How to book a raft at the Braunschweig Christmas market for a group
A booked raft in the castle moat is a popular way for groups to meet at the Braunschweig Christmas market. Here are the published rules and a simple plan for the evening.
Groups of ten or more can book a raft in the castle moat at the Braunschweig Christmas market. The published price is €20 per hour per raft, for a maximum of two hours, and there are roughly twenty standing places but no seats. Bookings are sold online and at the tourist office. The Braunschweig Christmas Markets 2026 guide includes a full route for a group evening on a raft.
The published booking rules
Group size: bookings from ten people.
Space: around twenty standing places per raft.
Price: €20 per hour per raft.
Duration: a maximum of two hours.
Sales: online and at the tourist office. Sales for 2026 began on 13 October.
Tickets: no returns, but transferable.
Check the current conditions in the ticket shop before one person pays for the whole group. The fee covers the use of the raft only. Food and drinks are bought separately.
What it costs per person
For ten people, one hour at the published rate works out at two euros each. Two hours cost forty euros in total, or four euros each for ten people. Travel, food and drinks come on top. The rafts are not a package with a drinks allowance, so decide in advance whether everyone pays for their own orders or one person collects a shared amount.
Is a raft right for your group?
A raft is a good setting for a drink together while standing. It is not a reserved restaurant table. Before booking, ask everyone whether they are comfortable standing for an hour or two in winter air. The roof keeps off rain, but the raft is not heated. If some guests need a seat, a different gathering or an extra indoor stop makes more sense than hoping chairs will be there. The published arrangements provide no seating.
Access matters as well. The rafts are in the castle moat, so ask about the route down if anyone in the group has mobility needs. For a whole evening together, a shorter raft slot combined with a separately reserved meal often works well.
A simple plan for the evening
In advance: confirm attendance, then book. Ask about seating needs first.
Before your slot: meet at an unambiguous point in the centre and walk to the market together.
Before raft time: buy food and drinks. Allow time for queues and different orders.
Booked slot: use the time for conversation.
Afterwards: head home or move on to a separately reserved indoor venue.
Do not set the booking time just after your train is due to arrive. The trip from the main station into the centre and getting drinks at the market both need a buffer. The city names Rathaus, Münzstraße and Schloss as useful stops. If people are arriving separately, one person should collect the details: exact place, time and a contact who can be reached.
Using a raft without booking
If your group is smaller than ten, or you only want a short stop, you can use the rafts without a booking until 14:00 during market hours. The Heinrich raft stays open for public use after that. Space is not guaranteed in either case.
Choosing the right date
Pick the date before you book, and check it against the market calendar. The market is closed on 24 and 25 December, and on 29 December it closes at 20:00. On Sundays and public holidays the stalls open at 11:00. If your group also wants to attend a cathedral concert in the culture week from 12 to 20 December, leave enough time between the raft slot and admission so that neither part feels rushed.
Frequently asked questions
How many people fit on a raft?
The organiser lists roughly twenty standing places per raft. Bookings start from ten people.
Can I get a refund if fewer people come?
The published rules do not allow ticket returns, but tickets are transferable. Confirm numbers before you pay.
Are drinks included in the raft price?
No. The €20 per hour covers the raft only. Buy food and drinks at the stalls before your slot.
Research status: 26 October 2026. Times, dates and prices are planning information from our research, so please check the official sources before you travel.
