The best Christmas markets in Europe may be rather subjective, but you’re bound to be pleased with one of these on our ultimate list.
Christmas markets can be as divisive as brandy butter or nut roasts. Some enjoy the twinkling lights and wallow happily in the nostalgia at these al fresco winter warmers. Others feel a sense of dread at the thought of endless bratwurst queues and stalls selling over-priced Glühwein.
Yet, just occasionally, you can stumble across a market which feels properly magical. Here is a list of ten across Europe that still possess their sparkle and ten that can be Scrooge-like with their levels of bonhomie and hospitality.
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A street leading to the Strasbourg Cathedral during the annual Christmas market. Pic: PaulWong/Shutterstock
THE BEST CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN EUROPE
STRASBOURG, FRANCE: Best for gingerbread and bubbly
This French city has had a Christmas market since 1570, and it gets bigger each year. Now the Christkindelsmärik spreads across half the city amid gorgeous half-timbered houses, flickering lanterns and steaming vats of vin chaud (mulled wine). The line between France and Germany blurs deliciously here, so you’ll find stalls selling Alsatian pretzels and gingerbread next to others offering foie gras and champagne flutes. This is Christmas diplomacy at its very best.
When? November 26 to December 24, free (noel.strasbourg.eu).
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe: The Nuremberg Christmas Market. Pic: Getty Images
NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Best for bratwurst
The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg dates back to the 1600s and looks like the Christmas market you might have imagined as a child, with its scarlet-roofed stalls and the intoxicating smells of grilled sausages and spiced nuts. A choir of schoolchildren regularly sings from the steps of the Church of Our Lady, and you should sample a glass from the blueberry mulled wine stand. It’s all so perfectly Christmassy that you half expect Bing Crosby to emerge from the Lebkuchen spiced biscuit stand.
When? November 28 to December 24, free (christkindlesmarkt.de).
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe. Edinburgh’s Christmas Market. Pic: Getty Images
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: Best for a Caledonian carnival
Edinburgh doesn’t do things by halves, with the Scottish capital’s market sprawling through Princes Street Gardens beneath the castle, which is lit up like a Highland fairy tale. There’s whisky-laced hot chocolate, artisan tweed and, yes, some seriously big crowds. This is really Britain’s only Christmas market that can compete with its German, Austrian and Swiss rivals when it comes to size and a real sense of occasion. It’s part carol service, part Caledonian carnival (though the fairground rides are over-priced).
When? November 15 to January 4, free (edwinterfest.com).
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe. The Christmas Market in Salzburg, Austria. Pic: Getty Images
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA: Best for romantic strolls
Salzburg at Christmas is pure cinematic indulgence: the cathedral square is thick with candle smoke, the fortress glows above, and the market brims with angels carved from wood and stars cut from tin. Choirs sing in four-part harmony around Domplatz and Residenzplatz, while there are few more romantic strolls than wandering the lanes around Getreidegasse, all lit up beautifully after dark.
When? November 20 to January 1, free (christkindlmarkt.co.at).
The Christmas Market in Basel. Pic: Getty Images
BASEL, SWITZERLAND Best for fondue and charm
Where other festive markets go for spectacle, Basel opts for charm. The two main squares, Münsterplatz and Barfüsserplatz, shimmer beneath the spires of the old town, while the air carries aromas of cinnamon and pine. It all combines to create an atmosphere where even the Swiss seem to relax a little. Come twilight, the Rhine reflects the lights like liquid gold. View it for yourself before taking a stroll to the Alpine Hut on Claraplatz, where you can sample an array of cheese fondue before throwing caution to the wind with another glass of mulled wine.
When? November 27 to December 23, free (basel.com).
Cologne Christmas Market. Pic: Getty Images
COLOGNE, GERMANY Best for stunning setting
Few sights beat Cologne’s towering Gothic cathedral when it’s surrounded by a sea of red-roofed huts and steaming mugs of Glühwein. There are at least half a dozen Christmas markets scattered across the city, but the main one, under the Dom, feels like a Christmas card brought to life. From Tuesday to Thursday, there are also children’s events, including a Punch and Judy show and festive face painting, while, for parents, there’s nothing quite like sipping hot wine as church bells ring and the Rhine glimmers nearby.
When? November 17 to December 23, free (cologne-tourism.com).
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe. The Christmas Market in Bath. Pic: Getty Images
BATH, ENGLAND: Best for Georgian splendour
Bath gets our recommendation as the best in England for its understated prettiness. That famous Georgian stone shimmers under the amber fairy lights, and there’s an impressive commitment to local produce at the food stalls; think Somerset fromages from the Bath Soft Cheese Co and local honey from Magee’s Bees alongside handmade jewellery and scented candles.
When? November 27 to December 14, free (bathchristmasmarket.co.uk).
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe. Dresden’s Christmas Market.Pic: Getty Images
DRESDEN, GERMANY Best for history and cake
The Striezelmarkt, dating back to 1414, is Germany’s oldest and is named after Dresden’s famous stollen cake, which is sold here by the slab, still warm and dusted in sugar. There’s a Ferris wheel, candle workshops and even some locals who genuinely shop here rather than pose for Instagram.
When? November 27 to December 24, free (dresden.de).
VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Best for ice and elegance
The Viennese don’t just ‘have’ Christmas, they conduct it. The vast Rathausplatz is lit by chandeliers strung from trees, carols echo off the grand façades, and every mug of punch feels laced with old-world charm. There’s ice skating (the rink stays open until January 6), tinkling waltzes and enough lights to melt even the iciest of Humbugs.
When? November 14 to December 26, free (christkindlmarkt.at).
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe. The Christmas Market in Munich. Pic: Getty Images
MUNICH, GERMANY: Best for Bavarian folk music
There’s a raft of Christmas markets in the Bavarian capital, but none are easier on the eye than the one on Marienplatz in the Old Town. Munich knows how to put on large events in style, thanks to Oktoberfest, so their markets are particularly well organised. It’s busy, but never so frantic that you can’t take time to listen to the live Bavarian Stubenmusik (traditional folk music that is performed each day) before tucking into Bratwurst sausages, Reibekuchen (potato fritters) and Käsespätzle (cheese noodles).
When? November 24 to December 24, free (christkindlmarkt-muenchen.de).
THE WORST CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN EUROPE
WINTER WONDERLAND, LONDON
For an exercise in just how exploitative the Christmas experience can be, then look no further than Winter Wonderland. It’s been slammed by visitors for being too busy, having dull stalls and for offering short-lived, expensive thrills. And ticket prices just to get in at peak times are £8.25 (€9.45).
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Some visitors rave about the grandeur of the two main markets, located outside St Stephen’s Basilica and on Vorosmarty Square. But the locals have been raising eyebrows at the prices. Be wary of overcharging at the market stalls. Some visitors say the menus can show one item while charging quite another.
PARIS, FRANCE
There are numerous Christmas markets in the City of Lights, with the largest in Tuileries Garden (called La Magie de Noël), featuring an ice rink, Ferris wheel, and an artisan village only rivalled by the one in the La Défense district, which has over 300 stalls. But people complain that overly commercialised stalls take precedence over local craft. They can be overcrowded and pricey, too.
VENICE, ITALY
The gorgeous Campo Santo Stefano should be the ideal spot for a Venetian Christmas village. But visitors have complained about pickpockets, overpriced souvenir stalls and inflated prices. Many stalls that purport to sell ‘authentic’ crafts are really just flogging tourist tat for far too many euros.
MADRID, SPAIN
You’d expect a festive market on a pretty grand scale, given the size of the city’s Plaza Mayor. But many visitors have criticised the limited stalls, with not much beyond the basic food and drink options of churros or wine, as well as steep food and drink prices. Also, watch out for pickpockets.
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
The two main markets, located on Cathedral Square and Town Hall Square, have received poor reviews online, with visitors complaining of long queues and a lack of a traditional feel. It can also get extremely cold.
FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET, BIRMINGHAM
The German-themed festive market in England’s second city is massive, popular, visually impressive – but oh-so-stressful. Visitors regularly cite this as Britain’s worst Christmas market, with its combination of huge crowds, high prices and a lack of originality. The overall view is that it has an assembly-line feel.
By Rob Crossan
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