Christmas Markets in Europe – 15 Cozy Christmas Markets to Visit

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Christmas markets in Europe offer everything from small historic squares with crafts and hot mulled wine to large Christmas events that take over entire cities. We have experienced Christmas markets ourselves in Tallinn, Riga, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Zagreb and Turku, among others. Here we recommend 15 cozy Christmas markets in Europe – both our own favorites and classics that remain on our wish list.

Christmas markets in Europe

Traveling to a European city during Advent can be a wonderful way to get an extra dose of Christmas spirit. In many places, Christmas markets open as early as mid- to late November, filling squares and streets with lights, decorations, crafts, food and warming drinks.

Christmas markets can also be very different. In Tallinn, much of the Christmas atmosphere is concentrated in the medieval Town Hall Square, while Prague has markets in several different squares. In Vienna, there are a large number of Christmas markets to choose from, and in Zagreb, the Advent celebration has grown into an event that spreads over large parts of the city.

We have visited seven of the Christmas market destinations in this guide ourselves. We have marked these with 🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel. We have also been to Nuremberg just before the famous Christkindlesmarkt opened – as close as you can get without actually managing to visit it!

Please note that dates, opening hours and arrangements may change from year to year, so always check the latest information before booking your trip.

1. Christmas market in Tallinn, Estonia

🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel

Tallinn's Christmas market is not a gigantic market, but the environment is all the more atmospheric. The market is held on the Town Hall Square in the middle of the medieval old town, surrounded by colorful historic houses. In the middle of the square stands the large Christmas tree, and around it you will find small market stalls with crafts, Christmas decorations, food and warming drinks.

When we visited Tallinn, the Christmas market had just opened for the season. We browsed among Estonian crafts, woolen gloves, hats and sweets, and also stopped to watch Estonian folk dancing on stage.

One thing we still associate with the Christmas market is Vana Tallinn Glögi, a hot drink with the Estonian liqueur Vana Tallinn. It warmed me up nicely in the winter cold and also tasted really good!

According to the Tallinn Tourist Board, a Christmas tree has been standing on Town Hall Square since 1441, giving the place a long and exciting Christmas history.

Date 2026: 20 November 2026–6 January 2027.

READ MORE: Christmas market in Tallinn - a brilliant experience

2. Christmas Market in Nuremberg, Germany

Nuremberg Christmas market is one of the great classics among Europe's Christmas markets. The market is held on the Hauptmarkt in the old town and is characterized by its red and white striped market stalls.

Traditional crafts and special Nuremberg souvenirs, such as the golden angels, are sold here. Rauschgoldengel and the original little figures Plum man. If you are hungry, you can instead look for Nürnberger Lebkuchen or order Three in the Weggla – three small Nuremberg sausages served in bread.

A central figure is Christ Child, who traditionally opens the market from the balcony of the Frauenkirche.

We have actually been in Nuremberg in Advent, but managed to arrive just before the Christkindlesmarkt was to open. The stands and many of the decorations were already in place and we could see how the entire old town was being transformed for Advent. A bit of a bummer to miss the actual opening – but at the same time fun to see all the preparations.

Date 2026: November 27–December 24.

3. Christmas markets in Prague, Czech Republic

🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel

Prague is a city where it almost feels like every self-respecting square has its own Christmas market. The two major markets can be found at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, but during Advent, markets and Christmas activities also appear elsewhere in the city. In 2026, for example, Christmas markets will also be organized on Náměstí Míru and Náměstí Republiky.

When we experienced Prague at Christmas time, it was above all the combination of the markets and the historical environment that we fell in love with. Church towers, beautiful buildings and illuminated squares form a fantastic backdrop as you walk between stalls with crafts, Christmas decorations and food.

You don't have to stay hungry for very long. We saw big Czech sausages on the grills, grilled meat, cheese, langos, chestnuts and of course trdelník, which is sold in many places in central Prague.

The great thing about Prague is that the Christmas market doesn't have to be the only reason for the trip. In between the market visits, there are churches, towers, historical sights, Czech food and – of course – plenty of Czech beer.

Date 2026: The large Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square will be held from November 28, 2026 to January 6, 2027.

READ MORE: Christmas market in Prague - one of the best in Europe

4. Christmas Markets in Vienna, Austria

If Nuremberg has a famous Christmas market, Vienna is rather a whole Christmas market town. There are many markets here with different characters, which means you can easily spend an entire weekend walking between them.

One of the largest and most famous is the Vienna Christkindlmarkt in front of the city hall on Rathausplatz. Here you can find crafts, Christmas decorations, sweets and hot drinks, but also ice skating and activities for children.

There are many options. A large Christmas market is held in front of Schönbrunn Palace, and there are also Christmas markets at Belvedere, Maria-Theresien-Platz, Freyung and Am Hof, among others. Several of them also have different opening hours and closing dates.

This makes Vienna a good choice for those who really want to revel in Christmas markets and at the same time experience a big city with palaces, cafes, museums and classic Austrian food culture.

Date 2026: The Vienna Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz is held from November 13 to December 26. The market at Schönbrunn opens on November 6 and continues until January 6, 2027.

5. Christmas market in Riga, Latvia

🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel

Riga is a nice option for those who want to combine a Christmas market with a weekend in a beautiful Baltic capital. The old town with its historic buildings also looks very nice in Christmas decorations.

When we visited Riga, we walked between several smaller Christmas markets with stalls filled with, among other things, knitted garments, wooden and leather crafts, gingerbread cookies, honey and other Latvian products.

But what we perhaps remember best is something completely different: Riga Black Conditioner. The classic Latvian liquor can be mixed with something hot, and we tried it with hot blackcurrant drink. Really tasty and also effective in the slightly chilly winter weather!

When we were in Riga, there was also an odd feature on the Esplanade – a whole ”rabbit kingdom”, where rabbits hopped around between small palaces and manor houses. We can’t promise if the rabbits still celebrate Christmas in the same way, though.

The central Christmas market in the old town is arranged at Domkyrkotorget, Judge's Square, where the Christmas spirit is combined with Latvian crafts, food and drink.

READ MORE: Christmas Market in Riga – Crafts and Black Balsam

6. Christmas Market in Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is usually described as ”"Capital of Christmas"”, and Christmas celebrations have become an important part of the city's identity.

The historic city center is filled with market stalls, Christmas lights and decorations during Advent, and a large Christmas tree is erected on Place Kléber. The market areas are located in several places in the center, allowing you to feel the Christmas spirit as you discover the city.

Part of the charm is of course the setting itself. Strasbourg is located in Alsace, close to the border with Germany, and the mix of French and German influences is noticeable in both the architecture and the food.

This is one of the Christmas markets on our own wish list. The combination of historic quarters, half-timbered houses, Alsatian food and a strong Christmas market tradition simply sounds hard to beat.

7. Christmas Markets in Budapest, Hungary

🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel

Budapest has several Christmas markets, including the market on Vorosmarty Square and the Advent Basilica at St. Stephen's Basilica are among the most famous.

When we visited the Christmas market on Vörösmarty tér, we had for some reason imagined it would be huge. In reality, we found it to be quite small, but all the more cozy.

The food was a big part of the experience. There was smoke from large frying pans and grills, and we ordered a generous portion of meat, potatoes and vegetables and ate outside. At the markets you can also look out for kürtőskalács, the spiral-shaped pastry often called a chimney cake.

We visited the market both during the day and in the evening and found it worth doing both. During the day it is easier to browse the stalls and food, while the Christmas lights, music and atmosphere transform the place when darkness falls.

READ MORE: Christmas market in Budapest – markets, food and Christmas atmosphere

8. Christmas at Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark

For Swedish travelers, Copenhagen is an easily accessible alternative, and during Christmas it transforms Amusement park for a great Christmas experience.

This combines a Christmas market with an amusement park. Tivoli is decorated with lots of lights and Christmas decorations, and among the attractions are stalls with gifts, sweets, food and hot drinks.

It will of course be a different kind of experience than at the traditional markets in, for example, Nuremberg or Salzburg. Here, it is as much the lighting, entertainment and fairytale atmosphere that attract as the market stalls themselves.

This also makes Tivoli a good option for families – or for those who simply want to have maximum Christmas atmosphere during a weekend in Copenhagen.

9. Christmas Market in Warsaw, Poland

🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel

When we visited Warsaw, the Christmas market at the Old Town and the Barbacan was the center of attention. Here we found small stalls with crafts, wool products, decorations, delicacies and sweets, and we thought that much of it felt more artisanal than mass-produced.

But our strongest Christmas memory from Warsaw is actually Christmas lights.

During the day it rained and the city felt quite grey. When darkness fell everything changed. We walked along the historic King's Road, Royal District, where trees and lampposts shone and various light installations appeared along the road. Suddenly, the gray winter day had transformed into something almost fairy-tale-like.

At the Christmas markets, you can try Polish specialties such as pierogi, bigos, sausages and grilled cheese and warm yourself up with mulled wine, Polish spiced mulled wine.

Warsaw's Christmas offerings have also developed since our visit, with a large market at Plac Defilad in front of the Palace of Culture and Science complementing the Christmas atmosphere around the Old Town.

READ MORE: Christmas market in Warsaw – with fairy-tale decoration

10. Christmas Market in Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is an alternative for those who are attracted by the classic Austrian Christmas atmosphere but want a smaller city than Vienna.

The historical Salzburg Christmas Market spreads over Domplatz and Residenzplatz as well as parts of Kapitelplatz, in the middle of Salzburg's old town. Here, baroque architecture, Christmas decorations and an Alpine feel come together.

Salzburg has a lot to offer besides the Christmas market. The city is strongly associated with Mozart and the Hohensalzburg Fortress towers above the old town. Add cafes, Austrian food and the surrounding mountains and you have the perfect conditions for a really nice winter weekend.

Date 2026: The Salzburger Christkindlmarkt will be held November 19, 2026–January 1, 2027.

11. Advent Zagreb, Croatia

🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel

Zagreb really surprised us when we visited the city during Advent. We first thought we had seen the Christmas market as we walked across the central squares – but the Christmas atmosphere just continued through the parks, along the streets and further up towards the upper town.

That is also why Advent Zagreb is a better name than ”Zagreb Christmas Market.” It is not a single, isolated market, but a large Christmas event that spreads across central parts of the city.

When we were here, the parks were sparkling with lights, music was playing, the market stalls seemed to never end and various Santas were popping up everywhere. Even the public transport had been given a Christmas costume – something we still think Swedish buses and trams could take inspiration from!

Among the food you can look out for fry, small fried treats that are popular during Advent. In addition, sausages, other dishes and hot drinks are of course sold in many places.

Date: Advent Zagreb will be held November 28, 2026–January 7, 2027.

READ MORE: Christmas Market in Zagreb – Experience Advent Zagreb

12. Christmas Market in Krakow, Poland

The Krakow Christmas Market has an environment that is hard to compete with. It is organized on Main Market Square, the large historic square in the middle of the old town.

Here you can browse among Christmas decorations, crafts and gifts while trying Polish food and warming drinks. The square itself with the Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Church and the historic houses around it contribute at least as much to the experience as the market stalls.

Krakow and Warsaw thus offer two quite different Polish Christmas trips. Warsaw attracts with extensive Christmas lights and a modern metropolitan feel, while Krakow offers a more concentrated Christmas market experience in the middle of a historic city center.

Take the opportunity to combine the Christmas market with Krakow's many attractions, restaurants and cafés.

13. Christmas markets in Turku, Finland

🎄 Visited by FREEDOMtravel

Turku is a good option for those who prefer a smaller and more low-key Christmas weekend. When we visited the city in December, we had time to experience two Christmas markets with quite different characters, combined with museums, restaurants and walks in the city in winter attire.

Old Town Square Christmas Market is the more traditional of the two. Here we browsed among crafts, Christmas decorations, gifts and local treats. In our company, a pair of woolen socks were found and we warmed ourselves with mulled wine in the winter cold.

On Market Square Christmas Market There was a greater focus on food. There were food carts and a carousel, but what we were most drawn to were the little glass houses where you could sit on benches and eat, protected from the swirling snow. Very cozy!

Date: The Old Stortorget Christmas market is usually arranged over four weekends before Christmas.

READ MORE: Winter weekend in Turku - Christmas atmosphere and markets

14. Winter Wonders in Brussels, Belgium

Brussels' big Christmas event is called Winter Wonders, or Winter Pleasures, and encompasses much more than a traditional Christmas market.

The Christmas spirit spreads through central Brussels with market stalls, lighting and various activities. A given part of the experience is the Grand-Place, which even without Christmas decorations is one of the city's most impressive places.

Belgium is of course also a grateful country for those who like to combine Christmas spirit with something delicious. Chocolate, waffles, French fries and Belgian beer are never far away.

Winter Wonders is therefore a good fit for those who want to combine a big Christmas event with a real city weekend - with museums, restaurants, historical environments and Belgian treats.

15. Christmas Markets in Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg concludes our list – and here again it's about several Christmas markets rather than just one.

One of the most classic is arranged in front of the grand town hall, but all around Hamburg There are more markets with different characters. This makes it possible to walk between different Christmas environments while discovering the city.

Hamburg is also a great place to visit if you want to combine Christmas markets with shopping, restaurants and attractions. The harbor, Speicherstadt and all the canals and bridges don't disappear just because it happens to be December.

For Swedish travelers, Hamburg is also a relatively accessible destination for a Christmas weekend, not least for those who like to travel south by car or train.

Do you want to experience the Christmas spirit up close? Also see our tips on Christmas markets in Sweden, from Skansen and the Old Town to Kosta and Gammelstad.

When do Christmas markets start in Europe?

Many Christmas markets in Europe open in the second half of November, but the dates vary greatly.

Some traditional Christmas markets, especially in Germany, end just before or during the Christmas holidays. Elsewhere, celebrations continue over New Year's Eve and sometimes right up until the Epiphany. In Vienna, different Christmas markets can also have completely different start and end dates.

It is therefore wise to check the exact Christmas market you want to visit before you book your travel and accommodation. Dates, opening hours, locations and activities may change between years.

Our Christmas markets in Europe

We think Christmas markets are a fun way to discover European cities during a time of year when you might not otherwise have thought about traveling there. A city you know from the summer can also be experienced in a completely different way with the winter darkness, Christmas lights and the scent of the market stalls.

Of the markets on this list, we've experienced the Christmas spirit in Tallinn, Prague, Riga, Budapest, Warsaw, Zagreb and Turku – and watched Nuremberg get ready for its opening. At the same time, we still have several classics on our wish list.

Which is your favorite among Europe's Christmas markets? And which one do you think we should experience next?