Mulled wine meets fibre optics: how smart are our Christmas markets?

Christmas markets may seem like a thoroughly traditional experience – lights, scents, mulled wine. At the same time, however, many areas already involve a great deal of modern organisation. Anyone planning a Christmas market ultimately has similar tasks to a city administration or local authority that wants to introduce digital solutions. These include energy, visitor flows, security, cleanliness and mobility. In short, a Christmas market functions almost like a small smart city – only for a few weeks a year.

Visitor guidance: real-time data instead of long queues

A current example comes from Frankfurt, where visitors to the Christmas market at the Römer can use a digital map to see in real time how crowded it is. Sensors record the number of people, and the urban data platform visualises the occupancy rate – similar to smart traffic or people flow analyses in large cities. This not only helps individual visitors, but also event planning as a database for future large-scale events in the city.

Energy supply: From mulled wine stands to smart grids

At the Christmas market, every stall needs electricity – for lighting, music, heating or the pot for mulled wine and so on. In smart city management, energy is similarly about intelligently controlling supply and demand: smart grids and smart meters help to efficiently measure and optimise energy consumption, integrate renewable sources and manage peak loads. Although hardly any Christmas markets have a real smart grid yet, the basic question is the same: how can energy be provided reliably, efficiently and sustainably? The answer to this question is increasingly digital and data-driven for city and market planners.

Cashless payment: convenience for guests & data for planning

Just a few years ago, visitors without cash were at a disadvantage at Christmas markets – punch, langos and chocolate-covered fruit were only available for cash. Today, many Christmas market vendors accept contactless cards or mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. This speeds up sales, reduces queues and increases security. Digital payment methods are also becoming increasingly common in urban infrastructure. They not only facilitate commercial transactions, but also provide anonymised usage data that reflects visitor flows and demand, for example.

Mobility & orientation: paths instead of confusion

Christmas markets are often organised in busy city centre areas. Smart city concepts use sensors, real-time data and apps to plan mobility efficiently – for example, through traffic flow analyses, dynamic traffic light switching or multimodal services. Visitors to Christmas markets can find their way around more quickly, using digital maps or Google Maps to find their way around, especially in unfamiliar cities, or to discover the nearest car parks and public transport stops. This convenience can be further expanded as data and infrastructure availability grows.

Waste management: Clean market, clean city

An overflowing rubbish bin is just as annoying at a Christmas market as it is throughout the city. In smart city projects, Internet of Things (IoT)-supported waste bins that report fill levels in real time are no longer a thing of the future: they reduce empty runs, save CO₂ and keep urban spaces clean. Such systems are already being tested and introduced in many cities – such as Hanover, Stralsund and Darmstadt. Smart waste sensors could also work at Christmas markets, for example by enabling more efficient planning of cleaning operations and ensuring greater cleanliness.

Security: surveillance meets people-friendliness

For many visitors, Christmas markets are the highlight of the Advent season, but they are also places where security is a top priority. Smart security means identifying dangerous situations early on without destroying the feel-good atmosphere. City administrations use networked cameras, quick response systems and data analysis to be able to react quickly, for example at large events.

The Christmas market as a mini smart city

At first glance, a Christmas market may seem analogue and traditional, but on closer inspection it becomes clear that it is a living example of many issues that also concern smart cities – visitor management, energy supply, mobility, payment systems, security and sustainability. The technologies and ideas that help city administrations become more efficient and liveable today can also be transferred to temporary urban spaces. And vice versa: the practices at the Christmas market can make smart urban development tangible – accessible and with a glass of mulled wine in hand.