Some links in this guide are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Few trips feel as festive as a December evening at a European Christmas market: wooden stalls, twinkling lights, mulled wine and the smell of roasted nuts. For travelers from the US, the good news is that most markets open in late November, a few weeks before the holiday rush, so you can enjoy them without paying peak Christmas-week prices.
When do European Christmas markets open?
Most markets open in the second half of November, often around the start of Advent, and close on December 23 or 24. Some stay open until New Year's or early January, usually in a smaller form. Exact dates change every year, so check each market's official website before you book.
A few timing tips:
- Late November and the first week of December are the sweet spot. The markets are fully open, the crowds are lighter and transatlantic flights are usually cheaper than in the weeks right before Christmas.
- Weekends are the busiest, especially at famous markets that draw day-trippers by bus and train. Visit on a weekday evening if you can.
- The week before Christmas is the most crowded and the most expensive time to fly, because students and families travel home.
For more on when flights across the Atlantic cost the least, see our guide to the cheapest time to fly to Europe.
The best Christmas markets in Europe
Nuremberg, Germany
The Christkindlesmarkt on Nuremberg's main square is one of the oldest and best-known Christmas markets in the world. Look for gingerbread (Lebkuchen), small Nuremberg sausages served three in a bun, and the prune figures sold as good-luck charms. It is a short train ride from Munich and Frankfurt.
Cologne, Germany
Cologne has several markets, but the one at the foot of the huge Gothic cathedral is the classic photo. The city is easy to combine with Amsterdam, Brussels or other Rhine cities by train, which makes it a great stop on a multi-city trip.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna's biggest market fills the square in front of City Hall (Rathausplatz), with lights strung through the trees and an ice rink nearby. Smaller, quieter markets at Schönbrunn Palace and Spittelberg feel more traditional. Add a classical concert and a coffee house and you have a perfect winter weekend.
Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg calls itself the "Capital of Christmas", and the whole old town is decorated. Its markets are among the oldest in France, and the mix of French and German traditions makes it feel unique. It is reachable by train from Paris.
Prague, Czech Republic
The markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square sit in one of Europe's most beautiful city centers, with a giant tree in front of the Gothic Týn Church. Prague is often cheaper for food and hotels than Western European capitals, which helps your budget.
Budapest, Hungary
The market on Vörösmarty Square and the one in front of St. Stephen's Basilica are known for hearty food and a light show on the basilica's facade. Combine the markets with a soak in one of the city's famous thermal baths.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Tivoli Gardens, the historic amusement park in the center of Copenhagen, turns into a winter wonderland with lights and stalls, and the colorful Nyhavn harbor has a small market too. Expect higher prices than in Central Europe.
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels' Winter Wonders event spreads stalls, lights and a Ferris wheel through the city center, with a light show on the Grand-Place. Belgian waffles and chocolate make it an easy sell. Brussels is a short train ride from Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne.
London, United Kingdom
London does Christmas big rather than traditional. Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland is part market, part fairground, and there are smaller markets along the South Bank and in Covent Garden. It is often one of the easiest and cheapest European cities to fly into from the US. Our list of things to do in London has more ideas for a winter visit.
Paris, France
Paris has seasonal markets around the city, and the real show is the lights: the department store windows on Boulevard Haussmann and the illuminated Champs-Élysées. Paris is also a convenient gateway to Strasbourg. Browse Paris hotels and book early for December weekends.
How to see several Christmas markets in one trip
Many of the best markets are a few hours apart by train, so it is easy to visit three or four cities in a week. A few routes that work well:
- Rhine and Benelux: fly into Amsterdam, then Cologne and Brussels, and fly home from Brussels or Paris.
- Central Europe: Vienna, Budapest and Prague, linked by train or a short flight.
- France and Germany: Paris, Strasbourg and Nuremberg or Munich.
The order you visit cities in can change the total cost of your flights, so try a couple of orders with our multi-city flight search. Flying into one city and out of another ("open jaw") is often cheaper and faster than going back to where you started.
How to keep a Christmas market trip affordable
Book flights early
December fares rise as Christmas gets closer, so book your flight 2 to 4 months ahead. Big US hubs usually have the most competition across the Atlantic. Compare routes such as New York to Paris, Chicago to London and Boston to Amsterdam to see which gateway is cheapest for your dates.
Stay outside the very center
Hotels on the main market squares fill up first and charge the most. A hotel a few metro or tram stops away is usually cheaper and still a short ride from the stalls. Look at London hotels or other city hotel pages to compare neighborhoods.
Use trains between cities
Trains between Central European cities are fast, central and often cheaper when booked ahead. Use flights for the longer hops, like Paris to Vienna.
Eat at the market
Market food (sausages, potato pancakes, chimney cakes, crêpes) is filling and usually cheaper than a sit-down restaurant in the same square.
Keep your mug
At many German and Austrian markets your mulled wine comes in a ceramic mug with a deposit added to the price. Return the mug to get your deposit back, or keep it as a cheap souvenir.
What to pack
- Warm layers, a hat, gloves and waterproof shoes. You will spend hours outside in the cold and damp.
- Some cash. Most stalls take cards now, but small vendors may not.
- A crossbody bag. Crowded markets are a favorite spot for pickpockets.
- A travel adapter and a power bank for your phone, which drains fast in the cold.
US citizens can visit most of Europe without a visa for short trips, but entry rules are changing as the EU rolls out its new electronic entry systems. Check the latest rules for each country before you go.
Plan your trip
Start with the city you most want to see, check flight prices for your dates, and then add the other markets with our multi-city flight search. Airport transfers can be booked in advance with Kiwitaxi, and tickets for tours and attractions in each city with Tiqets.
Search cheap flights to Europe
Frequently asked questions
- When do Christmas markets in Europe open?
- Most open in the second half of November, often around the start of Advent, and close on December 23 or 24. A few run until New Year's or early January. Dates change every year, so check each market's website.
- Which country has the best Christmas markets?
- Germany and Austria are the most famous, with markets in Nuremberg, Cologne, Munich and Vienna. Strasbourg in France, Prague, Budapest, Copenhagen and Brussels are also very popular.
- What is the cheapest time to visit European Christmas markets?
- Late November and the first week of December, on weekdays. Flights and hotels are usually cheaper than in the week before Christmas, and the markets are less crowded.
- Can I visit several Christmas markets in one trip?
- Yes. Many markets are a few hours apart by train, such as Amsterdam, Cologne and Brussels, or Vienna, Budapest and Prague. Try a few different orders in a multi-city flight search to find the cheapest one.