Visiting a Christmas market in a beautiful European city is certainly one of the best ways to start feeling festive. Those smells of spiced gingerbreads and sweet mulled wines, and the sounds of Christmas bells and old friends greeting each other with the excitement and warmth only found at this time of year - what’s not to love?
We’ve looked at some of the top rated Christmas markets and put together a definitive list of where you should book for 2018:
1. Vienna
Image Credit: Gabriel Hess
This Austrian city offers more than 25 Christmas markets spread over picturesque squares in the city. The Altweiner Christkindlmarkt and the Schloss Schönbrunn are particularly worth a visit for their handicrafts and locally produced goods.
The Christkindlmarkt runs in front of the impressive Town Hall building from 16 November through to 26 December this year. This market is steeped in history, with records showing a market starting here in 1382, but officially it has been in place for the past 400 years.
2. Prague
Image Credit: elPadawan
The main markets in the city, held on the Old Town Square and the aptly named Wenceslas Square, offer plenty of festive magic. In addition to the traditional wooden huts with local handicrafts, don’t miss out on the wide selection of food and drink available at the markets: large spit-roasted hams, barbecued sausages, Trdeník (a hot sugar-coated pastry), honey wine, hot chocolate, and grog.
The markets will be running daily from 1 December to 6 January 2018, with the market at Prague Castle opening a week earlier.
3. Brussels
Image Credit: Miguel Discart
Brussels’ ‘Winter Wonders’ event is quite extensive, with over 200 chalets, fairground attractions, ice skating, a sound and light show on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grand-Place, festive light parades, and more. This year, the theme will be Finland, and the opening ceremony on 30th November will also include a taste of the Tour de France which leaves from the Belgian capital in 2019.
The sound and light show plays for 15 minutes and runs every hour from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays and every half an hour at weekends between 30th November and 6th January, so you can be sure not to miss it when you visit this fantastic Christmas market!
4. Copenhagen
Image Credit: Maria Eklind
Where to start? Copenhagen prides itself being on a genuinely Christmassy city, and it’s not hard to see why with its fantastic Nordic offerings.
From the popular Tivoli Gardens Christmas market (17 November - 31 December 2018) with reindeer, Santa Claus, true Nordic Christmas atmosphere, to the Hans Christian Andersen Christmas market (16 November - 21 December) with a nostalgic carousel and stalls named after the storyteller’s world-renowned tales, decorated in thousands of Christmas lights, there’s plenty to see and do.
For a more grown-up festive experience, check out the Carlsberg Christmas market over the first two weekends in December - free shuttle buses leave from the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel every hour between 11am and 3pm.
5. Strasbourg
Image Credit: Dmitry Dzhus
Strasbourg is the French capital of Christmas - this year the magic runs from 23 November to 30 December. The 28-metre tall Christmas Tree is at the heart of the festivities in Place Kléber, surrounded by over 300 stalls and miles of fairy lights. With activities for the old and young alike, there’s different options available depending on whether you wish to experience a Magical, Alternative, or a Secret Christmas.
6. Tallinn
Image Credit: Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar
For a late Christmas break, try Estonia’s capital. With the Russian Orthodox celebrations taking place later than in Western Europe, the market runs from 16 November to 7 January. The highlight of the market is the Christmas tree, which has been appearing in Town Hall Square since 1441; the first of its kind to be displayed in Europe.
Try the typical Estonian festive cuisine of black pudding, sour cabbage, and gingerbread, and enjoy shopping for various handicrafts. And, of course, Santa Claus will be there to greet the children!
7. Budapest
Image Credit: Nan Palmero
There’s plenty to do at Christmastime in the Hungarian capital! Open air hot spring pools at Szechenyi Baths, river cruises on the Danube, the Budapest Nutcracker Ballet, a Christmas Light Tram, ice rink… in addition to the traditional Christmas markets on Vorosmarty Square (9 November - 1 January) and by the Basilica (23 November - 1 January).
Be sure to check out the special Hungarian delicacies whilst visiting the markets, particularly the Chimney Cake - freshly grilled and sweet!
8. Seville
Image Credit: F Delventhal
Christmas markets needn’t be cold and snowy - try Spain for an alternative! Seville, the capital of Andalusia, is well known for its UNESCO architecture; the main Christmas market (open 15 December to 5 January) dedicated to local artisanal handicrafts is just a short walk from the Cathedral and the Giralda.
Alongside all of the traditional Christmas market fare, on 5 January, Seville celebrates the traditional Cavalcade of the Magi; a costume parade runs through the city centre between 4pm and 10pm, which is an event not to be missed!
Title Image Credit: Gabriel Hess (Image Cropped)