Best 10 Christmas markets in Europe

While Christmas markets vary depending on the city, the essentials remain the same: enjoy festive drinks and treats to the accompaniment of choirs singing carols, and browse stalls selling decorations and handcrafted items that make for perfect gifts.

1. Dresden, Germany

Dresden’s Striezelmarkt has been going since 1434 and is now one of the most popular in the world. Hundreds of elaborately decorated stalls sell artisan goods, mulled wine and German specialties such as stollen (a fruit cake), pretzels and bratwurst, and there’s a carousel and a giant advent calendar in the form of a fairytale castle. Smaller markets can be found around Neumarkt too.
Opening dates: 29 November – 24 December.

2. Budapest, Hungary

Set in Vörösmarty Square in the heart of the city, Budapest’s Christmas market has over 100 quaint wooden stalls offering good quality handcrafted goods. There are also a number of food and drink stalls offering traditional fare such as goulash, gingerbread and chimney cakes, and some delicious alternatives to mulled wine, such as blackcurrant rum punch.

Opening dates: 10 November – 31 December.

3. Copenhagen, Denmark

Head to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen for a Nordic Christmas, where goods include Christmas decorations, artisan products and deli fare. Santa Claus is in attendance with his (real) reindeer, and there are regularly scheduled light shows taking place in the centre of the vast lake. Plus, of course, you can visit the famous amusement park while you’re there.
Opening dates: 18 November – 31 December.

4. Bath, UK

Join thousands of visitors in Bath’s Abbey Churchyard, where over 200 stalls in the shape of wooden chalets sell mainly locally produced goods. Most of the vendors are from the surrounding area, and the emphasis is on traditional British products, including clothing, crafts and toys as well as cheeses, pickles and wine. Carol singers and thousands of twinkling lights give a decidedly festive feel.
Opening dates: 23 November – 10 December.

5. Seville, Spain

The Christmas season lasts longer in Spain than anywhere else, as Three King’s Day on January 6 is the main event. Seville has two big markets – the main one, in Plaza Nueva, showcases handcrafted goods by local artisans. The second, on La Avenida de la Constitución, is the place to buy figurines and background materials for the nativity scenes that are so ubiquitous around the country.

Opening dates:
Plaza Nueva: 14 December – 5 January.
La Avenida de la Constitución: 13 November – 23 December.

6. Helsinki, Finland

As you might expect, Father Christmas’ home country celebrates the season with great enthusiasm, and there’s a very high chance there’ll be snow in the run-up to the big day. Over 100 wooden huts on Senate Square, in the centre of the town, sell handcrafted goods at surprisingly reasonable prices. Fortify yourself with the Finnish version of mulled wine, Glögi, which often comes with a dash of vodka or rum.
Opening dates: 2 – 22 December.

7. Vienna, Austria

Christmas markets have been taking place here since the Middle Ages, so it’s no surprise that there over 20 in Vienna alone. You could try visiting them all, but the main event takes place in front of the City Hall; as well as a myriad of gift items and Christmas decorations, you can also indulge in roasted chestnuts and traditional Christmas punch, which is made with tea, red wine, rum/brandy, fresh lemon and orange juice. There’s also a dedicated children’s area on the ground floor of the hall, and international choirs sing carols over weekends.
Opening dates: 18 November – 30 December.

8. Maastricht, Netherlands

Events in this charming Dutch city centre are held around Vrijthof Square and include ice-skating and a Ferris wheel, as well as stalls selling gifts and Christmas decorations. An added bonus is the city’s proximity to the small village of Valkenburg, which goes all out for Christmas and has what must be the most unique setting for a market: underground, in the city’s municipal caves.

Opening dates: 1 December – 1 January.

9. Tallinn, Estonia

The first ever Christmas tree was displayed at the site of this market, in the Town Hall Square, in 1441, and the tradition certainly continues. The market itself has stalls in little wooden houses selling typically Estonian products and cuisine (such as gingerbread and sauerkraut), and there’s also a merry-go-round and a stage where folk performances take place. A highlight is the arrival of Santa Claus in a sleigh pulled by real reindeer.
Opening dates: 18 November – 7 January.

10. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is renowned for its Christmas Markets, with the main ones held on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, which are only a five-minute walk away from each other. Both have large, brightly illuminated Christmas trees and stalls selling glassware, toys, candles and dolls dressed in traditional costume. A highlight is the school children in traditional clothing singing carols.

Opening dates: 2 December – 6 January.