If you are looking to spend some time abroad during the holiday season, consider visiting a city in Europe that has a Christmas Market! What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to visit the magical European Christmas Markets?

Being from a part of the world that is cold most of the year, I almost always booked winter vacations to somewhere sunny and tropical. Always looking for a break from the snow, I would try to get in some sunshine.

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When I was given the opportunity to go on a Viking River Cruise the week of Thanksgiving one year, I jumped at the chance. I wasn’t about to miss Christmas Market Season in Europe!

What Are Christmas Markets?

Known in Europe as the Christkindlmarkt, these outdoor markets take place in many major cities throughout Europe. Most of these markets run from the end of November to the end of December.

At the markets, vendors set up their beautiful wooden chalets decorated for the magical holiday season. They sell everything from local food specialties and mugs of warm mulled wine to handcrafted wooden items and many handmade treasures.

Certain cities even offer ice skating, sled rides, carousels, Ferris wheels, parades and more!

Not only do these Christmas markets help support local artisans, bakers, woodworkers and restaurants, they also add to the overall economy of these cities by attracting tourists during typically slower travel months.

Luckily, I was able to visit the Christmas Markets in Budapest, Vienna, Krems, Passau, Regensburg and Nuremberg as my cruise made its way through Hungary, Austria and Germany.

I’ll never forget walking out of a Mozart & Strauss concert in Vienna and walking just a couple of blocks to the Christmas Market. The entire plaza is lit up with the glow of Christmas lights. Snow was coming down lightly. It was a night I will always remember.

For more information on my Viking River Cruise, check out my post My Viking Delling River Cruise Experience!

If there is anything that is going to get you in the Christmas spirit, it’s these amazing markets. Wandering through the cobblestone streets all bundled up is truly an unforgettable experience.

The fun isn’t just limited to adults either, children would love these as well. There are so many different trinkets and toys for kids to see and buy. Much of the fun is geared towards families!

The Food

I always like to start with a glass of gluhwein. Wind your way through the vendors while sipping the warm mulled wine. This gives you a chance to check out all of the food options available. Once I decide what looks best to me, I go back to the vendors.

Typically, when ordering your gluhwein, you’ll pay a few additional euros for the deposit on the mug. Return the mug when you are done to receive your deposit back. Want to keep you mug as a souvenir? Either keep the mug you are drinking from or exchange it with the vendor for a new one.

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With so many options, you will need to take them in stride! If you are with others, share all the great food so you are able to try more things. In between food stalls, do a little shopping.

From bratwurst, grilled meats and fish, kebabs and potato pancakes. You’ll find spaetzle with the most delicious goulash, warm spiced nuts and even raclette. If you’ve never heard of raclette, it’s a Swiss cheese that is melted under a heater and typical served over potatoes, gherkins, bread and sometimes even cured meats. It is an absolute must have.

Don’t forget to save room for dessert. From spice cookies and and chimney cakes to homemade chocolates and marzipan, you are sure to find the perfect sweet. My favorite is always the warm apple strudel.

Don’t worry, the food isn’t limited to just what you can eat while visiting, many vendors also sell items to bring home. Tins of gingerbread cookies or chocolates and marzipan, jars of mustards, jams and chutneys and even sealed salami, liquor and wine.

Ready to book your trip to the European Christmas Markets? Click here to find the perfect hotel!

The Activities

As if perusing the food and craft vendors isn’t enough excitement. You’ll almost always find other activities taking place too.

Depending on the city that you visit, you may find ice sculpture contests, horse drawn carriage rides, ice skating and costume parades.

Kids will also enjoy the carousels, kids crafting tables, puppet shows and more!

What to Buy

I purchased the most beautiful ornaments and perfectly crafted nutcrackers that have become some of my most treasured Christmas decorations.

If you are looking for unique Christmas gifts to bring back for family and friends, these markets are filled with treasures.

You’ll find everything from hand carved nativity scenes, toys and puzzles, knitted hats, the most perfect nut crackers and just about any ornament you could imagine.

There’s traditional beer steins, paper star decorations, fuzzy slippers, hand dipped candles, Bavarian hats and Christmas village sets.

Most vendors will wrap your delicate items if you ask them to. All of the ornaments, nut crackers and other delicate items that I purchased all made it home in one piece thanks to the vendors wrapping them and placing them in small boxes when I purchased.

Keep in mind, you typically get what you pay for. Some of these vendors are selling mass produced items. If the vendor seems to have better prices than all the other vendors, chances are you are purchasing something that was made elsewhere. You can also take a quick peek at the tag or bottom of the product to see if it states where it was made.

So what Christmas Market is the best? According to a survey taken by European Travel Destinations, the following are the best European Christmas Markets for 2021.

1. Basel, Switzerland
2. Budapest, Hungary
3. Poznan, Poland
4. Vienna, Austria
5. Brussels, Belgium
6. Trier, Germany
7. Dresden, Germany
8. Madeira, Portugal
9. Tbilisi, Georgia
10. Manchester, United Kingdom
11. Govone, Italy
12. Vilnius, Lithuania
13. Tallinn, Estonia
14. Bruges, Belgium
15. Prague, Czech Republic
16. Edinburgh, Scotland
17. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
18. Nuremburg, Germany
19. Bath, United Kingdom
20. Malaga, Spain

When to Visit

I visited at the end of November. The next time I visit I plan on waiting until the first or second week of December. At this time of year, some of the markets that I visited were still preparing for the season.

Each city varies their opening and closing dates. Some begin in November while others wait until December. Some end on Christmas Day while others continue on into the New Year. Make sure to check the exact schedule of the market you plan on visiting.

While you can’t predict the weather, it was also really special to be walking through the markets with a little sprinkling of snow coming down. Your chances of snow are better the closer you get to the end of the year.

I hope you get the chances to visit these magical European Christmas Markets one day!