In case your concept of winter bliss includes sipping gluhwein, shopping countless stalls of vacation presents and getting misplaced in a sea of glittering fairy lights, plan to have a good time this season at one among Europe’s Christmas markets. These conventional markets, which date again a whole bunch of years, stay fashionable in lots of European nations, from France to Estonia.
Sure, the climate is chilly (and snowy, in some locations) — however sizzling roasted chestnuts and the overall feeling of vacation cheer greater than make up for it. Since many markets start in November and run till Christmas or New 12 months’s, vacationers can snag a fall or winter flight deal or an off-peak award redemption.
So, bundle up and take a look at our suggestions for one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, full with tips about get there and the place to remain.
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Zurich
Zurich’s Wienachtsdorf, which runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 23, is likely one of the metropolis’s largest Christmas markets. It is positioned at Sechselautenplatz, the sq. immediately in entrance of the Zurich Opera Home and adjoining to Lake Zurich.
The charming Christmas village includes round 120 stalls, largely run by native designers showcasing distinctive jewellery and different vacation presents. The market additionally provides a wide range of culinary choices, from worldwide dishes to conventional Swiss delicacies on the Fondue Chalet (reservations are beneficial).
Keep: Select the Park Hyatt Zurich, which is only a 15-minute stroll from the Christmas market. Charges begin at $741 or 35,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening this November and December.
Arrive: Zurich Airport (ZRH) is a serious transportation hub with quite a few nonstop flights from the U.S. Swiss, United Airways, Delta Air Traces and American Airways all have nonstop choices from East Coast cities like New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Then, it is only a fast 25-minute practice journey to the center of the town.
Copenhagen
From Nov. 7 to Dec. 21, Copenhagen’s largest Christmas market will happen at Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Sq.) and Gammeltorv (Outdated Market) within the heart of city. The areas can be remodeled right into a fascinating wonderland with a labyrinth of picket stalls, every brimming with pleasant Danish delicacies, toys and extra. Children can be thrilled to snap a photograph with Santa, whereas adults can unwind with a warming glass of spiced wine, also called glogg right here.
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Keep: Nobis Resort Copenhagen is a tranquil retreat roughly a 10-minute stroll from the market and just one block away from Tivoli Gardens, the historic theme park that can also be a must-visit vacation spot in the course of the Christmas season. Plus, the luxury property is bookable utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors. Charges begin at $462 or 66,000 Marriott factors per evening this November and December.
Arrive: There are just a few nonstop choices to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) from the U.S., together with from New York Metropolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Scandinavian Airways is the principle supplier, however others, equivalent to Icelandair, provide layover choices for cheaper airfares.
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Edinburgh, Scotland
From Nov. 15, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, Edinburgh will host one of many United Kingdom’s most grandiose and beloved Christmas markets at East Princes Avenue Gardens, just under Edinburgh Fort. Image greater than 130 charming huts, every illuminated with festive lights and strewn with decorations to create a fascinating ambiance.
These stalls provide a plethora of native, handmade presents and an array of delicious treats to savor. Do not miss out on a mesmerizing journey on the massive wheel, presenting panoramic views of your entire festive extravaganza. Edinburgh’s Christmas market has one thing for everybody, with varied rides suited to children and adults and even a Santa’s grotto for a close-up encounter with Kris Kringle.
Keep: For an expensive keep, think about The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Assortment by Hilton, which places you inside a 10-minute stroll from the Christmas market and provides views of the fortress. Charges begin at $246 or 65,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening this vacation season.
Arrive: Direct flights to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) can be found year-round from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) on United.
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Vienna
Wander previous greater than 100 stalls at Vienna’s largest Christmas market within the Rathausplatz (Metropolis Corridor Sq.) from Nov. 14 to Dec. 26. Children will love the ice skating rink, the Ferris wheel and the carousel. The market has been specializing in bettering sustainability in recent times, so anticipate extra eco-friendly merchandise and supplies.
Keep: Only a 12-minute stroll from the Rathausplatz, the Park Hyatt Vienna epitomizes Viennese luxurious: You may discover high-arched ceilings, an indoor swimming pool and suites adorned with chandeliers and marble bogs. Charges in November and December begin at $833 or 30,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening however are considerably larger round Christmas.
Arrive: Austrian Airways, the flagship service of Vienna Airport (VIE), is a part of Star Alliance. If in case you have miles on any companion airline, it is best to be capable of get a seat at a superb valuation. Austrian flies immediately from EWR, New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) and Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) close to Washington, D.C.
Germany
As some of the famend nations in Europe for Christmas markets, Germany provides a market in practically each metropolis. We could not choose only one, so listed here are among the finest:
- Cologne: This metropolis, well-known for its towering Gothic cathedral, options practically a dozen completely different markets, together with the LGBTQ+-friendly Heavenue Christmas market from Nov. 17 to Dec. 23.
- Munich: Bavaria’s most well-known market is in Munich’s Marienplatz, which takes place from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24. It is embellished with 1000’s of candles and has over 100 stalls.
- Munich Airport (MUC): Leap proper into the vacation spirit (and even go ice skating) throughout a protracted layover at Munich Airport, which transforms right into a Christmas market from Nov. 14 to Dec. 28.
- Frankfurt: Get pleasure from procuring and a 100-foot-tall Christmas scene at Frankfurt’s predominant Christmas Market, out there from Nov. 24 to Dec. 22.
- Nuremberg: Along with its world-renowned lebkuchen (gingerbread), Nuremberg’s sprawling market — which takes place from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24 — is legendary for its Christkind, a younger girl with curly blond hair dressed like a golden angel who makes frequent appearances on the festivities.
- Berlin: Germany’s capital options many Christmas markets, however the most effective is the WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt out there from Nov. 24 to Dec. 31. Anticipate the standard meals and procuring, plus holiday-inspired performances from fireplace eaters, acrobats and jugglers.
- Dresden: One of many nation’s oldest and largest markets, the Striezelmarkt in Dresden’s Altmarkt options puppet theaters, storytelling time and gingerbread-decorating workshops. It runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 24.
Keep: The JW Marriott Resort Frankfurt options 219 rooms and greater than 200 hand-painted artwork items by German artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Nightly charges begin as little as $254 or 52,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors from late November via December.
Arrive: Star Alliance companion Lufthansa operates direct flights to Germany out of a number of U.S. cities, together with hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Denver.
If you wish to go to in consolation and elegance, you’ll be able to splash out for some of the iconic fifth-freedom routes out of the U.S., provided by Singapore Airways between JFK and Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Tremendous-luxurious business-class awards on this route value 81,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles every approach. You may switch factors and miles to KrisFlyer from a number of transferable factors and miles packages — American Specific Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Final Rewards — at a 1:1 ratio.
Strasbourg, France
You may’t go improper with markets in French cities like Lyon and Lille, however Strasbourg is called the Capital of Christmas for a purpose. Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmarik, close to the town’s cathedral, is one among France’s hottest vacation haunts for sipping mulled wine, sampling French treats like tarte flambee and sugary bredele biscuits, and purchasing for wares among the many picket stalls. From Nov. 26 to Dec. 24, Strasbourg’s towering Christmas tree and festive ice rink can persuade any Grinch’s coronary heart to develop three sizes.
Keep: Think about a keep at one of many metropolis’s newer motels, Aloft Strasbourg Metropolis Centre. The resort is welcoming, trendy and inside a 15-minute stroll of the principle market. Charges begin round $235 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening whereas the market is open.
Arrive: Strasbourg is a smaller metropolis, and you’ll’t fly nonstop there from the U.S. You may have to fly to Strasbourg Airport (SXB) from hubs equivalent to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) or take a practice from Frankfurt or Paris. Alternatively, you might plan a layover to take a look at Munich Airport’s Christmas market (see above), then proceed on to Strasbourg.
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Tallinn, Estonia
Pattern Baltic vacation delicacies like black pudding and gingerbread paired with spiced wine on the Christmas market in Tallinn’s medieval City Corridor Sq. between Nov. 21 and Dec. 28.
The setting is just gorgeous. Historic buildings encompass stalls promoting Christmas items and decorations (a lot of that are heart-shaped, as Estonians firmly consider Christmas is a time of affection), with the big tree as a centerpiece. Look ahead to two completely different carousels for the little ones and a double-decker vacation bus to journey round city.
Keep: Schlossle Resort, a member of Small Luxurious Inns of the World (and thus Hilton Honors), offers a medieval really feel within the coronary heart of Outdated City and is steps away from the Christmas market. You may discover charges as little as $295 or 60,000 Hilton factors per evening this winter.
Arrive: Though you’ll be able to’t fly nonstop from the U.S. to Tallinn Airport (TLL), you’ll be able to join simply via hubs equivalent to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) in Poland, Istanbul Airport (IST), Brussels Airport (BRU) and FRA. In the event you fly Finnair between the U.S. and Helsinki Airport (HEL), a ferry to Tallinn takes about 3 1/2 hours. From varied London airports, you’ll be able to fly to Tallinn on low-cost airways like airBaltic, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Brussels
Whereas the markets in Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, Belgium, have a extra charming and comfortable vibe, Brussels’ Winter Wonders and Christmas Market — which runs from Nov. 28, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026 — is the most important and most spectacular in Belgium, with greater than 200 stands weaving via the town heart.
Take a spin across the ice rink, fly excessive within the Ferris wheel or get pleasure from a go to from Santa. The market additionally provides an immersive audio and visible Christmas present, an modern method to expertise all the vacation enjoyable.
Keep: Price range vacationers can keep amid the motion on the Vacation Inn Specific Brussels — Grand-Place for as little as $253 or 59,000 IHG One Rewards factors per evening in November and December.
Arrive: Fly to Brussels on Star Alliance carriers from hubs like New York and Washington, D.C. Among the finest redemption choices embrace United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer.
In the event you join in London, you’ll be able to fly to Brussels on British Airways and Brussels Airways. Taking the Eurostar practice between London and Brussels is another possibility — the journey takes simply over two hours, and tickets begin round $90 this vacation season.
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Prague
It is laborious to resolve whether or not to go to Prague’s Outdated City Sq. Christmas Market or Wenceslas Sq. Christmas Market, which each run from Nov. 29, 2025, to Jan. 6, 2026. Fortunately, since they seem to be a 10-minute stroll aside, it is simple to hit each. The markets promote comparable objects, equivalent to medovina (honey wine) and Czech crafts like puppets and dolls, however the Outdated City Sq. market additionally options stay animals, together with sheep and donkeys, for kids to pet.
Keep: The Andaz Prague, which opened inside a historic 1916 constructing in 2022, is a 10-minute stroll from Outdated City Sq.. Rooms right here begin at $311 or 25,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening whereas the Christmas markets are open.
Arrive: Sadly, Delta’s nonstop flight to Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) from JFK does not function within the winter months. Nonetheless, many airways fly to Prague from quite a few European hubs, together with London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), AMS and FRA.
Zagreb, Croatia
Christmas in Zagreb is particular, with your entire metropolis decked out with lights, Nativity scenes and decorations. Whereas there are dozens of Christmas markets to go to, begin on the Zrinjevac Park Christmas market, out there from Nov. 29, 2025, to Jan. 6, 2026, the place you’ll be able to pattern sizzling strukli (a pastry with melted cheese) or medenjaci cookies paired with soul-warming wine as you browse handmade ornaments and toys.
Then, go to Zagreb Cathedral to see its well-known Nativity scene out entrance. End the night with just a few laps round King Tomislav Sq.’s ice rink or a journey on the carousel in Strossmayer Sq..
Keep: A brief stroll away from the Christmas motion, The Westin Zagreb is good for vacationers wanting a quiet, modern area to calm down whereas nonetheless staying near all the vacation cheer. Charges begin at $114 or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening in the course of the vacation season.
Arrive: Attending to Franjo Tudman Airport Zagreb (ZAG) will take multiple flight since there aren’t any nonstop choices from the U.S. to the Croatian capital. You may have to cease first in locations like London, Frankfurt or Istanbul en route. Each British Airways and Croatia Airways fly between London and Zagreb.
Basel, Switzerland
Wander amongst greater than 160 snow-covered picket stalls at Basel’s Christmas market, stretching from Barfusserplatz to Munsterplatz between Nov. 27 and Dec. 23. A steaming mug of gluhwein completely enhances conventional delights like waffles, gingerbread and melted Swiss raclette.
Keep: The Basel Marriott Resort provides one of the best of Swiss tradition with out sacrificing modernity. Nightly charges begin round $275 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors this winter.
Arrive: Attending to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL) from the U.S. requires a cease someplace in Europe. The airport is definitely in France, although it is a brief drive from each Basel and the German border — good for visiting three nations (and a number of Christmas markets) in a single journey. You too can fly Swiss to Zurich earlier than hopping on a Swiss Federal Railways practice to Basel, bookable as one full ticket on the Swiss web site.
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Helsinki
The Helsinki Christmas Market, the town’s oldest and hottest, runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 22 in Senate Sq., with Helsinki Cathedral as its backdrop. However it’s not simply in regards to the vacation stalls, although there are many these providing all the things from handmade presents to native treats. On Dec. 13, do not miss the St. Lucia procession, a convention honoring a fourth-century martyr. And sure, Santa visits each day, whereas the free merry-go-round provides a nostalgic contact.
Keep: In the event you’re searching for an expensive place to remain in the midst of the motion, the Waldorf Astoria Helsinki is a unbelievable possibility. (The property, previously The Resort Maria, was rebranded earlier this yr.) For as little as $349 or 100,000 Hilton factors per evening, you may be only a 10-minute stroll from Senate Sq..
Arrive: Attending to Helsinki Airport (HEL) is a breeze, particularly with Finnair providing nonstop flights from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. For vacationers from different cities, you may probably want a connection, however most main carriers make it straightforward with fast stopovers.
Malaga, Spain
From Nov. 28, 2025, to Jan. 6, 2026, the Malaga Christmas market on the Paseo del Parque will convey festive magic to sunny southern Spain with roasted chestnuts and conventional sweets like turron. Do not miss the dazzling Christmas lights on close by Larios Avenue. The Three Sensible Males parade on Jan. 5 can also be a sugary, gift-filled spectacle.
Keep: You may love the AC Resort Malaga Palacio. It has killer views of the port, and also you’re only a brief stroll from the Malaga Cathedral and the Museo Picasso Malaga. Plus, it is an excellent deal, with charges beginning at $172 or 28,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening this vacation season.
Arrive: In the event you’re flying to Malaga from the U.S., Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is pretty straightforward to succeed in, although you may want a stopover someplace like Lisbon, Portugal; London; or Barcelona. When you arrive in Malaga, you are a couple of five-hour drive from Madrid and two hours from Seville, making it an excellent base for exploring southern Spain.
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Stockholm
The Christmas market on the Skansen open-air museum is a should in case you go to Stockholm in the course of the holidays. Working from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21, it has been a vacation staple since 1903 and is filled with festive attraction. Image 70-plus stalls lined with Christmas goodies and handmade crafts, plus waffles and mulled wine to heat you up. You may even attempt your hand at old style Christmas crafts or stroll via the magical Winter Lights.
Keep: The Hilton Stockholm Slussen is only a four-minute stroll from the closest transit station, making it tremendous handy for exploring the town. Charges begin at $136 or 37,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening whereas the market is open.
Arrive: Attending to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) from the U.S. is easy, with SAS providing direct flights from EWR year-round. In the event you’re coming from different cities, anticipate a stopover in a European hub like London or Oslo, Norway.
Oslo
Oslo’s Winter Wonderland on the Spikersuppa sq. is again from Nov. 4, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026. This festive spot on Karl Johans gate — the town’s predominant avenue — has all of the classics, like charming stalls promoting presents, an ice skating rink and a Ferris wheel. However the actual star is the meals (suppose: coconut cupcakes, caramel apples, glogg, currywurst and smoked salmon from the Lofoten Islands). Feeling fortunate? Spin the chocolate wheel!
Keep: Resort Christiania Teater, an Ascend Assortment Resort sits proper off the sq. and is bookable via the Selection Privileges program. Costs begin round $174 or 25,000 Selection factors per evening this November and December.
Arrive: SAS provides nonstop flights to Oslo Airport (OSL) from EWR, and Norse Atlantic Airways flies immediately from Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) in winter. In the event you’re flying from wherever else within the U.S., you may probably have a layover in one other main European metropolis.
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Backside line
European Christmas markets are a magical method to have a good time the vacations, full with native gastronomy, ice skating, festive decor and glorious memento procuring. If you wish to go to lesser-known European locations, it is probably additionally they have a Christmas market. Or, if you cannot choose only one vacation spot, think about a Christmas market cruise.
Simply remember the fact that you might hit some snags whereas coming into or leaving on account of Europe’s new border management system, so plan further time in your travels.
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