Christmas traffic: When you have to leave to be home in time for Christmas

Although Christmas is a celebration of contemplation, there is a lot of stress involved every year. Some want to go on Christmas vacation, some want to go to the office – and many are driving into the city to get the last gifts. According to a forecast from the ADAC, there is a risk of a lot of traffic on the roads at the start of the Christmas holidays.

The ADAC tried to predict when and where exactly:

Friday December 20th

Drivers should be prepared for traffic jams that day. The automobile club reports that all federal states are on vacation at this time. In the afternoon, commuters are on their way home and travelers are on their way to their winter vacation or to visit family.

Saturday December 21st

The risk of traffic jams increases here from mid-morning onwards. This applies especially to motorways around metropolitan areas such as Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich and streets in inner cities. The transport clubs estimate that the last weekend before the festival will attract numerous people to go shopping or to the Christmas markets.

Sunday December 22nd

If you have to get on the highway, you should do so on this day. According to the forecasts, traffic volumes are likely to be moderate. It tends to get a little more crowded in the afternoon and evening hours.

Monday, December 23rd

If you want to quickly buy Christmas presents in the city center on December 23rd, it is best to park your car in the outskirts and take public transport to the city center. The motorways are likely to become more crowded from the afternoon onwards. However, as the day before, the ADAC still expects fewer traffic jams.

Christmas Eve, December 24th

A rush on shops is expected, especially on this day. Travel traffic on the motorways is also expected more in the morning and around midday. However, the risk of traffic jams is rather low.

Christmas Day, December 25th

Anyone who has to get on the motorway that day will probably be a lucky person. The ADAC expects the least traffic here.

Boxing Day, December 26th

On this day, however, the motorway will be a little more crowded again because some Christmas guests are already on their way home. The highest risk of traffic jams occurs in the late afternoon and early evening.

The journey on the ski holiday between the years could therefore take longer on the main routes into the mountains, especially on Saturday, December 28th. According to the ADAC, more suitable travel days are probably the following day or New Year’s Eve – before the risk of traffic jams increases again on New Year’s Day.

According to the ADAC, many people returning from vacation can be expected on the streets from Thursday, January 2nd to Saturday, January 4th, 2025 – and then again on January 7th and 8th at the end of the holidays in some federal states.

The ADAC advises travelers who cannot postpone their trip to be patient – and to plan more time in advance. “If you drive under time pressure, you quickly become stressed and hectic,” said the automobile club. He recommends taking more breaks.