Chicago Christkindlmarket is a beloved holiday tradition that enchants tourists and locals alike. This splendid pop-up transports visitors to a German-inspired Christmas market while physically remaining in the heart of downtown Chicago. The open-air market smells of roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and traditional potato pancakes. It will be impossible to head to Christkindlmarket without having one of many German treats captivate you.
With rows of wooden stalls, visitors have a wide array of food to choose from, as well as ornaments and gifts to buy for their families. It is a perfect location for those needing to get their last-minute holiday shopping in and makes for a great place to grab dinner and dessert.
The lack of an entrance fee means the market is affordable and accessible to all, so there is no need to feel pressured to buy anything extra while exploring. Festive, warm, and bright, the Chicago Christkindlmarket is a perfect winter activity in Chicago. Enjoy a celebratory evening by exploring the Chicago Christkindlmarket and feel as though you are discovering Germany and beyond.
What to Buy at Chicago Christkindlmarket
Chicago Christkindlmarket is a wonderful place to eat, drink, shop, and celebrate the holidays. If there’s anyone left on your list to buy gifts for, one of the 50+ stalls will have the perfect present for under the tree.
- Worldwide Artisans – One of the most unique aspects of Chicago Christkindlmarket is its wide array of international vendors. Small artisans from all over the world come to Chicago to sell their handmade crafts during the Christmas season.
Our favorite stalls include beer steins from Germany, wooden ornaments from Austria, and wool clothing from Nepal, Ecuador, and Peru. You will also find handmade gifts from Ukraine, mouth-blown ornaments from Poland, and cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest.
Each vendor brings warmth and love for their craft and will happily answer any questions you may have about their products. Chicago Christkindlmarket is a fantastic place to support small and family-owned businesses from around the world. Plus, these gifts are far more unique than anything you will find on Amazon!
- Ornament Tent – Visit one of Christkindlmarket’s indoor tents for a jaw-dropping selection of ornaments. From tiny glass snowflakes to heftier Santa statues, the ornament tent is the best place to visit if you are missing any holiday decorations at home. Make sure to keep your backpack close to you to avoid knocking down $300 glass Christmas trees. Your wallet will thank you for this extra precaution.
- Chicago Teahouse – To support a company closer to home, check out Chicago Teahouse, a female-owned and operated business with picture-perfect tea gift boxes. The tea sommelier is incredibly knowledgeable and will help you pick out the best set for the tea lover in your family.
What to Eat in Chicago Christkindlmarket
Chicago Christkindlmarket boasts warm German food which will keep you toasty on the windiest of Chicago nights. Make sure to arrive with an empty stomach to fully enjoy the hearty meals of meat and potatoes. While it can be overwhelming to choose between all of the mouth-watering food stands, keep an eye out for our favorites:
- Pretzel – A beer, a pretzel, and a dash of mustard is a necessary German experience to have at the Christmas Market. Grab a warm pretzel the size of your head and split it with a few friends. Topped with the perfect amount of salt, the German pretzel is the best snack.
- Potato Pancakes – Traditionally served with apple sauce, the potato pancakes at Chicago Christkindlmarket are a perfect blend of sweet and savory, making it a delectable appetizer.
- Alpine Raclette – This cheese sandwich may not be on everyone’s culinary bucket list (you can smell the Alpine cheese from miles away), but adventurous eaters should certainly try this warm and hearty baguette.
- Schnitzel Sandwich – Meat lovers must try the schnitzel sandwich, a breaded slice of meat in a roll, complete with mustard and sauerkraut. It makes for a hearty dinner and the perfect main dish during your culinary exploration of the market.
- Currywurst with Fries – Readers who have visited Berlin know the magic of the currywurst sausage, topped with Indian spices, on top of a bed of French fries. DönerMen’s Christkindlmarket stand delivers a perfect currywurst selection.
- Apple Crepe – For dessert, don’t forget to get a crepe, complete with apple sauce, whipped cream, and powdered sugar. It’s the perfect dessert to share with your Christkindlmarket exploration buddy, but if you keep it all for yourself, we won’t tell.
- Roasted Nuts – For more dessert options, grab a paper cone filled with roasted nuts. This sugar-coated delight can come in the form of cashews, walnuts, chestnuts, or a mix of all. Do be warned – the nuts are a lot more filling than they look! A smaller cone will certainly do if you are planning on eating more at the market.
What to Drink in Chicago Christkindlmarket
It wouldn’t be a festive evening without a warm drink (with some alcohol in it). Christkindlmarket has drink options for all ages, and best yet, most come in a special mug.
- Hot Chocolate – Christkindlmarket is famous for its souvenir mugs, with a new iconic design every year. Seasoned market-goers have a shelf in their kitchen dedicated to the collection of souvenir mugs! Grab a $12 mug of piping hot chocolate with whipped cream, and while you will definitely enjoy the cocoa beverage, the real treat will be your beautiful new mug.
- Nürnberger Glühwein – Wine lovers, rejoice! If you are dying to get a souvenir mug but don’t fancy a cup of sweet hot chocolate, try out glühwein, a German hot spiced wine. Christkindlmarket offers the traditional flavor as well as an apple-cinnamon variety that craftily combines the flavors of wine and warm apple cider.
- Beer – It wouldn’t be a German-inspired Christmas market without ample supplies of imported beer. Luckily, Christkindlmarket has plentiful stalls offering German beer in large glass pints, allowing visitors to walk around the market with their favorite Weissbier.
Or, if you’re feeling a bit chilly, head inside to the covered beer tent to enjoy your drink in a warm Oktoberfest-style shelter. Be warned, however – once inside the beer tent, you may be subject to banter from the German band, and you may be probed for song suggestions!
How to Get to Chicago Christkindlmarket
The Christmas market is located in Daley Plaza, in the heart of Chicago’s Loop. It is flanked by Randolph Street on the North, Washington on the South, Clark on the West, and Dearborn on the East. Daley Plaza is incredibly unique, with a 50-foot untitled steel structure by Picasso, which will of course watch over you during your exploration of the market.
Given the central location of Chicago Christkindlmarket, we highly recommend that you leave your car at home, as parking in the area will be a nightmare. The Loop is also home to Chicago’s central business district, and workers will be getting out of the office at the exact time that you will want to enter the market.
For transport options, grab an Uber to 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, or get off at the Clark/Lake stop via the Blue, Brown, Green, Pink, Orange, and Purple Lines. Ideally, try to avoid the bus, as evening traffic in the Loop leads to immense street clogs.
Final Tips for Chicago Christkindlmarket
Don’t forget to get to the market early! Christkindlmarket is open daily from 11 am to 8 pm (9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays). While the area is most festive at night when the Christmas lights have their full effect, crowds are lesser right at sundown. For the best vibes and the least amount of people, head to the market around 4:30 pm. Grab a glass of mulled wine, beer, or hot chocolate, and enjoy a pre-dinner drink.
As an extra tip, visitors are allowed to enter Christkindlmarket with large bags. Therefore, don’t be afraid to stop by after a long day exploring the city or working hard at the office. There is no need to check your bag or leave it in a specialized locker. Better yet, this gives you extra space to store all of the fantastic presents that you will buy.
Finally, while there is another market in Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville, there are fewer vendors and food options. Wrigleyville is a smaller, more family-friendly location, but the Daley Plaza Market offers the best festive cheer and makes for a fantastic holiday. Enjoy this time of year at Chicago Christkindlmarket.
For more adventures, here are other destinations to check out during your travels.
For more similar articles, check out my recommendations below:
- The Ultimate Guide to the Birmingham Christmas Market
- A Guide to Visiting the Christmas Markets in Hamburg
Like it? Pin it!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this website are “affiliate links.” This means that if you click on the link and do a purchase, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost for you. This helps me keep my website running and continue to share my travelling knowledge with you. I thank you for booking your flights or hotels using the links on my website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
