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10 enchanting Christmas markets in Europe

Even though the tradition of Christmas markets has its origins in the German-speaking world, they have long been a feature all over Europe. Here you can get into the spirit for the most festive time of the year.

  • Vienna - Christmans market festively lit at night (Stadt Wien Marketing)

    Vienna, Austria

    Do you want to walk around the Christkindlmarkt? Why not try another way: On a 3,000 square meter (32,291 square feet) ice rink, visitors glide through the park, past light installations and sales stands. The first Christmas market ever was mentioned in 1296, it was the so-called December market in Vienna.

  • Prague, Czech Republic - aerial view of the festively lit Christmas Market (picture-alliance/imagebroker/V. Wolf)

    Prague, Czech Republic

    A mighty Christmas tree with thousands of lights makes the Christmas market at the old town square impressive. Czech cuisine and arts and crafts are very much in demand here. The small stalls sell hearty dumplings, glass ornaments and wooden toys.

  • France - Strasbourg - view across the Christmas market at night all lit up (Getty Images/AFP/P. Hertzog)

    Strasbourg, France

    The Strasbourg Christmas market is spread over 12 locations in the town center. So the city justifiably calls itself the "Christmas Capital". The Strasbourg Christmas market was first mentioned in 1570, making it the oldest in France.

  • Russia | people of a chain swing ride at night in front of the Kremlin (picture-alliance/dpa/C. Thiele)

    Moscow, Russia

    The people of Strasbourg also took their tradition to Moscow: they opened the first Christmas market in the Russian capital in 2012. The success was so great that today there are several markets in the city center.

  • Sweden Gothenburg Christmas market at night with lit up ferris wheels (Gören Assner)

    Gothenburg, Sweden

    Five million lights sparkle in Sweden's largest Christmas market, located in Gothenburg, in the Liseberg amusement park. Scandinavian handicrafts and design, as well as Swedish specialties, are sold here. Polkagris, for example, are red and white peppermint sticks. And of course, Glögg, mulled wine refined with almonds and raisins.

  • Christmas market - Maastricht Christmas market at dusk (NBTC)

    Maastricht, The Netherlands

    The Vrijthof is situated in the heart of the medieval old town of Maastricht. The square provides the perfect backdrop for the Maastricht Christmas market. Attractions are the Ferris wheel, the artificial ice rink and a walk-in Christmas bauble. After a refreshment of hot cocoa and Limburg waffles, the surrounding alleys await you on a Christmas stroll.

  • Great Britain | Winter Wonderland ice sculptures in Hyde Park (picture-alliance/empics/M. Alexander)

    London, Great Britain

    The attractions at the Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park include snow and ice sculptures that take you on a journey back in time to 19th century London and depict "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. There are also ice-skating shows, circus performances and lots of merry-go-rounds and rides.

  • Edinburgh Christmas market at night festively lit up(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/Ross G. Strachan)

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    German grilled sausages, Belgian waffles, French crêpes — all this is available at the European Market on Princes Street in the heart of Edinburgh. The stalls, light installations and merry-go-rounds not only stretch along the street, but also down into the park.

  • Croatia, Zagreb view along the main street of the Christmas market at night under festively lit trees and stalls (europeanbestdestinations.com)

    Zagreb, Croatia

    The Croatian capital is transformed into a Christmas wonderland that stretches across several squares in the city center. At the Advent market in Zrinjevac Park, the stalls line up along an avenue of 220 illuminated plane trees. The hustle and bustle of the market traditionally begins on the first of Advent with the placing of a huge Advent wreath on Zagreb's main square.

  • Germany, Berlin Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market, tops of the white marquees of the stalls (picture-alliance/imagebroker/J. Woodhouse)

    Berlin, Germany

    The Christmas market at the Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most atmospheric in Berlin. Embedded in the historical backdrop of the Schauspielhaus Theater, and the German and French Cathedrals, craftsmen and artists offer their wares in the white marquees. There are no rides, but there is a daily stage program that creates a romantic Christmas atmosphere.


  • Vienna - Christmans market festively lit at night (Stadt Wien Marketing)

    Vienna, Austria

    Do you want to walk around the Christkindlmarkt? Why not try another way: On a 3,000 square meter (32,291 square feet) ice rink, visitors glide through the park, past light installations and sales stands. The first Christmas market ever was mentioned in 1296, it was the so-called December market in Vienna.

  • Prague, Czech Republic - aerial view of the festively lit Christmas Market (picture-alliance/imagebroker/V. Wolf)

    Prague, Czech Republic

    A mighty Christmas tree with thousands of lights makes the Christmas market at the old town square impressive. Czech cuisine and arts and crafts are very much in demand here. The small stalls sell hearty dumplings, glass ornaments and wooden toys.

  • France - Strasbourg - view across the Christmas market at night all lit up (Getty Images/AFP/P. Hertzog)

    Strasbourg, France

    The Strasbourg Christmas market is spread over 12 locations in the town center. So the city justifiably calls itself the "Christmas Capital". The Strasbourg Christmas market was first mentioned in 1570, making it the oldest in France.

  • Russia | people of a chain swing ride at night in front of the Kremlin (picture-alliance/dpa/C. Thiele)

    Moscow, Russia

    The people of Strasbourg also took their tradition to Moscow: they opened the first Christmas market in the Russian capital in 2012. The success was so great that today there are several markets in the city center.

  • Sweden Gothenburg Christmas market at night with lit up ferris wheels (Gören Assner)

    Gothenburg, Sweden

    Five million lights sparkle in Sweden's largest Christmas market, located in Gothenburg, in the Liseberg amusement park. Scandinavian handicrafts and design, as well as Swedish specialties, are sold here. Polkagris, for example, are red and white peppermint sticks. And of course, Glögg, mulled wine refined with almonds and raisins.

  • Christmas market - Maastricht Christmas market at dusk (NBTC)

    Maastricht, The Netherlands

    The Vrijthof is situated in the heart of the medieval old town of Maastricht. The square provides the perfect backdrop for the Maastricht Christmas market. Attractions are the Ferris wheel, the artificial ice rink and a walk-in Christmas bauble. After a refreshment of hot cocoa and Limburg waffles, the surrounding alleys await you on a Christmas stroll.

  • Great Britain | Winter Wonderland ice sculptures in Hyde Park (picture-alliance/empics/M. Alexander)

    London, Great Britain

    The attractions at the Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park include snow and ice sculptures that take you on a journey back in time to 19th century London and depict "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. There are also ice-skating shows, circus performances and lots of merry-go-rounds and rides.

  • Edinburgh Christmas market at night festively lit up(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/Ross G. Strachan)

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    German grilled sausages, Belgian waffles, French crêpes — all this is available at the European Market on Princes Street in the heart of Edinburgh. The stalls, light installations and merry-go-rounds not only stretch along the street, but also down into the park.

  • Croatia, Zagreb view along the main street of the Christmas market at night under festively lit trees and stalls (europeanbestdestinations.com)

    Zagreb, Croatia

    The Croatian capital is transformed into a Christmas wonderland that stretches across several squares in the city center. At the Advent market in Zrinjevac Park, the stalls line up along an avenue of 220 illuminated plane trees. The hustle and bustle of the market traditionally begins on the first of Advent with the placing of a huge Advent wreath on Zagreb's main square.

  • Germany, Berlin Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market, tops of the white marquees of the stalls (picture-alliance/imagebroker/J. Woodhouse)

    Berlin, Germany

    The Christmas market at the Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most atmospheric in Berlin. Embedded in the historical backdrop of the Schauspielhaus Theater, and the German and French Cathedrals, craftsmen and artists offer their wares in the white marquees. There are no rides, but there is a daily stage program that creates a romantic Christmas atmosphere.


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