Rudesheim Christmas Market Guide for 2024
Summary: This guide will help you plan your trip to the Rudesheim Christmas Market in 2024 including when the event takes place, why you should add Rudesheim to your German Christmas Market itinerary, and where to stay when you’re there.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which just means I make a small commission if you purchase from them with no additional cost to you!
Rudesheim is a small German town located next to the Rhine River. I had the chance to visit their Christmas market on the Avalon Waterways Romantic Rhine cruise, and I’m so glad it was part of the itinerary because I may not have thought to visit Rudesheim otherwise.
Whether you’re thinking of visiting Rudesheim from another European location, or you’re flying from the US to see the beautiful, festive Christmas Markets, keep reading for everything you need to know when visiting the Rudesheim Christmas Market.
When is the Rudesheim Christmas Market?
The Rudesheim Christmas Market is called the “Market of Nations” as they have an international focus to their market. You’ll find food, art, and Christmas items from different countries at this market, making it fairly unique compared to other German Christmas Markets.
Dates: November 21-December 23 in 2024.
Times: 11am-8pm (9pm on Friday and Saturday)
What To See and Do at the Rudesheim Christmas Market?
As soon as you step food in Rudesheim, you’ll notice that the entire town takes Christmas very seriously. All the streets and alleyways are lines with festive decor and it’s fun to just walk around see all the decorations. We even saw a pine tree covered in Bavarian pretzels, so you never know what you’ll see!
While you’re walking around the market, you can try the special Rudesheim coffee which typically has a local brandy and whipped cream in it. Of course, you can also find mulled wine here.
Like I mentioned above, the Rudesheim Christmas Market invites vendors from different nations to partake, so you can try lots of different types of food here.
Aside from the market, itself, there is a concert or some form of entertainment almost every day. Make sure to check the program where you can see what is available on the dates you’ll be in town.
Where to Stay in Rudesheim
Assuming you’re visiting Rudesheim to see the Christmas Market, you’ll likely want to stay in a hotel as close to the market as possible. A few options to consider are below.
Hotel Options in Rudesheim
Fewo Am Brunnen
A private studio apartment in a great location.
Ringhotel Central
A 3-star, family-run hotel close to the Rhine River.
Hotel Felsenkeller
A traditional-style hotel with its own wine tavern and restaurant.
How to Get to Rudesheim
There are several ways to get to Rudesheim and several modes of transportation to choose from.
Frankfurt is the most popular international airport to fly into when visiting Rudesheim. Once you get to Frankfurt, you can take a train to Rudesheim, or fly to a closer, more regional airport in Hahn.
If you’re planning to visit Rudesheim as part of a German Christmas Market tour or your visiting from another European city, you can easily take the train into the city. From Frankfurt, you’d take the Rheingau Line between Frankfurt and Koblenz and the journey will be about an hour.
Driving to Rudesheim is another option. There is parking available and it’s not as chaotic here as it would be in a larger city. This webpage has a map of parking options near the market.
Lastly, Rudesheim is located right on the Rhine River, so taking a ferry is also an option!
Consider a Christmas Market Cruise!
If you’re traveling to Europe to see Christmas Markets, I assume you’d like to visit more than just one city. The easiest way to do this, in my opinion, is to book a cruise with a planned itinerary that will take you to several of the best Christmas Markets in Germany and France.
My favorite part of the cruise with Avalon Waterways was that we got to visit all of these iconic, festive cities without ever having to pack, unpack, or worry about the travel portion. We simply went to bed each night and woke up in another amazing place to go explore!
You’ll get to visit Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Colmar, and of course, the Rudesheim Christmas Market on this cruise.
Whether you decide to try the Christmas Market Cruise, or you end up taking the train or a car to these different cities, I hope you have an incredible trip. This was one adventure that I don’t think I’ll ever forget!
