In late November, Hamburg will be transformed into the Christmas capital of the north: the city's 16 Christmas markets will be turning the winter season in Hamburg into pure pleasure.  Market highlights include the sexy St. Pauli market, Winter Pride market, historic Rathausmarkt and Hamburg DOM.

Some of Hamburg's guestslike to enjoy the festive season in peaceful contemplation with a visit to a Christmas theatre play. Others are lured to Hamburg's shopping streets and conclude the day with a glass of champagne on the elegant Jungfernstieg; others like to venture out to the St. Pauli district to experience a cheerfully frivolous Yuletide striptease on the famous Reeperbahn. Whatever your choice may be: in the weeks leading up to Christmas, you can shop 'til you drop, enjoy heavenly culinary delights, and immerse yourself in the true Hamburg Christmas experience.

Christmas could not be more colourful; between 24 November and 6 January, Hamburg's Christmas markets offer something for every taste, and each of the markets exudes a very special atmosphere. The historic Christmas market on the Rathausmarkt, for instance, is unparalleled in Germany. Designed by Bernhard Paul, director of Circus Roncalli, this market draws more than 3 million visitors each year. Let the lovingly designed themed lanes enchant you, browse through high-quality arts and crafts, and enjoy home-made organic mulled wine. Each night, children's eyes glow with delight when Santa Claus glides through the air above the roofs of the candied tidbits and amusements lane.

A truly Hanseatic flair can be experienced at the maritime Christmas market on the Fleetinsel, where fairy lights reflect on the surface of the quiet, frozen canals. A real delight for all the senses can also be experienced on the Alster Lake: the Weißer Zauber (White Magic) Christmas market on the Jungfernstieg impresses with its contemporary design that matches the aesthetics of this grand boulevard with its exquisite hotels and boutiques. Hamburg's most recent quarter, the HafenCity district, invites you to stroll along amidst stylish booths at the Überseequartier and boasts one of Hamburg's most impressive Christmas trees.

Also this winter, the gay and lesbian Christmas Market “Winter Pride” will be opening its pink gates to the public, offering a cosy, open-minded atmosphere in the heart of the St. Georg district. And here's the good news for any Christmas Scrooges out there: at this market, there will be no Christmas carols and the weekends will feature a comprehensive entertainment and music programme on stage.

In addition there is Santa Pauli – arguably the world's only adult Christmas market. In the heart of Hamburg's Reeperbahn entertainment district, there are multiple reasons for being joyous and merry. Here, the candelabra has been replaced by an oversized disco ball. At Europe's hottest Christmas market, the boundaries between Christmas tradition, party atmosphere and frivolous St. Pauli street life are constantly blurred.

Live music onstage, red-light karaoke and sexy angels in the Santa Pauli striptease tent provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind Christmas experience. The food stalls offer diverse culinary delights, such as the delicious Bordsteinschwalbe (whiskey based drink with whipped cream) or the hot Nussknacker (nutty, creamy alcoholic drink). Instead of hand-knit winter woollies you will find “alternative”souvenirs such as chocolate dildos, sex toys or even intimate piercings. However, if this is not exactly your cup of tea, why not sit back and relax on the winter deck in the heart of St. Pauli and treat yourself to a mug of spicy Glühcola (cola drink), the local specialty. From here you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Reeperbahn, Europe's biggest entertainment mile. Santa Pauli Christmas market is opening its doors from 20 November to 23 December 2014. Admission is free.

For the little ones, Christmas in Hamburg is one big winter wonderland. During the day, kids can go ice-skating on Europe's largest open-air ice rink in the “Planten und Blomen” park in the city centre. And just beside the Jungfernstieg, five fairy-tale barges on the Inner Alster Lake are waiting to be discovered – each with an individual programme and free of charge. On the bakery barge, children can baketheir own biscuitswith Father Christmas. The theatre barge offers interactive theatre and the dream barge provides the most recent board games and audio books as well as face painting for children. For the more adventurous children, the Hamburg DOM at the Heiligengeistfeld offers plenty of action, fun and sweet titbits.

Be sure not to miss that extra wow factor in Hamburg when Santa Claus glides on his sleigh through the air above the historic Christmas market at Hamburg's town hall – at 4 pm, 6 pm and 8 pm throughout the festive period.

- END -

Notes to Editors:

About Hamburg: The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg lies in the North German plain on the lower reaches of the Elbe, around 100 kilometres from the river's estuary on the North Sea. With 1.8 million inhabitants on an area covering 755.3 square kilometres, Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city after Berlin. The city state of Hamburg is one of the 16 federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Hamburg Christmas markets information: www.hamburg-tourism.de/christmas

For more information and images, please contact:

Puja Khanna

Head of Public Relations

Tel: +44 20 7644 6121

Mob: +44 7825 083 281

Twitter: @misspuj

Skype: pujaaviacircle

Fax: +44 20 7372-5986 

www.aviacircle.co.uk