If you’re looking for a truly magical Christmas experience this festive season, we’ve found just the spot for you. Imagine a charming, centuries-old town (1,000 years old in fact), tucked away in the middle of a forest, filled with Christmas cheer. It’s the kind of place you’d expect to only find in a Hallmark Christmas film. But for visitors to the Goslar Christmas markets, it’s a jaw-dropping, magical reality.
Now, I’m not going to lie. Goslar is not close to London. Travelling there to experience the charm of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and its Christmassy cheer is quite the endeavour. But read on to find out why we think it’s worth it. (Plus, since it’s in Germany, you can hit up all manner of other charming Christmas markets along the way!)
The Goslar Christmas markets
Goslar is home to not one, but two remarkable Christmas markets. The first is found in the heart of the town, in the historic city centre. Surrounded by Medieval buildings, 60 illuminated pine trees make up the Goslar ‘Christmas Forest’. And within this ‘Christmas Forest’, you’ll find decorated wooden huts selling arts and crafts as well as classic German fare.
Wandering amongst tall conifers, the scents of cinnamon and baked apples float through the air. Around you, 30,000 Christmas lights twinkle in the sky. As you wander through the market, enjoying the decorations and the live performances, you can munch on freshly baked regional bread, Stollen cake, German Bratwurst, and more.
It’s a market within a forest within a town within a forest. And it truly is spectacular. In fact, Goslar was one of the pioneering places to develop the idea of a festive forest within a town.
But what about Goslar’s second Christmas market? Well, to find that one, you’ll have to head underground to the town’s historic ore mining caverns…
Christmassy underground caverns
Tucked away beneath Goslar, history and Christmas tradition meet as Christmas activations take over the town’s historic ore mining caverns. On certain days throughout December, the area’s various mines and mining museum host everything from recreations of Christmasses past to markets inside the caverns themselves, and special candlelit tours.
You could find yourself ‘working’ in a recreation of a typical ‘Christmas shift’, or browsing the likes of mulled wine, sweet treats, and craft stalls in a truly unique atmosphere. There are even tours that guide you via the light of typical “frog lamps” – giving you a taste of the town’s history of mining.
Getting to Goslar
There are a few different ways to get to Goslar from London, but none of them are particularly easy. You’re going to want to set aside a good bit of time to get there. Or perhaps you might want to stop off along the way, instead of making a beeline straight for Goslar.
🚗 One option is simply to drive and take advantage of the Eurotunnel or a car ferry. This gives you plenty of flexibility for where to go along the way, or afterwards, but it’s certainly not quick. (And it’s not the most environmentally friendly option.)
🚂 It’s possible to get trains to Goslar from London. These journeys will require a few changes, and typically see you travelling through Brussels, Cologne, and Hannover.
✈️ The fastest way to get there is flying – either to Hannover or Hamburg airport, and then catching the train to Goslar.
📍 Goslar Marketplatz, Markt 6, 38640 Goslar, Germany.
📅 The Goslar Christmas markets run until December 30, 2025.