Christmas markets are where Europe really shows off its sparkle – twinkling lights, steaming mugs of glühwein, handmade gifts, and enough sweet treats to warrant another notch on the belt.
Shock! There are less than 100 days till Christmas, so best start planning your mulled‑wine itinerary now.
We’ve rounded up 13 of the best for 2025. Rather than ranking them, we’ve gone alphabetical – because choosing a winner would be impossible.
Antwerp, Belgium
Often overshadowed by Brussels, Antwerp shines in its own right – and not just because of its diamonds. Follow a trail of fairy lights from Central Station to the historic Grote Markt where you’ll find market stalls, skating rinks and cosy bars full of festive cheer and, of course, the traditional Christmas trees and nativity scene.
When: 5 December 2025 – 4 January 2026.
Where: In the Grote Markt, Groenplaats and along the riverbank.
Food highlight: Smoutballen (fried dough balls), Belgian waffles, and mulled beer.
Getting there: Eurostar takes you into Brussels and Antwerp is a short, local train journey away (included in the price of your Eurostar ticket).
Up to date information can be found on the Visit Antwerp website.
Basel, Switzerland
Basel’s Old Town looks like something out of a snow globe at Christmas. Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz are lined with wooden chalets selling gifts, raclette and Basel Läckerli (gingerbread‑like biscuits). The cathedral backdrop adds an extra dose of magic.
When: 27 November to 23 December 2025.
Where: Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz and Claraplatz.
Food highlight: Raclette, grilled sausages and Läckerli biscuits.
Getting there: Direct flights to EuroAirport Basel. Or Eurostar to Paris, then TGV Lyria to Basel.
Full details on This Is Basel website.
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is pure romance at Christmas. The medieval canals twinkle with lights, horses clip‑clop through cobbled streets and Winter Glow brings skating, markets and a warm glow all around.
There are two market locations: The main market at the Markt offers traditional Christmas goods and is surrounded by cafes and restaurants while the smaller market at Simon Stevinplein focuses on authentic Belgian Christmas traditions.
When: 21 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Where: Markt Square and Simon Stevinplein
Food highlight: Belgian chocolates, speculoos biscuits and hearty frites.
Getting there: Eurostar to Brussels, then a 1‑hour train to Bruges.
More information on Visit Bruges website.
Budapest, Hungary
Two big markets compete for the limelight here: Vörösmarty Square and St Stephen’s Basilica. Both deliver when it comes to atmosphere, food and Hungarian crafts. Expect light shows, music, chimney cakes and enough mulled wine to forget it’s below freezing.
In fact, food ranks so highly here, it’s one of the best markets for providing benches and tables, simply waiting for you to follow your nose and grab a snack.
The two markets are only 10 minutes walk apart, so you can easily do them both.
When: 24 November 2024 to 7 January 2025.
Where: The main square, Vörösmarty Tér and in front of St Stephen’s Basilica plus an artisan fair in Deak Ferenc Square.
Food highlight: Kürtőskalács (chimney cake), lángos, goulash in bread bowls.
Getting there: Flights from London airports are non-stop and take around 2 and a half hours.
Full details on the Budapest Christmas website.
Cologne, Germany
Cologne does Christmas big. There are several markets across the city, each with its own theme – from the cathedral’s towering tree to the chocolate‑scented harbour market. If variety is your thing, Cologne delivers.
Look out for arts and crafts, unique gifts, lots of great food and entertainment for young and old.
The main market is in Roncalliplatz with other stalls at The Chocolate Museum in the harbour area, St Nicholas Village in Rudolfplatz and the Market of Angels in Neumarkt.
Outside the centre, head for the Veedel, or business districts, for smaller, neighbourhood markets where you’re guaranteed to find something just that little bit different.
When: Harbour Market starts on the 14 November, others from 17 November to 23 December 2025 while Alter Markt & Heumarkt extend into January.
Where: Cathedral Square, Neumarkt (Market of Angels), Harbour Market by the Chocolate Museum, Alter Markt & Heumarkt
Food highlight: Bratwurst, Reibekuchen (potato pancakes), and chocolate treats.
Getting there: Eurostar is your best bet, with direct trains from St Pancras International to Cologne in 5 and a half hours. Flights also available.
Full details on Cologne Tourism website.
Copenhagen, Denmark
The city’s historic Tivoli Gardens are magical, festooned with lights, filled with festive wooden huts and all decorated with snow-covered pine branches for a truly Nordic feel.
With more than 70,000 Christmas baubles and over 1,000 Christmas trees it’s a magical, sparkling place, home to around 60 stalls bursting with gifts, decorations, snacks and hot drinks.
Opened as a pleasure garden in 1843, Tivoli is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world, so worth a visit, even when Santa’s not around. Note: There is a fee to enter the gardens, even if you’re just going to the market.
When: 14 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (closed on Christmas Eve)
Where: Tivoli Pleasure Gardens
Food highlight: Æbleskiver (pancake balls) and Danish gløgg.
Getting there: Flights take under two hours but if you want to make a more leisurely and sustainable journey take Eurostar to Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg, stay overnight (checking out their Christmas markets on the way) then travel to Copenhagen the next day.
Full details about Christmas in Copenhagen, see Visit Copenhagen.
Dresden, Germany
The Striezelmarkt in Dresden dates back to the 15th century and is considered to be the oldest Christmas market in Germany. It’s home to the world’s biggest nutcracker and stollen that could double as a doorstep. Traditional, atmospheric and very Saxon.
And if that’s not enough there’s also The “Christmas Market on the Neumarkt” located in front of the Frauenkirche Church. Find traditional German Christmas market stalls, selling handcrafted gifts, festive food and drinks like mulled wine and bratwurst.
When: 26 November – 24 December 2025
Where: Altmarkt Square and Frauenkirche Church, Dresden
Food highlight: Dresdner Stollen, Glühwein and roasted nuts.
Getting there: Flights to Dresden or Berlin/Prague, then train.
Find more info on German Christmas markets here.
Gdansk, Poland
Smaller than most of its European counterparts, but charming, Gdansk Christmas market centres around Targ Weglowy and Wyzynna Gate.
Expect traditional Polish food, local crafts and a very real Father Christmas wandering around St Nicholas’ Corner. Also keep your eyes peeled for the festive Elk and the delightfully named Joy Corner is where food lovers gather for mulled wine and traditional treats. It’s quirky, fun, still growing, and they won the Best Christmas Markets in Europe competition 2025.
When: 21 November to 23 December 2025.
Where: City squares around Targ Węglowy and Wyzynna Gate.
Food highlight: Pierogi, kielbasa and mulled wine.
Getting there: Flights from the UK take around 2 hours.
Find more festive atmosphere here.
Kraków, Poland
Set in the vast fairytale-like setting of one of Europe’s largest medieval squares Rynek Główny (Main Market Square), Kraków’s market is atmospheric and full of traditional Polish crafts, Christmas decorations and food. Think pierogi, smoked cheese, wooden toys and nativity cribs that are works of art. Also take time to discover Wawel Castle.
When: 28 November 2025 – 1 January 2026 (not confirmed).
Where: Rynek Główny, Old Town
Food highlight: Pierogi, oscypek (smoked cheese) and bigos stew.
Getting there: Flights take about 2 and a half hours.
More about Christmas in Kraków here.
Prague, Czech Republic
Few cities do fairytale like Prague. The Old Town Square’s huge tree towers over stalls filled with trdelník (chimney cake), sausages and mulled wine. Add the sound of carols and the gothic backdrop, and it’s as Christmassy as it gets.
Sample mulled wine and hot mead, the sweet local pastry delicacy trdelnik, and juicy hams and sausages. Look out for delicate wooden ornaments, scented candles and hand-crafted gifts.
When: 29 November 2025 to 6 January 2026
Where: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with smaller markets dotted around.
Food highlight: Trdelník, roast ham and sweet dumplings.
Getting there: Flights to Prague take around 2 hours, and there are services from all the main UK airports.
Full details on the Visit Prague website.
Salzburg, Austria
The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt at the Dom and Residenzplatz is one of the world’s oldest Advent markets in Europe and oozes tradition. Set in the heart of Salzburg’s World Heritage-listed Old City, there’s been a market here since the 15th century
With a traditionally decorated tree and wooden huts, the market offers bags of festive atmosphere, gifts for all, and all kinds of crafts, glühwein and Austrian specialities. With the Alps in the background, it’s Christmas with a soundtrack.
When: 20 November 2025 to 1 January 2026.
Where: Domplatz and Residenzplatz, Old City.
Food highlight: Hot punch, roasted chestnuts and stollen.
Getting there: Direct flights take just under two hours or fly to Munich then take the train.
Full details on Salzburg Info website
Strasbourg, France
They don’t call it the Capital of Christmas for nothing. Strasbourg’s historic centre is packed with markets, including one of the most spectacular at the cathedral. Look out for Alsatian biscuits, cakes and mulled wine.
The market is not one event, but dozens of smaller markets, spread out in the Grande Île, the historical centre of Strasbourg, with the most spectacular one around the cathedral.
Authentic Alsatian foods to try are bredle biscuits, christolle cake, maenelle brioches, berewecke soaked in schnapps and dampfnudle dumplings.
When: 26 November to 24 December 2025.
Where: Across the Grande Île, including Place Kléber and around the cathedral.
Food highlight: Bredle biscuits, tarte flambée and Christstollen.
Getting there: Eurostar to Paris, then TGV to Strasbourg (around 5 hours total). Flights go from all major UK airports, direct will take around 4 hours.
Full details on the Noel Alsace website.
Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn’s medieval Old Town, complete with cobbled streets and a centuries‑old tree in Town Hall Square, looks like a Christmas card come to life. Add Estonian food and snow, and you’ve got winter perfection. – a tradition that goes back nearly 600 years. The tree’s lights are lit on the First Sunday of Advent, launching the Christmas market itself.
Market stalls offering seasonal goods and festive flavours fill the streets, and outside the medieval Old Town, most public squares have their own glittering Christmas trees and festive events.
When: 21 November – 27 December 2025.
Where: Raekoja plats (Town Hall Square).
Food highlight: Black pudding, rye‑bread treats and Estonian glögi.
Getting there: Flights from the UK take around 3 to 5 hours, depending on stopovers. Cruise ships call at Tallinn harbour, and the city is accessible by rail and bus from many European cities.
Full details on the Visit Estonia website.
Travel tips
Go Mid-Week: Consider visiting markets mid-week to avoid larger crowds.
Book trains and hotels well in advance: Weekends are peak time.
Bring cash as well as cards: Smaller stalls sometimes prefer it or only accept it.
Watch your valuables: Christmas markets attract pickpockets, so be extra careful with your belongings.
Reusable Bags: Pack a reusable tote bag or two to carry any purchases.
Dress warmly: Cobbles, mulled wine and frozen toes don’t mix well. Wear comfortable shoes!
Portable Charger: Take a portable phone charger as cold weather can drain battery life quickly.
Sorry if we’ve missed out your favourite – let us know which European Christmas market you think is best.
And finally if you fancy staying at home here are some of the best Christmas markets in the UK
Where to next?
• Quirky Christmas traditions
• Christmas Cocktails
• Sweet treats