The Best Christmas Markets in Europe

Best Christmas markets in Europe at a glance

The best Christmas markets to visit

Vienna

Vienna is the place to go if you want to see lots of markets in one trip. The biggest is in front of the City Hall, the Rathausplatz, with hundreds of stalls and an ice rink, but the markets at Schönbrunn Palace, Spittelberg and Karlsplatz are just as appealing and often less crowded. Add a concert or a coffee house and it's a perfect long weekend.

Try Punsch, a hot fruit punch that's a Viennese alternative to mulled wine, along with roasted chestnuts and Kaiserschmarrn, a fluffy shredded pancake. Many market drinks come in a souvenir mug, which you can keep or hand back for your deposit.

Prague

Prague's Old Town Square, with its Gothic towers, astronomical clock and giant tree, is one of the most beautiful market settings in Europe. Try trdelník, the sugary rolled pastry, and warm up with svařák, the local mulled wine. Prices are generally lower than in Vienna, and you can browse current Prague city break deals if you'd like a package with flights.

A second market fills Wenceslas Square, a short walk away, and the views from Prague Castle and Charles Bridge over the snowy rooftops are worth the walk on a clear day.

Krakow

Krakow's market fills its huge Main Market Square, among the largest medieval squares in Europe, with wooden stalls selling crafts, grilled cheese and hot drinks. It's one of the best-value Christmas market breaks you can take, and there are Krakow city breaks available most of the winter. Our guide to things to do in Krakow covers the rest of the city.

In early December, Krakow holds its famous competition of szopki, the colourful, intricately built nativity scenes that are a local tradition recognised by UNESCO. The entries are displayed in the square and then in the city museum.

Budapest

Budapest has two main markets, at Vörösmarty Square and in front of St Stephen's Basilica, where a light show plays on the church façade. Combine them with an afternoon in one of the city's thermal baths. You can compare current Budapest breaks for winter dates.

Look out for kürtőskalács, the spiralled chimney cake baked over coals and rolled in sugar or cinnamon, and lángos, a deep-fried flatbread usually topped with sour cream and cheese.

Cologne

Cologne has several markets within walking distance of each other, each with its own theme, including the main one in the shadow of the cathedral and a harbour market by the Rhine. It's easy to reach, with short flights to Cologne Bonn and trains via Brussels.

Highlights include the Angels' Market at Neumarkt, where performers dressed as angels wander between the stalls, and the old town market at Heumarkt, which has an ice rink. Cologne's beer halls are a good place to warm up between markets.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt is one of the oldest and most famous in Germany. It's opened each year by the Christkind, a figure who reads a prologue from the church balcony. Look out for Nuremberg's small grilled sausages and Lebkuchen, the city's traditional spiced gingerbread.

The market is famous for its traditional feel, with handmade decorations, wooden toys and prune figures, little people made from dried fruit, alongside the usual mulled wine. There's a separate children's market nearby with a carousel and a steam train.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas, and its market is one of the oldest in Europe. Stalls spread across the old town's squares, with the cathedral lit up above them. Many visitors travel by Eurostar to Paris and then high-speed train, which takes around five to six hours in total from London.

Try vin chaud blanc, a white mulled wine, and bredele, the small Alsatian Christmas biscuits sold by the bag. The half-timbered houses of La Petite France, by the river, are especially pretty when lit for the season.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen's festive season centres on Tivoli Gardens, which is transformed with lights, rides and stalls, and the colourful harbour of Nyhavn. It's one of the more expensive cities on this list, but the atmosphere makes up for it.

Warm up with gløgg, the Danish mulled wine served with raisins and almonds, and æbleskiver, small round pancakes dusted with icing sugar. Danish design shops make it a good place for gifts.

Tallinn

Tallinn's Christmas market fills the Town Hall Square of one of Europe's best-preserved medieval old towns. It's smaller than the big German and Austrian markets but full of character, and it's often snowy, which adds to the magic.

Tallinn has a claim to one of the first public Christmas trees, recorded in the town square in the 15th century. The old town's cobbled lanes, medieval towers and cosy cellar restaurants make the whole city feel festive.

Bruges

Bruges is easy to reach without flying: take the Eurostar to Brussels and change for a train of about an hour. The main market fills the Markt square, often with an ice rink, and the canals and chocolate shops make it a lovely short break.

A second market sits on Simon Stevin Square, and the city is small enough to walk everywhere. Combine it with a night in Brussels or Ghent if you'd like to see more than one Belgian market.

Best Christmas markets for a short city break

For a quick two or three-night trip, look for cities with short flights and walkable centres, so you can spend your time at the markets rather than travelling between them.

Many of these cities feature in our European city break deals, which include flights and hotels and are updated every morning.

If you'd like to see more than one market, a few cities pair well. Prague and Vienna are around four hours apart by train, and Budapest and Vienna about two and a half hours, so a twin-centre trip is easy to arrange.

Best budget Christmas market breaks

If you're watching what you spend, Central and Eastern Europe offers the best value:

• Krakow: generally the cheapest of the big market cities for food, drink and hotels.
• Budapest: good-value hotels and food, plus thermal baths.
• Prague: popular and busy, but still cheaper than most Western European cities.
• Tallinn: smaller and quieter, with reasonable prices outside the busiest weekends.

In these cities, food and mulled wine at the markets are usually much cheaper than in Vienna, Copenhagen or the big German markets, and central hotels can be good value if you book early.

Prices vary a lot by date, so compare a few weekends before you book. Weekdays are usually cheaper and less crowded than Saturdays.

Flights tend to cost more on Fridays and Sundays in December, so a midweek trip, or flying out on a Saturday morning, can make a noticeable difference.

When to visit Europe's Christmas markets

Most markets open in the second half of November, often around the start of Advent, and run until just before Christmas. German markets usually close by 23 or 24 December, while several in Prague, Vienna, Tallinn and Copenhagen stay open into the New Year.

• The first weekend after opening and the weekends in December are the busiest.
• Weekdays, especially Monday to Thursday, are much quieter.
• Visit in the late afternoon to see the markets in daylight and again after dark when the lights come on.
• Opening dates change every year, so check each market's official website before you book.

Some markets close early on Christmas Eve or shut on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and in Germany a few open a little later because of a public day of remembrance in late November. If you're planning around a specific date, it's always worth checking.

Snow is never guaranteed, even in Central Europe. Tallinn, Vienna and Krakow have the best chance of a white Christmas market, while the markets in Cologne, Strasbourg and Bruges are more likely to be cold and damp than snowy, so pack for rain as well as frost.

Christmas market packing and booking tips

• Pack layers. Central European cities can be well below freezing in December, and you'll be outdoors for hours. A hat, gloves and warm, waterproof boots make a big difference.
• Carry some cash. Cards are widely accepted, but smaller stalls may prefer cash. Prague, Krakow, Budapest and Copenhagen use their own currencies rather than the euro.
• Expect a mug deposit. Many markets serve mulled wine in a souvenir mug, with a deposit you get back when you return it.
• Book hotels early. The best-located hotels sell out for December weekends, sometimes months ahead.
• Plan your airport journey. December flights are busy, so book your airport parking for the trip as soon as your flights are confirmed.