The Christmas season in Europe is one of the most beautiful things to witness and enjoy. There’s nothing like the holiday season here with the vibrant chilled festive cheers and crowds. From November onwards, Europe starts dressing in snow caps and fairy lights all glittering and ready to welcome winter Christmas and the New Year Plans.
Special treats are one thing that nobody can ever miss out on. From the warm fresh wine to butter cookies and varieties of candies, there’s so much to enjoy, shop, and try here.
You can also buy Christmas decorations from these markets and decorate your home. You can also try these indoor and outdoor Christmas decor ideas to make your home more festive.
Here’s a list of the best Christmas spots in Europe where people enjoy and celebrate the festival in the grandest and most vibrant ways.
Best Christmas Markets in Europe
Here is the list of the Best Christmas Markets in Europe to celebrate Christmas with fun:
1. Christmas Markets, Prague
Christmas markets in Prague’s old town and Wenceslas square are one of the best places to stop by this Christmas. The place is extremely beautiful and lively with mulled wine stalls and architectural design of the place. You can shop and treat yourself to exclusive winter cuisines and snacks. The cinnamon-rolled sugar pastry is a must-try here. The market is a special winter festival and it opens from 2nd December 2023 to 6th January 2024. The market will also be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
2. Tallinn Christmas Market, Estonia
Tallinn’s Christmas market is an amazing stop among the other Estonian markets of the place. Every year, a special Santa arrives here by reindeer-pulled sleigh. There are various markets and shops to shop and enjoy the mesmerizing ambiance and vibe of the place. The most famous thing about this market is the Christmas tree which the city has been displaying in its town hall every Christmas since 1441. The market starts from 01.12.2023 to 07.01.2024 daily at 10:00 to 20:00.
3. Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg in Germany is one of the best and most picturesque market corners in Europe. The Christmas market is exactly next to the City hall and displays some very exclusive regional specialties of the season. From amazing handcrafted winter pieces of stuff to fresh gingerbreads and other winter desserts, there’s a lot to enjoy all together under one roof. The Santa Clause fly’s over the market once around 4 pm to 8 pm. Sounds exciting right?
This City Hall Christmas market started on 27 November and will last till 23 December 2023.
4. Tuomaan Markkinat, Helsinki
Located in Senate Square, the market is a mix of the contemporary and traditional cultural influences of the place. There are a number of things that you can do here such as play bingo, enjoy some warm wine, or even watch holiday outfit contests for dogs. There’s also a hot unisex sauna for all those who wish to stop and warm up. The stalls are super cute and for sure gonna impress you with their products and sales.
If you want to enjoy the beauty of this Christmas market in Europe then remember the dates: 1 December to 22 December 2023 Sun–Thu at 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Fri–Sat at 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
5. Christmas in Tivoli, Copenhagen, Denmark
This Christmas market is a real-time inspiration from Disneyland that will give you the Disney vibes in Denmark. The place is all decorated with fairy lights along with some sparkling fireworks and live shows in the evening. The place is an absolute treat to all visitors in winter. From entertainment to shopping and food, everything is simply perfect with the Christmas vibes. The dense moist honey cake with jam and buttercream frosting is a famous treat of this place. Located in the Tivoli Gardens, the gates of this wonderland open from November 19 to January 31.
6. Christmas Market at Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden
The island of Djurgarden in the center of Stockholm is home to some historic traditions and Christmas celebrations every year in Europe. There are numerous dance shows and festive tree decors at Bolinas Square, where tree decorative workshops are held. It’s interesting to see different varieties of smoked turkey and sugar-coated candies here. The market is located near the Skansen open-air museum and opens its gate from November 25 to December 18.
7. Edinburgh’s Christmas, Scotland
Edinburgh has a perfect festive vibe and some fresh rejuvenating spirit throughout the season. Located in the adjacent Scottish National Gallery, Edinburg’s Christmas market across the East Prince Street garden is truly amazing. Santa land is filled with many amazing kinds of stuff and food treats along with the train ride for the little ones. There is also a Ferris wheel to enjoy the visuals from a 108-foot-tall ride. The place is open from Friday 17 November 2023 to Saturday 6 January 2024.
8. Cologne, Germany
The Cologne Christmas market is one of the best Christmas celebrations in Europe. There are a lot of other markets here to enjoy but the grandest and most famous among all is the biggest one near Cologne Cathedral. You’ll find everything here that portrays the German tradition. From classic German spread to handcrafted stuff and twinkling lights, everything is extremely beautiful here. The festival also has some dance performances and shows to keep you entertained all the time. There are also two well-known shopping areas around the Christmas market, Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse for you to shop and enjoy. This festive market begins on November 20 and ends around December 23.
9. Viennese Dream Christmas Market, Austria
Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with perfect chilly winters and gorgeous snow-covered corners. Just like the city, the Viennese Dream Market is a great place to go and enjoy ice skating and curling. You might find many other markets around this beautiful city, but the Rathaus is one of the best to enjoy live music, festive celebrations, and many other stalls around the space. They have a unique classic way of welcoming winters and celebrating Christmas. The markets are open from November 10 to December 26.
10. Advent in Zagreb, Croatia
For the past 3 years, (2016, 2017, and 2018) Advent in Zagreb has been voted up as the best spot for hosting the Christmas market and festivals. It seems like almost the entire city turns into a market and celebrates together. You’ll find ice skating, a large number of stalls, religious prayers, music concerts, and much more all around the city, mainly in the main city square. The celebrations begin on December 2, 2023, and end on and around January 7, 2024.
11. Sibiu Christmas Market, Romania
Romania celebrates Christmas as special as they celebrate Halloween. At the Sibiu center, Romania comes to live the Christmas celebrations and the holiday season in the most sparkling and lighting way. The glittery market has more than 100 merchants and many workshops and ice rinks to enjoy the festival. There’s also a new 72 feet Ferris wheel which is one of the new addition to this market. The market starts from 17th November 2023 to 2nd January 2024.
12. Magic Christmas in Colmar, France
France has its style of celebrating Christmas by bringing the real-life nativity scene. Every year, the country displays more than 300 Christmas Markets in Europe and Colmar is one of the best among them. The festival is no less than a fairyland that you’ve always wished to see. Twinkling lights, an ice skating rink, and lots of vintage houses lined up in the canal-like streets, all look so magical when you see them in the winter lights. There are 6 markets close to each other in the old town. You can check all of them for some shopping visual treats.
13. Advent Feast at the Basilica, Budapest
The Christmas Market and Advent Feast by the Budapest Basilica are one of the most popular holiday-welcoming festivals in the city. This event starts on 17 November 2023 and ends on 1 January 2024 every year.
Christmas Market by Budapest Basilica has an open-air market where there are around 160 stalls selling a mix of Hungarian handcrafted items and snacks.
14. Christmas markets in Salzburg, Austria
Christmas Markets in Salzburg is a centuries-old Christmas market in Europe that has around 100 stalls spread across two neighboring squares, Domplatz and Residenzplatz. A daily program of events is held here that includes musical performances from quintet choirs, Capella ensembles, gospel singers, folk groups, and afternoon readings of Christmas stories for children.
This Christmas market in Europe starts from November 23, 2023 to January 1, 2024
15. Strasbourg Christmas Market, France
Strasbourg Christmas Market is the biggest Christmas market in the North of France. It held annually in Strasbourg, France on the Grande Île near Strasbourg Cathedral and Place Kléber since 1570. There are arts and crafts workshops, musical events, and an ice skating rink in Place Kléber for fun.
Read More, Best places to celebrate Christmas in Europe
Here is the list of the best Christmas Markets in Europe. There’s so much to enjoy, shop, and try here. Share your views on these markets if you went there. Your opinion matters to us and can help the readers a lot.
