Christmas on the Baltic Sea is quieter than in the city — and that is exactly what makes it special. On the Flensburg Fjord, German Christmas markets meet Danish hygge, crisp winter air meets candles glowing in the windows. If you want to spend the holidays with family or friends in your own house by the sea, you will find peace, space and many small traditions that make Advent unforgettable.
The Flensburg Christmas market
During Advent, Flensburg's town centre turns into a Christmas market: stalls with crafts, mulled wine and roasted almonds line the pedestrian zone up to the squares around the brick churches. In 2026 the market runs from 16 November to 30 December (Südermarkt until 23 December), Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 8 pm; it stays closed on 22 November and on 25 and 26 December.
Danish Christmas just across the border
Denmark begins just a few kilometres north — and with it a Christmas culture of its own: æbleskiver dusted with icing sugar, gløgg, the lavish julefrokost lunch and candle-lit windows. During Advent, the town of Tønder presents itself as a Christmas town with festively decorated streets. A day trip across the border makes a lovely Advent highlight.
Winter walks on beach and forest
Between Christmas and New Year, the fjord's beaches are almost yours alone. A walk along the beach at Holnis, through Glücksburg Forest or along the Glücksburg promenade clears the head — with a little luck under hoarfrost or even snow.
Warming up: sauna, hot tub and fireplace
After your walk, Villa Boreal's Finnish barrel sauna with fjord views awaits, followed by the hot tub and an evening by the fireplace. The brave take a quick plunge from the jetty into the wintry sea after the sauna — a Nordic ritual that stays with you.
Christmas dinner with regional specialities
Whether kale, duck or fish from the fjord: the region offers excellent ingredients for the festive meal. Farm shops, fish smokehouses and markets in and around Flensburg provide everything you need for a Christmas menu in your own kitchen.
Northern lights and clear winter nights
Long nights and little light pollution make the fjord a good place for starry skies in winter — and occasionally even for the northern lights. Our article on northern lights over the fjord explains when it pays to look north.
Stay from Christmas to New Year
Many guests combine the holidays with New Year. The days in between are relaxed, and New Year's Eve on the fjord with fireworks over the water is a fitting finale. For the Christmas period we recommend enquiring early, as the holidays are in high demand.
Photo: “Weihnachtsmarkt Flensburg 2019 HJL01” by Marseille77, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
