Best Christmas market destinations in Europe
Best Christmas market destinations in Europe
Historic old town squares and traditional winter market tracks in Europe
Central European market towns anchor centuries of Christmas market tradition, with stalls, mulled wine and wooden huts that have barely changed in format since they began. A city further west, sometimes called a capital of the tradition, adds its own deeply rooted version.
The destinations on this list range from medieval market towns with traditions going back hundreds of years to larger cities running multiple markets simultaneously across different neighbourhoods. Some are intimate. Others need a full day or more to properly cover.
Visiting on weekday evenings tends to offer the best balance of atmosphere and manageable crowds, while the final weekends before Christmas are usually busiest. Local tourism offices typically publish detailed maps each year. Dressing warmly for evening visits also matters considerably given how quickly temperatures drop after dark.
Lists by region
City in Germany
Munich
Bavarian capital of beer gardens and museums
The Marienplatz market sits in front of the neo Gothic town hall and is among the oldest in Germany. A huge tree shines over the square beside the carillon clock. Visitors can buy hand carved nativity figures and eat roasted almonds. Other markets in the city include a medieval one at Wittelsbacherplatz.
City in Germany
Hamburg
Port city with warehouses and the Elbphilharmonie
More than a dozen markets spread through the port city each winter. The one at the town hall is the biggest and has a large tree and medieval stalls. A market with a pirate theme sits near the harbor on the Fleet canals. Visitors can drink Glühwein and eat grilled sausages.
City in Germany
Cologne
Gothic cathedral, Roman ruins and Kölsch
Several squares host markets with the twin spires of the great cathedral as a backdrop. The biggest one fills the Cathedral Square with a huge tree and about one hundred stalls. Visitors can sample Glühwein and the local sweet Printen biscuits. Another market sits by the river harbor and has a pirate theme.
City in Germany
Frankfurt am Main
Skyline, apple wine and a rebuilt old town
A very old market fills the Römerberg square beneath half timbered houses. Vendors sell Bethmännchen, a small marzipan treat. Apple wine is the local drink. A large tree stands in front of the old town hall. The market goes back to about 1393 and still draws crowds each winter.
City in Germany
Nuremberg
Imperial castle, gingerbread and Christmas market
The Christkindlesmarkt is among the most famous Christmas markets in the world. A young woman dressed as the Christkind opens it from the balcony of the Frauenkirche. Stalls sell Nuremberg gingerbread called Lebkuchen and sausages in a bun. Visitors can also try the local prune men, which are little figures made from dried fruit.
City in Germany
Leipzig
Bach, music and a lively creative scene
A market that dates back to 1458 fills the old town squares and is among the oldest in Germany. A huge tree stands in front of the Renaissance town hall and a giant Ferris wheel turns nearby. Visitors can drink Glühwein and try a local pastry. A Finnish tent village adds charm.
City in Germany
Freiburg im Breisgau
Sunny Black Forest gateway with a Gothic minster
Markets crowd the square around the red sandstone cathedral in this Black Forest university city. Visitors can try roasted sausages and local wine or wooden crafts from the nearby forest. Lights hang on the old gates and across the lanes. The cathedral tower climbs high above the market and can be visited.
City in Germany
Dresden
Baroque Elbe city rebuilt from the ruins
The Striezelmarkt opened in 1434 and ranks among the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. Its name comes from the Dresden Stollen, a fruit loaf dusted with sugar. A giant wooden pyramid stands on the Altmarkt square in the old town. A Stollen festival takes place on one December weekend.
City in Germany
Lübeck
Brick towers, marzipan and Hanseatic history
The city is known for its red brick Gothic gates and its marzipan, which is sold at the market. Stalls fill the square in front of the old town hall under lights. A historic market nearby offers crafts in the style of the Middle Ages. Visitors can stroll the old town.
City in Germany
Heidelberg
Castle ruin above the Neckar and old town
Small huts dot the old town below the castle ruins on the hill. Visitors can browse hand made crafts, try local sweets and sip mulled wine in the lanes. Ice skating and a cozy Christmas forest sit on the Karlsplatz square. A lit castle glows above the river Neckar in the evening.
Town in Germany
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Half-timbered streets and a walkable town wall
This walled town hosts a small market called the Reiterlesmarkt in the square in front of the old town hall. Stalls sell Schneeballen, a crisp pastry ball coated in sugar. A famous Christmas shop called Käthe Wohlfahrt is open all year. Snow on the half timbered houses gives the town a fairytale look.
City in Germany
Aachen
Charlemagne's cathedral and hot springs
Wooden huts fill the square between the town hall and the cathedral each winter. Aachen is known for Printen, a spiced gingerbread sold in every bakery. Charlemagne's cathedral rises behind the market and glows after dark. Visitors can sip mulled wine beside the old fountain in the center.
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