Ultimate Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market Guide: Everything you need to know! (2026)

Nestled in the heart of the Hochschwarzwald Black Forest region, the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) is a truly unique Christmas market experience.

Located beneath the 40-meter tall Höllental railway viaduct it’s one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany. Höllentalbahn viaduct is lit in a kaleidoscope of colors creating a unique and magical atmosphere! Beneath it you’ll find a charming little traditional German Christmas market.

The hardest part of writing this article was choosing photos! Each one was prettier than the next!

Don’t miss the chance to visit one of Germany’s most enchanting Christmas markets this holiday season and experience the magic of the Christmas season! It’s a must-see addition to your Germany Christmas itinerary!

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What to do at Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market

Shop for unique gifts!

While this may be one of Germany’s most unusual markets, you’ll still find traditional stalls selling some of the area’s finest handicrafts. Small wooden huts line the market, each offering unique gift ideas and a wide range of regional products.

I like to shop this market because the Veekaufstalls sell unique artisanal goods and handmade crafts, not the made in China stuff you find at other markets. It’s a great place for gift ideas so be sure to bring a shopping bag!

You may be interested in this Germany Christmas Market Shopping Guide

You’ll find:

• unique items from local wood crafters and wood carvers
• ceramics, stoneware, textiles and needlework
• jewelry
• wooden nativities and driftwood art
• handmade greeting cards
• locally hunted game (wild board, deer), fruit jams and spreads, Black Forest meats (ham, bacon, and sausages) flavored syrups, specialty mustard and sauces, honey products, salts manufactured in the Black Forest
• bottles of Eggnog Christmas liqueur, bottled wines
• brushes crafted in the Black Forest
• wool hats, gloves, socks, scarves,
• toys, children’s items
• and much more!!!

You can find a list of vendors here, get a head start on planning your Christmas list!

Eat and drink yourself merry!

The varied range of food includes everything from traditional German sausages to sweet treats.

Lines can be long so you may want to get in line for food first and then enjoy the rest of the market after you eat. We spent several days last year at the horribly crowded markets in the Alsace Region of France. Ravenna was the first real chance I got to actually order food, and I did take advantage!

Food

For dinner we had a very good venison wurst topped with sauerkraut. and my husband ordered a bread bowl with soup. For “dessert” I bought some sugar roasted nuts, and a chocolate covered banana. Everything we had was delicious! and the smells are delightful!

You definitely won’t go hungry at this market! There are over 15 food vendors selling delicacies like:

• chocolate covered fruits
• suckling pig, pulled pork
• potato dumplings
• raclette with Black Forest ham
• Black Forest tarte flambée (flammkuchen)
• crepes, waffles, and more!

Apologies but I am so bad at taking pictures of my food. I’m famous for just diving into a good meal headfirst and remembering that I should have taken photos later.

Drinks

The spiced mulled wine (Glühwein) is a crowd favorite. First market? Here’s how it works. Your Glühwein comes in a mug. If you like the mug, keep it as a souvenir or take it back and you’ll get your deposit back. It’s that easy!

a few of the market drink specialties include:

• apple mulled wine
• honey mulled wine
• flaming glühwein
• hot baked apple cider liqueur (bratapfel glühmost) with whipped cream and cinnamon
• Bärentraum mulled wine with blueberry liqueur
• hot chocolate (with or without a shot of liqueur)
• and of course a selection of non-alcoholic drinks

sit back and watch the colors change

The colors on the bridge rotate between blue, green, red, purple and yellow! Every few minutes the color project a whole new atmosphere and it is mesmerizing!

Don’t miss the Christmas train!

Every so often a train zips its way along the viaduct like the Polar Express whizzing its way towards the north pole, but don’t blink or you’ll miss it! No worries, one should be along again soon so if you want to capture that perfect TikTok – make sure you have your video camera ready! (If you are quick enough to get a picture you are faster than I am because I’m telling you, that train moves fast!)

Can you really imagine anything more enchanting than this train zipping past on a colorfully illuminated bridge to the merry sounds of holiday tunes? I think not! It is so wonderfully whimsical!

cozy up to one of the fire pits

Cozy up and warm your fingers and toes by one of the open fire pits. You can even roast marshmallows! which can be purchased from the Glühwein vendors.

Explore the Nativity Trail (Krippenland)

Towards the back of the market is a trail lined with wooden nativity scenes. Feathery trees along the trail are lit up with a mosaic of color and wooden nativity scenes line the path. The nativity trail, which was designed by Simon Stiegeler, is beautifully done. I just love the wooden nativities, and they are even more special when laden with heavy snow!

Get a better vantage point

You can take a trail from the market up the hill to the Galgenbühl Höllsteig observation deck to get a panoramic view of the entire market and a different vantage of the unique sea of lights. However, if there is snow the trail may be closed for safety reasons.

Shop for Cuckoo Clocks (Kuckucksuhr)

There’s a cute little cuckoo clock shop at the entrance to the market. The shop closes at 5:30 pm so If you want to shop for clocks you’ll need to plan accordingly. There are several other shops in this area (The Hofgut Sternen Black Forest Village). If time permits, check them out! It’s also a good place to warm up if you didn’t dress properly for the cold! You can explore the various shops in the Black Forest Village here.

Planning Your Visit: Practical Information

Ravenna gorge Christmas Market 2026 (Ravennaschlucht Christmas Market 2026) Planning Guide:

Ravenna Christmas market Dates: 2026

The Christmas market takes place every Thursday – Sunday in Advent. Exact Dates are released Autumn 2026: The market is open on Thursdays this year! (except for December 10) Here are the expected 2026 dates:

• November 2026: Thursday November 26th, Friday November 27th, Saturday November 28th, Sunday November 29th
• December 2026: Thursday December 3rd, Friday December 4th, Saturday December 5th, Sunday December 6th, Friday December 11th, Saturday December 12th, Sunday December 13th, Thursday December 17th, Friday December 18th, Saturday December 19th, Sunday December 20th

Dates vary from year to year so if for some reason this article hasn’t been updated yet, check the official website.

ravenna gorge christmas market 2026 Tickets

Ravennaschlucht Weihnachtsmarkt 2026 tickets guide: To ensure a good visitor experience, the market limits the number of visitors. You’ll need to purchase an admission ticket in advance on the Hochschwarzwald website.

You will need to choose a day and a time slot for your visit. If you want to see the colorful illuminations, you’ll need to plan to be there at dark. Fortunately, it gets dark pretty early this time of year. In December you can expect it to start getting dark by about 4:30 or 5:00.

Tickets go on sale in mid-October.

• chose a time slot: Tickets are booked in 2-hour time slots. You may be worried that the two hours may not be enough. This amount of time should be plenty of time for you to shop, explore the market, and enjoy some of the delicious food and drink. However, if you don’t want to feel rushed you can purchase back-to-back tickets. This will give you 4 hours to stay at the market and allow you more time to enjoy the fabulousness of Ravena Gorge Market!

• Do tickets sell out? Yes, tickets do sell out so if you have your heart set on seeing this wonderful spectacle this Christmas market season don’t delay in purchasing your tickets. The first time we went I was so incredibly excited that I woke up at 2:30 a.m. my time to get my tickets. It turns out that was not necessary. Tickets were available for my chosen time slot for several days after they opened tickets for purchase.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE TICKETS ONLY

A notice on the official website states: “Please do not purchase tickets from private individuals, as they may be copies that will be rejected by the admission system.”

Ticket Pre-Sale

Sign up for the newsletter mailing list at the official website to be notified when tickets officially go on sale. Newsletter subscribers are given the opportunity to purchase tickets through their presale.

2026 Ticket pre-sale starts in October of 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

2026 prices (check back for updates)

Adults:

before 4 p.m. 7,50 €, after 4 p.m. 9,50 €

Children from 6 to 15 years, accompanied by a parent or guardian:

Free of charge (add shuttle transfer 3,00 €)

bring cash

Because of the remote location and unreliable network most vendors at the market do not accept credit cards so bring cash with you. There is an ATM near the market entrance.

Public Toilets

There are public toilets at the entrance to the market, but they can get busy so don’t wait till the last minute! (The WC are pay toilets ,50 €)

Accessibility

It is possible to visit the market in a wheelchair but be aware that the trail that leads from the parking lot to the market is steep and neither the trail nor market paths are paved.

Pets: can I bring my pet?

They discourage bringing pets to the market. These markets get very busy and unless you plan to carry your pet there is a good chance they might get stepped on and injured. Consider hiring a pet sitter or dropping your pet off for a spa experience while you visit the market. If you do plan to bring your pet on the shuttle they will need a ticket.

Webcam

Can’t get to the market just yet? Check out the live webcam now!

Ravenna Gorge with children

Send a Postcard to Santa

At the Christmas Post Office you can write and send a postcard with your Christmas wish list to Santa Claus.

Solve the questions, win a prize!

You can pick up a copy of the quiz at the Christmas post office or download the pdf on their website. Here is an English translation of the quiz for children, in case they do not have one available. The PDF is in German only.

Strollers

Yes, strollers are permitted at the market but be aware that the pathways can be rough, and include inclines, and the market does get crowded.

The weather and what to wear

Average Temperatures in December: (Breitnau)

• Average Minimum: -3.1 °C (26.4) °F
• Average Maximum: 2.4 °C (36.3) °F

source: ClimateData.org

What to wear to Ravenna Gorge Market

You’ll be outside for the 2 or so hours that you’re at the market so it’s important to dress warmly. Follow these tips for dressing for the cold weather and you’ll stay toasty warm! (a hot drink never hurt an attempt to keep warm either 😉)

• wool socks (I love these pretty colors for women, and these highly rated socks for men)
• fleece lined jeans (I love the Lee’s for a classic look, both the women’s and men’s versions are super comfy! plus I have these leggings for a more fashionable look) fleece lined snow pants, (and this version for men) or hiking pants with a fleece base layer
• sturdy shoes with traction (I saw a woman slip and fall on the nativity trail once, so traction is important especially if there is snow on the ground)
• something warm on your upper body. Layers are the most effective way to stay warm. When I’m traveling, I don’t like to bring a bulky coat. Instead, I bring a long sleeve fleece base layer, and over that a lightweight fleece jacket, and on top a packable down coat.
• rain gear: In case of rain bring a good raincoat or poncho. Leave the umbrella at home. The market is too crowded.
• hat, gloves (hear me out, I find TWO layers of cheap cotton gloves to be toasty warm or you can purchase these wool glove liners instead. OR bring hand warmers for toasty warm hands!)
• Fleece Neck gaiter

Will there be Snow at Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market?

Last year we got lucky, and the area had received a heavy blanket of snow, making the market a real winter wonderland. It felt like something straight out of a fairy tale. Will there be snow at the gorge when you visit Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market?

You’ll need to be lucky too. While the area does receive more snow than surrounding areas, it does not have snow on the ground all winter.

My sister-in-law visited the week after and sadly, there wasn’t any snow. You can find average snowfall in December for the area at Snow Forecast, but really it’s just a guessing game and a matter of luck.

How to Get to Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market

There are several ways to get to the market:

By Car

In good driving conditions it’s easy to get to the market by car. However, it is important to note that you may experience winter driving conditions such as snowy roads. When we visited the market last year there was snow on the road.

So, even if you like to plan your own trips, if you are uncomfortable driving in inclement weather consider using one of the other forms of transportation in this article.

Parking

You’ll need to purchase a parking pass and reserve parking in advance online. I once made reservations on the shuttle bus but later decided I wanted to drive. Unfortunately, by that time all of the parking passes were sold out so if you do plan to drive don’t delay in purchasing your parking pass.

You must place a printed copy of your non-transferable parking permit in a clearly visible place behind the windshield.

Disabled Parking: There are disabled parking spaces available on site, but they do not guarantee free spaces.

Designated parking for the market:

• My Google Maps: Parkplatz der Ravennaschlucht, 79874 Breitnau, Germany. GPS coordinates: 47.914485290307084, 8.075366834326788
• From the official website: Parking address: Hofgut Sternen, Höllsteig 76, 79874 Breitnau/Hinterzarten

Public Transportation

As far as I’m aware there isn’t any Public Transport that stops right at the market. The town of Hinterzarten is the nearest train station. Visitors can reach the market by regional train to Hinterzarten. From there you could take a taxi (5-10 minutes.)

Shuttle (official Market shuttle)

The market offers a shuttle from several area locations. You’ll need to add the shuttle option when purchasing your tickets.

You can get on a shuttle bus from the following locations: Hinterzarten train station, Himmelreich train station, Titisee Kurhaus. The shuttle bus is round trip (there and back.) They do not guarantee you a seat on the bus so arrive early if you want to sit, otherwise you may be required to stand.

For the shuttle from the central bus station platform 7 in Freiburg, you book your guaranteed seat exclusively for the outward and return journey including entry to the Christmas market.

If you have booked the shuttle, the departure time for the shuttle will be listed on your ticket. The return time is also listed on the ticket.

The ride on the shuttle buses from/to Hinterzarten/Himmelreich/Titisee is free of charge for you.

Take a guided torchlit hike

Why not make your way to the gorge through a magical forest by the light of a procession of glowing torches??? The guided tour leaves from Hinterzarten. Torchlit hike from €38.00, hike without torches from €33.00.

The tour price includes the entrance fee to the Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt.) Be sure to book early. I’m checking dates at the end of August and the tours are already starting to book up.

Hiking distance: approx. 1.5 kilometers downhill, asphalt and gravel paths, the walking time is approx. 45 minutes. After exploring the market, you will return to Hinterzarten via free shuttle buses. Book this tour through SCHNEESCHUH Academy.