A winter break in Europe is a winning holiday formula: travel during the colder months is usually cheaper, hotel rooms and Airbnbs are easier to find, and queues and crowds at major attractions are less intense than the peak holiday seasons of Summer and mid-October. It’s also when one of the continent’s most charming traditions takes place: the outdoor Christmas market.
The familiar image of the European Christmas market – pine trees, snow-covered wooden huts, roast chestnuts – has its roots in central Europe, dating back to the Holy Roman Empire. A huge variety of winter markets can be found throughout the continent, however, each displaying and reflecting the local culture as well as the medieval traditions of the advent market.
From Barcelona’s Fira de Santa Llúcia to Romania's Sibiu fair, here’s a guide to some of the best Christmas markets in Europe in 2024.
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The Best Christmas Markets in Central Europe
1. Dresden
Germany is perhaps the best-known country for Christmas markets in Europe – many classic tropes of the festive season including advent candles, Christmas trees and gingerbread originated in Germany. Nearly every German city, town and village hosts their own version of a winter festival in December.
One of the most famous is the Striezelmarkt. This ancient fair in the east German city of Dresden celebrates its 590th anniversary in 2024, and walking through the Striezelmarkt today still feels like a trip through time. The focus here is squarely on tradition, from the wooden structures and handcrafted souvenirs to centuries-old recipes (the market derives its name from the now world-famous striezel cake – or stollen, as it’s better known today).
2. Nuremberg
One of Germany's largest and oldest December fairs, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is defined by tradition. While younger than the Dresdner Striezelmarkt, the Christkindlesmarkt has taken place on the Hauptmarket Square every year since 1628. Today, the market still celebrates medieval customs, including the parade and symbolic crowning of the Christkindl, or ‘Christ child’.
3. Berlin
While not as ancient as Dreden’s Striezelmarkt or as picturesque as the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, it's hard to beat the German capital for the sheer variety of Christmas markets in 2024: every December, the city hosts over sixty festive fairs, in addition to a year-round collection of open-air flea markets.
5 of the best Christmas markets in Berlin in 2024
The Scandinavian Christmas Market in der Kulturbrauerei
The brick courtyards of the former brewery Der Kulturbrauerei form an imposing backdrop to the this Scandinavian Christmas market. Head here for bonfires, Scandi snacks and a visit from Santa.
Berlin's Medieval Christmas Market
The former railway yard at the RAW-Gelände typifies the industrial aesthetic that defines much of East Berlin. A corner of this complex is transformed every year by the Berlin Medieval Christmas Market: a firm favorite among families, this fair features many familiar advent market activities as well as medieval music performances, fire dancers and axe-throwing tents.
Alt-Rixdorf Weihnachtsmarkt
For a more authentic medieval experience, the Alt-Rixdorf Christmas market in Berlin’s Neukölln district takes place on one of the city's oldest squares, Richardplatz. The Alt-Rixdorf market retains many features from this period, including a working blacksmith. Time your visit right as the market is only open on the 7th and 8th of December 2024.
Nollendorfplatz Christmas Avenue
Nollendorf Platz is one of the centres of queer history in Berlin and the site of the LGBTQ+ Winterdays market. Expect a mixture of the modern and traditional, as Glühwein (German mulled wine) and gingerbread stalls are complemented by stands from independent queer artists, live music and karaoke.
The Sustainable Christmas Market in Sophienstrasse
Visit Berlin’s Sustainable Christmas market for a forward-thinking approach to the festive season. Locally sourced souvenirs and a range of vegan food stalls differentiate this from classical advent markets. One of Berlin’s best-known and oldest bistros, Sophieneck, is just around the corner.
4. Salzburg
Christmas in the Alps is a tempting prospect – visiting the Salzburg advent market is the perfect excuse to discover one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
Known for its UNESCO-protected baroque town centre and for being Mozart’s birthplace, Salzburg is a popular tourist destination year-round. The relentless prettiness of the old town kicks up a notch in December when the chocolate-box houses and winding streets are lined with Christmas lights and market stalls.
5. Vienna
The Austrian capital claims to be the site of the world’s first Christmas market, with records indicating a citywide ‘December Market’ in 1296. Despite this weight of history, Vienna's central Christmas market is a cosmopolitan event that blends the imagined nostalgia of advent fairs with an international and forward-thinking roster of stalls and attractions. The classic hallmarks of Mitteleuropean markets – mulled wine, wooden huts and nutcrackers - are all here, enhanced by a range of international food options.
6. Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of the best cities in Europe during winter - even during freezing weather, the city's wealth of world-class museums, restaurants and bars ensure enough indoor activities to keep visitors busy for weeks. Wrap up warm, head to the open-air Christmas market in Tivoli Gardens and try some local glögg or æbleskiver. Tivoli is one of the best Christmas markets for families in 2024 – if younger visitors want a change of pace, they can always head to one of the park's many rollercoasters and thrill rides.
7. Budapest
For centuries, tourists have headed to the Hungarian capital to bathe in its supposedly health-giving natural spas - the city is built above one of the world's largest hot spring networks. Budapest's Baroque town centre and striking location on the banks of the Danube ensure it remains a popular tourist destination all year. In December, the city hosts several Christmas markets including the renowned Vörösmarty Square market. Head here to try Kurtoskalacs cakes and watch a daily light show.
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The Best Christmas Markets in Western Europe
1. Edinburgh
Situated in the natural valley that bisects the Scottish capital, the Edinburgh Winter Market is one of the most scenic markets on this list. Visitors can drink, ice skate and browse dozens of market stalls, food trucks and fairground rides under the shadow of the 11th-Century Edinburgh Castle. In contrast to advent markets, which end on Christmas Eve, the Edinburgh Winter Festival culminates with one of Europe's largest street parties on New Year’s Eve - the Edinburgh Hogmanay party.
The city is also home to several smaller independent markets. Head to the port neighbourhood of Leith to visit the Edinburgh Independent Art Market and the Pitt Street Food Market.
2. Barcelona
The Fira de Santa Llúcia in Barcelona is one of Europe’s largest winter markets. Its roots lie in Catalan culture rather than the central European Advent festivals. As a result, Barcelona’s Fira is a unique experience and one of Europe’s most underrated Christmas markets. The fair is notable both for its spectacular setting as for its idiosyncratic quirks. These include the Caga Tió, a traditional children’s puppet show, and ornate nativity scenes featuring hundreds of individually carved wooden characters from both biblical and historical Spanish contexts.
3. Galway
The port city of Galway is the perfect starting point for exploring Ireland’s West Coast. Some of the country’s most visited natural attractions, including the Cliffs of Moher and the beaches of County Kerry, are within a day’s travel from Galway. The Galway Christmas market is situated in the heart of the Galway’s historic quayside. Wander the market and harbour, have a few Guinnesses (or Murphy’s) at Tigh Neachtain’s, share a spice bag from the chipper and have a chicken fillet roll from the deli on your way back.
The neighbouring seaside town of Salthill is worth a visit for another of Galway’s Christmas customs: every year, brave swimmers leap into the sea from Blackrock Tower for charity. It’s a change from the heated water of a Budapest spa, but still a great European winter holiday activity.
The Best Christmas Markets in Eastern Europe
1. Wrocław
A quick internet search for 'best xmas markets Europe' returns the usual list of German, Austrian and Swiss towns. Visitors looking to find the best Christmas markets in Europe should consider options outside the Germanosphere as well. A great example is the unique atmosphere of Poland’s advent events. As a fascinating mixture of Catholic, Slavic and Germanic protestant influences, Wrocław’s turbulent thousand-year history of conquest, migration and trade is reflected in the diversity of its Christmas markets.
2. Sibiu
The Transylvanian city of Sibiu retains a Germanic influence, both in its architecture and annual Christmas market. A Romanian take on the Christmas market tradition, Sibiu blends Germanic and Ottoman influences with modern Romanian culture. Visit Sibiu's historic town centre and discover a contender for the best Christmas fair in Europe.
Visiting Europe in December 2024
Early December is not a typical tourist season, and travelling to and throughout Europe at this time of year is usually a less busy experience than in Spring or Summer. However, the late December Christmas rush is one of the busiest times to fly in the entire year. Make sure to plan accordingly: book tickets and accommodation as soon as possible, and download a travel eSIM beforehand to get online while abroad.
Using an eSIM in Europe
An eSIM is the easiest way to use mobile internet abroad, without having to pay for roaming fees. These are temporary, prepaid SIM profiles that can be downloaded and used to access local mobile data in other countries.
Specialized travel eSIMs, like the ones from BetterRoaming, offer tailored data packages for over 160 countries and territories, including 48 in Europe alone.
Planning on a longer trip? Europe-wide eSIM plans offer data across the continent, and provide seamless, low-cost connectivity wherever you are in Europe. Explore multiple European countries with a single prepaid plan.
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