Are you one of those who lives Christmas with devotion? Are you a lover of traditions, of setting up the nativity scene and putting milk and cookies for the three kings? Do you like all the magic that surrounds one of the most beautiful seasons of the year? Then keep reading because discovering how Christmas is celebrated beyond our borders will make you relive your childhood.
If we talk about Christmas markets, without a doubt we have to talk about Germany. There are many cities in this country that are committed to bringing the magic of Christmas to their streets and squares with stalls where you can enjoy the country's gastronomic delights and national crafts.
We give you examples.Nuremberg hosts the oldest Christmas market in the world, while Cologne organizes more than 10 Christmas markets in its city, such as the one located in front of its impressive cathedral, which offers a fascinating selection of quality crafts where it will be easy to find the perfect gift.
Another of the markets in Cologne is the one organized in the city's Neumarkt Square, with well-kept stalls and abundant gifts for children and adults. The Christmas atmosphere of this city's markets will delight all visitors with their beautiful festive decorations.
The German country also surprises with the Regensburg Christmas market, in Bavaria, where in addition to Christmas decorations, nativity scenes, toys and gift ideas, visitors can enjoy tasting some of the authentic delights of national cuisine such as traditional Bavarian sausages.
Outside of Germany, cities like Prague, Copenhagen, Ljubljana, Warsaw, Hamburg, London, Paris, Brussels, Zurich and Bath also know how to surprise lovers of Christmas and their traditional markets, their sweets and drinks, their lights, their decorations and their Christmas carols.
Do you want to discover wonderful cities with beautiful Christmas markets to go with your children? If the answer is yes, keep reading.
Prague, Czech Republic / December 1 – January 6, 2019
Prague is a magical destination all year round, but during the Christmas season it becomes a fairy tale. It is the perfect place for lovers of history, architecture and culture, but also for fans of Christmas shopping. In the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, you can choose which market to visit. Both offer delicious food and traditional crafts.
Just 600 meters from the Old Town Square, the historic Residence Agnes will serve as the perfect base camp for Christmas shopping.
Copenhagen, Denmark / December 17 – December 31, 2018
Denmark is the home of hygge, the idea of happiness that invites you to enjoy the little things, and there is no better place to practice this philosophy than the Christmas market installed in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.
Here you can immerse yourself in the delicious aromas of traditional glögg (mulled wine) and æbleskiver (pan-fried apple slices), while enjoying the more than 50 stalls and the incredible lighting on Lake Tivoli. Within the gardens themselves, the Nimb Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel with stunning views of the park.
Nuremberg, Germany / December 30 – December 24, 2018
Nuremberg is the oldest Christmas market in the world: it began to be held in the 16th century. Prepare yourself for the aroma of mulled wine, toasted almonds and gingerbread cookies, and to soak up the atmosphere of this medieval Christmas market with more than 180 stalls. You can also choose your favorite decoration, including the typical Zwetschgenmännle angel made with plums.
Bath, United Kingdom / November 22 – December 9, 2018
The UK's largest Christmas markets are set up in the beautiful city of Bath, which boasts over 150 stalls selling food and crafts. You can enjoy a true festive experience at these award-winning markets, transforming the city center into a Christmas shopper's paradise.
Cologne, Germany / November 26 – December 23, 2018
Germany has so many Christmas markets, it is very difficult to stop at just one. But the one from Cologne, with sausages, mulled wine, Christmas spirit and gingerbread cookies, is definitely one of the best. In addition, the imposing cathedral acts as a backdrop and gives this market a gothic fairytale atmosphere.
Christmas City, Bethlehem (Pennsylvania, USA) / November 23 – December 23, 2018
For the ultimate Christmas experience, you need to head to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Attracting over a million people each year, these markets are packed with stalls selling delicious food, mulled wine and unique gift ideas. They even have a gingerbread house contest for participants of all ages.
Hong Kong, China / November 30 – January 1, 2019
Hong Kong's luminous skyscrapers are an unusual backdrop for a Christmas city, but they have a special charm. On these dates, several markets are set up in the city. The largest is Statue Square, although if you're looking for fake snow, shopping and food, you should give Disneyland Hong Kong a try.
Vancouver, Canada / November 23 – December 24, 2018
Known as one of the most authentic markets in North America, the Vancouver Christmas Market offers colorful decorations, unique gifts, family-friendly entertainment, delicious food, and a charming atmosphere. It's a great place to take the kids and enjoy the wide variety of activities, including the Christmas carousel.
Warsaw, Poland / November 24- January 6, 2019
The famous festive market inside the walls of Warsaw's Old Town features 60 traditional wooden stalls poking out of the snow to offer traditional mulled wine and delicious sweets. This is the perfect market to buy gifts and knickknacks and, for lovers of “white Christmas”, it is almost guaranteed in Warsaw!
Hamburg, Germany / November 26 - December 30, 2018
If you are looking for variety in Hamburg you will find 15 different markets that complement the urban Christmas environment, offering options for all tastes. The grand town hall square is a perfect place for lovers of traditional things. The stalls full of sweets, pastries and chocolates will make those with a sweet tooth happy in a magical environment surrounded by Christmas lights and decorations.
Ljubljana, Slovenia / November 30 - January 2, 2019
Locals talk about the “Festive December” leading up to Christmas, during which Ljubljana is transformed into a large open-air Christmas market. At the Christmas Fair, famous for its cheerful and vibrant atmosphere, you can taste mulled wine, teas, liqueurs, sausages and various grilled dishes at countless food and drink stalls.
London, England / November 17 - January 1, 2019
Despite not being able to boast as long a history as other markets (just ten years), London's fantastic Winter Wonderland has something to delight all Christmas lovers. Each year it increases in size to offer more festive attractions and activities, including a huge ice skating rink, shows, a Ferris wheel, a Bavarian-style beer hall and a huge Christmas market.
Cardiff, England / November 15 - December 23, 2018
This Christmas market, located in the heart of Cardiff city centre, has been successfully organized and run for over 20 years. Near the Old Castle was established in 1994 and continues to support genuine artists and craftsmen looking to promote and sell their work. Food and drink producers are also welcome to add a genuine touch to the vibrant atmosphere of the market. Cardiff manages to combine a true passion for tradition with a modern touch.
Vienna, Austria / November 24 - December 26, 2018
The "Christkindlmarkt" Market is set up on Vienna's Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square), turning it into a truly magical Advent place. Within the Town Hall itself, on the ground floor, there is a section dedicated to children, where they entertain themselves, among other things, by cooking Christmas pastries or making Christmas candles. Christmas carols sung by international choirs can be heard inside the town hall for free on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on 12/24. until 4:30 p.m. In addition, in front of the Christmas tree in the town hall square, from 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. you can listen to live music groups.
Grenoble, France / November 24 - December 24, 2018
For 15 years, Grenoble has illuminated its streets and squares during the weeks before Christmas. The squares of Victor Hugo and Grenette echo the choirs and carols: a sweet invitation to share the savory and delicacies of the season around the events organized during the day and night to celebrate Christmas.
In December, the heart of the city becomes a hotspot for Christmas shopping and friendly gatherings over fragrant Glühwein (mulled wine). The Grenoble Christmas Market is a perfect combination of friendly atmosphere and gourmet delights that you can share with your loved ones, even with Santa Claus who appears every year!
Zurich, Switzerland / November 22 - December 24, 2018
December is one of the best months to visit Zürich, because the entire city dresses up for Christmas and the result is so beautiful that you won't feel the low temperatures! Christmas trees, lights and decorations, carols and markets are found on every corner and the air smells of cinnamon and candy. If you dream of living a Christmas full of magic, like those you only see in the movies, Zurich is the place!
Kristkindlichmarkt at the Hauptbahnhof is the most traditional Christmas market in Zurich and one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe! The jewel of the market, never better said, is the 15 meter high Christmas tree decorated with hundreds of... Svarovsky crystals!
Frankfurt, Germany / November 26 - December 22, 2018
Located in the old town of Frankfurt on the banks of the Meno River, this market has more than 3 million visitors annually. It is especially known for the taste with which all the stalls are decorated and for its gigantic Christmas tree on the Römerberg, the name by which the old town is known.
Bolzano, Italy / November 22 - January 6, 2019
The region of Trentino Alto Adeige also known as South Tyrol has a wide variety of examples of Italian Christmas markets; Bressanone, Trento, Revereto... However, it is Bolzano that best reflects the charms of this region. Based on the German markets on the other side of the Alps, this market offers a spectacular atmosphere. In a region populated by fir trees and frequent snowfalls, there is no place where Santa Claus's village can be better recreated.
Strasbourg, France / November 23 - December 24, 2018
Strasbourg has the most famous and oldest Christmas Market in France, inaugurated in 1750. Rooted in the tradition of Alsace, this market is a great success with visitors every year. This traditionally Catholic city prepares its best clothes for these dates with a market filled with wooden houses decorated by local designers and architects with a multitude of lights and color. The snowy city closes a Christmas postcard image. The best thing to do is to stroll quietly among its stalls while you look for a gift, try the local cuisine or warm up with a good glass of mulled wine.
Verona, Italy / November 16 - December 26, 2018
The city of Romeo and Juliet hides one of the most beautiful markets in Italy. According to the tradition of the Veneto region, on the night of December 12 to 13, Santa Lucia brings gifts to children who have behaved well and coal to those who only behaved average. To celebrate, Verona brings together 300 stalls in Piazza Bramás full of chocolates, sweets and regional products that will delight the little ones.
Colmar, France / November 23 - December 30, 2018
Also in the French region of Alsace we find another of the best Christmas markets. The town of Colmar opens no more and no less than five markets each year in different parts of the city. The city becomes a true fairy tale with various street performances, artists and storytellers. You can enjoy its atmosphere with a glass of mulled wine and the local specialty "pain d'épice". It is also the ideal place to buy French crafts as all the stalls have been selected one by one to offer only the best from the region.
Dresden, Germany / November 28 - December 24, 2018
If the Nuremberg market is the most famous, the Dresden market is the oldest. This Christmas market called “Striezelmarkt” has been held for more than 582 years. This market is really a very peculiar market with typical delicacies such as “Stollen”, a fruit bread that is only produced at this time or the wooden carousel and Christmas lights, the “erzgebirgische”. The largest in the world of this type.
Helsinki, Finland / December 1 - December 22, 2018
The Helsinki Christmas Market takes place in the historic Senate Square. It has more than 130 stalls where we can find Finnish crafts, handmade Christmas decorations and typical desserts and drinks from the country.
Naples, Italy / Open all year round
Although its artisan stalls, dedicated to the manufacture of nativity scenes and Nativity figures, are open all year round, taking a tour of them at Christmas has a special charm due to the number of tourists, Italian and foreign, who visit them at that time. Neapolitan Christmas is also well known for making the city an open-air spectacle in which music, tradition, theaters, artists, gastronomy coexist...
Paris, France / November 14 - December 23, 2018
There are many and varied Christmas markets that the French capital hosts from now until the end of the year. Of all of them, we have selected Notre-Dame because of its length in time and its location, in the heart of the city. Composed of 28 exhibitors, this market is a tribute to arts and crafts.
Riga, Latvia / November 30 - January 6, 2019
The Riga Christmas market is held in the historic center of the city and continues until Orthodox Christmas, January 9. The stalls offer visitors objects such as candles and wooden toys, Latvian jewelry, Baltic amber, gloves, hats, scarves, wool socks, and to taste typical dishes of local cuisine such as mulled wine, Latvian honey or toasted almonds.
Vilnius, Lithuania / December 1 - January 7, 2019
The Christmas market in the capital of Lithuania is set up in the old city of the capital, specifically in the Cathedral Square. It consists of 48 wooden cabins where we can buy local crafts (ceramics, glass, jewelry) and other handmade products. This little market is the ideal place to taste local cuisine delicacies at this time of year: chestnuts, bread with ginger, mulled wine, artisan breads... In addition, Santa Claus and his reindeer will be waiting for you.
Brussels, Belgium /November 30 - January 6, 2019
In addition to the illuminations and the Nativity scene in its Grand Place, Brussels organizes a Christmas market in the Place de Saint Catherine with more than 200 traditional wooden huts where you can find local gifts ideal for the end of year festivities and taste the country's own food and drinks. As an alternative to shopping, the city has a large ice skating rink.
Regensburg, Germany / November 26 - December 23, 2018
The German city of Regensburg celebrates a Christmas market in its historic center where we can find Christmas decorations, nativity scenes with carved wooden figures, toys and practical gift ideas. In an incomparable setting, this market will also offer us to taste authentic delights for the palate such as traditional Bavarian sausages.
Tallinn, Estonia / November 24 - January 5, 2019
The Tallinn Christmas market is held in the Old Town Square of the Estonian capital, whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The atmosphere of this peculiar market is dominated by a gigantic tree that accompanies the more than 50 stalls where you can find everything from local crafts to national food products.
Budapest, Hungary
The Budapest market on Vorosmarty Square is a perfect destination to taste Christmas cakes and sweets.
This gourmet paradise maintains its original appearance and invites you to try traditional recipes. You don't have to leave there before trying the famous kurtoskalacs, also known as “chimney cakes”: a dough wrapped around a stick, baked and covered with sugar and cinnamon. It makes anyone's mouth water!
Wroclaw, Poland
The Christmas market in Wroclaw, Poland, is a true fairy tale. The “Bajkowy Lasek” or the “fairy tale forest” is a perfect recreation of traditional tales capable of leaving anyone with their mouths open. It is one of the largest traditional markets in Poland, which in addition to having this magical theme, is known for its impressive gingerbread houses.
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