Get the app

Shopping The Loop, Chicago

Christkindlmarket

A place to shop in The Loop, Chicago, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: After dark.

Open in Google Maps Apple Maps Official website
Christkindlmarket in The Loop, Chicago
Photo: DR04 · CC BY 3.0 · license

Why go

German-style Christmas market in Daley Plaza since 1996, with wooden stalls, ornaments, bratwurst and Glühwein.

It is one of 19 curated places we feature in Chicago, alongside 6 activities, 5 sights and 4 places to eat. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Goodman Theatre and The Walnut Room at Macy's.

Type
Shopping
Neighborhood
The Loop
Price
$
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
After dark

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Chicago. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Goodman Theatre

    Chicago's oldest nonprofit theater, staging A Christmas Carol every holiday season since 1978.

    Activity · 0.1 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    The Walnut Room at Macy's

    Marshall Field's 1907 dining room on State Street, where a Great Tree rises through the room each Christmas.

    Food · 0.2 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Chicago River NYE Fireworks

    The city's free midnight show, fired from the river bridges between Orleans Street and Columbus Drive; held in 2024 and 2025.

    Sight · The Loop & Chicago River · 0.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Cindy's

    Rooftop bar atop the Chicago Athletic Association with views over Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.

    Drinks · The Loop & Chicago River · 0.3 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Chicago Riverwalk

    1.25-mile path along the river's main branch with wine bars, kayak rentals and bridge views.

    Activity · 0.3 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The Berghoff

    German restaurant on West Adams Street since 1898, with schnitzel, sauerbraten and its own root beer and lager.

    Food · 0.3 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Christkindlmarket is a stop on our Chicago & Milwaukee route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Chicago

Christkindlmarket is our only shopping pick in Chicago; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Chicago guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Chicago run from 32°F in January to 77°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Christkindlmarket itself, we suggest: After dark.

Modelled monthly averages for Chicago from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Chicago weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Christkindlmarket, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
41.88393, -87.63020
Destination
Chicago, Illinois
Website
christkindlmarket.com

Christkindlmarket: quick answers

How much time do you need at Christkindlmarket?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Christkindlmarket. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Christkindlmarket?

Our pick: After dark. Insider tip: Weekday evenings are calmer; there is a second location in Wrigleyville.

Which TripsCircle routes include Christkindlmarket?

Christkindlmarket appears on Chicago & Milwaukee, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Christkindlmarket to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Chicago.

Get TripsCircle

Plan Chicago

Lists & regions

Also in Chicago

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.