Our favourite winter activity is visiting Christmas Markets. Nothing makes us feel more festive than perusing decorated stalls filled with handcrafted goods while sipping a glass of mulled wine and eating a grilled sausage.
We worked our way around the Christmas markets in Belgium, visited many holiday markets in Germany, and even found wonderful markets in northern Italy (see my contribution to the list below), but there are still plenty of markets around the world we have yet to visit.
We asked our fellow travel bloggers for their favourite Christmas Markets, and they wowed us with this fantastic round-up.
Here are travel bloggers 13 favourite Christmas Markets from around the world!
1. Toronto, Canada
Christmas Market in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Situated amidst the cobblestone streets of Toronto’s historic Distillery District, the Toronto Christmas market is a hip festival filled with classic German and Canadian foods, delicious craft beers, and a wonderland of music, colour and shopping. You can treat yourself to delicious apple toddy’s while kids catch story time read by Christmas elves at the main stage.
The food market offers scrumptious traditional dishes like sausages, poutine, and turkey legs, while the attached Mill St. Brewery gives you a place to recharge next to fireplaces while dining on flatbread pizzas and sipping on the amazing local beer.
No visit to a Christmas market is complete without a visit to Santa, and the Toronto Christmas market always knocks this out of the park.
By Christina of The Wandering Wagars
2. Brussels, Belgium
Winter Wonders Christmas Market in Brussels, Belgium
Christmas is a time to be with family, so for as long as I can remember I`ve always been home for Christmas. In Belgium, we always celebrate with a large family dinner and by visiting a nearby Christmas market. Almost every city has its own Christmas market, so there’s a lot of good choices!
Every year, Brussels organises one of the biggest Christmas markets in Europe. Besides the impressive spruce tree in the middle of the Grand Place, the main attractions are the Sound & light show, the Ferris wheel and the numerous Christmas stalls around the Fish Market.
Most people visit the Brussels Christmas market for the great atmosphere, the lights, the chalets full of Christmas presents and, of course, the genever and gluhwein! On Saturday, there’s also a large Christmas Parade!
So if you are thinking of visiting Europe in Winter, I would suggest visiting some of the many Christmas markets, especially the one in Brussels!
By Geert of Inspiring Travellers
[Editor’s Note: Don’t miss our round-up of Belgian Christmas Markets!]
3. Krakow, Poland
Christmas in Krakow, Poland
The Christmas Market in Krakow is our favourite in Europe. It is located in the centre of Old Town, the biggest tourist attraction in the city.
Winter in Poland is usually very cold, but you don’t need to worry. Even though you will walk outdoors, you can drink the famous mulled wine, Grzaniec Galicyjski. It is our favourite drink ever! Sweet and full of flavours, it will warm you up even on the coldest day.
At the Christmas Market in Krakow, you can try other specialties of Polish cuisine, like pierogi, bigos, or kielbasa. If you get tired of eating and drinking, it’s time for shopping! You can buy unique handicrafts, clothes, and souvenirs.
By Karolina & Patryk of KarolinaPatryk.com
4. Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg, France Christmas Market (via Wiki)
The oldest Christmas market in France, Strasbourg Christmas market dates back to 1577, and plays host to over 2 million tourists every year who flock to witness hundreds of miles worth of glittering Christmas lights, themed events, a giant ice rink, and the famous 100 foot ‘Great Christmas Tree.’
“Half-timbered houses sport giant red-and-white hearts; stars, angels and snowflakes garland the cobbled streets. No wonder Strasbourg won the title of “Best Christmas Market in Europe” last year.”
Visitors have the chance to sample some of the region’s finest food, including bredle Christmas cookies and Strasbourg’s traditional spicy hot orange juice. Be sure to visit before Christmas – this year it runs from 25 November (2016) and closes down on Christmas Eve.
By Megan and Mike of Mapping Megan and Waking up Wild
5. Nice, France
Village de Noël in Nice, France
Celebrate the holiday season on the French Riviera at the Village de Noël in Nice, France! Visitors can experience the delight of Christmas without the pesky cold, wet snow.
Buy handcrafted gifts including our favourite Provençal Santon’s, traditional nativity scene figurines. There are sixty wooden chalets set up in the Christmas Market so you can find that perfect gift.
Take time to eat socca, gingerbread treats, and chestnuts while drinking mulled wine. Then sit back and watch the kids play on bungee trampolines, a climbing wall, and in bounce houses.
Once you’ve shopped and had a bite to eat, you can ice skate or go up on the Ferris Wheel for stunning views over Nice. The Nice Christmas Market is the perfect spot to get ready for the holidays in the South of France.
By Dana of The Talking Suitcase
6. Lille, France
Lille, France’s Marche de Noel
Lille is a small city in Northeast France, only two hours away from Paris and less than an hour away from Belgium. It’s got the functionality of a big city with traditional architecture that reveals its position as a city on the border between two beautiful countries.
It also has small town charm, which makes the Christmas market there such a treat! Lille is well known in France for its winter market, and it’s a great alternative to the larger markets located across Europe.
Lille is easily accessible by train, and you can get to the market on foot. Christmastime there is a family event, and it’s rare to come across tourists from other countries.
I was so excited to try the traditional Christmas foods like Raclette, which is basically a small bowl of steamed potatoes smothered in cheese and mixed with bits of meat, and “vin chaud,” which is hot spiced wine. Both are winter staples in France, and you can find them here for as little as 5 euros, and I promise both are delicious!
When you finish walking through the market, make sure you hop on the giant Ferris wheel for a panoramic view of the city!
By Francesca from One Girl: One World
7. Prague, Czech Republic
Christmas Market in Prague, Czech Republic
Travelling to Europe to visit some of the best Christmas markets in the world? Well, make sure to head to Prague! Prague is an amazing city to visit year-round with tonnes of things to do in Prague but my favourite time of year to visit is December.
There are several Christmas markets set up throughout Prague, but the biggest and prettiest is right in Old Town Square. The square is transformed into a magical Christmas market filled with tasty treats and unique Christmas gifts.
For the best view of the Christmas market head up to the top of the Old Town City Hall, wait until the night falls, and the market is lit up by Christmas lights. I loved just spending the day wandering around Prague and stumbling across the Christmas markets set up throughout the city.
By Hannah of Getting Stamped
8. Copenhagen, Denmark
Christmas at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark
Winter in Copenhagen may be cold and dark, but the city’s holiday season is bursting with festive cheer. Markets scattered throughout the centre will lift your spirits and offer up plenty of opportunities for hygge – Danish coziness.
Copenhagen’s most popular Christmas Market is at the famous Tivoli Gardens. The historic park is transformed into a Nordic-style winter wonderland, featuring wooden huts offering up everything from handcrafted Scandinavian gifts to local goodies like æbleskiver (dough balls with cream and jam) and gløgg (mulled wine).
Copenhagen also has a traditional German Christmas Market spread over two of the city’s charming squares, several stalls along the city’s colourful Nyhavn waterfront, and even a Hans Christian Andersen-themed market. God jul!
By Caroline of Love Live Travel
And More on Copenhagen…
Copenhagen is a great place to experience the Christmas spirit. Already since mid-November, the whole of Denmark dives into the spirit of ‘Jule hygge,’ which is a special Danish expression for warmth and coziness during Christmas time.
There are numerous places where Copenhagen hosts Christmas markets, Nyhavn, Christiania, and Kg. Nytorv among others. However, the best places to experience that to the fullest is the market on Højbro Plads in the city center.
Here, apart from Christmas decorations from pine trees and wooden kiosks, you’ll get the chance to drink some spicy gløgg (warm wine) and purchase some Nordic delicacies and decorations.
Visiting Tivoli gardens will give you another tremendous opportunity to get that Christmas spirit. Though you need to pay to get in, you’ll get a rewarding experience: incredible decorations that change according to the yearly theme, cozy winter lights, many cute kiosks serving gløgg and warm winter snacks, such as traditional Danish æbleskiver. Tivoli is a perfect place to spend a winter day in a warm atmosphere.
By Lena of Travel Monkey
9. Nuremberg, Germany
German Christmas Cheer at Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt was first mentioned in 1628, though the locals will proudly tell you that the Christmas market is much older than that. And it’s still traditional, which honestly can be a bit hard to find in these modern times when many of the wares sold at Christmas markets are mass produced.
The charming wooden stalls are still constructed from regional spruce, and most of the goods sold by the market’s 180 vendors are regionally manufactured, some still entirely by hand.
It’s the perfect place to shop for unique gifts and Christmas decorations you won’t find anywhere else in the world, like the famous Prune Men that have been crafted and sold there since the 18th century.
Of course, one of the best parts {okay, my favourite part} is stuffing your face. Nuremberg is the most famous exporter of gingerbread, or Lebkuchen as it’s called in German.
You can also find plenty of stalls selling the original Nuremberg grilled sausages, and the GERSTACKER stall is a personal favourite of mine with their unique blueberry Glühwein, that they have been selling at the market for over 35 years.
By Jennifer of Luxe Adventure Traveler
10. Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast Christmas Market in Northern Ireland
Belfast Christmas Market oozes buckets of charm and festive spirit, and a visit is guaranteed to make you embrace your Christmas cheer! Despite being smaller than many of its European Christmas market counterparts, what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere, festive fun, and the famous Northern Irish ‘craic’!
Set in the grounds of the beautiful City Hall, the backdrop of one of Belfast’s most stunning buildings only adds to its charm.
The market is full to the brim of delicious Christmas treats from mulled wine to crepes with stalls selling lots of quirky gifts in between. It’s the absolute highlight of my Christmas’ at home, and I always have my festive jumper on standby for our annual visit!
By Elaine & David of The Whole World is a Playground
11. Bolzano, Italy
A handcrafted Christmas at the Bolzano, Italy Christmas Market in South Tyrol
Italy may not be the first European destination that springs to mind when you think of Christmas Markets, but the picturesque mountain landscapes of South Tyrol are the perfect backdrop for holiday cheer.
The region’s capital, Bolzano, hosts a stunning Christmas Market filled with handcrafted goods featuring local woodcarving, wool, and glass. There are plenty of tasty treats for foodies too. Warm up with a knödel (the local dumplings) or grilled sausage.
For a one-of-a-kind gift, the nearby Walther Square is home to another Christmas Market. The Rassegna Mercato Artistico, or Artist’s Market, founded in 1970, is the oldest Christmas Market in Italy.
You can also visit the slightly smaller but equally impressive Christmas Market in nearby Merano. Afterwards, you can recover from your holiday stress at the stunning Terme Merano spa. Consider it a Christmas present to yourself.
By Alison of CheeseWeb
12. Cape Town, South Africa
Handmade gifts at Made in the Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Located in Cape Town’s southern suburb, Claremont, Made in the Cape is a year-round, hyper-local market established in 2012. For 11 months a year, Made in the Cape features about 25 stalls.
Each December, Made in the Cape swells to the size of Santa’s belly after a night of cookie chomping with 60 vendors shilling everything from hand-forged jewellery, pottery, skin care items, and raw honey.
Two of our favourite aspects of Made in the Cape: it’s located indoors at Cavendish Square mall, so no rainy days and makers are on-site, so shoppers can ‘meet their maker’ and learn a bit more about their process, materials, and personality.
Who says Table Mountain is the only beauty in the Mothercity?
By Miranda of Anchors and Proteas
13. Manila, Philippines
Christmas cheer in Manilla, Philippines
Christmas markets around the world are so looked forward to. They are popular mostly in Europe and the USA. The hustle and bustle, the delicious food, especially mulled wine and cheese, the music and dance, and the shopping. They lift the mood for the festive season.
Once I had the chance to celebrate Christmas in Manila, Philippines.
Christmas in Asia? I was wondering how different it would be from a wintry Christmas. Yes, it is different.
First and foremost, Manila has the longest Christmas sales in the whole world! The Christmas markets start in September and continue until well beyond the New Year.
Manila is the city of malls, and one can see every mall decorated with their goods on sale. During peak time, you may have to stand in a line to enter.
Cakes, gifts, clothes, shoes, beauty products, jewellery, designer dresses and every other item you can think of is on sale. In fact, there is a special market called the Gift Market. You may learn some gifting etiquette if you visit.
I have visited the Philippines three times, and I make it a point to go there in the last quarter of the year for very cheap clothes, shoes, and pearl jewellery.
By Nisha of Lemonicks
Find even more Christmas Markets for your holiday fix on our Christmas Markets Resource Page.
Book hotels in your favourite destinations at the lowest possible rates below:
Like this article? Save it to Pinterest!
- The Ultimate List of Castle Hotels in Belgium - June 10, 2019
- The Ultimate Guide to the Best Things to Do in Normandy, France - February 5, 2019
- The Ultimate Guide to the Best Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium - January 11, 2019