Christmas at Lake Constance 

Four Countries, One Lake, Endless Christmas

Limitless christmas at Lake Constance

Lake Constance is a Christmas paradise, with traditions, customs and culinary delights from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein! Festively decorated cities in all four countries illuminate the shores. The many Christmas markets lure visitors lakeside, to our beloved islands, between snowy mountain peaks and in baroque castles. The lake that carries the sugary scents of waffles and cinnamon is the same on which white passenger ships sail back and forth connecting visitors to different Christmas markets around the Bodensee. Regional hotels offer Christmas specials, fulfilling your winter holiday wishes in the four-country region.

Christmas is a special time for enjoyment ...

… on that we can all agree. As spiced mulled wine fills the crisp air, the village people are busy cooking and baking your favorite holiday treats.

And despite the close proximity of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein to each other, each country is proud of their own traditional Christmas specialties, so it’s a good idea to visit as many holiday markets and festivities as you can!

Kässpätzle, Kässpatzn, Käsknöpfle, Chäschnöpfli ...
they all mean the same thing … more Cheese Dumplings, please! The delicious dish made from flour, fresh eggs, herbs and cheese has a different name on almost every Christmas market on Lake Constance.

Why is that? Well, Cheese Spaetzle is not just cheese spaetzle! In each country, this typical dish is prepared a bit differently: In Liechtenstein, the Käsknöpfle are served with fresh applesauce. In Switzerland and Austria, a blend of three or four mountain cheeses plays an important role in this recipe topped with crispy onions. And the German side is particularly proud of their Swabian spaetzle. Order up and dig in!

Specialities Everyone Must Try!

  • Germany: Schupfnudeln (finger-shaped potato dumplings), Dinnele (thin-crust flatbreads with different savory toppings) and Winzerglühwein (hot mulled wine)
     
  • Austria: Heiße Maroni (hot, roasted chestnuts served streetside in a paper cone), Käseknödel (a soft cheese dumpling), Glühmost (a delicious hot apple cider drink) and Riebel (this dish is comfort food to the core, served as a savory or sweet polenta dish that’s also vegetarian)
     
  • Switzerland: Biber from St. Gallen (gingerbread treats made from honey and filled with marzipan), Raclette and Fondue, Nusstorte (nut cake, looking more like a pie with a dense nutty filling and a buttery, flaky crust) and Glühbier „Heißer Schütz“  (from St. Gallen is hot spiced beer)
     
  • The Principality of Liechtenstein: Käsknöpfle mit Apfelmus (cheese dumplings with apple sauce), Ribel (a warm polenta dish with milk, cream, sugar or also made with sour cheese) and Tatsch mit Kompott (mini pancakes served with warm fruit)

Suggested Christmas Markets

With 273 kilometers of shoreline and four countries, Lake Constance offers more than enough
opportunities for Christmas, Advent and Christ-Child markets.

Interactive Map

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Weihnachtliche Stimmung auf der Marktstätte | © MTK | Leo Leister

Lakeside Christmas Market

28. November until 23. December

1.000.000 lights, Christmas ship with 360° panorama bar, around 150 stalls and much more: Constance Winter Magic at the largest Christmas market in the four-country region of Lake Constance....

Cozy Christmas lights | © TSR GmbH/Kuhnle+Knödler

Advent at the 'Konzertsegel'

05. December until 08. December

The Radolfzell Christmas market takes place in an idyllic setting in the old town around the market square. On the second weekend in Advent, this market delights visitors with an exquisite range of...

St. Gallen – The City of Stars

St. Gallen – The City of Stars

30. November 2023 until 06. January 2024

During Advent, St. Gallen once again becomes the atmospheric "Swiss City of the Stars". Around 700 stars are shining on the night sky of St.Gallen during advent, bathing it in a magical light.

Weihnachten im Schloss | © © Herbert Neidhardt

Christmas Castle Tettnang

29. November until 08. December

The handicrafts and delicious treats, choral music and brass concerts all contribute to the festive atmosphere of Tettnang's Christmas Market at the New Castle on the first and second weekends of...

Lake Constance Christmas in Friedrichshafen

Bodensee-Weihnacht Friedrichshafen

29. November until 22. December

For 27 days, festive magic fills the cosy village of christmas market cabins in Friedrichshafen. With its life-size crib and panoramic view over the lake, it is the ideal place to stroll, enjoying...

The Princely Christmas Market in Vaduz

The Princely Christmas Market in Vaduz

09. December until 10. December

Twinkling Christmas lights, a great range of products and smiling faces in the midst of a beautiful landscape: that's what you can see at the Vaduz Christmas Market, which is worth a visit for...

Christmas Markets around Lake Constance

Christmas Markets dates 2023

Nov. 10th - Jan. 7rd 24 ÜB ON ICE - Ice skating rink 
Nov. 15th - Dec. 23rd Christmas Market Bregenz  (AT)
Nov. 23rd - Dec. 17th Harbour christmas Lindau (DE) 
Nov. 30th - Dec. 23nd Lakeside Christmas Market Constance (DE)
Nov. 24th - Dec. 23rd Christkindlemarket Dornbirn (AT)
Nov. 25th Christmas Market Tannzapfenland, Oberwangen (CH)
Nov. 25th Christmas Market Stettfurt (CH)
Nov. 30th - Dec. 23nd Lake Constance-Christmas, Friedrichshafen (DE)
Nov. 21th -  Jan 7th 2024 Christmas Garden Insel Mainau (DE)
Dec. 2th Advent Magic in Neukirch (DE) 
Nov. 30th - Dec. 24th St.Galler Christkindlimarket on the Gallussquare (CH)
Nov. 30th - Dec. 24th Christmas Market St.Gallen (CH)
Dec. 1th - 2nd Dec. Christmas Market Meersburg (DE) 
Dec. 1th - 2nd Dec. Advent Market Ekkharthof, Lengwil (CH)
Dec. 1st - Dec. 2nd Christmas Market Kressbronn (DE) 
Dec. 1st - Dec. 3nd Advent Market Bischoffszell (CH)
Dec. 1st - Dec. 3nd Advent Market Macardo, Amlikon-Bissegg (CH)
Nov. 25th - Nov. 27th
Dec. 2nd - Dec. 4th
Christmas in the castle, Tettnang (DE) 
TBA. Christmas Market Feldkirch (AT)
TBA. Advent Magic  Wasserburg (DE) 
Dec. 2nd Christkindlmarket Arbon (CH)
Dec. 2nd Christmas Market Rickenbach (CH)
Dec. 2nd Advent trips to the Constance Christmas Market (DE)

 

Dec. 2nd Nicolaus Market Schaan (FL)
Dec. 2nd - Dec. 3rd Castle Christmas Meßkirch (DE)
Dec. 3rd Advent Market Hagnau (DE)
Dec. 6th - Jan. 2nd Märlistadt Stein a. Rhein (CH)
TBA. Winter Magic Überlingen (DE)
Dec. 7th - Dec. 10th Christkindlemarket Radolfzell (DE)
Dec. 8th - Dec. 10th Medieval Christmas Market in the castle courtyard, Markdorf (DE)

Dec. 7th - Dec. 10th

Christmas Market Kreuzlingen (CH)
TBA. Christmas Market Northern Lights, Altnau (CH)
TBA. Christmas Market Amriswil (CH)
Dec. 2th - Dec. 3th Chlaus Market Romanshorn (CH)
Dec. 3th Christmas Market Steckborn (CH)
Dec. 07th - Dec. 17th Christmas Market Überlingen (DE)
Dec. 09th - Dec.10th Advent Market Weinfelden (CH)
Dec. 09th - Dec.10th Christmas Market Vaduz (FL) 
Dec. 15th - Dec.17th Christmas Market Frauenfeld (CH)
Dec. 16th - Dec.17th Christmas Market on the town hall square, Immenstaad (DE)
Dec. 23th Christmas Magic Malbun (FL)

Christmas ships 

Nov. 24th - Dec. 17th (Do-So) Christmas ships of the Vorarlberg Lines (AT/DE) 

Nov. 26th - Dec. 18th           (Fr - So)

Winter round trips from the ports of Lindau & Constance (DE)

The details of the events are without guarantee