10 tips on where to go to Christmas markets abroad in 2025: the best markets in Europe

I like to disappear to warm lands in December, but when I don’t get to do that I like to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere with everything. And trips to foreign Christmas markets are what can take the Christmas mood further, bring a bit of that Christmas magic and allow you to breathe in the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle and maybe even get some Christmas trinkets for loved ones or Christmas decorations for your home. So, if you’re not heading to the seaside for Christmas I’ve got some tips on some of the cities that offer the most beautiful markets and where you can go for a weekend or even a one-day detour.

When to go to the Christmas market

Each market starts and ends at a slightly different time, so it’s a good idea to check in advance how open the ones you want to see in particular are. One certainty you can count on for virtually all markets is that they start with the beginning of Advent and end no earlier than Christmas Eve.

In many places, the markets already start in the last week of November (even in years before Advent), and in some places they last until the feast of the Three Kings (6 January), when the Christian Christmas “officially” ends. But that’s more of an exception (and you won’t be in the right Christmas mood anymore either). But it lasts until the end of the year quite normally.

If you can afford it, plan your trip rather outside the weekends. The markets are much less crowded on weekdays.

When to start planning your trip to the Christmas markets

Unfortunately, cities with famous Christmas markets also mean high season and high prices. The Christmas season is often even more expensive for popular cities than in the summer, especially in terms of accommodation and flights. It is a short period of time that is of enormous interest to both foreign and domestic tourists. In addition to tourists who want to go for Christmas, expats who are instead heading home for Christmas are also buying up airline tickets.

If you want to go for more than one day and need accommodation and flights, plan ahead. In this case, a really big one, say September/October, it’s good to have your flights and accommodation already booked. You can ideally start planning in the summer.

But don’t worry, you can’t decide at the last minute. You can, it’ll just cost more. You’ll be choosing between “leftover” accommodation and the cheapest will be long gone. If price isn’t that important to you, it’s easier to plan later, as the more luxurious hotel category may also have higher than normal prices over the Christmas holidays, but they won’t be the first ones to sell out.

By car or by train?

Because Christmas markets are very touristy (and this is doubly true at the weekend), it is often more efficient to get there by train (or bus) if it is a direct connection and if you don’t plan to visit more places on the way. If you go by car and don’t have accommodation with parking, it will either cost you a lot of time (and money) to find a place to park or to drive to the centre.

What to prepare for

Travelling with Christmas markets as the main destination can be a little different from travelling at other times of the year. Apart from the high prices, it is good to think about:

• cash – in the vast majority of cases, you can get by without cash in these destinations, but Christmas market stalls may be an exception,
• Safety – crowds can attract pickpockets and the excitement of all that nice Christmas stuff reduces your attention span. I use a cell phone lanyard around my neck in such cases, and I don’t carry cash in large quantities and in my pockets rather than in my purse.

Where to go to the Christmas market

There are many places to go abroad for Christmas markets, each one is different, each one is the most beautiful in some way. They’re probably all expensive, so where you can get cheaper accommodation or where you can manage to go for a spin without paying for accommodation may be the deciding factor. If, on the other hand, you’re going for multiple days, what else you can do in the city besides markets and sightseeing, like the spa in Budapest or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, may also be important.

• Snow-covered Christmas markets: Stockholm, Rovaniemi (let’s say for sure, but with a bit of luck it could be anywhere else)
• sun, warmth and Christmas markets: Valencia, Catania, Las Palmas
• cheaper accommodation prices: Krakow, Wroclaw, Budapest

The best Christmas markets in Europe

Depends on what you’re looking for. The markets in Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Germany and Hungary will be quite similar to ours. Both in weather, refreshments and typical offerings. But they are close and it’s a nice, easy trip that you can plan a day in advance.

On the other hand, more distant markets can offer something completely different. In Paris you’ll be eating oysters instead of sausages, in Stockholm you’ll be eating meatballs and in southern Italy you’ll be enjoying Christmas markets in the sun and warmth.

Nuremberg / Germany

The markets in Nuremberg are described as some of the most beautiful in Europe. The main ones, the Christkindlesmarkt, are on the large Hauptmarkt square. A short walk away are the sister city markets , Markt der Partnerstadt, which offer specialities from other countries. Just a quarter of an hour from the centre by metro, there are also very nice and not so crowded Christmas markets in Fürth. Nuremberg is just over 3 hours by car from Prague, with direct Flixbus and Regiojet services.

There are always lots of gingerbread, handicrafts, pretzels and German sausages in a bun, drei im weckla.

Budapest / Hungary

The main Christmas market is at Vörösmarty tér, famous for its handmade gifts. Another beautiful market is at St Stephen’s Basilica, which provides a nice backdrop for the market. At Óbuda Market, on the main square in Old Buda, you can meet craftsmen and taste traditional specialities. Budapest is about 3 and a half hours by car from Brno, a little longer by train. But you can also take the train from Prague in about 7 hours.

Among the delicacies at the markets, you can taste goulash, langos, strudel and kürtőskalács (trdelník).

Hamburg / Germany

The Christmas markets I liked best were in Hamburg. Here (and maybe in Germany in general) the markets are really alive, people stop here to spend a quiet evening with friends, not just to walk quickly and have a mulled wine (which, by the way, I liked better here too). Rathausmarkt is popular for its historical atmosphere, Winterwald on Mönckebergstraße brings a bit of the forest right into the city.

It’s better to fly to Hamburg, but it’s 6 hours by car from Prague. By train with a change in Berlin just a little longer.

Paris / France

Christmas in Paris is beautiful throughout the city, which is all decorated for Christmas. Even in winter, Paris has a culture of outdoor gardens where you can have hot chocolate and a croissant, as well as breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Champs-Elysées, the main avenue in Paris, is decorated in style. In the setting of the Tuileries Gardens are the Marché de Noël aux Tuileries, and there are also markets right under the Eiffel Tower. There is a small traditional market at Notredam on Place René Viviani. I liked the markets in front of l’Hôtel de Ville (near the metro station of the same name) the best.

Paris is a bit farther away from us, so the specialties are completely different. Except for the mulled wine. You can try onion soup, tartiflette (baked potatoes with bacon and reblochon cheese), foie gras and fresh oysters are a specialty. Don’t forget to visit the Parisian patisseries for something sweet, like the Christmas bûche de Noël.

Vienna / Austria

The Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz is the most famous market with a large selection of food and drink and a large Christmas tree. And there’s a big ice-skating rink. The Spittelberg Christmas Market is less touristy, more focused on local crafts. Art Advent on Karlsplatz, on the other hand, offers art and organic food. There’s a fabulous market at Schönbrunn Palace.

Christmas markets in Vienna are more convenient for South Moravians, it is only two hours from Brno.

Bratislava / Slovakia

The main square hosts the main markets, featuring Slovak traditional products and specialties. The Old Town Hall offers a historic setting with many stalls and cultural performances. Hviezdoslav Square is known for its lively atmosphere.

Many traditional Slovak dishes are also great for eating at markets, so you can have bryndzové halušky, lokše, kapustnica, gypsy roast and of course gingerbread and mead.

Christmas markets in Bratislava are the closest foreign ones from Brno. Only an hour and a half.

Krakow / Poland

Traditional Polish Christmas markets are on the main square , Glówny Rynek. In the location of the Royal Castle, the Christmas markets are the Jarmark na Wawel.

Strasbourg / France

Strasbourg, close to the border with Germany, is accessible from Prague in about 6 hours. It is known as the “capital of Christmas”. The Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie is one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in France. On Place Kléber there is a huge Christmas tree and lots of stalls with traditional Alsatian products.

You can taste the traditional Alsatian savoury tarte flambée, choucroute (sauerkraut with sausages and meat), Christmas bredele, kougelhopf (Alsatian yeast cake) and foie gras.

Stockholm / Sweden

A real Scandinavian Christmas. The Christmas market in Stockholm, Julmarknad, is interesting because the Christmas atmosphere is likely to be enhanced by snow. Gamla Stan Julmarknad is a market in the main square, one of the oldest in Sweden.

There are also special Christmas buffets in Stockholm called julbord, where typical Swedish Christmas dishes are sold. You can try traditional Swedish gingerbread pepparkakor and glögg (the Swedish version of mulled wine).

Rovaniemi / Finland

Christmas in Rovaniemi, in Lapland, Finland, can be a unique experience. There’s a famous Santa’s Village here and although it’s a tourist attraction like crazy, it must have its own magical charm. You can meet Santa Claus here and visit his office and also send Christmas cards from the Santa Claus Post Office.

In the village there are markets with Lapland handicrafts. You can take a ride in a sleigh pulled by reindeer or huskies and enjoy the snowy landscape. At the same time, thanks to its location above the Arctic Circle, you can see the Northern Lights.

The only way to fly here is to change planes, either via the shortest route via Helsinki or via some other European cities.