Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, updated with new information.
If your idea of winter bliss involves sipping gluhwein, browsing endless stalls of holiday gifts and getting lost in a sea of glittering fairy lights, plan to celebrate this season at one of Europe‘s Christmas markets. These traditional markets date back hundreds of years and are still popular in many European countries, from France to Estonia.
Yes, the weather is cold (and snowy in some places). However, the smell of roasted chestnuts, the sparkle of the lights and the general feeling of holiday cheer more than make up for it. Since many markets begin in November and run through December, travelers can snag a fall or winter flight deal, or off-peak award redemption.
So, bundle up and check out our recommendations for some of the best Christmas markets in Europe, complete with tips on how to get there and where to stay.
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich’s Wienachtsdorf, which runs from Nov. 21 to Dec. 23, 2024, is one of the city’s largest Christmas markets. It’s located at Sechselautenplatz, the square directly in front of the Zurich Opera House and adjacent to Lake Zurich.
The charming Christmas village is made up of around 120 stalls, mostly run by local designers showcasing distinctive jewelry and other holiday gifts. The market also offers a variety of culinary options, from international dishes to traditional Swiss cuisine at the Fondue Chalet (reservations are recommended).
Stay: Stay at the Park Hyatt Zurich, just a 15-minute walk from the Christmas market. Rates start at $708 or 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night this November and December.
Arrive: Zurich Airport (ZRH) is a major transportation hub with numerous nonstop flights from the United States. Swiss, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines all have nonstop options from East Coast cities like New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Then it’s just a quick 25-minute train ride to the heart of the city.
Copenhagen, Denmark
From Nov. 8 to Dec. 21, 2024, Copenhagen’s largest Christmas market, which is usually held at Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square), will take place at Thorvaldsens Plads, just a 10-minute walk away. The square in front of the Thorvaldsens Museum will be transformed into a captivating wonderland with a labyrinth of wooden stalls, each brimming with delightful Danish delicacies, toys and more. Kids will be thrilled to snap a photo with Santa, while adults can unwind with a warming glass of spiced wine, or glogg as it’s called here.
Stay: The Nobis Hotel Copenhagen is a tranquil retreat just a 10-minute walk from Thorvaldsens Plads and only one block away from Tivoli Gardens, the historic theme park that is also a must-visit during the Christmas season. Plus, the posh property is bookable using Marriott Bonvoy points. Rates start at $411 or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night this November and December.
Arrive: There are a few nonstop options to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) from the U.S., including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Scandinavian Airlines is the main provider, but other airlines, such as Icelandair, offer layover options for cheaper airfares.
Edinburgh, Scotland
From Nov. 15, 2024, to Jan. 4, 2025, Edinburgh will host one of the United Kingdom’s most grandiose and beloved Christmas markets at East Princes Street Gardens, just below Edinburgh Castle. Picture more than 130 charming huts, each illuminated with festive lights and strewn with decorations, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
These stalls offer a plethora of local, handmade gifts and an array of scrumptious treats to savor. Don’t miss out on a mesmerizing ride on the big wheel, presenting panoramic views of the entire festive extravaganza. The festival has something special for everyone, with various rides suited for kids and adults and even a Santa’s grotto for a close-up encounter with Santa Claus.
Stay: For a luxurious stay, consider The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton, which is just a 10-minute walk from the Christmas market and offers views of the castle. Rates start at $290 or 76,000 Hilton Honors points per night this November and December.
Arrive: Direct flights to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) are available year-round from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on United Airlines.
Vienna, Austria
Wander past more than 100 stalls at Vienna’s largest Christmas market in the Rathausplatz City Hall Square from Nov. 16 to Dec. 26, 2024. Kids will love the ice skating rink, Ferris wheel and carousel. This year, the market and its stalls will focus on improving sustainability, so expect more eco-friendly products and materials.
Stay: Just a 12-minute walk from Rathausplatz, the Park Hyatt Vienna is the ultimate Viennese luxury: high arching ceilings, an indoor swimming pool, and suites decked out with chandeliers and marble bathrooms. Rates in November and December start at $558 or 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night, but are significantly higher around Christmas.
Arrive: Austrian Airlines, the flagship carrier of Vienna Airport (VIE), is part of the Star Alliance. If you have miles on any partner airline, you should be able to get a seat at a good valuation. Austrian flies directly from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Germany
As one of the most famous countries in Europe for Christmas markets, Germany has a market in practically every city. We couldn’t pick just one, so here are some of the best:
- Cologne: This city, famous for its towering Gothic cathedral, features nearly a dozen different Christmas markets, including the hopeful return of the LGBTQ+-friendly Christmas market after a two-year absence (most run from Nov. 18 to Dec. 23, 2024).
- Munich: Bavaria’s most famous market is in Munich’s Marienplatz, which is decorated with thousands of candles and has over 100 stalls (Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 2024).
- Munich Airport: Jump right into the holiday spirit (and even go ice skating) during a long layover at Munich Airport (MUC), which transforms into a Christmas market (Nov. 15 to Dec. 29, 2024).
- Frankfurt: Enjoy shopping and a 100-foot-tall Christmas scene at Frankfurt’s main Christmas Market (Nov. 25 to Dec. 22, 2024).
- Nuremberg: In addition to its world-renowned lebkuchen (gingerbread), keep a look out for this market’s Christkind, a young lady with curly blond hair dressed like a golden angel who makes frequent appearances at the festivities (Nov. 29 to Dec. 24, 2024).
- Berlin: Germany’s capital has a number of Christmas markets, but one of the best is the WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt (Nov. 25 to Dec. 31, 2024), which is relocated in 2024 to the historic Bebelplatz near the State Opera and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral. Expect the typical food and shopping but also holiday-inspired performances from fire eaters, acrobats, jugglers and choirs.
- Dresden: One of the country’s oldest and largest markets, the Striezelmarkt in Dresden’s Altmarkt features puppet theaters, storytelling time and gingerbread-decorating workshops (Nov. 27 to Dec. 24, 2024).
Stay: The JW Marriott Frankfurt features 219 rooms and more than 200 hand-painted art pieces by German artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Rates start as low as $192 or 52,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night from late November through December.
Arrive: Star Alliance partner Lufthansa operates direct flights to Germany out of several U.S. airports, including hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Denver.
If you want to visit in comfort and style, you can splash out for one of the most iconic fifth-freedom routes out of the U.S., offered by Singapore Airlines between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Germany’s Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Super-luxurious business-class awards on this route cost 81,000 miles each way through Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program. You can transfer points to KrisFlyer from all of the transferable points programs — American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
France
You can’t go wrong with markets in French cities like Lyon and Lille. But since Strasbourg is known as the Capital of Christmas, it’s no surprise that Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmarkt, near the city’s cathedral, is one of France’s most popular holiday haunts for sipping mulled wine, tasting French wintery treats like tarte flambee or sugary bredele biscuits, and shopping for wares among the wooden stalls (Nov. 27 to Dec. 27, 2024). Strasbourg’s towering Christmas tree, millions of twinkling lights and festive ice rink can convince any Grinch to love the festive season.
Stay: Consider a stay at one of the city’s newer hotels, the Aloft Strasbourg Etoile. The hotel is welcoming and modern, just a 15-minute walk to the main Christmas market. Rates start at $154 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night while the market is open.
Arrive: Strasbourg is a smaller city, and you can’t fly nonstop there from the U.S. Instead, fly to Strasbourg Airport (SXB) from hubs such as Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). Or, plan a layover to check out Munich Airport’s Christmas market (see above), then continue on to Strasbourg. You can also take a train from Frankfurt or Paris to the French city.
Related: The best ways to travel to Europe using points and miles
Tallinn, Estonia
Sample Baltic holiday cuisine like black pudding and gingerbread paired with spiced wine at the Christmas market in Tallinn’s medieval Town Hall Square (Nov. 22 to Dec. 27, 2024).
The setting is simply stunning. Historic buildings surround stalls selling Christmas goods and decorations (many of which are heart-shaped, as Estonians firmly believe Christmas is a time of love), with the enormous tree as a centerpiece. Look forward to two different carousels for the little ones and a double-decker holiday bus to ride around town.
Stay: The Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallin is a 15-minute walk away from the town square, which you can view from the hotel’s outdoor terrace. Rates start at $102 or 44,000 Radisson Rewards points per night.
Arrive: Although you can’t fly nonstop from the U.S. to Tallinn Airport (TLL), you can connect easily to hubs such as Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), Istanbul Airport (IST), Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Brussels Airport (BRU) and then fly on over. If you fly Finnair between the U.S. and Helsinki Airport (HEL), a ferry to Tallinn takes about 3 1/2 hours. From various London airports, you can fly to Tallinn on low-cost airlines like airBaltic, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Brussels, Belgium
While the markets in Antwerp, Ghent and Brugge have a more charming and cozy vibe, Brussels’ Winter Wonders Market (Nov. 29, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025) is the largest and most impressive in Belgium, with more than 200 stands weaving through the city center.
Take a spin around the ice rink, fly high in the Ferris wheel or enjoy a visit from Santa. The market also offers an immersive audio and visual Christmas show, an innovative way to experience all the holiday fun.
Stay: Budget travelers can stay amid the action at the Holiday Inn Express Brussels — Grand-Place for as low as $140 or 29,000 IHG One Rewards points per night this holiday season.
Arrive: Fly to Brussels on Star Alliance carriers from hubs like New York and Washington, D.C. Some of the best redemption options include United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer. Consider combining a trip to Brussels with other European cities (or Christmas markets) using the Brussels Airlines pit-stop service. This stopover program allows passengers to stay from one to five nights at no extra charge in Belgium.
If you fly from the U.S. to London, you can fly to Brussels on British Airways and Brussels Airlines. Taking the Eurostar train between London and Brussels is an alternative option — the ride takes just over two hours. Rates start as low as $66 each way this holiday season.
Prague, Czech Republic
It’s hard to decide whether to visit Prague’s Old Town Square Christmas Market or Wenceslas Square Christmas Market (both Nov. 30, 2024, to Jan. 6, 2025). Considering they’re a 10-minute walk apart, it’s easy to visit both. The markets sell similar items, like medovina honey wine and Czech crafts like puppets and dolls, but Old Town Square has live animals like sheep and donkeys for children to pet.
Stay: The Andaz Prague, which opened in 2022 inside a historic 1916 building, is a 10-minute walk from Old Town Square. Rates start at $320 or 21,000 World of Hyatt points per night in November and December.
Arrive: Unfortunately, Delta’s nonstop flight to Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) from New York’s JFK airport doesn’t operate in the winter months. However, many airlines fly to Prague from numerous European hubs, including London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
Zagreb, Croatia
Christmas in Zagreb is special, with the entire city decked out with lights, Nativity scenes and decorations. While there are dozens of Christmas markets to visit, start at the Zrinjevac Park Christmas Market (Nov. 30, 2024, to Jan. 7, 2025), where you can sample hot strukli, a pastry with melted cheese, or medenjaci cookies paired with soul-warming wine as you browse handmade ornaments and toys.
Then visit Zagreb Cathedral with its famous Nativity scene out front. Finish the evening up with a few laps around King Tomislav Square ice rink or a ride on the carousel in Strossmayer Square.
Stay: A short walk away from the Christmas action, the Westin Zagreb is ideal for those wanting a quiet, contemporary space to relax while still staying close to all the holiday cheer. Rates start at $122 or 16,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during the holiday season.
Arrive: Getting to Zagreb Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) will take you more than one flight since there are no nonstop flights available from the U.S. to the Croatian capital. On various European carriers, you’ll need to stop first in destinations like London, Frankfurt, Istanbul or Frankfurt en route to Zagreb. Both British Airways and Croatia Airlines fly between London and Zagreb.
Basel, Switzerland
Wander among more than 160 snow-covered wooden stalls at Basel’s Christmas Market, stretching from Barfusserplatz to Munsterplatz (Nov. 28 to Dec. 23, 2024). A steaming mug of gluhwein perfectly complements traditional delights like waffles, gingerbread and melted Swiss raclette.
Stay: The Basel Marriott offers the best of Swiss culture without sacrificing modernity. Rates start around $167 or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night this holiday season.
Arrive: Getting to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL) from the U.S. requires a stop somewhere in Europe. The airport is actually in France, though it’s a short drive from both Basel and the border of Germany — perfect for visiting three countries in one trip. You can also fly Swiss to Zurich, stopping there quickly before hopping on a Swiss Federal Railways train to Basel, bookable as one complete ticket on the Swiss website.
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki’s Christmas Market (from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22, 2024) in Senate Square, with Helsinki Cathedral as its backdrop, is the city’s oldest and most popular. It’s not just about the holiday stalls, though there are plenty of those offering everything from handmade gifts to local treats. On Dec. 13, don’t miss the St. Lucia procession, a tradition honoring a 4th-century martyr. And yes, Santa visits daily, while the free merry-go-round adds a nostalgic touch.
Stay: If you’re looking for a luxurious place to stay in the heart of Helsinki, The Hotel Maria is a fantastic option. Opened in June 2024, this 117-room hotel is one of the newest members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection and is just a 10-minute walk from Senate Square. Rates start at $330 per night during the holidays.
Arrive: Getting to Helsinki Airport (HEL) is a breeze, especially with Finnair offering nonstop flights from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. For travelers from other cities, you’ll likely need a connection, but most major carriers make it easy with quick stopovers.
Malaga, Spain
From Nov. 25, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025, the Malaga Christmas market on the Paseo del Parque will bring festive magic to Spain’s sunny south with roasted chestnuts and traditional sweets like turron. Don’t miss the dazzling Christmas lights on nearby Larios Street. The Three Wise Men parade on Jan. 5 is a sugary, gift-filled spectacle.
Stay: You’ll love the AC Hotel Malaga Palacio. It’s got killer views of the port, and you’re just a short walk from the Malaga Cathedral and Museo Picasso. Plus, it’s a great deal, with rates starting at $177 or 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night this holiday season.
Arrive: If you’re flying to Malaga from the U.S., Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is easy to reach, though you’ll need a stopover. For example, TAP Air Portugal stops in Lisbon from New York City. Once you arrive, you’re just about a five-hour drive from Madrid and two hours from Seville, making it a great base for exploring southern Spain.
Stockholm, Sweden
The Christmas market at the Skansen open-air museum is a must if you visit Stockholm during the holidays. Running from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22, 2024, it’s been a holiday staple since 1903 and is full of festive charm. Picture 70 stalls with Christmas goodies and handmade crafts, plus waffles and mulled wine to warm you up. You can even try your hand at old-fashioned Christmas crafts or stroll through the magical Winter Lights. It’s cozy and fun — the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit in Stockholm.
Stay: The Hilton Stockholm Slussen is just a four-minute walk from the nearest transit station, making it super convenient for exploring the city. Rates start at $111 or 29,000 Hilton Honors points per night while the market is open.
Arrive: Getting to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) from the U.S. is simple, with Scandinavian Airlines offering direct flights from Newark (EWR) year-round. If you’re coming from other cities, expect a stopover in a European hub like Oslo or London.
Oslo, Norway
Oslo’s Winter Wonderland at the Spikersuppa square is back from Nov. 9 to Dec. 31, 2024. This festive spot on Karl Johans Gate — the city’s main street — has all the classics, like charming stalls selling gifts, an ice-skating rink and a Ferris wheel. But the real star? The food. Think coconut cupcakes, caramel apples, glogg, currywurst and smoked salmon from the Lofoten Islands. Feeling lucky? Spin the chocolate wheel!
Stay: Sommerro is in the heart of the city, within a 15-minute walk of the Christmas market. The 231-room hotel is known for its luxurious design and cozy vibes, plus it has a year-round rooftop pool. Rates start at $272 per night during the holidays.
Arrive: SAS offers nonstop flights to Oslo Airport (OSL) from Newark (EWR), and Norse Atlantic Airways flies directly from Miami in the winter. If you’re flying from anywhere else in the U.S., you’ll likely have a layover in another major European city.
Bottom line
The best Christmas markets in Europe offer a festive way to celebrate the holidays, complete with local gastronomy, mulled wine, ice skating and twinkling holiday decorations. If you want to visit other European destinations, it’s likely they also have a Christmas market. Many cities have versions of these seasonal markets, including Gothenburg, Sweden; Madrid; Budapest; and Krakow, Poland.
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