Home » Destinations » Europe » Best Christmas Markets In Europe
- Last Updated on November 3, 2024
Christmas is a magical time in Europe, and they know how to celebrate it. There really isn’t anywhere else that you can get the traditional Christmas markets you get in Europe. Imagine strolling on cobbled lanes through a maze of wooden stalls with friendly people selling hot chocolate, mulled wine, cookies, and other holiday delights, all the while being surrounded by medieval architecture on a cold winter day. It doesn’t get more Christmassy than that. Find everything you need to plan your European Christmas market vacation below.
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How To Approach Your Christmas Vacation In Europe
In general, we recommend people approach a Christmas trip to Europe in much the same way they would approach any other European adventure. The main difference is that the sun sets early in the winter, often before 5:00pm. So, each day, plan to do your sightseeing during daylight hours, then start exploring the markets as soon as the sun goes down. We recommend going to the markets every night if you’re up for it. All Christmas markets in Europe have some similarities, so in cities that have multiple markets, try to check out all the main spots once, then just keep returning to your favorite one once you’ve seen them all. Don’t approach the Christmas markets as a sightseeing expedition, but rather focus on soaking up the atmosphere. Try to slow down and take it all in – enjoy sipping some mulled wine, admire the decorations, experience new foods, and marvel at the architecture illuminated by night.
Best Christmas Markets In Europe
Nearly every country on the continent will have some kind of Christmas market, but in general, you want to look in the northern half of Europe for the best spots. The best Christmas markets are in Austria, Germany, Belgium, and Paris (not so much southern France). There are some other neat holiday spots in far north Europe, e.g. Finland, but we do not tend to recommend these as much, because the weather is more extreme, and there is far less to do in these destinations. We list our favorite Christmas markets in Europe below.
1. Brussels, Belgium (Brussels Winter Wonders)
Brussels is one of our favorite Christmas destinations, and consistently voted one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. It has the best combination of interesting sights to see during the day, and fantastic Christmas markets to enjoy at night. This event is huge! There are over 200 chalets (wooden stalls) of food and gifts, as well as an ice skating rink, Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and more. The Winter Wonders event is essentially one giant Christmas market spread throughout town at the locations listed below.
*For map details, click on the icon in the top left corner.
Grand Place
This is the most famous place in town, regardless of the season. During the Winter Wonders festival, this beautiful square is decorated with a giant Christmas tree, nativity scene, and a holiday light show (nightly every hour on the hour, sometimes also on the half-hour). There are also tons of cute shops lining this square and on the surrounding streets.
Marché aux Poissons
Of all the Christmas market locations in Brussels, this one has the greatest number of chalets, with tasty treats, drinks, gifts, and more. You can also find a Champagne bar here, as well as the Ferris wheel. Don’t miss this spot.
Place Sainte-Catherine
This is our personal favorite Christmas market in Brussels, as it feels a little smaller and more doable. Various chalets can be found here, mostly selling food and drinks (which is also why we like it, as we prefer eating to shopping). There is also a carousel/merry-go-round located here.
Place De Brouckère
Here you’ll find the ice-skating rink, as well as a number of stalls. You can also acquire all the candy you could possibly want in this section of the Christmas market.
Rue De La Bourse
This small pedestrian street is filled with chalets for the event, many of which have international origins.
Other Areas
You can also find Christmas market stalls at Place de la Monnaie, as well as scattered pop-ups throughout the city.
Practical Info
- This event (like most Christmas markets) has no map, so make use of the frequent signs, as well as the information chalets to ask someone to point you in the right direction if you’re looking for something specific. All the event locations are within easy walking distance of one another.
- The markets can get very crowded on the weekend. Go midweek if possible.
Dates: November 25th 2022 – January 1st 2023.
Website: www.plaisirsdhiver.be/en/
More About Brussels
2. Paris, France
Paris is one of our favorite places to spend Christmas time in Europe. It has so much to do during the day, and is magical all year round. It is a little warmer than other popular holiday destinations, and has a bit more sunlight in winter. The Christmas markets themselves are not as good as they are in some top destinations, like Brussels, but they are still great. Additionally, you get to eat French food and watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night.
Unlike many other holiday destinations, there is no all-encompassing holiday festival in Paris. Rather, there are over 15 independent Marchés de Noël (Christmas markets). See the official website for the complete list. The most important ones to visit are listed below.
*For map details, click on the icon in the top left corner.
The Magic of Christmas at Jardin des Tuileries
This is by far Paris’s best Christmas market. This huge event has more than just a remarkable number of market stalls – it boasts an ice-skating rink, carnival rides, and a big Ferris wheel. It also has the best food of any Christmas market in town. You could spend hours here. We went multiple times during our trip. However, one big downside to this location is that it gets extremely crowded on weekends, especially after dark. Go midweek if at all possible.
Dates: Open November 19 2022 – January 8 2023.
Address: Pl. de la Concorde, 75001 Paris, France
Marché de Noël Notre Dame de Paris at Square Viviani
This market may be one of the most picturesque in the city. It is smaller than some of the other Christmas markets in Paris, but we believe it deserves a visit for its supreme location alone, with the cathedral towering in the background.
Dates: Open December 9th – 26th 2022.
Marché de Noël at Place Saint-Germain-des-Pres
This Christmas market is actually more than just a collection of stalls – it’s a little Christmas village. This one is special due to its location in this beautiful neighborhood – an ideal place to soak up Parisian charm.
Dates: Open November 26th 2022 – January 1st 2023
Montmartre Abbesses Christmas Market
This Christmas market is held in beautiful Montmartre below the iconic Sacre Coeur. It is one of the smaller events, but it is always a treat to walk around Montmartre, holiday season or not. That being said, if you have limited time in town, this is probably the one to skip, given it takes a little bit of effort to get here.
Dates: November 2022 – January 2023
Practical Info
Official Website: www.en.parisinfo.com
More About Paris
3. Bruges, Belgium (Bruges Winter Glow)
Bruges is one of the most atmospheric places to spend the Christmas season in Europe. It boasts that quintessential old world, small town charm that you see in classic holiday movies. You don’t really go to Bruges for museums or other sights, you go to stroll the cobbled lanes and ride a boat through the beautiful canals. This city’s inherent beauty is heightened at Christmas, as many of the streets are decorated for the season. The Bruges Christmas market is also consistently ranked one of the best in Europe. The Winter Glow event turns the whole town into a medieval fairytale Christmas village. We list the main activities below.
Grote Markt Square Christmas Market
This is the main Christmas market in Bruges. Here you’ll find picturesque wooden chalets with all the tasty treats, holiday decorations, and traditional crafts you could ask for.
Address: Grote Markt, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
Holiday Decorations In The Historic Center
The most important thing to do during your visit to Bruges is walk around these neatly decorated streets. There is no specific route that we recommend, rather, you should start in Grote Markt and follow the Christmas lights from there.
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides Through The Historic Center
A horse-drawn carriage is a great way to get an introduction to the city, especially during the holidays. You can find the carriages in Grote Markt square. These will take you on a 30-minute tour of the historic center for ~€60 per carriage (max 5 people). For more info, visit the city’s page on “Bruges By Horse-drawn Carriage”.
Address: Grote Markt, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
Ice Skating And Drinks At The Minnewater (Lake Of Love)
This atmospheric little lake goes from serene to lively at Christmas. A floating ice skating rink is installed for all ages to enjoy. This is also the location of the Vorst Winter Bar, an outdoor bar next to the rink, which serves all kinds of drinks and snacks.
Address: 8000 Bruges, Belgium
Light Experience Trail
This is a relatively new addition to the Winter Glow event. Essentially, a trail is created with various light installations all along it. In our experience, it is underwhelming. The trail is very dark, so you can’t enjoy the inherent scenery, and the light installations are nothing to write home about. We recommend spending your time wandering the historic center instead. For more information on the trail, see the Light Experience Trail official website.
Practical Info
Dates: November 25, 2022 – January 8, 2023
Website: www.visitbruges.be/en/winter
More About Bruges
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