Christmas markets are made up of the smell of cinnamon and cloves, the sights of twinkling lights, and the warming taste of hot spiced wine that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale.
Christmas markets are a great way to get into the holiday spirit. From the lanterns that glow in the nighttime sky to roasted-chestnut stands whose sweet aromas fill city streets, these markets make for festive destinations you won't want to miss!
The tradition of Christmas markets is thought to date back as far as the 13th century originating in Germany, but in recent times these markets have recently become a tradition across Europe.
As the weather changes and winter approaches, now is the perfect time to start thinking about which festive affairs you'll attend. These are our 5 top Christmas Market recommendations.
Prague comes to life at Christmas, the birthplace of Good King Wenceslas and the capital of the Czech Republic. Old Town Square is the most popular festive market in the city, where you can find daily carol performances, traditional Czech crafts for sale, a charming nativity scene, and a giant Christmas tree.
For those seeking the festive spirit, Prague is the place to go. To get into the local spirit, swap your mug of mulled wine for a glass of grog—rum, water, lemon, and sugar. On one side is Our Lady Before Tyn, a 14th-century twin tower; on the other side is Prague's famous astronomical clock from the 15th century.
A pool of seasonal merriment swirls between the two. You may purchase frosted, hand-blown glass baubles, sausages, pancakes, garlic-and-cheese flatbreads, and Svařák, a local mulled wine made with citrus. Cinnamon scent is distributed throughout the square.
The Old Town Square has sheep, goats, and donkeys waiting patiently for visitors. If you have young children, take them there to get their attention.
The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt at the Dom and Residenzplatz has been around for centuries and is one of the world's oldest Advent markets. The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt is a unique experience because it sits in the heart of Salzburg's World Heritage-listed Old City.
Traditional local customs and festive decorations like the Christmas tree enhance your experience of Austria. Gifts of special foods, such as strudel, mulled wine or hot punch, help you to enjoy a truly Austrian Christmas.
In Cathedral Square, you can find over ninety stalls selling everything from candles to crafts to jewellery, with the beautiful Northern Alps as a backdrop. The huts’ traditional design, along with its special lighting, creates a unique atmosphere.
During the festive season in this charming Austrian city, you can hear the carol Silent Night performed in the very spot where it was first composed and performed by Mozart.
Socks and other handmade products are available here, as they have been for centuries, rather than novel candles. The Tuesday evening carol singalongs are an excellent way to get into the Christmas spirit.
Brussels springs to life at Christmas thanks to Winter Wonders, a festival rather than just a market. The Belgian Christmas Market, which extends across the Bourse, Place de la Monnaie, and other landmarks in Brussels's historic city centre, has become one of Belgium's biggest and most popular events.
Visitors can enjoy a light and sound show, ice skating in front of the Town Hall and rides on the Ferris wheel at Belgium's biggest Christmas market. They can also browse through 200 chalets serving glühwein, Belgian beers, serving toasty waffles, and wonder at an enormous tree erected in Grand Place.
If you're looking for a way to get your heart racing this winter, two ice rinks and curling facilities are located in Brussels's city centre at Place De Brouckère and Bois de la Cambre.
The thrill seekers can jump on the giant Ferris Wheel at Marché aux Poissons and ride merry-go-rounds at Place Sainte-Catherine. This will make you feel like a kid again–especially during Christmas!
Berlin's hip scene provides a contemporary perspective on tradition. The city is covered with around 80 Christmas markets (there is even a dog-specific one), so don't try to cover them all. The Weihnachtsmärkte of Berlin is the German capital's Christmas market. You won't find two identical ones since each has its personality and speciality. If you are seeking a nostalgic, organic, or urban Christmas market, you can find it in Berlin.
Spandau is the most impressive if you desire to scale. Weihnachtszauber, in magnificent Gendarmenmarkt square, is the most beautiful and full of arts and crafts.
Winter World, on Potsdamer Platz, is the perfect place to get your pulse racing. It’s less about shopping and more about winter sports. With tobogganing, curling, an ice-skating rink with free lessons for kids, and hot chocolate stands just in case you need a pick-me-up!
At this time of year, the “Capital of Christmas” looks like a real-life nativity scene. The city’s main squares are crowded with hundreds of market stalls selling hand-painted wooden Christmas decorations. For sausages and almondy, fruity Kugelhopf, a brioche-like cake made sweet by adding almonds or fruit syrup or visit the Market of Small Producers in Alsace, who offer both traditional fare as well as their baked goods.
The Christkindelsmärik in Strasbourg, near the city’s cathedral, is one of France's most popular holiday haunts for sipping mulled wine, tasting French wintery treats like tarte flambée or sugary Bredele biscuits and shopping among the wooden stalls.
The city of Strasbourg is known worldwide as the Capital of Christmas. Strasbourg’s towering Christmas tree, millions of twinkling lights and festive ice rink can convince even the Grinch to love this most beautiful time of year.
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