The scent of glühwein and roasting chestnuts in the air. A soundtrack of laughter and Christmas carols. Twinkling lights and flickering lamps lighting the way. Few places elicit festive feelings more than the best Christmas markets in Europe.
The oldest and most authentic Christmas markets aren’t all in Germany, although many are. Today their influence has spread across Europe, even reaching south into warmer climes. For now though, the most magical are located in northern and central Europe, so that’s the region I’ve focused on here.
- Bath, UK
- Blenheim Palace, UK
- Munich, Germany
- Nuremberg, Germany
- Vienna, Austria
- Valkenburg, the Netherlands
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Strasbourg, France
The best Christmas markets in the UK
Bath Christmas Market, Bath
- Where: The streets around Bath Abbey
- When: 23rd November to 10th December 2023
- Don’t miss: Bath on Ice – Royal Victoria Park is transformed into a huge ice skating rink just north of the market
The World Heritage City of Bath isn’t short on atmosphere at any time of the year. During the Christmas season, it becomes even more beguiling. Over the end of November and early December, its Christmas Market unfurls through the picturesque Georgian streets at its heart.
The market’s 170-plus twinkling chalets pass by medieval Bath Abbey and the famed Roman Baths and Thermae Spa. Perfect for a rejuvenating soak after a hard day of festivities.
En route, you’ll find locally made housewares, jewelry and gifts. More than half the products are handmade in the UK and most of the chalets are run by local businesses. The market also offers free chalets to local charities to help raise awareness and funds. Shopping here only contributes to the feeling of goodwill to all.
There are more food stalls than you ever could dream of eating at. Everything from German bratwurst to British sausage rolls, mince pies and mulled wine, cider and even mulled gin. International food stalls line the streets surrounding nearby Southgate if you want to try something different.
Blenheim Palace Christmas Market, Oxfordshire
- Where: The Great Court, Blenheim Palace
- When: 17th November to 17th December 2023
- Don’t miss: The Sleeping Beauty-themed Christmas afternoon tea in the Orangery – truly festive and extremely indulgent
For a spectacular Christmas setting, look no further than the Baroque masterpiece that is Blenheim Palace. Home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough, it’s probably best known as the birthplace of Winston Churchill. For a month at the end of the year however, it becomes an ode to all things Christmas.
The market is spread across the Great Court. Rows of wooden chalets peddling arts and crafts, ceramics and textiles and lots of food and drink. But it’s in its activities program that Blenheim really brings the season to life.
Explore the Palace and step into a fairytale. Its rooms are transformed into a wonderful and imaginative retelling of Sleeping Beauty that unfolds from one to the next. As the sun drops, stroll the Illuminated Trail. Twinkling installations and huge lit-up artworks shed new light on the already gorgeous Palace grounds. Amid the tunnels of lights and giant LED spheres, see if the kids can spot Santa. He’s definitely there somewhere!
The best Christmas markets in Germany
Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt, Munich
- Where: Marienplatz & Rindermarkt
- When: November 27th to December 24th
- Don’t miss: The Krampus Run – 300+ participants in sometimes scary mythological costumes parading through the market is hard to forget
Now a major tourist attraction with global visitors, it would be easy to ignore Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt for something quieter. There’s a reason why the original Munich market is popular though – because it’s absolutely magic. The fairytale Christmas made real.
Now hosted in Munich’s main square, Marienplatz, it’s been held since Mediaeval times and is bursting with atmosphere and authenticity. The neo-Gothic town hall provides a suitably stunning backdrop. Never more so than Sunday to Thursday evenings, when Bavarian bands take to its balcony to regale crowds below.
Among the corridors of market stalls selling all manner of presents and treat, there are plenty of activities. Kids can make their own presents in the town hall workshops. Adults, meanwhile, can make for the glühwein and feuerzangenbowle stalls to warm up.
Reunited, browse some festive food stalls. Lebkuchen and sweet magenbrot, classic wurst with mustard followed by a sweet plum cake. Stroll up to the foyer of the Michaelskirche church for around 5 pm. Here you can join the festive Bavarian singers and sing German advent carols. Goosebumps are guaranteed.
Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, Nuremberg
- Where: Hauptmarkt Square
- When: December 1st to 24th
- Don’t miss: The Lantern Procession up to Nuremberg Castle is pure Christmas theatre – great for kids and adults alike
Halfway between Frankfurt and Munich, Nuremberg hosts one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world. “The little city of wood and cloth” is home to nearly 200 wooden booths whose red-and-white-striped cloth roofs earned it the nickname. For most of December they transform Nuremberg’s Hauptmarkt (main market) Square into a festive wonderland.
Among its handmade decorations and gifts, the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt offers some unique quirks. Few are stranger than the popular Zwetschgenmännle. Figurines made of dried prunes, they’re dressed to look like everyone from a pastor to the devil. Pick up a chimney sweep for good luck over the coming year.
Food is at the heart of every German Christmas market, but is particularly special here. The famed bratwurst sausage can trace its origins back to Nuremberg in 1313, and it’s well worth a try. As is the spekulatius almond cookies – sweet and delicious.
There are lots of excellent English language self-guided tours available to help you find its hidden treasures. If you’re taking the whole family, don’t let your kids miss the Kinderweihnacht party on Hans-Sachs-Platz.
The best Christmas markets in the rest of Europe
Wiener Christkindlesmarkt, Vienna, Austria
- Where: Rathausplatz, 1st District
- When: 11th November to 26th December 2023
- Don’t miss: Cold? Try a Jagertee – black tea, rum and spices. It’ll warm you up in no time.
The Wiener Christkindlsmarkt is among Europe’s largest and longest-running Christmas markets. One of 20 advent markets in Vienna, its roots reach back to the first winter market from the 14th century. That history oozes from every stall, as well as from the gorgeous buildings that surround the Rathausplatz.
Its 150+ stalls are a showcase of local goods and produce. Shop winter clothing, jewelry, toys and Christmas decorations that sparkle under the lights. Try local delicacies like roast goose washed down with punch (with or without the rum). For a sweet kick, ground almond vanillekipferl biscuits always hit the spot.
In front of the impressive Christmas tree sits a lifesize nativity scene soundtracked by traditional Austrian music. The market’s most famous tree isn’t the traditional fir, however. Rather, a Sycamore tree decorated with 200 glowing hearts that acts as a focal point for seasonal goodwill. And selfies.
There’s plenty for kids too. The children’s ice rink is free and magical. The vintage Ferris wheel gives lovely views over the market and a huge advent calendar dishes out daily prizes.
Christmas Town Valkenburg, the Netherlands
- Where: Cauberg Hill, Valkenburg
- When: 17th November 2023 to 7th January 2024 (caves close 30th December)
- Don’t miss: The Landal Christmas Parade – a carnival of festivity that marches through town every Wednesday and Saturday
Running for an epic 51 days, no one can claim the town of Valkenburg doesn’t take its Christmas market seriously. And when you have something as special as the marl caves to show off, why wouldn’t you?
Enter the Valkenburg Market at the foot of Cauberg Hill and you’ll find a typical Christmas scene. Twinkling stalls, vendors selling handmade ornaments and gifts, the scent of festive fare wafting in the air. All very lovely, but it’s underground where the real magic happens.
A labyrinth of tunnels in the Gemeentegrot and Fluweelengrot quarries play host to Europe’s largest underground Christmas market. (Though I do wonder how many rivals it has for that title!) Illuminated festive statues and fir trees light the way revealing drawings from the original miners on the tunnel walls.
Stalls line the pathways selling all manner of everything. The deeper you go, the wider and more amazing the caves get. The Gemeentegrot in particular has huge caverns.
Fly into Maastricht and it’s just a 20 minute drive to Christmas Town.
Liseberg Christmas Market, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Where: Liseberg Gardens
- When: 19th November to 30th December 2023
- Don’t miss: Kolbulle – a charcoal bun cooked over open fire with salted pork and lingonberry jam. So, so good
If you’re heading north, perhaps on a family trip to Lapland, a stopoff in Gothenburg is a rare treat. Make it extra special for the kids with a visit to Liseberg Gardens. There the Liseberg theme park is recast as a children’s Christmas fantasy land called Tomtebyn.
There’s a lot to get involved in. The Elves’ Adventure invites children to navigate their way around Santa’s Village with a map and compass. Prizes await. In the Elves’ Cottage, they can write their Christmas wish lists while snacking on treats and listening to stories. Then, in Santa’s Workshop they can feed their lists into the magical wish machine.
All the while, adults can browse the myriad market stalls, take on the ice rink and refuel on traditional Swedish treats. You won’t even need to take your skates off at the Ice Bar and Lisebergs Wärdshus serves up regional, seasonal and organic local dishes. Not just a holiday for the kids after all, then.
And as Gothenburg is the world’s most sustainable city, it makes sense that its five million market lights are powered by Liseberg’s wind turbine. Tempted? Find more things to do this winter in Sweden.
Strasbourg Christmas Market, Strasbourg, France
- Where: Cathedral Square & Place Broglie
- When: 24th November to 24th December 2023
- Don’t miss: The walk to the stars – stroll from Corbeau bridge to Saint-Guillaume bridge under a magic carpet of stars with incomparable views of Rohan Palace
The streets, alleys and squares of Strasbourg glow with Christmas cheer in December. More than 300 chalets flood the city, with the main markets at Place Broglie and Place de la Cathédrale.
Connecting them, thousands of lights draped across trees and churches and a forest’s worth of fir trees. Start at the Corbeau Bridge and walk up to the Porte des Lumières to see the best of the lights. Follow the decorations to reach the Grand Christmas Tree where a troupe of musical angels lead you to the Cathedral Square.
The scale of the market helps thin the crowds and give you plenty of room for browsing. As is the Christmas market norm, local artisan goods are the mainstay. In Strasbourg that means exquisite blown-glass baubles and candles and handmade decorations. Alsatian food is also at the forefront – in particular don’t miss the bredle butter biscuits and manele brioche figures. Delicious!
The best Christmas holidays
Christmas trips don’t just have to be about festive markets, despite what your kids might tell you! There are plenty of amazing winter vacations sure to keep both kids and adults happy. Or for something a little out of the ordinary, why not dive into these unusual Christmas traditions around the world.
Christmas Markets in Europe FAQs
Which country in Europe has the best Christmas markets?
Not only the best in Europe, Germany is the undisputed worldwide winner when it comes to Christmas markets. The two I’ve mentioned in this article don’t even scratch the surface. Every town and city hosts at least one advent market – for something extra magical, try the Ravenna Gorge Market.
Which 5 cities have the best Christmas markets?
It’s hard to look past the many amazing Christmas markets in Berlin and Munich. Elsewhere, Paris is rife with unusual markets and is particularly charming at Christmas.
Budapest features two wonderful markets within walking distance of each other at Vörösmarty Square and outside Saint Stephen’s Basilica. Lastly, Prague is like a fairytale – the markets at Wenceslas and Old Town squares are particularly special.
What is the biggest and best Christmas market in Europe?
Biggest doesn’t always mean best! Winter Wonderland in London, for example, is absolutely enormous and London is lovely in winter. But it can’t compare to the regional markets found throughout the UK and Europe for atmosphere or authenticity. My personal favourite is the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt I’ve included above, although my local Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom in Cologne is also fantastic.
