The main Lucerne Christmas market, the Lozärner Wiehnachtsmärt on Franziskanerplatz, runs from Thursday 3 to Monday 21 December 2026. It opens daily at 11:00; the goods stalls close at 20:00 and the food stalls at 21:00, and on the last day everything closes at 19:00. It is not the only one. Rudolfs Weihnacht in the Inseli-Park by the lake starts earlier, on 20 November, and runs to 23 December, and the free ice rink on Europaplatz in front of the KKL is open from 20 November 2026 to 1 January 2027. Add the Advent craft market on Weinmarkt, the international Christmas forum on Kapellplatz and a carol procession through the old town, and you have enough for a full weekend.
Lucerne's markets are small compared with those in Basel or Zurich, and all of them are within about ten minutes' walk of the railway station. This guide covers each one with its 2026 dates and hours, then the events around them and the markets on the lake.
Lucerne Christmas markets 2026 at a glance
- Lozärner Wiehnachtsmärt, Franziskanerplatz: 3 to 21 December
- Rudolfs Weihnacht, Inseli-Park: 20 November to 23 December
- Eiszauber ice rink, Europaplatz: 20 November 2026 to 1 January 2027
- Handwerksmarkt (craft market), Weinmarkt: 5, 8, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December
- Venite International Christmas Forum, Kapellplatz: 17 to 20 December
- Hotel Schweizerhof Christmas market: on Advent Sundays
The Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower on the Reuss after snow, on Christmas Day. Image: Ruchira.biswas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Lozärner Wiehnachtsmärt on Franziskanerplatz
The city's traditional market fills Franziskanerplatz, the square in front of the Franciscan church (Franziskanerkirche) in the Kleinstadt, the part of the old town on the south bank of the Reuss. It is a few minutes' walk from the shopping streets but far quieter. 2026 is its 18th edition, and the organiser, IG Luzerner Herbstmesse und Märkte, counts around 70 decorated stalls.
The Franciscan church in Lucerne, whose square hosts the city's main Christmas market. Image: MHM55, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The centrepiece is an Advent wreath more than three metres across, laid on the Franziskanerbrunnen, the fountain in the middle of the square. The organisers call it the largest in Central Switzerland. It carries four candles each about a metre high and hundreds of lights and baubles. Almost every day regional choirs, brass groups and ensembles perform on a stage by the fountain, and the church itself holds Advent services, short musical meditations and concerts during the market. Mulled wine comes in a souvenir cup.
Practical info: Franziskanerplatz, Kleinstadt, Lucerne. 3 to 21 December 2026. Daily from 11:00; goods stalls until 20:00, food stalls until 21:00; last day until 19:00. The organiser had not yet marked the hours as confirmed for 2026 when this guide was written, so check before you go. About 10 minutes' walk from the station.
Rudolfs Weihnacht in the Inseli-Park
The Inseli-Park is the small park on the lakeshore beside the railway station. From 20 November to 23 December 2026 it holds Rudolfs Weihnacht, a market of more than 50 huts, bars and food trucks. The exhibitors change every week, and at weekends a mini-market gives space to small producers from the region. There is a fondue chalet, a music chalet with a fireplace by day and DJ sets in the evening, and heated outdoor pavilions. Children get a yurt with storytellers, and the programme includes stilt walkers, concerts, fire shows and a visit from the Samichlaus, the Swiss St Nicholas.
Practical info: Inseli-Park (Werftsteg), next to Lucerne station. Opens Friday 20 November 2026 at 17:00 and closes Wednesday 23 December at 22:00. Monday to Saturday 11:00 to 22:00, Sunday 11:00 to 20:00. On weekdays only half the market is open between 11:00 and 16:00. Fondue chalet: Monday to Friday 17:00 to 23:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:30 to 23:00; table reservations are open. Music chalet: Monday to Friday 16:00 to midnight, Saturday and Sunday 11:00 to midnight.
Ice skating at Eiszauber on Europaplatz
Eiszauber (Ice Magic) puts an ice rink of about 500 square metres on Europaplatz, the forecourt of the KKL culture and convention centre, with the lake on one side. Lucerne Tourism lists it from 20 November 2026 to 1 January 2027. Skating is free; skates, suitable shoes and skating aids can be hired on site, and there is support on the ice for wheelchair users. Around the rink there are food stands, bars, curling, a stage with free concerts, and the Zauber Chalet, which seats up to 120 people for fondue and raclette.
Practical info: Europaplatz, by the KKL and next to the station. Rink daily 11:30 to 22:00, bars 11:30 to 23:00. Food stands Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 16:00 to 22:00; Wednesday and Saturday 11:30 to 22:00; Sunday 11:30 to 21:00. Payment is cashless only. The organiser notes that the event depends on its permit and that the rink can close at short notice in bad weather.
The Chapel Bridge lit at dusk at the end of December. Image: David Lienhard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Advent opening and the evening concerts
Lucerne starts Advent on Saturday 21 November 2026 at 17:00 on Europaplatz with the Lozärner Adväntseröffnig: live music, ice-skating shows, a group of Santa Clauses, the Christmas Train, and the lighting of the big Christmas tree. Admission is free. Through Advent, free after-work concerts (Fyrobig-Adväntskonzärt) are held on the Europaplatz stage on selected evenings from Thursday to Sunday. The detailed programme for both had not been published when this guide was written.
The Reuss riverfront with Christmas lights, looking towards the Chapel Bridge. Image: David Lienhard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Advent craft market on Weinmarkt
Weinmarkt, the old town square with painted guild-house façades, holds Lucerne's craft market (Handwerksmarkt) through the year, with extra Advent dates in December. Everything sold is handmade and non-food: art, design, jewellery, accessories, paper goods and gifts.
Painted façades on Weinmarkt, where the Advent craft market is held. Image: Zairon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Practical info: Weinmarkt, old town. 2026 Advent dates: Saturday 5 December 8:00 to 17:00; Tuesday 8 December (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) 10:00 to 18:00; Saturday 12 December 8:00 to 17:00; Sunday 13 December 10:00 to 18:00; Saturday 19 December 8:00 to 17:00; Sunday 20 December 10:00 to 18:00.
Venite: the International Christmas Forum on Kapellplatz
For four days before Christmas, from 17 to 20 December 2026, Kapellplatz, the square at the old-town end of the Chapel Bridge, hosts Venite, an international Christmas market. Stalls serve food from different countries, and there are concerts on the square and in St Peter's Chapel. Daily hours for 2026 had not been published when this guide was written.
Other markets in the city
- Hotel Schweizerhof Christmas market: on Advent Sundays, about 60 exhibitors sell handmade gifts in wood, textiles, ceramics, metal and paper in the hotel's historic halls on Schweizerhofquai. Check the hotel's website for the 2026 dates.
- Bruchweihnachten: Christmas in the Bruch quarter, west of the old town, with a market, shops selling handmade gifts and a children's programme. An electric tuk-tuk runs between the stops.
- Christmas tree market: the city sells Swiss-grown trees on Schweizerhofquai, by the lake.
Christmas traditions: Sternsingen and the Christmas Train
On Saturday 19 December 2026 the Luzerner Spielleute lead the Sternsingen, a lantern procession of about 100 people through the old town. An Advent-wreath bearer and a choir go first, followed by the star, the Three Kings and their attendants, and the Holy Family with shepherds and sheep. It sets off from Mariahilfgasse and stops on Mühleplatz, Kornmarkt and Jesuitenplatz, where a short nativity play is performed while the choir sings carols. The group revived the custom in 1938. It is free to watch.
"A Christmas Carol in Lucerne", painted by Hans Bachmann in 1887. Image: Hans Bachmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Christmas Train Luzern is a decorated road train that takes visitors on a city tour of about 60 minutes. It runs from 22 November to 27 December 2026. Individual tickets are sold through Lucerne Tourism's online shop; trips can be cancelled in severe weather.
Can you go to a Christmas concert in Lucerne?
Yes, and several are free: the after-work concerts on the Europaplatz stage, the choirs and brass groups at the Franziskanerplatz market, the concerts in the Franziskanerkirche during the market, and the concerts at Venite on Kapellplatz and in St Peter's Chapel. For ticketed Christmas concerts, check the programmes of the city's concert halls and churches, which are published in the autumn.
A Christmas concert with choir and orchestra in Lucerne. Image: Lisa8217, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Christmas markets around Lake Lucerne
Lucerne Tourism also lists markets in Brunnen (Weihnachtsmarkt am See), Vitznau, Andermatt, Eich and at Wyher Castle in Ettiswil, but most had not published 2026 dates when this guide was written. Einsiedeln, in front of the Benedictine monastery, runs from 27 November to 6 December 2026. On the shore of the lake, Küssnacht am Rigi and Weggis hold Klausjagen, the noisy St Nicholas processions with bells and lit-up headdresses; check Lucerne Tourism's event pages for the 2026 dates.
Zurich is under an hour away by train and has half a dozen markets from 19 November; see our guide to the Zurich Christmas markets.
Tips for visiting
- Best dates: Between 3 and 21 December, when the Franziskanerplatz market overlaps with Rudolfs Weihnacht and the ice rink. The weekend of 19 and 20 December has the most going on at once: the craft market, Venite and the Sternsingen.
- Best time: Weekday evenings are calmer than Saturdays. Remember that only half of Rudolfs Weihnacht is open on weekday mornings.
- A short route: From the station, walk to the Inseli-Park and Europaplatz, then cross the Reuss on the Chapel Bridge to Kapellplatz and Weinmarkt, and come back over the river to Franziskanerplatz. Without stops it takes about half an hour.
- Getting there: Lucerne station has direct trains from Zurich, Bern and Basel. All the markets are on foot from the station.
- Payment: Switzerland uses Swiss francs. The ice rink is cashless only; carry a card and some cash.
- Dates: The dates and hours above come from Lucerne Tourism and the organisers' websites. Check them again before you travel, as details can change.
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