Europe is arguably the best place to spend the festive season. This time of the year the historical towns are decorated with Christmas trees, ornaments and magical lights, the squares are full of lovely wooden chalets, the snow is falling, the sound of Christmas carols and the smell of gingerbread is floating in the air.
The Christmas markets are the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit. Grab a mug of hot mulled wine and stroll around the market. Look for handcrafted wooden toys, traditional Christmas decorations, knitted sweaters and scarves or unique handmade Christmas items.
There are many wonderful Christmas markets in every country, so how do you know which one to choose? Here's some of the best Christmas markets of Europe to help you to decide.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Where: City Hall (Rathaus)
When: From mid-November to Christmas
Best for: Christmas spirit and traditional wooden toys
Why love it: Austria is such a magical place in winter and there are over 20 official Advent markets just in Vienna! The Viennese Dream Christmas Market is THE classic Christmas market with enchanting lights, handcrafted goods, soaps, Christmas ornaments, traditional wooden toys and seasonal treats, not to mention the Ferris wheel, carousel and ice skating rinks. The grandiose Habsburg buildings and delicious aromas of baked food and hot punch gives the market its very own charm. Inside the City Hall the children learn how to make Christmas cookies or candles.
Try: Glühwein, roasted chestnut, Strudels and freshly-baked pretzels
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Where: Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen's Basilica
When: From mid-November to the 1st or 2nd of January
Best for: Ice skating rink and 3D artworks
Why love it: The market at Vörösmarty Square is Budapest's oldest market, located in the heart of the city. The 100 stalls are offering lovely handicraft products, plenty of food stalls, free concerts and play house for children. The Basilica is about a 10 minute walk from here through smaller Christmas markets. The Advent Feast at Hungary's largest cathedral is also an open-air market, but a bit more splendid. Wander around the 160 stalls and look for handcrafted ceramics, individually painted Russian dolls, gemstone jewellery, leather gloves, ginger bread and other Hungarian delicacies. You can eat and drink from eco-friendly plates and cups. There is a large Christmas tree in the middle of the market, surrounded by a 200 m2 ice skating rink that is free for children. What is more, there are 3D laser projections of religious and festive stories on the Basilica itself at every 30 minutes.
Try: Stuffed cabbage, goulash, Chimney cake, the "flódni", studels, pálinka or the lentil soup on January 1 for some luck and prosperity.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Where: Old Town and Wenceslas Square
When: From the end of November to January 6
Best for: Sausages and traditional Nativity scenes
Why love it: Prague is one of the most romantic cities in Europe and a perfect destination for the festive season. The Christmas Markets of Prague is about a five minute walk apart in a medieval setting with Gothic architecture, dozens of wooden stalls and the scent of cinnamon. The sellers offer traditional Czech hand-blown glass baubles, straw products, hand-embroidered tablecloths and wooden toys, but you'll find plenty of food too. Taste the gingerbread biscuits, roasted chestnuts, pancakes and skewered foods. At 5pm watch how they turn on the lights on the square and the Christmas tree. Children can meet sheep, goats and a donkey at Wenceslas Square.
Try: Grog, svarák, strdelník, garlic and cheese flatbread, grilled sausages
TALLINN, ESTONIA
Where: Town Hall Square
When: From mid-November to the beginning of January
Best for: Coziness, music and dance troupes
Why love it: Estonia is probably not the most known holiday spot, but it's an absolutely worthy destination! It's capital city, Tallinn is a beautiful and nicely preserved medieval town with cobblestone streets, snowy rooftops and long traditions. Did you know that Tallinn was the first city in Europe to display a Christmas tree? They set up Estonia's biggest Christmas tree in front of the Town Hall of Tallinn every year, since 1441. The Christmas Market surrounding the tree is quite small, consisting of about 30 chalets but a wonderful atmosphere and scent of amazing dishes. Shop around for knitted products, wooden chopping boards, handmade wreaths, local arts and crafts, sweets, honey, and sheepskin rugs and the meantime enjoy the brass bands, bell ringers and endless dance troupes. Children can enjoy the carousels or get candy from Santa Claus, who arrives by a reindeer-pulled sleigh.
Try: black pudding, sauerkraut (sour cabbage), gingerbread, Vana Tallinn
BASEL, SWITZERLAND
Where: Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz
When: From the end of November to the day before Christmas
Best for: Culinary delights and fairy lights
Why love it: Switzerland is a true winter wonderland and Basel has the largest and most authentic Christmas market of the country. Around a hundred tall pine trees line up the streets pointing the way for the visitor. The market is located in the well-preserved Old Town and one of the town's most beautiful square, and the twinkling lights of the shops and facades create a unique atmosphere. There are over 160 wooden stalls, and the section at Barfüsserplatz offers a wide range of handmade, wooden toys, nativity scenes, and jewellery, while the market at Münsterplatz filled with fun festive activities for kids, from bauble-making workshops to gingerbread decorating. If you get hungry, you can fill your tummy with a wide range of local treats, sausages and hot punch.
Try: Basel Läckerli, fondue and rib-sticking raclette
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Where: Place de la Cathédrale, Place Kléber, Place Gutenberg, Place Broglie, Place du Château
When: From mid-November to the end of December
Best for: Fairytale-like scenery and sweets
Why love it: The Alsace town of Strasbourg is France's Capital of Christmas and the birthplace of Christmas celebrations. The Christmas market of Strasbourg is France's oldest market and is among the oldest ones of Europe. The 300 wooden chalets of the market are located in the heart of the city, in Grande Île, a UNESCO world heritage sight. The magical scenery, the giant chandeliers, a white crystal tree, nightly concerts, the twinkling lights on church facades and the illuminated Great Christmas Tree makes this market an wonderful experience. The sellers offer everything from hand-painted wooden decorations and baubles to blown-glass candles. Children can enjoy the ice skating rink and the craft workshops.
Try: bredele butter biscuits, foie gras, hot white wine, kugelhopf
COLOGNE, GERMANY
Where: Cologne Cathedral
When: From the end of November to the day before Christmas
Best for: Variety and entertainment
Why love it: The Christmas markets of Cologne has plenty to offer from individually crafted gifts and outdoor ice skate rinks to culinary specialties and more than 100 stage performances. There are several smaller themed markets in Cologne of which the central one is the largest and most impressive with the stunning cathedral in the background. Markt der Engel offers magical moments with hundreds of twinkling lights suspended overhead and angels glimpsed flitting between the decorated gables. Also, there are markets dedicated to mythical gnomes, and to maritime history, complete with sea shanties and pirates or a recently added LGBTQ+ market featuring live shows and variety performances. Nikolausdorf (Nicholas’s village) tells the story of the real St. Nick for kids.
Try: glühwein, bratwurst, baked apple
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Where: Tivoli Gardens
When: From mid-November to January 5
Best for: Ferris wheel rides and Danish decorations
Why love it: Tivoli Gardens is the historic amusement park that inspired Disneyland. For the festive season it is transformed into a Winter Wonderland with more than 500,000 fairy lights. The Christmas Village market is packed with Christmas trees, Christmas decorations and Christmas lights along with Scandinavian-style wooden huts selling wooden toys, ceramics, traditional Danish decorations and chunky knitwear while the Tivoli Youth Guard band plays festive tunes. Ferris wheels, an ice skating rinks and the aromas of caramelized almonds and mulled wine adds to the holiday feeling.
Try: aebleskiver, honninghjerter, glögg
HELSINKI, FINLAND
Where: Senate Square
When: From the beginning of December to the day before Christmas
Best for: Cool design
Why love it: The Christmas market of Helsinki is a combination of traditions and contemporary entertainment. Play bingo, watch the holiday outfit contest for dogs, get a vegan ham, drink hot mulled wine or go a ride on the carousel while the choir sing Christmas carols. Stroll among the illuminated stalls, that offers typically Finnish handmade products: himmeli ornaments, pine and birch tar candles, cozy wool socks and contemporary jewellery.
Try: Don't miss the wood-heated unisex sauna in the middle of the market
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Where: Grand-Place
When: From the end of November to beginning of January
Best for: Gourmet experiences and the magical light show
Why love it: Brussels Winter Wonderland includes over 200 wooden chalets, a majestic Christmas tree, a covered ice rink, a Ferris wheel offering a bird eye view of the city, a life-sized manger and a magical light and sound show projected onto the Grand Palace. Watch for Santa and the Smurfs at every few hours.
Try: Belgian chocolate, crafted beer, waffles
So, that's our top 10 European Christmas market. If you like it, leave a comment or save it for later!
Comments