There's just a couple of weeks to go until the Birmingham German Christmas Market reopens for 2023 in the city centre. The iconic festive market will return along New Street and Victoria Square.
There will be lots of food, drink, craft and gift stalls around Birmingham city centre in the run-up to Christmas. Whether you're meeting up with friends for a Christmas drink, or looking to pick up a gift for loved ones, there will be something for everyone to get into festive spirit.
It's the place to go to watch crepes and waffles being cooked before your eyes, sip Gluhwein, German beer and hot chocolate or tease your tastebuds with garlic bread laced with salami or Bratwursts.
Read more: Christmas 2023 events you'll want to book tickets for now around Birmingham
Poll: Will you be visiting the Birmingham German Christmas Market in 2023?
If you're thinking of visiting the market, also known as the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, we've put together this guide to give you all the information you need, from dates and opening hours to parking, hotels and train travel. This article will be regularly updated throughout the build-up and run of the Birmingham German Christmas Market to bring you the latest information. Updated November 2, 2023.
What are the 2023 dates for the Birmingham German Market?
Last year in 2022, the market opened on November 3 and closed on December 24. However, this year we will get to experience the Birmingham German Christmas Market for an extra day!
The dates for 2023 have been announced as Thursday, November 2, to Sunday, December 24. Which means we'll get just over seven weeks, or 53 days, to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
The German Market opened at 11am on November 2 and you can find our live coverage of the day here. The market is expected to close for 2023 on Christmas Eve, December 24, at 9pm.
Where is the German Christmas Market in Birmingham?
The heart of the German Market is in and around Victoria Square. You'll find the market right outside the Council House and Town Hall and close to the Museum and Art Gallery.
It also normally stretches all the way down New Street towards the world's biggest Primark and the Bullring.
It's easy to reach on foot from Birmingham New Street Station and Birmingham Snow Hill Station plus there are plenty of nearby car parks if you choose to drive into the city instead.
What are the opening times of the Birmingham German Market?
There's a big change with the opening hours for the 2023 Birmingham German Christmas Market - as it won't be standard opening hours every day, compared to last year's daily 10am to 9pm hours.
The opening times are as follows:
- Mondays to Thursdays - 11am to 9pm
- Fridays - 11am to 9.30pm
- Saturdays - 10am to 9.30pm
- Sundays - 10am to 9pm
The one variation from the opening hours is on Remembrance Sunday, which this year falls on Sunday, November 12. On this day, the market will open at 1pm and then close at the normal Sunday time of 9pm. The later opening time allows for the Remembrance service and parade in the city centre.
When is the best time to visit the Birmingham German Market?
It all depends on preference - and if you prefer visiting the market during a quieter time, or enjoy the hustle and bustle when it gets extremely busy. The general advice is that Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days to attend the market - so if you enjoy a bustling festive atmosphere, go at the weekend.
But if you’d rather be there when it’s quieter so you can browse, eat and drink comfortably in a more relaxed setting, then visit on a weekday instead.
The Christmas Market can also get particularly busy from 12pm to 2pm on weekdays, as city workers visit on their lunch break. It experiences a second busy spell after 5pm on weekday evenings, up until about 7.30pm, as people stop for a drink and a bite to eat on their way home from work in the city centre.
Will you be visiting the Birmingham German Market this year?
Will you be going to visit the Birmingham German Market during its run this year? Or will you give it a miss this year? Let us know in our poll. If you can't use the poll below, click here.
Price guide for the Birmingham German Market
In 2022 we saw an increase on prices at the Birmingham German Christmas Market. In 2022, the price for a bratwurst and a beer combined was £12.50 - up £2.50 from the previous year.
However, this year it looks like most prices have stayed the same! The beer and sausage combo will be again £12.50.
A double pint will set visitors back £12.50, while gluhwein is £6 a glass. A hot chocolate is £5, while luxury hot chocolates with Baileys, rum, Amaretto or Jagermeister is £7.
A half-metre bratwurst is £8. While garlic bread is back on the menu - starting from £4. Sweet treats such as churros start from £4.50 and Berliner-filled donuts are 4 in a box for £10.
You can find our full price guide for the 2023 German Market here.
'One beer each rule'
In the run-up to the opening of the German Market, eagle eyes have spotted new signs on some stalls that you might want to take into consideration when visiting.
As well as advising of a Challenge 25 rule for buying alcoholic drinks, the signage says there's a 'one drink per person' rule, accompanied by an illustration of Santa pointing at the statement for emphasis. The sign adds the plan is to stop those under the age of 18 getting drinks.
The sign reads: "One drink per person. We ask for your understanding that we are only allowed to sell one alcoholic drink per person. This is part of a campaign to ensure that alcoholic drinks are not being bought for market visitors who are underage."
Though there was some confusion over whether or not the rule is "new" - council bosses have insisted the measures have been in place for a decade. They said bosses had been implementing the "one beer only" rule in conjunction with Challenge 25 - where someone who looks under 25 will be asked for proof that they are over 18 - for around ten years.
A council source said: "One drink per person works in a very simple way. Staff quite simply need to be able to see who the drinks are going to."
Where to stay and best hotels near the German Market
If you're planning a festive break in Birmingham and want to stay overnight, there are plenty of great hotels to choose from. Some of the most luxurious hotels in the city include the Radisson Blu, Malmaison, Hotel du Vin and Park Regis.
However, there are plenty of budget options from around £60 a night. These include the Travelodge Central, Novotel and Hotel Ibis. You can find a selection of hotels through sites such as Booking.com and Hotels.com.
Visitors could also look at renting an Airbnb or apartment. Take a look at our guide to the best hotels near Birmingham German Market.
Where to park
Visitors choosing to drive to the Birmingham German Christmas Market must remember they will need to pay for the Clean Air Zone charges. It costs £8 a day to travel on the ring road around the city centre.
Once in the city centre, there are plenty of options for parking which range in prices. The closest is the Town Hall Car Park on Brunel Street (B1 1TA) which is just minutes from the market.
If you head to Bullring, it's around a 10 to 15 minute walk to the German Market. You can also park at Snow Hill Station car park, which is around a 12 minutes walk.
And the cheapest is probably the NCP on the High Street in Dale End (B4 7LN). Check out all the main city centre parking options for the German Market here, or our bumper city centre parking guide can be found here.
How to get to the Birmingham German Christmas Market by train
You can easily reach the Birmingham German Christmas Market from the city centre's three train stations - New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill. Trains run regularly into the city centre and you can find the latest information, times and prices on Trainline's website, here.
It only takes around five minutes to walk to Victoria Square from Birmingham New Street Station. Just exit the station near the Midland Metro tram stop in Stephenson Street and go up Lower Temple Street and into New Street where you will see the market stalls. Alternatively, you can exit down the big set of steps (rather than going up into Grand Central), then turn right up Hill Street and onto Victoria Square.
It's an easy walk down Colmore Row to reach Victoria Square from Birmingham Snow Hill Station too - and will take you around 10 minutes. While Birmingham Moor Street is around a four minute walk away from the start of the market in New Street, via Swan Passage.
This article will be regularly updated throughout the build-up and run of the Birmingham German Christmas Market to bring you the latest information.
