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!
I’m dying to go to Christmas markets in Europe. I would combine it with finding northern lights and Russia. Being from Sydney the flights are long and expensive so I think combining everything and going for aciuple of months would be my best bet. Love the photos. Can’t wait to see for myself.
That would be a great trip! Though I would suggest maybe visiting Russia and then heading to Norway to search for the Northern Lights – it’s not as cold in Norway, and they have much less cloud cover in the winter months!
Hey! I definitely recommend you going to the well-known Christmas market in Nuremberg. As I’ve seen you have already put it on your list, so don’t miss it out. It is very traditional and you can get “Nürnberger Glühwein” and the very tasty ginger bread for which the city is also known for. Furthermore, you should not miss the stands selling “Nuremberg Bratwurst” (grilled sausages). So in case you’re going, you will really have a good time there!
I definitely hope to make it there another holiday season!
Omg that Prager Schinken at the Christmas Market in Speyer was probably the best thing I ate in all of Germany. Speyer was also one of my favourite Christmas Markets, and the Cathedral was amazing (well worth the two hour detour on the way from Wurzburg to Trier). My other favourite markets was the one in St Wolfgang, Austria (more like a whole christmas town!), Wurzburg, Germany and the medieval Christmas market in Munich where they set out Gluhwein on fire in goblets! So awesome and unique.
I think I’ve got a bit of Christmas Market fatique now- but I don’t think I could ever get sick of drinking Gluhwein!
I haven’t managed to get into Germany, Austria or Switzerland to see any of the christmas markets, but I’ve been in two Christmas markets in Romania – specifically in Timisoara and Sibiu. Small, but lovely, with a lot of local products on display, hot wine with cinnamon and orange and a nice atmosphere.
I dream that someday I will manage to get to the Viena Christmas market. But not this year. Maybe the next one.
That still sounds really nice! I love Romania, and I imagine Christmas there would be lovely, too. 🙂
I visited Bath market this year, and there was not enough mulled wine, or food- tho’ there was a pop up food market in the Southgate centre! There wasn’t ANY baileys hot chocolate either, which made me very sad! The Koln markets look awesome– especially with the ice skating.
The Cologne markets were definitely the most varied – and perhaps the most festive! Definitely would rank high on my list of best Christmas markets!
Wow, you’ve really seen a lot! We don’t really need pictures to want to go to Christmas markets as we love them so much! 😀
Vienna is our favorite so far! We’ve been to Vienna earlier, but we’ve seen it in its Christmas glory for the first time this year. We love Vienna so much anyway and we have another magical memory about it now after our Christmas trip. 🙂
Happy holidays!
I think it would be difficult to NOT love Christmas markets – you’d have to be a real Scrooge! 😉
Do u need to speak German?
Not at all. Most Europeans speak English these days. 🙂
These look lovely! I am yet to spend winter in Europe, so I’ve never been able to experience the Christmas markets – I know I would love all the gingerbread and glühwein!!
You definitely should do Europe around Christmas sometime! It’s such a different atmosphere – and the gingerbread and gluhwein are great!
These are beautiful and on my bucket list for sure! Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love all the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. I know Europe is famous for them, but have you been to any markets in the states?
No, I can’t say I’ve been to any in the States! I’ve heard Chicago has a pretty big one, but I don’t know of a whole lot of great Christmas markets in the US.
‘Love! ‘Love! ‘Love your photographs! And sure, I’ve been to many a Christmas Market as I live in the home of Christmas Markets itself – Germany!
p.s. I’ve been to Christmas Markets in various German cities, France and England.
I’m now officially jealous of anyone living in Germany because of all those great Christmas markets!
[…] a beautiful photo essay on European Christmas markets by Amanda from A Dangerous […]
While I loved the markets in Germany, I also have a great fondness for the markets in Italy after Christmas. And seeing everyone converge on Piazza Navona in Rome on the eve of the Epiphany was amazing!
I’ll have to keep that in mind! I’ve never been to Italy around the holidays.
All those lights look so festive! It is way to hot though, not a proper summer with ice and snow. Maybe in January, I have my fingers crossed:-)
Haha yeah, it was lacking snow! But I can’t complain, because it could have been raining!
Great photos! You’ve really done a beautiful job capturing the energy and atmosphere of Christmas markets in Europe. I’ve been living in Germany for the past three years, and one of my absolute favorites is the Medieval Christmas Market in Esslingen am Neckar (near Stuttgart). It’s a bit out of the way, but if you’re ever in the area during the Christmas season, I definitely recommend a visit!
Oooo a medieval market? That sounds awesome!
Wow, Colmar looks so colorful and festive! And I love the orderly lanes of the German ice skating rink. Over the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed holiday decorations in Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, and Dublin, and am currently exploring the Christmas markets of the Baltic states. So far Riga, Latvia wins for this region!
Colmar was so beautiful! Probably one of my favorite stops, just because the whole place oozes Christmas this time of year!
Wow, this will get anyone in the mood for Christmas! Will pin this!
Pin away! I’ve been looking through these photos everyday – definitely a great way to get into the holiday mood!