandinavian flair. It stretches from the Südermarkt through the entire pedestrian zone to the Nordermarkt. As you stroll through the alleyways and courtyards, the scent of roasted almonds and delicious baked apples wafts from everywhere.
The year is drawing to a close and in the true north, the new year is welcomed in style. New Year's Eve in Schleswig-Holstein guarantees a very special turn of the year. Whether at a roaring New Year's Eve party or rather cozy in front of the hotel fireplace - slide into the new year with a relaxing Schleswig-Holstein vacation. Historic towns between the coasts, picturesque fishing villages and secluded beaches on the North Sea and Baltic Sea are waiting to be discovered by you. A unique tranquillity settles over the country and blends with the magical anticipation of the New Year. Try typical North German New Year's Eve specialties while you snuggle up with your loved ones in front of the TV when it's "Dinner for one". Forget chimney sweeps, little pigs, four-leaf clovers and horseshoes - you'll find your greatest happiness in the real north, on your Schleswig-Holstein vacation.
New Year's bathing in the sea
On January 1, it's that time again when costumed daredevils plunge into the icy cold waters of the North Sea and Baltic Sea to welcome in the New Year.
Rummelpottlaufen
The Rummelpottlaufen (Low German Rummelpottlopen), in which children in costume go from door to door with a Rummelpott on New Year's Eve, is still widespread in some regions of Schleswig-Holstein. Find out more on the Schleswig-Holstein state website.
Futjes or Förtchen
These are small balls of yeast dough fried in fat with a delicious filling. Dipped in sugar and eaten warm straight from the hand. Before they were available in delicious and varied varieties, they used to be eaten without a filling. Their recipes were passed down from generation to generation within a family. In northern Germany, they conquered the turn of the year as New Year's cookies. And children were also delighted with the home-baked, sweet dough balls at the Rummelpott run on early New Year's Eve. Find out more about this traditional New Year's cookie here.
