Scattered throughout big cities, small towns, and quaint villages across Europe, Christmas markets are a historic holiday phenomenon that draws visitors from around the world.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about planning a European Christmas market trip, or skip ahead to any section.
1. What are Christmas markets?
Picture a maze of open-air markets with rows of wooden huts selling handmade crafts and seasonal gifts. The tempting aroma of traditional foods and confectionaries beckons you to try a little bit of everything, while steaming-hot beverages promise to make you forget about the icy chill in the air.
Holiday markets are traditionally located in the historic centers of cities, in their main market square or spread among several, smaller squares. The market area, as well as the surrounding buildings and streets, are brightly decorated with extravagant light displays, towering Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and outdoor art installations. Accompanying all of this, you can also find musical performances, tree-lighting ceremonies, and rides such as ferris wheels and carousels.
The holiday buzz and collective energy of market-goers creates an atmosphere that’s a little like combining the vibe of a Hallmark Christmas movie with the chaos of a music festival, and I’m here for all of it!
2. What to do at European Christmas markets
Christmas markets are an experience in total gluttony, a chance to indulge in food and drink to your heart’s content guilt free, because after all, it’s Christmas!
Food offerings include traditional dishes, local favorites, seasonal treats and sweets, and lots of fried food. It’s basically a meat and carb food orgy, with an endless variety of dishes made with potatoes, sausages, breads and cheeses. All diets are off when you visit a Christmas market because scrumptious sweets are around every corner! Luckily you’ll be walking off most of the calories as you wander around the city following all the delicious smells.
There are plenty of hot beverages available to wash down your food and warm you up from the inside out. Speaking of hot drinks, Glühwein, mulled wine, or vin brulé, regardless of what you call it, is a staple at any Christmas market. I'm not afraid to say that I judge all Christmas markets based on how good their mulled wine is. Glühwein comes in more varieties than you can count - red, white, apple, blueberry, even set on fire! They offer it “plain”, or with extra shots of rum, gin, amaretto, or a variety of local liqueurs. When you get tired of drinking Glühwein (if that’s possible), you can usually find winter cocktails such as hot Aperol, hot Hugo, hot Kir, hot Mojito, and hot Moscow Mule, just to name a few. If you have an extra sweet tooth, try an eggnog-type drink such as Eirpunsch in Germany or a Bombardino in Italy. And of course, non-alchoholic drinks such as hot apple punch or hot chocolate are also available.
The next thing you’ll want to do at Christmas markets is shopping. Browse the stalls of Christmas decorations, home decor, kitchen gadgets, handmade crafts and jewelry, artwork, and cold-weather accessories such as hats, scarves, gloves, and socks. You’ll sometimes find that you start to see some of the same items at different Christmas markets, so don’t limit your shopping to the market stalls. Make sure to visit local specialty shops and stores as well; you’ll find a little more variety and may stumble upon local artwork or a more unique selection of items.
Take a break from your eating, drinking and shopping to check out the rides and entertainment available. Many markets, especially in bigger cities, have carousels, ferris wheels, spinning swings, kiddie rides, and even city tourist trains. You can also find ice skating rinks, carriage rides, huge slides, and walk-through light displays. Each market typically holds a ceremony on its opening day, which includes bands or singing, a tree lighting, and ceremonial traditions that are specific to the city. Concerts are sometimes held inside churches or on outdoor stages. I’ve even seen fire dancers, magic acts and dramatic performances!
Whether it’s with food, drinks, or shopping, rides or entertainment, try to look for things that are unique to each market, city, region or country. So how do you tackle a Christmas market? Choose clockwise or counter-clockwise and commit to it. In order to not be discriminatory to any of the market stalls, we usually work our way around the market in a pattern of eat, drink, shop, repeat, until we are full, drunk, out of money, or all of the above.
3. When to go to European Christmas markets
European Christmas markets begin opening around the last week of November and can last as long as the first week of January. Historically, many markets began as a celebration of the religious Christmas holiday and are held during the four weeks of Advent; however, opening dates vary by country and city. There are some markets that end on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, while others may stay open as late as Epiphany (January 6th).
There may also be certain days that markets in some countries are closed due to local observances or other religious holidays. For example, in Germany many markets are closed on “Totensonntag” (Sunday of the Dead), which is the Sunday before Advent begins. Other markets may be closed or have limited hours on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Before planning your European Christmas market trip, it’s important to check each city’s official website to verify opening dates and times.
4. Where to find European Christmas markets
Although Christmas markets can now be found throughout the world, this festive tradition has roots that have been traced back to the middle ages in central Europe. Many historians believe these holiday celebrations began in what is now Germany, eventually spreading to German-speaking parts of nearby countries, such as Austria, France, Switzerland and Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic). Christmas markets, known as either “Weihnachtsmarkte” or “Christkindlesmarkt” in Germany, aren’t the only German claim to Christmas fame, as the country boasts the origin of other Christmas traditions such as the first Christmas tree! Today, Christmas markets are prevalent across Europe, although the oldest and most traditional are still in Germany and Austria.
So how do you choose which markets to visit? First, decide what kind of vibe you’re looking for. Do you want the slower pace of a small town with just one main market? If so, you can spend a leisurely day wandering the market stalls, take a break for dinner, then go back out for some after-dinner sweets and drinks. If you like the faster pace of a big city, be prepared to log some distance as you walk between the markets spread throughout the city. In this case, you may want to get an early start and then eat, drink and shop til you drop!
If you choose Germany as your holiday destination, you can literally throw a dart at a map and find a city or town with a Christmas market. Some of Germany’s most historic markets are: Dresden, Munich, Nuremberg, Wurzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Rudesheim, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Aachen, Hamburg, Trier, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, and Heidelberg (just to name a few).
Here are some other popular European Christmas markets by country.
Austria: Graz, Hallstatt, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg, Vienna.
Belgium: Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Liege.
Czech Republic: Brno, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, Plzeň, Prague.
France: Amiens, Colmar, Mulhouse, Paris, Reims, Strasbourg.
Italy: Bologna, Bolzano, Bressanone, Florence, Merano, Milan, Torino, Verona.
Poland: Gdańsk, Krakow, Poznań, Warsaw, Wroclaw.
Switzerland: Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Zurich
UK: Bath, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Yorkshire
Other honorable mentions:
Zagreb, Croatia
Copenhagen, Denmark
Tallin, Estonia
Helsinki, Finland
Budapest, Hungary
Riga, Latvia
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Bratislava, Slovakia
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Stockholm, Sweden
5. How to plan a Christmas market itinerary
One of the top considerations when planning a Christmas market trip is to choose a starting point. Select an airport based on cost of flights or your preferred geographic location, then work within your time frame.
If your trip is between 7 and 14 days, you may want to consider staying within a relatively small geographic area. You don’t want to waste valuable time traveling long distances. Choose a region and try to keep your travel time between two and four hours between cities. If your trip will last two weeks or more, you have more flexibility to travel longer distances between cities, via full day or overnight trains, long drives, or even flights.
Another consideration is what kind of pace you’re comfortable with and how many days you want to spend at each destination.
Here are some questions to ask yourself about each city:
How many Christmas market locations does it have, and how spread out are they?
Do you want to spend an entire day exploring markets, or do you prefer either daytime or nighttime?
Do you like to get in and get out, or spend time leisurely exploring the stalls?
Are there historic sites, museums, churches, other sights, or activities you want to see or do in the city?
One last thing to research in advance is when each city’s Christmas markets will be open. As mentioned above, there is no standard date range across Europe, or even within a specific country. This is especially important to keep in mind if you plan to travel in late November, before Advent starts. When planning your itinerary, try to catch an opening night ceremony or other special event if at all possible!
6. Where to stay when visiting European Christmas markets
Christmas markets are typically located in the historic centers of cities and towns. You may want to book your accommodation in a central location so you can walk to the markets. In addition to the convenience, a small boutique hotel or apartment in the city center can offer picturesque surroundings and dramatic views!
It may be less expensive to stay outside the city center; however, keep in mind you’ll need to plan for walking, driving, or using public transportation to reach the markets.
7. How to get around when visiting European Christmas markets
Regardless of whether you stay inside or outside the city center, make sure you have a plan for reaching your accommodation. If you plan to drive, ask about parking before you arrive. Parking is not always guaranteed (or free), and you may need to reserve a parking spot in advance of your stay.
If you are arriving at the airport, know how to get from the airport to your hotel. You may be able to take a train or bus, but availability and routes will depend on the time of your arrival. It might be easier to take an Uber (check in advance to see if Uber runs in that city) or a taxi. Most major airports have designated taxi lines outside.
If you plan to arrive by train, be aware of how close your hotel or apartment is to the train station. If the distance is too far to walk, a local bus, tram or metro might be an option; however, public transportation can be challenging in small towns, especially if you don’t speak the local language. Google maps has an option for public transport, but it’s always best to check with your host in advance to ask the best way to reach them. Uber is not always available, and taxis might be few and far between, so you may want to arrange a taxi with your hotel prior to arrival if possible. This is true for the day of your departure as well, especially if you will be leaving early in the morning.
8. How to pack light for a European Christmas market trip
The most important advice I can give when packing for Christmas markets is to dress in layers. Don’t bring a different sweater or outer layer for each day, just change up the layers underneath. If you want variety in your outfits or pictures, keep in mind you’ll be wearing the same coat every day (unless you pack multiple coats - in which case this section may not be for you). Bring different hats or scarves to change up your outfits. Also consider that you might buy new hats or scarves during your travels, so make sure to leave space in your luggage for those!
Here are some other ideas to save room when packing:
Wear your heavy coat on the plane, it can double as a pillow or extra cushioning.
Limit footwear to two pairs and wear your bulkiest shoes or boots on the plane.
Use space savers or packing cubes to compress your clothes.
Reduce your toiletries to only the amount you’ll need for your trip.
Leave empty space in your luggage if you plan to buy clothes or souvenirs.
Reduce the amount of socks, undergarments and dry-fit shirts you pack, and bring travel size laundry soap bars or packets so you can wash them in the sink.
* If you struggle with packing light, or think you might buy a large number of items during your trip, pack an extra (empty) bag inside your suitcase to take home items you buy. You may have to pay extra to get it back home, but we do what we have to for the sake of shopping.
BONUS TIPS: Do’s and Don’ts of Christmas Market travel
DO exchange money at your bank in advance or use a local ATM attached to a bank so you have cash at the markets. Many food and drink vendors only accept cash.
DO NOT use Euronet or other money exchange service ATM’s. The fees are outrageous.
DO bring a day pack or shopping bag - I love the kind that folds up inside itself.
DO NOT pack your suitcase or bags completely full - leave room for treasures!
DO bring comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers.
DO NOT bring large or bulky clothes or shoes.
DO bring a hat, scarf and gloves - Europe is cold in the late Fall and Winter!
DO NOT wear too many layers of socks - your toes need room to wiggle.
DO bring your appetite - and plan to sample everything!
DO NOT eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the markets. Your tummy will thank you.
DO take breaks - go back to your hotel for a mid-day rest or to freshen up before dinner.
DO NOT assume you can walk into any restaurant without a reservation, many Christmas Market towns will be crowded and it’s best to reserve a table in advance.
What are you waiting for? Start planning your first (or next) Christmas market adventure! It’s a great way to experience local culture and do something unique during the winter holiday season!
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