Christkindlmarkt. Weihnachtsmarkt. Marché de Noël.
Whatever name they go by, Christmas markets are a holiday staple with a long history in Europe. The tradition of the Christmas market can be traced back hundreds of years – all the way back into the Late Middle Ages, in fact. The markets began in German-speaking regions of Europe that today make up Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, and the Alsace region of France.
And it's in these regions that you can find the best modern-day Christmas markets, too.
The markets pop up at the beginning of Advent and last the four weeks until Christmas, drawing thousands (sometimes MILLIONS) of visitors each year. Some cities have one main market, while others have handfuls of smaller ones, often with unique themes. The markets are usually made up of decorated wooden stalls set up in a city square, with vendors selling everything from handmade Christmas ornaments to hot mulled wine and gingerbread.
The market stalls are often decorated with twinkle lights and fake snow, making for a wintery, festive atmosphere regardless of the weather.
Visiting Europe at Christmastime is something that I've always dreamed of doing, and I finally got the chance this year – I went on a cruise down the Rhine with Viking River Cruises and visited no less than seven cities with Christmas markets throughout Germany, France, and Switzerland. Even though there was no snow in any of the cities I visited this year (darn you, unseasonably warm winter!), it was still pretty magical.
In case you need a little more convincing to add “visiting European Christmas markets” to your own bucket list, here are 23 that will make you want to get yourself to a festive market ASAP!
How to do it
Most cities – large or small – in this part of Europe have a Christmas market (or seven). Nuremberg has one of the most famous markets in Germany, and other German cities like Munich, Dresden, Stuttgart, and Berlin are also known for their holiday market offerings. You'll find markets all over Europe, though, from Brussels to Prague to Vienna. Even Spain puts on Christmas markets (though I'm told you won't find much food or mulled wine at those, which kind of defeats the purpose in my opinion!).
Visiting Christmas markets can be as simple as booking a holiday getaway to a city with a popular market for a few days.
Or you could do what I did and book a Christmas market river cruise. We saw SO many cool cities and Christmas markets on my Rhine Getaway cruise with Viking, and enjoyed holiday-themed activities (and drinks) onboard, too. If a Viking River Cruise can fit into your budget one of these years, I highly recommend going in December!
Have you been to any Christmas markets in Europe? If so, which has been your favorite?
*Note: I did partner with Viking River Cruises for this trip, however all opinions and photos are 100% my own. You can't buy my opinions, no matter how much mulled wine is involved. 😉
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Great photos! I would love to do one of those Christmas market river cruises.
I thought it was such a great way to (easily) visit a lot of markets! Plus, river cruising in and of itself is really fun and relaxing. I can definitely see myself doing another one!
We just came back from Germany and visited 7 different markets between France and Germany. My favorite was a small one in the Residenz in Munich, my kids loved the Kids Market in Nuremberg, and my husband’s favorite was Rothenburg ob der Tauber. One thing is for sure, it is definitely something everyone should experience!
Agreed! Definitely deserves a spot on every bucket list!
Awesome photos! Puts the Christmas market at the German brewery here in Charlotte to shame.
Haha, yeah, I don’t think any markets in the US can really compare to the “originals” in Germany!
Great photos! These are all places I definitely want to visit. My favorites so far have been in Brussels, Budapest and Vienna!
I love Budapest – would love to be there around the holidays someday!
I am heading to Paris and Brussels on Dec 26th and am happy that the Christmas markets will still be open. I so badly wanted to visit them before Christmas, but couldn’t fit it into my schedule. But, a flash sale by British Airways led me to an impulse buy!! A gift to my husband and I – a trip to Paris and Brussels, on our own, no children! Woo! Hoo! Can’t wait!
Sounds like a great trip – I hope you love it!
I just got back from a weekend in Brugge to see the Christmas markets there! They were quite small, with more food then Christmasy items to purchase, but it was adorable! I did find some really special trinkets to purchase and enjoyed much delicious food and mulled wine. Would love to go to the ones in Cologne!
I visited Brugge in the summer a couple years ago and thought it must be so beautiful around the holidays!
These are absolutely beautiful!
Thanks, Michelle! 🙂
Oooh, I didn’t need any more convincing about the Christmas markets, but you have certainly added more beautiful photos to my list of evidence as to why a Christmas markets trip would be a great idea. Thanks Amanda!
You’re most welcome, Erin! 🙂
Love Christmas in Europe! We have family that lives in Reil, Germany (just south of Koblenz) so we visited them during the holidays about 6 years ago. One of my fave memories. Vancouver set up a similar market a few years ago but its’s just not the same!
Yeah, no one does it quite like Germany, if you ask me!
These are amazing pictures! Even the pre-opening one looks festive and inviting. Definitely want to re-create this trip some day and experience all the Christmas market magic 🙂
Thanks, Caroline! It was a really fun trip, and I highly recommend doing something similar one day!
The Christmas Market River Cruise sounds like a great idea! I’ll keep this on my list of potentials for next year! I’ve only visited two Christmas Markets in my life – the one in Edinburgh and this year I’ve been to Dusseldorf. I will also go to Maastricht which is supposed to have the best Christmas Market in The Netherlands.
I LOVED doing this as a river cruise. I like river cruising in general, but doing it around the holidays was really special.
Lovely post! I Love Christmas markets:) I’ve been to Vienna recently and wrote about its charming Christmas markets:)
I’ve heard that Vienna’s markets are really great too!
Christmas market season in Germany is my favorite season! I love the lights, the decorations, the Christmas carols, and most of all, the Glühwein! Glad you got to see so many of them on your river cruise!
If I lived there, I think it would be my favorite season, too!
Gorgeous photos! You must have a great camera! Ha ha…just kidding…you are a GREAT photographer; the camera is just a tool. 🙂 My favourite one is the Nuremberg market – I’ve been lucky enough to have gone twice as I have a friend in the area. We did quite a few markets and I must admit I was “marketed” out by the time I left Germany but four years later I’m ready to tackle them again sometime! The Cologne ones look great as well….I visited some of the same places as you did on my Rhine cruise many moons ago but I think a cruise at Christmas time would be awesome. There is just something magical about the markets – especially at night with the lights, the people, decorations and the wonderful smells! I agree…the mugs are great souvenirs. Just about to brew up a cuppa to have in one of them right now – always fun to bring back something that has a lovely memory that you can actually use.
Going to the Nuremberg market is definitely on my list, especially after visiting so many other great ones in Germany! Cologne was one of my favorite stops, simply because there were so many markets and they were all so DIFFERENT. (Though my feet were killing me by the end of that day after walking to all of them, haha!)
Being in Europe and around all the markets around Christmas really was magical.
My favorite one is Brussels – home of some amazingly delicious waffles 🙂
I haven’t been there, but I HAVE had delicious waffles in Belgium – no doubt there would be some delicious ones at the Christmas markets there!