Lübeck Christmas Market with Children: Wichtelwunderland and More
Families in Lübeck can choose between Wichtelwunderland in Jakobikirchhof and Märchenwald by St. Marien. Here is how their calendars differ and how to keep the afternoon calm.
For children, the best Lübeck Christmas market stop is usually Wichtelwunderland in Jakobikirchhof, with Wichtelgolf daily 11:00–19:00 from 23 November to 29 December and a free workshop on Fridays to Sundays. Märchenwald beside St. Marien is the alternative. Choose one main activity rather than combining every attraction. The Lübeck Christmas Markets 2026 travel guide (PDF) has a full family route around Koberg.
Wichtelwunderland: golf and workshop
Wichtelwunderland combines a small elf village with play and creative activities. The key point for planning is that its two parts run on different calendars.
Wichtelgolf: daily 11:00–19:00 from 23 November to 29 December. Closed on 24 and 25 December, open from 13:00 on 26 December. Twelve courses for children aged three to twelve and their accompanying adults. Entry is free; equipment is handed out against a deposit.
Workshop: 27 November to 20 December, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 14:00 to 19:00. Up to 20 children per workshop. Participation is free and donations are welcome.
If making something is the main wish, choose your day by the workshop calendar and have an alternative ready in case a group is full. The page reviewed for the guide does not state the deposit amount for the golf equipment, so keep a little extra cash or budget aside.
Märchenwald by St. Marien
The city overview lists Märchenwald beside St. Marien from 23 November to 30 December 2026, with closures on 24 and 25 December. It makes a clearly defined destination within a wider city visit. Exact daily hours had not been confirmed from a current primary source at the time of research, so avoid arriving just before a presumed closing time.
Agree beforehand if you only want to look around or also pay for extra attractions. An area being free to enter does not mean everything inside it is free.
A calm family afternoon
For young children, a short circuit followed by a warm break often works better than an afternoon of changing markets. This order keeps decisions simple:
Before you start: decide together between playing and making.
From 14:00: the workshop on a suitable Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or Wichtelgolf on other days.
Break: a snack and somewhere warm before anyone gets tired.
Finish: a short circuit of the maritime market on Koberg if everyone is still keen, then the journey home.
Koberg runs 11:00–21:00 from Sunday to Thursday and until 22:00 on Friday and Saturday, so you will not run out of time before dark. It still pays to leave while the mood is good.
Pushchairs and indoor stops
With a pushchair, check indoor destinations carefully. At the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital craft market, only the church hall can be entered with a pushchair. A place to leave it does not replace a suitable route through the whole market, so decide beforehand whether the accessible part is enough. At the Hospital, children aged 16 and under enter free; at St. Petri, children under twelve.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wichtelgolf free?
Yes, entry is free. The golf equipment is supplied against a deposit, which you get back when you return it.
Can we do the workshop on Boxing Day?
No. The workshop season ends on 20 December. On 26 December, Wichtelgolf is open from 13:00 to 19:00.
Should we visit Märchenwald and Wichtelwunderland on the same day?
The guide suggests choosing one. Both have their own calendars and locations, and one activity plus a break is usually enough for young children.
Research status: 27 October 2026. Dates, opening times and prices are planning information and some are provisional; please check the official sources listed in the guide before you travel.
