10 of the Best Christmas Destinations in Europe To Visit This Year
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Last updated on October 31, 2025
Looking for the best Christmas destinations in Europe to visit this year? Here are some of the top Christmas markets in Europe to add to your 2025 bucket list!
There are so many European Christmas markets to choose from it can be overwhelming to narrow down the best Christmas markets in Europe to visit for your upcoming trip.
I get it. When I was planning my 12-day trip to some of the incredible Christmas markets, I had such a hard time narrowing down where to go. Estimates now say there are over 1,000 markets scattered throughout Europe, which makes choosing where to go for a magical Christmas vacation tricky.
I would argue that you can’t go wrong at any of the Christmas markets in Europe, but after visiting six different markets in four countries, I definitely can vouch that some markets are better than others. So, to help you visit the creme de la creme on your trip, I’m sharing the best Christmas destinations in Europe.
While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to visit all of the best Christmas destinations in Europe in one vacation, adding even one or two of these locations to your itinerary will surely be the highlight of your trip.
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A Note About The Best Christmas Destinations in Europe
I never love doing “best” posts, because calling something ‘the best’ is so subjective. As you read through this list, remember that what I consider the best may not be the best for you!
While this is an amazing roundup of the best Christmas locations in Europe, there were reasons outside of the Christmas Market itself that I put certain spots on this list. For example, maybe the destination has a lot of culture, history, or fun things to do outside of the market. With that being said, below you’ll find a list of what I think are the 10 best Christmas destinations in Europe!
1. Cologne, Germany
Nowhere are Christmas markets better than in Germany. Hands down, the best Christmas destinations in Europe are in Germany. Not only is it where the tradition originated, but its markets are massive, magical, and so unique!
If you’re planning a Christmas market itinerary to several European destinations, and want an authentic and charming experience, focus most of your travels on various places in Germany. One of the best Christmas destinations in Europe (if not the best) is Cologne. Honestly, if I could visit one Christmas market on a trip, it would be Cologne. The markets there are that good!
Cologne has several markets throughout the city, making it ideal for a multi-night stay. Below are the top markets to visit in the city, although there are officially seven markets throughout Cologne.
- The Angel Market (Market del Engel): Our top pick for food
- Cathedral Market (Weihnachtsmarkt am Dom): The best overall vibe. It’s huge and right under the Dom! it also has live music.
- Harbor Market (Kölner Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt): We didn’t make it to this one, but it’s supposed to be nautical-themed.
- Heinzels Winter Fairytale (Heinzels Wintermärchen): Our second favorite, themed around dwarfs and gnomes. It has an ice skating rink there, too!
- Nicholas Village (Nikolausdorf): Great spot for kids because it has a Santa to meet and greet with a toy shop and lots of fun reindeer decorations.
2. Nuremberg, Germany
Nuremberg is in the heart of Bavaria, a region where many of the stereotypical German traditions we think of as “German” hail from, like beer steins, pretzels, and Käsespätzle.
This historic medieval village is gorgeous and so charming. The Christmas markets here are very traditional and historic, with a history dating back centuries. The market is known for having Christkind, the person who delivers gifts to children at the opening ceremony, which happens on the Friday before the start of Advent.
This is a great market to get a taste of Franconian specialties, like the Nuremberg sausages and Lebkuchen, a round gingerbread topped with sugar and almonds.
3. Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt, Germany definitely belongs on the list of the best Christmas destinations in Europe. Its Christmas markets span several blocks throughout the historic center, going all the way to the river, with the “main show” being in Römerberg Square.
We loved this Christmas destination largely because of its food! Not just the market food, but the restaurants you can visit outside of the Christmas markets. We stopped in at Kleinmarkthalle to try local Apfelwein and eat some traditional sausages. It ended up being one of my favorite experiences from the trip.
This market was very busy and overwhelming at times in Römerberg Square. If you have kids, they will love the two-story merry-go-round. It was quite impressive, but be ready for a crowd.
4. Dresden, Germany
Dresden is one of the most authentic Christmas markets you can visit in Europe. It’s where the tradition first began with its market, Striezelmarkt, dating back to the 1400s. It’s a big market with several hundred stalls selling spread out across the city, packed with all of the goods and treats you want and expect at a German Christmas market.
However, there is one specialty you have to get here: Stollen. Think of it as the original fruit cake. Bread is mixed with dried fruits, cinnamon, and nuts and traditionally baked during the holiday season. Looking for more delicious Christmas market foods and drinks to try on your trip? Click here to see what to eat in each country!
5. Strasbourg, France: Europe’s Largest Christmas Market
If a country could get the title of “runner-up” for having the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe, it would be awarded to France—particularly the Alsace region. This area of eastern France borders Germany and parts of Switzerland, with German influence in its cuisine, culture, and of course, Christmas markets.
One of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe (and the largest) is in Strasbourg, France. Its nickname, “Capital of Noel” is rightfully deserved. The entire city goes big for the holidays, decorating the streets with festive lights, garland, and trees everywhere.
The market itself is huge with upwards of 300 stalls, making it Europe’s largest Christmas market. The main square with a massive (real) tree is in the Place Broglie by the Notre Dame Cathedral. This is another very popular Christmas destination, so if you’re coming on a weeken,d go early to avoid the crowds.
6. Colmar, France
Colmar, France is one of the many small towns in the Alsace region with the same storybook architecture as Strasbourg but half the size. It’s about 40 minutes away by train and a great alternative if you are trying to choose between the two.
We decided to go to Colmar over Strasbourg simply because we heard how crowded it can get. While still one of the top Christmas destinations in Europe, it’s slightly less popular than Strasbourg. And we were so happy with our choice, we loved Colmar!
Walking around this small village felt like stepping back in time. We could walk the entire town in under an hour and enjoyed admiring the stunning homes, beautifully decorated for the season. Learn more about this magical market in our 12-day train itinerary.
The markets span almost the entire historic area, with several squares having larger markets with stalls to visit. The food was excellent here, and we saw different foods than we had at other markets, which was refreshing. Don’t miss out on seeing “Little Venice” a colorful row of old homes overlooking the canal.
7. Vienna, Austria
If a country could be awarded third place for having the best Christmas destinations in Europe, Austria would proudly take its place. And Vienna is the shining star of markets in the country. Like Germany, Christmas Markets have centuries of history in Austria.
But Vienna is also an incredibly beautiful city to visit, with so much to do and enjoy outside of the markets alone.
Rathausplatz (City Hall Square) is the largest market in Vienna and the main Christmas Market to visit. It has upwards of 100+ stalls with great food and an ice skating rink. There are several other markets, however, to visit in other parts of the city, like Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace, among others. You can see a full map of the Viennese Christmas markets here.
8. Prague, Czechoslovakia
Prague has consistently been named one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe by well-known travel outlets like US News & Travel World Report and CNN. It’s Old Town Market, in the historic square, is the largest Christmas market and its most beautiful. In the center of the square is a massive Christmas tree covered from top to bottom in gorgeous Christmas lights. There is another market in Wenceslas Square.
Like other less traditional destinations in Europe for Christmas Markets, like Zurich or Brussels, the markets here have a diverse selection of foods. Their goods are mostly from resellers, which takes away from a bit of the magic, but it’s a beautiful setting and lots of delicious international cuisine to choose from.
9. Bruges, Belgium
Belgium has gained popularity for being one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe. You can visit several markets in Brussels or go to the charming town of Ghent, but we enjoyed Bruges the most. The Christmas market here was small in comparison to some of the others on this list, but the architecture, history, and charm of Bruges make up for the size of the market.
This city is stunning! We highly recommend taking a riverboat tour through the canals to learn about the region’s unique Flemish history, and of course, try loads of delicious Belgian beer. After you can visit its main Christmas market in Grote Square. There’s another small market in Stevin Square which has less vibes, but better food, in my opinion.
10. Tallinn, Estonia
Estonia isn’t a destination most people think of when they think of Europe, but it’s one of the best Christmas destinations to visit if you want to feel like you’ve stepped into a holiday movie. This medieval city oozes charm with historic buildings dating back centuries. Snow is common there in December, which adds to the vibe and makes many of the fun activities, like taking a train ride or ice skating, even more special.
The main Christmas market in Tallinn is in the old square. However, there are several other markets throughout town to visit. The main market here does a great job of having typical Christmas market foods and goods, but also has a large selection of locally produced foods and products, too. A few must-try items are their truffles, blood sausage, and elk sausage, inspired by their Finnish neighbors in the north.
Try to visit the Tallinn Christmas Market on the weekend. Every Friday through Sunday, there is live music in the Old Square market.
Tips for Visiting the Best Christmas Destinations in Europe
Below are a few important things to know before visiting the best Christmas destinations in Europe this year. You can see all of the things I wish I had known before taking this trip last year in this post. It’s packed with helpful and important tips to plan a better Christmas market trip!
Be prepared for crowds
These Christmas markets are far from a secret, so expect crowds when you are visiting. We tried to visit smaller towns (like Colmar) on the weekends, knowing most restaurants and attractions would be closed during the week. Then visited larger cities, which typically have restaurants and attractions open Monday through Sunday to visit during the week.
Christmas Market hours
Most Christmas markets in Europe are open from the first day of December until the new year. Some, however, will open in late November (around Nov 24) and shut down in early January to extend the “Christmas season”. We recommend booking your trip as early as you can in December to try and beat peak tourism closer to the Christmas holiday.
Book Accommodations Early
Experiencing Europe’s Christmas markets has become extremely popular, so you don’t want to wait until the last minute to book your accommodations. We booked our hotel stays about three months beforehand and felt there were a fair number of options to choose from.
Hopefully, this guide of the 10 best Christmas destinations in Europe to visit this year has helped you narrow do your trip itinerary and get excited to travel this winter. If you’re looking for more tips about what to pack on your trip or things to know before you go, check out our other posts to help you plan the perfect Christmas market vacation!
If you found this post helpful or think another destination should have made this list, let me know in the comments below. We’re always looking for new, magical Christmas destinations in Europe to visit.
Guys, Czechoslovakia? Really?