Christmas markets are the reason a lot of Americans fly to Europe in December — and the good news is that you have more than a month to work with. Most markets open in mid or late November and run to just before Christmas, with a dozen or so carrying on into the first week of January.
This guide covers 26 of the best Christmas markets in Europe for the 2026 season: when each one opens, what to eat there, what it costs, and where to stay within walking distance.
If you have never done one before, expect cobblestone squares, mulled wine served in collectible mugs (which you pay a deposit on), roasted chestnuts and sausages, and stall after stall of handmade gifts. If you have, you already know the only hard part is choosing the city.
Jump straight to what you need:
- 2026 opening dates for all 26 markets
- Europe's biggest, oldest and most famous markets
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Vienna, Austria
- Bruges, Belgium
- Krakow, Poland
- Lille, France
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Winchester, England
- Budapest, Hungary
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Cologne, Germany
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Salzburg, Austria
- Gdansk, Poland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Manchester, England
- Dusseldorf, Germany
- York, England
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Riga, Latvia
- Barcelona, Spain
- Chester, England
- Ghent, Belgium
- Colmar, France
- Oslo, Norway
- Basel, Switzerland
- Strasbourg, France
- Christmas market FAQs
Christmas market dates in Europe 2026: when do they open?
Exact opening days shift by a few days each year, and most markets confirm their dates in September or October. The windows below are the ones each market has kept to in recent seasons — use them to plan flights, then confirm the exact days on the official market site before you book anything non-refundable.
Two patterns are worth knowing before you pick dates. First, a lot of markets close on 23 or 24 December, so a trip built around Christmas Day itself often arrives to shuttered stalls. The last week of November through the third week of December is a more reliable window. Second, the markets that run into January (Prague, Vienna, Cologne, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Riga, Oslo, Manchester) are the ones worth looking at if you can only travel between Christmas and New Year.
| Christmas market | Country | Where it's held | Usually open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prague | Czech Republic | Old Town Square & Wenceslas Square | Late Nov – early Jan |
| Vienna | Austria | Rathausplatz | Mid-Nov – early Jan |
| Bruges | Belgium | Grote Markt & Simon Stevinplein | Late Nov – early Jan |
| Krakow | Poland | Main Market Square | Late Nov – early Jan |
| Lille | France | Place Rihour | Mid-Nov – end Dec |
| Tallinn | Estonia | Town Hall Square | Late Nov – late Dec |
| Winchester | England | Cathedral Inner Close | Late Nov – just before Christmas |
| Budapest | Hungary | Vörösmarty Square | Mid-Nov – end Dec |
| Edinburgh | Scotland | East Princes Street Gardens | Mid-Nov – early Jan |
| Cologne | Germany | Cathedral, Neumarkt & Heumarkt | Mid-Nov – just before Christmas |
| Copenhagen | Denmark | Tivoli Gardens | Mid-Nov – early Jan |
| Salzburg | Austria | Residenzplatz & Domplatz | Late Nov – early Jan |
| Gdansk | Poland | Targ Węglowy | Late Nov – just before Christmas |
| Geneva | Switzerland | Quai du Mont-Blanc | Late Nov – 24 Dec |
| Manchester | England | Albert Square, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square | Late Oct – early Jan |
| Dusseldorf | Germany | Town Hall & Heinrich-Heine-Platz | Late Nov – end Dec |
| York | England | Parliament Street & St Sampson's Square | Mid-Nov – just before Christmas |
| Stockholm | Sweden | Gamla Stan (Old Town) | Late Nov – 23 Dec |
| Riga | Latvia | Town Hall Square | Late Nov – early Jan |
| Barcelona | Spain | Fira de Santa Llúcia, Sagrada Família, Port Vell | Late Nov – 23 Dec |
| Chester | England | Town Hall Square | Mid-Nov – just before Christmas |
| Ghent | Belgium | City centre, Korenmarkt to Emile Braunplein | Early Dec – 31 Dec |
| Colmar | France | Five sites across the old town | Late Nov – end Dec |
| Oslo | Norway | Spikersuppa | Mid-Nov – early Jan |
| Basel | Switzerland | Barfüsserplatz & Münsterplatz | Late Nov – 23 Dec |
| Strasbourg | France | Place Broglie, Place de la Cathédrale and more | Late Nov – late Dec |
Europe's biggest, oldest and most famous Christmas markets
The biggest. Cologne is generally counted as Europe's biggest Christmas market, and it is really seven markets in one city. The main one under the cathedral alone runs to well over 150 stalls, and the others spread across Neumarkt, Heumarkt and the old town. Vienna's Rathausplatz market is the other contender, and which one takes the title depends on whether you count stalls or visitors. If sheer scale is the point of the trip, either will deliver.
The oldest. The Dresden Striezelmarkt, named after the local fruitcake, has been running since the fifteenth century and is generally called the oldest Christmas market in Europe still going. It is an easy add-on to a Cologne or Berlin trip if you want the historical one.
The most famous. Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt is the one most people picture: medieval architecture, hand-carved toys and ornaments, Lebkuchen gingerbread and grilled sausages, and a market that has drawn visitors from outside Germany for centuries.
For a wider look at the German markets specifically, consult our separate round-up of Germany's best Christmas markets.
Europe's 26 best Christmas markets
In no particular order - every one of these is worth a flight to Europe in winter.
1. Prague Christmas Market
Country: Czech Republic
Season: late November to early January
What to expect. Prague runs two main markets, in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, and the Old Town one is the postcard: a giant tree in front of the Gothic facades, live carol performances at the weekend, and stalls of hand-made ornaments, wooden toys and Bohemian glass. It is one of the few markets on this list that stays open past New Year, which makes it a good pick if your vacation days fall between Christmas and January.
What to eat. Klobása sausages grilled over coals and served in a baguette, trdelník chimney cake rolled in cinnamon sugar, roasted chestnuts, and svařák (Czech mulled wine) which is usually the cheapest hot drink at any market in this guide.
Where to stay for the Prague Christmas market
- Hotel Paris Prague is the pick if you want to walk to the market in under five minutes. It is a 5-star Art Nouveau building from 1904, owned by the same family for three generations, and it sits inside the Old Town's UNESCO World Heritage area.
2. Vienna Christmas Market
Country: Austria
Season: mid-November to early January
What to expect. The Viennese Dream Christmas Market in front of the City Hall is the biggest of the city's markets and the one that competes with Cologne for the title of Europe's largest. Hundreds of stalls, a park strung with light installations, choirs on the weekends, and a children's area where kids bake cookies and dip candles. Vienna also has smaller, quieter markets at Schönbrunn, Spittelberg and Karlsplatz if the main square feels like too much.
What to eat. Roasted chestnuts, käsespätzle, raclette melted over bread, and Weihnachtspunsch or Glühwein. Note that Austrian and German markets charge a refundable deposit on the mug on top of the drink — bring coins.
Where to stay for the Vienna Christmas market
- Hotel Sacher Vienna is the grand option — 154 rooms in the centre, a short walk from Rathausplatz, and a guest list that has run from John F. Kennedy to Queen Elizabeth II. The boutique Sacher Spa is a reasonable way to spend an afternoon when it is four degrees outside.
3. Bruges Christmas Market
Country: Belgium
Season: late November to early January
What to expect. The Bruges Christmas market runs under the name Winter Glow, and it is the whole city rather than one square: chalets and an ice rink in the Grote Markt beneath the belfry, a light trail through the medieval streets, horse-drawn carriages, and a second market on Simon Stevinplein. Bruges is small enough to cover on foot in a day, which makes it one of the easiest markets to combine with a Christmas holiday in London, Brussels or Amsterdam.
What to eat. Belgian waffles, frites with mayonnaise, hot vin chaud, and a shot of jenever if it gets properly cold. The chocolatiers are open through the market season and are worth as much of your time as the stalls.
Where to stay for the Bruges Christmas market
- Hotel de Orangerie is a former 15th-century convent on the Den Dijver canal, with 22 rooms, a waterfront terrace for breakfast and an oak-panelled dining room. Central enough to reach the Groeningemuseum and Market Square on foot.
4. Krakow Christmas Market
Country: Poland
Season: late November to early January
What to expect. The Krakow Christmas Market fills one of the largest medieval squares in Europe, ringed by St Mary's Basilica and the Cloth Hall. It is also the best-value market on this list by a wide margin, with food, drink and hotels all cost noticeably less than in Germany or Switzerland, and snow is likelier here than almost anywhere else in the guide.
What to eat. Grilled oscypek sheep's cheese with cranberry sauce, pierogi, kiełbasa, spiced beetroot soup, and mulled wine or honey beer.
Where to stay for the Krakow Christmas market
- The Wyndham Grand Krakow Old Town sits steps from Royal Road and a three-minute walk from the Main Market Square, with a buffet breakfast, an airport shuttle and Italian food at Trattoria Degusti downstairs.
5. Lille Christmas Market
Country: France
Season: mid-November to the end of December
What to expect. One of the smaller markets here, and that is the point: the Lille Christmas market is about 90 stalls on Place Rihour, ten minutes' walk from the station, with a big tree, a Ferris wheel for the city views, pony rides for kids and concerts on Friday nights. Easy to do as a day trip from Paris or London, and a good first market if crowds are not your thing.
What to eat. Crêpes, tartiflette, gaufres, and vin chaud. Walk two minutes to the Grand Place afterwards for a proper sit-down meal.
Where to stay for the Lille Christmas market
- Hotel Carlton is a four-star in Lille Centre Ville, a short stroll from both Place Rihour and the Grand Place, with individually decorated rooms, two bars, 24-hour room service and a station pick-up service.
6. Tallinn Christmas Market
Country: Estonia
Season: late November to late December
What to expect. The Tallinn Christmas market has been voted Europe's best more than once, and the setting explains why: a walled medieval Town Hall Square where the city says Europe's first public Christmas tree was raised, and a programme of choirs, folk dance groups and light shows that runs most evenings through December. Check the official site for this season's event schedule; it changes every year and it is worth timing a visit around.
What to eat. Verivorst blood sausage with lingonberry jam and sauerkraut, gingerbread, roasted almonds, and glögi: Estonian spiced wine, often served with a shot of vodka in it.
Where to stay for the Tallinn Christmas market
- Centennial Hotel Tallinn is a modern four-star about 15 minutes from Town Hall Square, built to mark Estonia's 100th anniversary, with a good breakfast to start a cold day on.
7. Winchester Christmas Market
Country: England
Season: late November to just before Christmas
What to expect. This Christmas market in Europe is set inside the Cathedral Inner Close, in German-style wooden chalets, with an ice rink alongside and carol services in the cathedral itself. Entry to the market is free and it is about an hour from London by train, which makes it the simplest market on this list to reach if you are already coming through Heathrow.
What to eat. Bratwurst, mince pies, fudge, and mulled wine — English markets charge more per cup than continental ones, and usually add a mug deposit too.
Where to stay for the Winchester Christmas market
- Hotel du Vin Winchester is a Georgian townhouse hotel with 24 individually designed rooms, a stone's throw from the cathedral and the market.
8. Budapest Christmas Market
Country: Hungary
Season: mid-November to the end of December
What to expect. Vörösmarty Square turns into a Christmas fairground of light displays and decorated stalls, with live folk music and carol singing, and a second market at St Stephen's Basilica where the facade is used as a projection screen after dark. Budapest is also the market to pick if you want something to do on a cold afternoon - the thermal baths are open all winter.
What to eat. Gulyás, lángos topped with garlic, sour cream and cheese, kürtőskalács chimney cake straight off the spit, roast chestnuts and mulled wine.
Where to stay for the Budapest Christmas market
- Hotel Moments Budapest is a 99-room four-star steps from St Stephen's Basilica and Andrássy Avenue. Nearby while you are there: Buda Castle and the Széchenyi thermal baths.
9. Edinburgh Christmas Market
Country: Scotland
Season: mid-November to early January
What to expect. The Edinburgh Christmas Market takes over East Princes Street Gardens under the castle: chalets, two ice rinks, fairground rides, and a mix of Scottish makers and European vendors selling tartan, candles and decorations. It runs into January, and if you can stay for Hogmanay you get one of the biggest New Year street parties in Europe on top of the market.
What to eat. Haggis in various forms, Scotch pies, tablet, hot toddies and mulled cider alongside the usual mulled wine.
Where to stay near the Edinburgh Christmas market
- The Malt House Apartments is a four-star apartment hotel five minutes' walk from Princes Street, which is useful in Edinburgh in December — having a kitchen means you are not committed to eating out every night in the busiest fortnight of the city's year.
10. Cologne Christmas Market
Country: Germany
Season: mid-November to just before Christmas
What to expect. The Cologne Christmas Market is the biggest in Europe and spread across seven themed markets. The main one sits directly under the cathedral with over 160 stalls; the Market of Angels is at Neumarkt; Heinzels Winter Fairytale at Heumarkt is a medieval-village setup with an ice rink and an old carousel. A mini-train links them, and even if you skip every stall the cathedral is worth the trip on its own. A shuttle also runs out to the China Lights display at Cologne Zoo. For more on the wider Christmas holidays in Germany, we have a separate guide.
What to eat. Reibekuchen potato pancakes with apple sauce, bratwurst, Krakauer sausage, stollen, and Glühwein in a cathedral-shaped mug you will want to keep.
Where to stay near the Cologne Christmas market
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst is a five-star literally steps from the cathedral and the main market - the shortest walk from bed to Glühwein of anywhere in this guide. If you're not convinced, you can consult our guide of the best places to stay near the Christmas markets in Cologne.
11. Copenhagen Christmas Market
Country: Denmark
Season: mid-November to early January
What to expect. The main Copenhagen Christmas Market is inside Tivoli Gardens, which means the market comes with a whole illuminated amusement park attached: rides, gardens strung with hundreds of thousands of lights, and stalls selling Danish design rather than generic souvenirs. Note that Tivoli charges admission, unlike most markets here. There are free markets at Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv too.
What to eat. Æbleskiver pancake puffs dusted with powdered sugar, gløgg, roasted almonds, and open sandwiches if you want something that is not fried or sweet.
Where to stay near the Copenhagen Christmas market
- The Nimb Hotel is inside Tivoli Gardens itself — Moorish architecture, five stars, and direct access to the market, which in Copenhagen in December is worth paying for.
12. Salzburg Christmas Market
Country: Austria
Season: late November to early January
What to expect. The Salzburg Christmas Market sits on Residenzplatz and Domplatz, surrounded by baroque facades and backed by the fortress on the hill. Smaller and calmer than Vienna, heavier on traditional Austrian crafts, and with brass bands and choirs from the cathedral steps most evenings. It is also the obvious market to pair with a few days on the slopes - see the best ski resorts in Austria.
What to eat. Kiachl doughnuts with sauerkraut or jam, Bosna sausage, Mozartkugel, and Glühwein or a Jagatee if you want something stronger.
Where to stay near the Salzburg Christmas market
- The HYPERION Hotel Salzburg is a 14-minute walk from the market and two minutes from the Mirabell gardens, with 115 rooms, a restaurant and a 24-hour front desk.
13. Gdansk Christmas Market
Country: Poland
Season: late November to just before Christmas
What to expect. The Gdansk Christmas Market on Targ Węglowy is the most underrated on this list; amber jewellery from the Baltic coast, a big wheel over the old town, and a fraction of the crowds you get in Krakow. Cheap flights from most European cities make it an easy second stop.
What to eat. Oscypek cheese with cranberry, pierogi, smoked Baltic fish, gingerbread from nearby Toruń, and grzaniec — Polish mulled wine.
Where to stay near the Gdansk Christmas market
- The Radisson Blu Hotel, Gdansk is in the Old Town, about 15km from the airport, with 145 rooms, a sauna and steam room, and secure underground parking.
14. Geneva Christmas Market
Country: Switzerland
Season: late November to 24 December
What to expect. The Geneva Christmas Market runs along Quai du Mont-Blanc with the lake and the Jet d'Eau behind it: rotating arts and crafts chalets, a fondue chalet, a Christmas pub, an old-fashioned carousel and horse-drawn carriage rides through the old town. Switzerland is the most expensive stop in this guide by some distance - budget accordingly.
What to eat. Raclette scraped straight onto bread or potatoes, fondue, Swiss chocolate, and vin chaud.
Where to stay near the Geneva Christmas market
- The Woodward, an Oetker Collection Hotel has 26 suites with fireplaces, a short walk from the Jet d'Eau and the Flower Clock, plus L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon downstairs, a spa and a 24-hour business centre.
15. Manchester Christmas Markets
Country: England
Season: late October to early January
What to expect. The longest-running market on this list, Manchester opens in late October and stays open past New Year, so it is the answer if your dates fall outside everyone else's window. It spreads across Albert Square, St Ann's Square and Exchange Square, with international traders selling everything from German sausage to Hungarian goulash and Dutch mini pancakes, and a giant Santa on the Piccadilly Gardens end.
What to eat. Bratwurst, Yorkshire pudding wraps, Dutch poffertjes, goulash, and mulled wine served in a souvenir mug you pay a deposit on.
Where to stay for the Manchester Christmas markets
- Stay anywhere between Albert Square and Piccadilly and you can walk to every site. Manchester's city-centre hotels fill fast for December weekends, so book earlier here than you would for a continental market.
16. Dusseldorf Christmas Market
Country: Germany
Season: late November to the end of December
What to expect. Seven themed markets across the city centre, including the traditional one in front of the historic Town Hall and the Engelchenmarkt on Heinrich-Heine-Platz, each with its own character. Königsallee, the main shopping street, is lit end to end. Dusseldorf is 40 minutes from Cologne by train, so the two make an easy pair - and if you want a very different side of the country afterwards, there are five haunted places in Germany worth the detour.
What to eat. Reibekuchen, bratwurst, stollen, and Glühwein — though Dusseldorf's real speciality is Altbier, served in small glasses in the old town breweries five minutes from the market.
Where to stay for the Dusseldorf Christmas market
- The Altstadt puts you inside walking distance of every one of the seven markets, and it is where the breweries are. Anywhere near Heinrich-Heine-Platz works.
17. York Christmas Market
Country: England
Season: mid-November to just before Christmas
What to expect. York's St Nicholas Fair runs alpine-style chalets along Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square, in a walled medieval city that already looks like a Christmas card. The winter village in the Shambles is the cosiest corner of it. Carol singers, the Minster lit up after dark, and a compact centre you can walk end to end in twenty minutes.
What to eat. Yorkshire pudding wraps, local cheeses, artisan chocolate, mulled wine and hot chocolate.
Where to stay for the York Christmas market
- Stay inside the city walls - the market, the Minster and the Shambles are all within a few minutes of each other, and driving in December is not worth the trouble.
18. Stockholm Christmas Market
Country: Sweden
Season: late November to 23 December
What to expect. The main market sits in Stortorget, the small square at the heart of Gamla Stan, surrounded by the painted townhouses everyone photographs. It is one of the smaller markets in this guide but among the prettiest, and Skansen's larger market on Djurgården is worth the ferry ride. Expect real winter for this December destination: Stockholm gets dark in mid-afternoon in December, which is part of the appeal.
What to eat. Pepparkakor gingerbread, saffron buns, glögg, smoked sausage and roasted almonds.
Where to stay for the Stockholm Christmas market
- Gamla Stan or Norrmalm across the water both put the market within a short walk, and Norrmalm keeps you closer to the central station.
19. Riga Christmas Market
Country: Latvia
Season: late November to early January
What to expect. Riga's market fills the historic Town Hall Square in front of the House of the Blackheads, with a large tree at its centre — the city claims the world's first decorated Christmas tree, which it will tell you about. Latvian handicrafts, woollen goods, wooden toys, live music, and a winter solstice celebration in the programme. It is one of the cheapest markets on this list and one of the least crowded.
What to eat. Smoked meats, grey peas with bacon, gingerbread, and mulled wine made with blackcurrant.
Where to stay for the Riga Christmas market
- Anywhere in Vecrīga, the old town, is a short walk from Town Hall Square, and the old town is small enough that "short walk" means under ten minutes from most of it.
20. Barcelona Christmas Markets
Country: Spain
Season: late November to 23 December
What to expect. The outlier, and worth considering precisely for that: Barcelona in December is mild, snow is effectively unheard of, and the city runs several markets at once. Fira de Santa Llúcia by the cathedral is the biggest and oldest, with Catalan nativity scenes and handmade crafts; the Fira de Nadal at the Sagrada Família has over 120 stalls; and Port Vell has funfair rides and food stalls by the water. If mulled wine in freezing rain is not your idea of a holiday, this is the market for you.
What to eat. Churros with thick chocolate, tapas in the bars around the markets, turrón, and cava rather than Glühwein — hot wine is rare in Spain.
Where to stay for the Barcelona Christmas markets
- The Gothic Quarter puts you between the cathedral market and La Rambla, and within a metro ride of the Sagrada Família and Port Vell markets.
21. Chester Christmas Market
Country: England
Season: mid-November to just before Christmas
What to expect. Over 70 wooden chalets in Town Hall Square, framed by the Town Hall and cathedral, in a Roman walled city with medieval two-tier shopping rows. Smaller and gentler than Manchester an hour up the road, with local makers rather than international traders, and carol singing from local choirs most evenings.
What to eat. Cheshire cheese, handmade fudge, mulled wine and mulled cider.
Where to stay near the Chester Christmas market
- Inside the city walls, near the Cross — the market, the Rows and the cathedral are all within five minutes.
22. Ghent Christmas Market
Country: Belgium
Season: early December to 31 December
What to expect. Ghent is surely one of the best cities in Belgium to go for Christmas. Over 150 chalets threaded through the city centre from Korenmarkt to Emile Braunplein, a Ferris wheel for the view over the illuminated waterfront, and an ice rink. Ghent is bigger and more lived-in than Bruges half an hour away, and it runs right through to New Year's Eve, which most Belgian markets do not.
What to eat. Belgian chocolate, speculoos, waffles, jenever, and cuberdons (the cone-shaped Ghent sweets sold from purple carts).
Where to stay near the Ghent Christmas market
- Stay between Korenmarkt and Sint-Baafsplein and the whole market route is on your doorstep.
23. Colmar Christmas Market
Country: France
Season: late November to the end of December
What to expect. Alsace does Christmas markets better than anywhere else in France, and Colmar is the prettiest town in Alsace: five separate markets across the old town, half-timbered houses in sherbet colours, and the canals of Little Venice lined with lights. Half an hour from Strasbourg by train, so the two are usually done together.
What to eat. Bretzels, tarte flambée, kougelhopf, bredele biscuits, and vin chaud; Alsatian, and better than most.
Where to stay near the Colmar Christmas market
- The old town, ideally near Little Venice - Colmar is small enough to walk everywhere, and staying central means you see the lights at their best after the day-trippers leave.
24. Oslo Christmas Market
Country: Norway
Season: mid-November to early January
What to expect. Oslo's market runs at Spikersuppa, between the parliament and the National Theatre, around a public ice rink, with a traditional Ferris wheel and wooden stalls selling Norwegian craft and woollens. It runs into January, and Oslo in December delivers proper Nordic winter - plus the option of a day trip to the Holmenkollen ski jump above the city.
What to eat. Pepperkake gingerbread, smoked salmon, reindeer sausage, and gløgg.
Where to stay near the Oslo Christmas market
- Anywhere along or just off Karl Johans gate. The market is on it, and so is most of what you would want to walk to.
25. Basel Christmas Market
Country: Switzerland
Season: late November to 23 December
What to expect. Switzerland's largest Christmas market, split between Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, and Münsterplatz - a cathedral square lit up and ringed by historic buildings - is the one to see after dark. Basel calls itself Switzerland's Christmas City and the claim holds up. It also sits where Switzerland, Germany and France meet, so Colmar, Strasbourg and Freiburg are all inside an hour.
What to eat. Raclette, Basler Läckerli spice biscuits, roasted chestnuts, and Glühwein.
Where to stay near the Basel Christmas market
- The Altstadt between Barfüsserplatz and the Münster puts both market sites within a few minutes' walk, and the Rhine promenade is right there.
26. Strasbourg Christmas Market
Country: France
Season: late November to late December
What to expect. Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas and bills its market as the oldest in France, running since the sixteenth century. It spreads across a dozen sites: Place Broglie, Place de la Cathédrale, Place Kléber with the Grande Sapin, and more, through a UNESCO-listed island of half-timbered houses. It is one of the busiest markets in Europe, so weekdays are much better than weekends, and security checks at the entrances mean allowing extra time.
What to eat. Bredele, tarte flambée, choucroute, bretzels, and vin chaud in the Alsatian style.
Where to stay near the Strasbourg Christmas market
- Grande Île, the island old town, puts every market site on foot. Book well ahead; this is the hardest market on the list to find a room for in December.
Travelling From the US: How to See As Many Christmas Markets in Europe
The practical version, if you are flying from the US: pick one hub and one add-on rather than four cities.
Cologne plus Dusseldorf, Prague plus Vienna, Strasbourg plus Colmar and Basel, Bruges plus Ghent - each of those pairs is under an hour apart by train and gives you two very different markets without a second flight. Fly into the bigger airport, travel overland, and give yourself at least one weekday, because European market weekends are genuinely crowded.
Then it is a matter of dates. Aim for the first three weeks of December if you want every market open, mid-to-late November if you want them quieter, and the week between Christmas and New Year only if you are heading to Prague, Vienna, Cologne, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Riga, Oslo or Manchester, which are the ones still trading.
Christmas markets in Europe: FAQs
Where is the best Christmas market in Europe?
There is no single answer, but three cities come up more than any others. Cologne is the biggest and the most concentrated. Strasbourg is the oldest in France and the most atmospheric. Tallinn has been voted Europe's best more than once and has the best setting of any market on this list. If it is your first trip, Prague or Vienna is the safest choice; both are large, easy to reach, and open into January.
When do Christmas markets start in Europe?
Most open in the second half of November. A handful start earlier (Manchester in late October, Vienna, Budapest, Edinburgh, Cologne, Copenhagen, York, Chester and Oslo in mid-Novembe) and a few start late, with Ghent not opening until early December. Exact dates move by a few days each year and are usually confirmed in September or October, so check the official market site before booking flights.
How long do Christmas markets stay open?
Around four to six weeks. The most common pattern is late November to 23 or 24 December, which catches people out: a trip built around Christmas Day itself often finds the stalls already packed away. About a third of the markets in this guide run into the first week of January instead, which is the group to look at if you can only travel after Christmas.
Is November or December better for a Christmas market trip?
A trip to Europe in November is quieter, cheaper on flights and hotels, and almost everything is open by the last week of the month. Early to mid-December in Europe is busier and pricier but feels more festive, and it is when the carol programmes and events are in full swing. Weekends in December at the famous markets - Strasbourg and Cologne especially - are genuinely packed; a Tuesday in early December is the sweet spot.
How much should you budget per day at a Christmas market?
It varies enormously by country, and that is the single biggest lever on the cost of the trip. Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary and the Czech Republic are the cheapest on this list; Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and the UK are the most expensive, with Germany, Austria, France and Belgium in between.
Budget separately for the mug deposit that German, Austrian and Swiss markets charge on hot drinks - it is refundable when you return the mug, and most people end up keeping at least one.
Can you take a coach tour of Europe's Christmas markets?
Yes, and they are a reasonable way to do several markets without planning each leg yourself - the German and Alsatian routes are the most common, and river cruises along the Rhine and Danube run market itineraries too. The trade-off is time in each city: most coach tours give you an afternoon per market, which is enough for the stalls and not much else.
Does the US have Christmas markets like Europe's?
It does, and some of them are very good - the German-heritage towns in Texas and the Midwest run markets with real Christkindlmarkt roots rather than imitations. However, what Europe has that is hard to replicate is the setting: a market in a square that has held one for six hundred years is a different experience from one in a parking lot, however good the sausage.
If you want to compare before committing to a transatlantic flight, check out a few of our US Christmas market & town guides:
- Christmas towns in Illinois
- Christmas towns in Tennessee
- Christmas towns in Ohio
- Christmas towns in Michigan
- Christmas towns in North Carolina
- Christmas towns in Texas
- Christmas towns in California
- Christmas markets in Texas
- Christmas markets in California
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Flightgift comes in three formats:
- eGift flight gift card: sent by email in under five minutes.
- PDF flight voucher: emailed to you to print at home and give in person.
- Luxury gift card: posted to you or the recipient on a premium 11-inch card.
Choose a value from $25 to $10,000 in your currency, and the recipient hasno date limit on when to redeem it against flights with over 400 airlines - from domestic carriers like Delta and United, to international brands that take you to Europe: Emirates, KLM, and more.
Ready to send one? Buy a flight gift card, or see what else Flightgift covers.