OCTOBER 2023, UPDATED YEARLY WITH NEW RECOMMENDATIONS

Ideally, I would always travel seasonly, some destinations just have to be visited in the right season. It’s never too early to do some research on which Christmas markets to visit. I have visited my fair share of Christmas markets over the last years, I always manage to visit a few markets a year, so I was able to put together this “Best Christmas markets in Europe guide”. I hope to inspire you with my experiences and pictures!

France

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is called the “Capitale de Noël” during the Christmas period and after having visited it I can definitely say I agree. The Cathedral was such a stunning backdrop for the Christmas markets and I also loved the giant Christmas tree on Place Kleber. What is really great about Strasbourg is that you can visit different markets each night and that the whole city is decked out in Christmas decorations. You can find my blogpost on Strasbourg here. The Christmas markets in the Alsace usually open at the end of November and end right after Christmas.

Colmar

Colmar is closely located to Strasbourg and you can easily visit both on the same trip. Colmar is smaller and more colorful, just a little bit more fairy-tale like than Strasbourg (if it is even possible!). From Colmar you can also visit the neighboring towns, such as Riquewihr, Eguisheim and Ribeauville, which host their own Christmas markets. The decorations in this area are top-notch, but because everybody knows, it is guaranteed to be packed. Check out my recommendations for Colmar & Alsace Christmas markets here.

Paris

Paris is not especially famous for its Christmas markets, but I did find it a lovely Christmas destination. I absolutely loved admiring al the Christmas decorations at the luxury stores, so festive! Don’t forget to check out Galeries Lafayette when you are there. There are some little Christmas markets scattered through the city, but if you are looking for a family friendly Christmas market, I would recommend the Tuileries Christmas markets.

Germany

Please note that in most German towns the Christmas markets close on Christmas Eve. They are mainly used to celebrate the time leading up to Christmas. Most markets in France and Poland also close around Christmas time. If you want to visit after Christmas, Czech Republic and Austria are better locations as markets continue here for longer. Please do your research on the Christmas market dates before booking.

Aachen

If you are looking for a very traditonal German Christmas market, Aachen is a good opportunity. The town itself is stunning, so it provides the perfect backdrop for the Christmas market. I found the Christmas presents a bit more affordable than in the other markets, making it a good destination if you are still looking for gifts.

Baden-Baden

Baden-Baden was the most surprising Christmas market I visited in 2025. It is such a charming town and it is decorated beautifully over the Christmas period. Some of the decorations are just as good as the ones in Strasbourg. However, it doesn’t draw the crowds of Strasbourg. It is a great base for a weekend trip, with Europa-Park just around the corner, which also lights up beautifully for Christmas. And if you are looking for culture, it has a great number of museums to visit. Read all my recommendations in this blogpost.

Cologne

In 2023 I finally visited Cologne’s Christmas markets and I was super impressed. The Christmas markt at the cathedral is super picturesque, but the real winner is the Heinzel’s winter fairytale at the Heumarkt and Alter markt, with the gorgeous ice skating rink. The ice skating rink is one of the largest in Europe and it adds really good vibes to the market. Cologne is a very popular Christmas market. Luckily, there are lots of food stands, so you don’t have to wait too long for a drink or meal. Try going during the week, this siginificantly reduces crowds.

Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf is an old favorite of mine during Christmas time, we live closeby and we have friends living there, so we have often visited these markets. The Christmas markets in Düsseldorf are scattered throughout the city, so everyone can spread out and enjoy the markets are their own pace. My favorite Christmas market is usually located on the Heinrich Heine Platz, this is the market decorated with the kitschy angels. The Christmas markets in Germany usually open half November and close on Christmas Eve.

Dresden

Dresden hosts the oldest Christmas market of Germany, one of the most famous markets in Dresden is the Strietzelmarket, which is decorated super abundantly and looks very historic. We were able to catch the tail of the Christmas markets and I would love to go back to fully enjoy the spectacle for a few days.

Essen

Another lesser known market, but a very cozy one. Essen is not the most beautiful city in Germany, but it certainly tries to compensate for that during Christmas, as all of the light decorations are spectacular. It is located in the Ruhr area, meaning you can easily combine a few markets in one weekend, such as Düsseldorf & Wuppertal. A great upside of lesser known destinations is that lodging is really affordable if you book in time! Read all my Essen recommendations here.

Hann.Münden

Technically, I didn’t visit the Christmas markets in Hann. Münden, but we just caught the empty stalls and decorations, when we visited after Christmas. However, Hann.Münden was such a lovely town, I can only imagine how lovely its Christmas markets must be and I dare include it in my recommendations. It is open daily! Check out my blogpost on Hann.Münden here.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is an underrated location in Germany, the old town is stunning and clean and features lovely Christmas markets. Heidelberg is not super touristy in the winter, so all the Christmas markets are very relaxed and small scaled. From the ice skating rink you have beautiful views of Schloss Heidelberg. Check out my blogpost on Heidelberg’s Christmas market here.

Frankfurt

On our way to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, we visited Frankfurt’s Christmas markets and I was very impressed! The markets are scattered throughout the city, you can easily spend a full day exploring all the markets. I found the decorations of the markets great and there were lots of attractions for kids. On top of this, lodging was very affordable in Frankfurt. You can read my full blogpost on the markets here.

Nuremberg

The Christmas markets of Neurenberg are some of the most popular in Germany. This makes sense, as they are located beautifully next to the stunning cathedral. We visited just after Christmas, when the main “Christkindlmarkt” just closed, however we found a great alternative: the Kinderweihnacht. This children’s Christmas market has some lovely attractions and it wasn’t overly crowded. I wrote a blogpost about our experience, which you can find here.

Schloss Dyck

If you are looking for an original Christmas market in Germany, look nu further than the market at Schloss Dyck, which is located closely to Düsseldorf. During the weekend the castle hosts a Christmas market where you will find all sorts of local products and of course glühwein. You do have to pay an entrance fee, but this includes a visit inside the castle, which was a lovely add.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg is one of the prettiest towns in Germany and it is even more beautiful during Christmas. The colorful gingerbread houses provide the perfect backdrop for the Christmas markets. We found an affordable hotel near Rothenburg, read all my recommendations here. The dates for 2026 have already been set and can be found on the official website.

Czech Republic

Prague

We made the amazing decision to spend the days after Christmas in Prague. In Prague the Christmas markets continue until the beginning of January making it the perfect destination for your Christmas break. Prague’s main square is even more beautiful than usual, featuring an enormous Christmas tree and a fabulously decorated Christmas market. Check out my blogpost on Prague here.

Netherlands

Amsterdam

Of course I had to include Amsterdam on this list. The number of Christmas markets in Amsterdam is expanding, as this activity is becoming more popular in the Netherlands. Luckily the ice skating rink at the Museumplein has been back since 2025, so I immediately checked it out last year!

Maastricht

It has been some years since I went to “Magisch Maastricht”, but magical it is. Maastricht is one of the most charming cities in the Netherlands, and I always feel like I am vacationing when I am there. Magisch Maastricht is hosted on Het Vrijthof, the main square of Maastricht and features an ice skating rink and Christmas Market. Make sure to also take a walk through the old city center, as the Christmas decorations are particularly lovely.

Rotterdam

The first Christmas market I visited in 2025 was in Rotterdam. Rotterdam hosts several small markets surrounding the Christmas season. I visited the market at the Norwegian Church and this was a super cute visit. The church itself is gorgeous and the Norwegian theme was very well done. This website lists the Christmas markets in Rotterdam, which occur over several weekends.

Poland

Poznan

If you are looking for an authentic market which is mainly visited by locals, Poznan has a great Christmas market. There are lots of activities and rides for kids, as well as tradional meals and mulled wine. Poznan itself is really colorful and a greatlocation for a city trip, why not do it over Christmas time to enjoy a not-crowded Christmas market? Read my blogpost here.

Austria

Salzburg

Salzburg is a city I keep returning to and it was absolutely lovely to see it during the Christmas season. In Salzburg the main markets are open until New Year’s Eve, so we were able to schedule in a visit during our skiing holiday. These Christmas markets were very heavily focused on gifts, more so than on food. But if you have Salzburg as your backdrop, you don’t need a lot more. This is my blogpost about the Salzburg Christmas markets.

Vienna

In 2024 I finally visited Vienna for Christmas. If Strasbourg wasn’t the Capital de Noel, than Vienna would definitely be the Christmas capital of Europe. In Vienna you will find Christmas markets in iconic locations such as Schönbrunn palace, the Stephansdom and the Upper Belvedere. Absolutely magical! You can read my full blogpost on our experience here.

United Kingdom

London

I personally think that London is one of the most Christmassy destinations that you can visit. It seems like all stores and restaurants participate and go in full on Christmas mode. Maybe you didn’t know that London also has some Christmas markets, Covent Garden and London Bridge had lovely markets, if you need even more Christmas vibes!

A note on costs

When choosing a Christmas market destination, you probably take costs into consideration. I personally find that lodging creates the largest price differences. In general lodging is more affordable in Germany and Eastern-Europe and more affordable when you book ahead of time. If you want to plan a budget trip, I would advise to check whether there is an Ibis budget in your destination, as these hotels are proper and a good deal. In popular Christmas destinations such as the Alsace, prices for hotel rooms increase greatly in price when the markets are being held. Poland especially offers good hotel deals and amazing markets! I found the UK, Vienna and Prague quite expensive in the Christmas periods. Expect to spend at least € 100- € 150 a night for a hotel room in a central spot when there is a Christmas market, while in the more expensive destinations you can expect to pay about € 200 a night. I would advise to book your accomodation during summertime to find the best deals.

The food prices vary less than hotel room rates. Generally expect to pay € 4,5 for a glass of glühwein (+pfand) and € 6 for a sausage roll/bread. If you are looking to have a small meal on a market this will be between € 10 – € 15, which is still much cheaper than in a traditional restaurant. In smaller, less known markets prices can be cheaper, but I was pretty surprised that the price differences between Cologne and Prague were limited for food. So it is mainly accomodation and travel costs to your destination that are going to determine the price of your trip.

On my wish list

Though I have visited my fair share of Christmas markets, there are always some items left on the wish list. I have seen amazing videos of the Zagreb Christmas markets, they really go all out with lights and it seems like such an original destination. I would love to visit a Baltic Christmas market! The UK does Christmas so well, and charming cities such as York and Nottingham must be great over this period! For 2026 I have my Christmas trips to Hamburg and Rüdesheim an Rhein booked and I hope to go to Eastern Europe after Christmas.