20+ Best European Christmas Markets To Visit In 2026 (Tips, Cruises)

When is the best time to visit best Christmas European markets?

A lot of people assume that many of the Christmas markets are open during the last week of December.

But this is rarely the case since most of the Christmas markets close on the 24th or the 26th of December. Yes, some are still open but you need to plan accordingly.

Most of the top European Christmas markets open between the mid of November and end of November. And they are usually open till the 26th of December.

A very few are open in January too. E.g places where they celebrate Advent in January or King’s day may well be open during first week of January.

For me, I have found the best time to visit is the last week of November or the first week of December when the Christmas rush has still not started and you can still enjoy them.

What to expect at the Best Christmas markets in Europe?

One of the common myths that most people have when it comes to Christmas markets is that it is very similar to each other and can get repetitive after a while.

But as someone who has been over 30 European Christmas markets, I can tell you that each of them will definitely have their own unique twist to it.

Additionally, they are so festive and hence that makes it a worthwhile experience.

Some of the common things that you will definitely find at any good European Christmas markets is:

• A big Christmas tree (Depending on the size of the Christmas market, the number of Christmas trees will vary)
• Some stalls selling drinks like Gluhwein or Mulled wine or Hot chocolate.
• Some stalls selling food items: commonly Bratwurst, Chestnuts, Gingerbread, Crepes and lots of other desserts.
• Some stalls will sell handcrafted items and these are sometimes my favorite things to buy. Think Christmas ornaments, candles, cute miniature souvenir items, snow globes and so much more.
• Some European Christmas markets will have ice skating rinks or carousels or other rides. One even had a Ferris wheel.
• Some will even have dance shows and musical contests.

Bigger cities like Paris or London will have multiple Christmas markets while smaller cities and towns will have just one; mostly in the old town square.

Colmar which is primarily a Christmas town had more than 5-6 smaller markets all within 2 kms and could be basically considered as one Christmas market town.

Things to keep in mind for European Christmas market tours

Some of the things that you need to keep in mind while visiting Christmas European markets:

• You need to book accommodation months in advance especially if you want to stay in Christmas market towns like Colmar or Strasbourg. When I went this season, all places to stay in Colmar were overpriced or booked out since there are very few options available in smaller towns.
• I ended up doing it as a Day trip from Paris to cut costs. But it was still a very long day. I started at 6 AM and only got back around 10 pm in the night.
• Keep in mind about the timings for each Christmas market when you visit. Some are open till 5 pm while others open only in the evening.
• If you are buying a drink in a souvenir mug, you can pay an extra few pounds to take it home as a souvenir.
• Big cities like Paris and Vienna have multiple Christmas market squares and some are much better than the others. The one below Eiffel tower was not worth it in my opinion.
• Instead of staying in proper Christmas towns, try staying in nearby towns which are less popular than its counterparts. For e.g. Bratislava is just an hour away from Vienna or 2 hours away from Budapest.
• Like I mentioned before, also check when the Christmas markets officially open and close. Usually start by end of November and end by the 26th of December.
• Many Christmas markets don’t operate on Christmas day because people like to spend it with their families.
• Also, some Christmas markets like the one in Hallstatt are usually open for only one day every year while some are weekly affairs.
• Carry cash since most of the stalls won’t accept cards.
• You can hop between European Christmas towns either by own vehicle or train or even by a river cruise. Check out the many European Christmas markets river cruises that take care of everything for you.
• If you are not sure if it is vegetarian, then ask before you buy some of the food at the stalls. Trust me, you will be drinking a lot of Hot chocolate to keep warm and it is best to avoid the Marshmallows.
• European Christmas market dates are usually published by the end of October or in most cases by first week of November. But you can get an approximate timeline from the previous years.
• Irrespective of which Christmas market I went to, it was always crowded. So please keep this in mind while visiting Christmas markets.

Where are the best European Christmas markets?

Now let us come to the list of the best Christmas European markets. These are mostly personal recommendations after years of hopping around Christmas markets in Europe. Some are definitely in the bucket list and I can’t wait to visit them in the future.

Tallinn

I am going to start with the one which was the first Christmas market in Europe that I visited.

Tallinn in Estonia was the first one that I visited many years ago and it definitely started my love for visiting Christmas markets.

It is usually conducted in the middle of the Old medieval town with a large Christmas tree in the center and multiple stalls around it.

The day I got to Tallinn, I was occupied with some personal stuff going on and thought I will not be able to enjoy the town.

After an early dinner, I decided to walk to the old town square which was just 10 mins away and the minute I entered, I felt like I was entering a fairytale.

The setting was just unreal in the midst of colourful buildings and the added advantage of seeing something that I was not expecting. This was mid November and I did not know that Tallinn was one of those few Christmas markets that were the first to open.

Did you know the Christmas tree in Tallinn is considered to be one of the oldest in Europe?

Another very unique thing is that every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there are cultural activities happening in a stage set in the old town square. And I got to see an Estonian folk dance along with other performances that day.

Unfortunately, it was too early for snow and I would love to go back to Tallinn to see the same setting in snow.

I did end up trying a lot of desserts during that trip and I went back in the morning to witness the same during daylight. Nighttime was definitely more magical.

Rovaniemi

Who wouldn’t want to go to Santa Claus’s village at least once in their lifetime? And the good thing about this is that it is not only confined during Christmas.

But you can visit this for the entirety of winter in Lapland. Actually, you can visit Santa Claus every day of the year.

So even though it is technically on Christmas, you have a Christmas market destination that you can visit all year round.

Meet Santa’s helpers and reindeers. Play in snow all day and witness the magic of Auroras during season.

Colmar

When I visited Colmar a few years ago, I had resolved to go back to Colmar during Christmas time and I finally was able to go last year.

And if you ask me which are the prettiest Christmas markets in Europe, then Colmar definitely makes it to the list.

The only downside was that I was not able to stay in any of the Alsatian villages since I also wanted to be in Paris for New Year’s.

So I ended up doing a day trip from Paris to both Strasbourg and Colmar. It was a long day but it was extremely magical.

There are actually 6 Christmas markets all around the Old town of Colmar. Each one has a theme like one is completely dedicated to kids.

You can spend hours walking around La petite Venice or other parts of Colmar. The decorations are the best part of it and they do have some rides too around the town.

My only regret is that I could not stay back to enjoy the lights during nighttime.

Please note that because of its popularity, it is extremely crowded and you need to book your accommodation months in advance if you want to stay in the town.

It is around 30 mins by train from Strasbourg and the train was heavily packed.

Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market

This Christmas market in Germany has gotten really popular in recent years.

All of you must have seen the picture of Christmas huts just below a viaduct in Black Forest.

This is a ticketed Christmas markets and tickets sell out in October as soon as they open up.

The view of the illuminated viaduct and trains passing over it is a sight to behold.

Unfortunately, the best way to get here is by Shuttle buses from Hinterzarten.

It is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the month of November and December.

This is another one which is high up on my bucket list.

Valletta

I spend my Christmas week with family in Malta that year and this made this Christmas market all the more special.

Compared to other Christmas markets, I thought this would be a muted affair since I had not heard much about it before my visit to Malta.

One evening, we decided to head to Valletta to explore and that is when we stumbled upon this Christmas market right in the center of it.

In addition to all the food stalls, they had numerous number of rides including a Ferris wheel, a gigantic Carousel and so much more.

This was one of the biggest Christmas markets I have been to since they had such a big open space.

They also had some impressive decorations with streets covered with lights just like in London.

You also need to take the 30 min Valletta Christmas train which takes you around the Capital city and around the decorations.

Zagreb

It is such a surprise that not many Eastern European countries appear on this list.

But I would be amiss if I did not miss Advent in Zagreb.

This is also one of theose few Christmas markets that are open in January too.

It is not concentrated only in one place but are spread across multiple venues. Each venue being a specialist for something.

In Zrinjevic park, the entire place is illuminated by fairy lights.

While Ban Jelacic square has a big Christmas tree, a market and daily live concerts.

Another one has Europe’s biggest ice skating rink.

You definitely need to try Kuhano vino (mulled wine), Rakija, sausages, and sir i vrhnje (cheese and cream) along with some fritule.

Milan

This year, I ended up doing the Bernina express from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy. Milan was just 3 hours from Tirano and I decided to catch a flight the next day out of Milan.

I was staying near Milan cathedral and in the evening, I decided to head there to catch Milan cathedral by night.

It was not my first time in Milan but I had not seen the cathedral during night the last time I was there.

And when I got to Piazza del Duomo is when I saw the Christmas market there. There were many stalls selling stuff with a huge Christmas tree around the Milan Duomo cathedral.

It was the first week of January and hence this is one of those Christmas markets that are even open in January.

Even though the Christmas market itself doesn’t have that quaint vibe, I loved buying the many artisanal handicrafts from here.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II or the iconic shopping street filled with luxury brands is just adjacent to the Duomo and they have a huge Christmas tree right in the middle.

Additionally, there was a light show happening on the walls of the outer part of the Galleria.

You should definitely try Panettone, Bombardino, Vin Bruele or what Mulled wine is called in Milan and Torrone when in Milan.

Nuremberg

Did you know that the one of the oldest and most famous German Christmas market is in Nuremberg?

It happens in Hauptmarkt central square and is called Little Town of Wood and Cloth.

It has been known to happen since the 1500s and has so many interesting traditions and the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is quite high up on my bucketlist.

The tradition of ChristKind is followed here. A version of Santa Claus in some of the Central European countries.

All stalls have a red and white roof and you can get some unique German souvenirs and treats here.

You need to get the Nuremberg Gingerbread, Prune men made of prunes, Spekulatius almond cookies, Nuremberg Bratwurst and sausages.

They also have vegan stalls which keeps the vegetarians like me happy.

Paris

It has been a dream of mine to spend New Year’s in Paris and I finally ending up making that dream come true last year.

And it was definitely one of the most magical experiences of my life.

Now since Paris is a large city, there are actually multiple Christmas markets around the city and I visited around 4 of them when I was in Paris.

Even though the one in front of Eiffel tower is the most hyped one because of the photo opps, I did not enjoy it a lot. Entering the market took almost 30-40 mins and that kind of spoilt the mood for me.

I enjoyed the Tuileries Garden one the most. But it is more of a carnival with multiple rides, a Ferris wheel, an ice rink, Car bashing and multiple carousels.

It is loud, colourful and extremely crowded.But I still enjoyed it.

The Tuileries Garden are also conveniently located between the Louvre Museum and The Concorde leading up to the Champs De Elys

The one in Montmartre was comparatively tiny and the only reason that I liked it was because it was set in Montmartre.

Christmas decorations around Paris are top notch and you definitely should visit Galleries Lafayete too.

A very quaint and little Christmas market that I enjoyed was the Saint Germain Des Pres market and it was just walking distance from where I was staying.

In French, mulled wine is called Chaud Vin and should definitely be tried.

Copenhagen

I have only gone to the Tivoli Gardens one and it was on the day it opened.

They are usually open from November mid to December end.

This is the only Christmas market in Europe where I was charged an admission fee.

This is because Tivoli is an amusement park and turns into a winter wonderland every Christmas.

One of the most impressive things is obviously the Christmas lights and you definitely have to visit the Gardens to witness the Firs surrounded by thousands of lights.

You can choose the option to ride the many rides too.

Lake Montreux

Picture this. The gorgeous lake Geneva with the Swiss alps in the background.

More than 150+ stalls in the form of tiny chalets. Against this backdrop.

At a short distance lies the Chillon castle. Where a Medieval event happens during Christmas.

And the icing on the cake is the Flying Santa every evening once every hour.

This is the Montreux Noel Christmas market and is a premium Christmas market you need to visit in Europe.

While here, definitely have some Fondue, crepes, Mulled wine and obviously those Hot chocolates made with those delicious Swiss chocolates.

And don’t forget to take a Ferris wheel to catch the views of the lake and the alps and to take a Toy train upto to Santa’s village.

This Christmas market is usually open from end of November and ends just before Christmas.

Budapest

I was in Budapest a couple of years ago and I found it to be a very underrated Christmas market European destination.

Again, like other big cities, there are multiple Christmas markets around town but the two that definitely stand out are the St Basilica’s one and the one in Vorosmarty square.

The one in St Basilica usually has a 3d light painting on the facade of the Basilica and this happens every 30 mins.

Both of them are not very far from each other and you can easily cover them in less than 2-3 hours.

When in Budapest, don’t forget to try the Chimney cakes and you can find Goulash everywhere. Unfortunately, for me, the second one is heavily meat based and something I couldn’t try when in Budapest.

I ended up buying a few ceramics at the Budapest Christmas market.

They are relatively quite crowded. So be prepared when you go to one of the Christmas markets in Budapest.

Zurich

Since it is another big city, there are multiple Christmas markets.

Christkindlimarkt is Europe’s largest indoor market.

While the one in Old town is known for its festive charm.

Wienachtsdorf or the Christmas village in front of the Opera house and is set up as a village with lots of food and souvenir stalls.

Zurich is also one of the most expensive cities to visit and it gets even more expensive during Christmas time and this is something that you should keep in mind if you are planning to visit Zurich during Christmas time.

Also, don’t forget to visit the Singing Christmas tree where choirs perform standing on a tree shaped stage.

There are multiple light and sound shows around the city during Christmas too.

Complete your days in Zurich during Christmas with some candle making, eating lots of fondue and Raclette and riding the fairytale tram.

And don’t forget to try the world famous swiss chocolates.

Strasbourg

Christkindelsmarik or the Market of the Christ child is one of the oldest and most popular Christmas markets in the world.

Held in the central square of Place Kleber near the Strasbourg cathedral.

And it is extremely impressive that this UNESCO world heritage site is often known as the Capital of Christmas.

My favorite part of both Strasbourg and Colmar has to be the many teddy bear decorations around both the towns.

Since both are in the Alsatian route, you definitely have to try the Alsatian treats around town.

The Christmas market is walking distance from the railway station and you should definitely roam around the area including Petite France or the Tanner’s quarters.

The Christmas tree is one of the biggest I have seen and this was one place where I saw so many unique Christmas ornaments ranging in all colours.

My only regret again is that I didn’t stay back in the night to see it in its full glory.

Dresden

Striezelmarkt is the world’s oldest Christmas market and it happens in Dresden.

It is also one of the biggest since there are over 240 stalls selling all sorts of Christmas food and souvenirs.

It is usually open from November till Christmas like most other markets on this list.

It is held in Altmarkt square.

It is named after Striezel or Stollen which is a sweet cake that is usually made during this time.

It has been going on for more than 6 centuries now.

There is a huge Erzgebirge Christmas pyramid and a huge Christmas tree along with several rides for children like a Merry Go round, Puppet theatre and Children’s railway for example.

When in Dresden, you definitely need to buy Wooden Christmas ornaments, nutcrackers and candle pyramids.

You can get most foods that are typical for a Christmas market in Germany.

Vienna

Who among us haven’t wanted to take a picture of the iconic red bow Christmas decoration? Did you know this was in Vienna?

And I went to Vienna exactly in search of this bow and found one of my favorite Christmas markets in Europe.

Between, you can find this bow just opposite the Vienna Opera house.

But the christmas market I am talking about is the Rathausplatz or the Viennese dream Christmas market and is just a 20 min walk away from the Vienna opera house.

This one was huge with a big carousel, an even bigger icing rink and scenes from the nativities and so many stalls.

All set against the Rathausplatz or the City hall. A floating heart light display appears every 30 minutes in the evening.

It is also open quite late till 10 Pm and opens at 10 AM too.

But the best part is definitely the stalls selling so many handicrafts and Christmas ornaments. I was at a loss deciding what to buy from here.

Also, look out for the tree of hearts when you are here.

Things to try are definitely the sausages and the Schnitzels for non-vegetarians. But they did have a lot of colourful desserts too.

This market is also called the Weiner Christkindlmarkt.

London

I have only been to the Christmas market in Covent Garden and that was years ago.

I was really impressed with the decorations and when it comes to lights, I feel London does the best job among other European capitals.

The one in Covent Garden did not have the Christmas stalls set up when I went. But the giant 55 ft tree was definitely the highlight and that is why it made to this list.

Also, with so many gourmet options, it was difficult not to fall in love with it.

The giant baubles inside the historic market building is definitely a sight to visit.

Bratislava

This is one of the smallest and quaintest Christmas markets that I have visited and it gave me such a homely feel.

The number of stalls are less compared to other markets but since this is also set up against the Old town, it comes with its own charm.

There is a carousel too. But the best part was that it started snowing when I was there and hence it definitely is one of the best European Christmas markets with snow.

You should definitely try Lokse (Potato pancakes) andLangos (Fried dough filled with garlic and cheese) and drink Mead while you are there. Also, don’t forget Trdelnik or the chimney cakes.

I even ended up seeing a procession of Santas on bikes just outside the old town square which was definitely fun to watch.

Bruges

Bruges is a fairytale on its own. But when you add in some Christmas markets, it turns even more magical.

They are usually held in the Grote market and the colourful buildings surrounding the square makes for the perfect backdrop.

This Christmas market usually ends around the first week of January and is perfect if you cannot travel during Christmas.

You should also check out the Winter Glow trail when in Bruges.

Also, I would be eating Belgian waffles and having some mulled wine when in Bruges.

Gdansk

Did you know that Gdansk was voted last year as the best European Christmas market?

When I went last year, technically they were in the process of dismantling the market since I went during first week of January.

But the tree was still up and some stalls remained. The decorations were still up.

Again this is located in the center of Old Town or Targ Weglowy or the former coal market.

It usually has a Ferris wheel and a Carousel but that was not there when I visited.

The old town is full of colourful pastel buildings and that setting covered in snow added to the magic of the place.

Since the space can be constrained, the Christmas stalls are spread across various streets.

Don’t forget to try out the Grzaniec or Mulled wine and Polish Pierogi while you are in Gdansk.

There were lot of street performers during the weekend too.

Conclusion: Best European Christmas Markets

In conclusion, Europe’s Christmas markets offer far more than festive shopping. They create an atmosphere that feels truly magical and unforgettable.

From the elegant charm of Vienna to the fairytale streets of Colmar and the lively squares, each destination brings its own unique traditions, flavors, and holiday spirit.

Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with family, these markets offer moments of joy, warmth, and cultural discovery. It is a chance to slow down, embrace the festive season, and create lasting memories in some of the most enchanting settings in the world.