Christmas Markets in Zurich: Where and When They Open, and Whether a Guided Walk Is Worth It
4 min read
Most of Zurich’s Christmas markets open on 19 November 2026 and close on 23 or 24 December, and the central ones can be walked in a single evening. The only guided Christmas market walk in Zurich in our listings is the 2-hour guided tour of Zurich’s Christmas markets: take it if you want the stories and a punch in your hand, and go alone if you simply want to browse.
Where the markets are
The dates below come from the Zurich Tourism pages and the organisers’ sites for 2026: Polarzauber and Münsterhof run until 24 December, the others until 23 December. Two organisers publish opening hours. At Polarzauber the stalls are open from 11:00 to 21:00 Sunday to Wednesday and from 11:00 to 22:00 Thursday to Saturday, and the food stands stay open one hour longer. Bellevue Noël is open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00 and on Sunday from 11:00 to 20:00. For the other markets we found no hours for 2026, so check with the organiser before you plan a late stop.
| Market | Dates | What the listing says |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich Main Station (Polarzauber) | 19 Nov – 24 Dec | In the station concourse, with over 100 stalls and a tall tree |
| Münsterhof | 19 Nov – 24 Dec | Local products and Zurich brands among historic facades |
| Bellevue Noël, Sechseläutenplatz | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | In front of the Opera House: stalls, a fondue chalet and a walkable wreath |
| Werdmühleplatz, Singing Christmas Tree | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | Daily choral concerts |
| Europaallee | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | International food, design stalls and a fondue chalet |
| Niederdorf | 19 Nov – 23 Dec | Handicrafts, and a small ice rink for children on Rosenhof |
| Uetliberg Winter Wonderland | 6 Nov 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | Above the city: lit trails and a curling rink; the small Christmas market and candle making at weekends only |
Two details help with planning. Bellevue Noël is the successor to the former Wienachtsdorf from 2026, and Zurich Tourism says the wreath can be entered free of charge but only with a ticket, booked online or bought at the market. The Christmas lights on Bahnhofstrasse are switched on on 19 November at 18:00, the evening most markets open.
The Illuminarium in the courtyard of the Swiss National Museum runs from 5 November to 30 December. Zurich Tourism describes it as a light event rather than a traditional market. According to the organiser it opens daily from 17:00 and is closed on 24 and 25 December; the front part of the courtyard with the bars is free to enter, while the light shows need a ticket.
The guided walk
The walk starts at the Landesmuseum Zürich, Museumstrasse 2, and lasts two hours. The itinerary lists the museum courtyard, the main station, Werdmühleplatz, Münsterhof and Bellevueplatz, 10 to 20 minutes at each. It is led live in English, German or Swedish, and the listing says to check availability for starting times.
The booking page names the guide and a Christmas punch of your choice in an exclusive Christmas mug among the inclusions. One detail to watch: the description says the tour ends at Münsterhof, while the itinerary lists Bellevueplatz as the finish, so confirm the end point before you book. The tour is listed as not suitable for wheelchair users, visually impaired people, babies under one year and people over 95, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before the start.
It starts at €70.66. The rating of 3.5 rests on very few reviews so far (number of reviews: 10), so read the comments before you book.
Check dates and prices for the Christmas markets walk
On your own
The tour’s route is a good template. Start at the Landesmuseum, which is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays except 21 and 28 December; its Christmas & Cribs exhibition runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and on 24 December it closes at 14:00. Then go to the main station, on to Werdmühleplatz for the choir, through the Old Town to Münsterhof, and finish at Bellevue Noël for fondue or the wreath.
Our Zurich Old Town guide covers the same streets by day, and the guided city tours category lists every walk and bus option.
Which to choose
Take the guided walk if it is your first evening in Zurich, you want the history behind the squares and the punch matters to you. Walk it yourself if you prefer to linger at the stalls you like, or if you want the markets that the tour does not visit, such as Europaallee, Niederdorf or the Uetliberg.
