Did someone say Santa is coming? Oh yes, he is. Do you know what that means? The Christmas markets in Europe are back! The smell of cinnamon from the festive snacks, young voices singing joyful carols, and twinkling trees everywhere you turn.
We’re in for a real treat this year with Europe’s Christmas markets. It seems like almost every major city is hosting some sort of fair, making the decision for travelers like yourself slightly more challenging than in previous years. Who’s complaining?
Doing what we do best here at Kiwi, we’ve written up our own impressive line-up of Christmas markets in Europe for 2024 that we think are worthy of a visit.
Glasgow, Scotland
Dates: November 9th, 2024 – January 5th, 2025
Yes, that’s correct; Glasgow’s famous Winterfest is set to return this holiday season at St Enoch Square. Not only that, but there’s also going to be Christmas markets over at George’s Square, which will stay open until the beginning of January.
Tones of stalls will dominate St Enoch Square right through December, with vendors selling all your beloved festive favorites like freshly baked churros, waffles, and pancakes. There will also be plenty of attractions for the little ones, such as Santa’s Runaway Train and the Kid’s Carousel. Over at George’s Square, even more stalls will be set up, along with a Ferris wheel and the 80-meter Drop Tower.
Beyond the shopping stalls, Winterfest will have its own skating rink for you to show off how good you are on the ice. Mid-week tickets (Monday to Thursday) are priced at £13 (€15.60), while on the weekends (Friday to Sunday) they slightly increase to £15 (€18.01).
Salzburg, Austria
Dates: November 21st, 2024 – January 1st, 2025
Join the 50th celebration for the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt at the Dom- and Residenzplatz this year. Although not as widely visited as Vienna among foreign tourists, Salzburg is the one market I urge you to check out on this list, just because of how momentous the event is going to be for the anniversary.
Around 100 traditional wooden market stalls are scheduled to be included in the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt; that means all the mulled wine and hot punch you can think of. In addition to that, a daily events program is on the cards, with singalong opportunities with the local choir, and there will be a chance to listen to some live wind music. If that isn’t enough, you can head over to Residenz Square to marvel at the fantastic display scenes from the Nativity.
Basel, Switzerland
Dates: November 28th, 2024 – December 23rd, 2024
Voted the best Christmas market in 2021, you can guarantee Basel’s holiday fair will be a good one this year. Separated into two locations, Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained here for an entire weekend.
Münsterplatz transforms into an almost mini Swiss version of Lapland, with the humongous Christmas tree dominating the square and glimmering bulbs adding to that magical feeling. A slew of vendors will have their shops prepared under the tree so you can pick up some seasonal decorations to take home.
After you’ve had your fill at Münsterplatz, it’s time to make your way over to Barfüsserplatz to indulge in some goodies. From the spiced Basel Läckerli to the mouthwatering cheeses like Swiss raclette, it’s a heaven for foodies. Try to point out Feuerzangenbowle on your walkaround; it’s a stall that looks like a mysterious cabin in the woods. But it’s not the quirky look of this booth that makes it special; rather, their secret recipe for their Feuerzangenbowle punch has put it on the map.
There has also been a mention that the Basel Wish Book is set to return this year so people can pen down their wishes for this Christmas. Whether you want to wish your nearest and dearest the best of health for the upcoming year or the little ones want to leave a note for Santa himself, the book awaits in the City Hall.
Nuremberg, Germany
Dates: November 29th, 2024 – December 24th, 2024
Come and experience one of the oldest Christmas markets on the planet at the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt. As soon as the end of November comes along, this southern German city becomes awash with rustic timber-made stands trading all kinds of holiday-inspired trinkets and ornaments. But the real star of the show here is the Nuremberg Bratwurst, a divine barbecued sausage that hails from the city. Between the salty and peppery flavors and the juiciness from the meat, I wouldn’t be surprised if you ate about ten of them by the time you’ve left.
If you’re traveling with your kids, taking them to see Christkindl while you’re in Nuremberg would be a great idea. She’s a strikingly blonde figure once admired by Luther, who shows up in Germany every year with presents for all the young children who had behaved well for the year. It looks like the big guy has some competition.
Manchester, United Kingdom
Dates: November 8th, 2024 – December 22nd, 2024
Over the past few years, Manchester’s Christmas market has exploded in popularity, with more than 200 stalls covering a whopping nine areas. You better not forget your walking shoes for this one; there’s a lot to pack in.
Out of all the market areas, Picadilly Gardens has to be the biggest and best of them. Every day of the week, expect live music throughout the day as the food vendors whip up their fresh batches of pancakes and finely brewed ales. If you’re still feeling slightly peckish, venture over to Exchange Square to try one of the famous Yorkshire pudding wraps for yourself.
Pick yourself up some apparel for Christmas day at the Corn Exchange. Here, they sell some of the coziest Nepalese jumpers that will keep you toasty when you’re opening your presents on the 25th. Don’t forget to try some of the homemade pies over there; they’re absolutely scrumptious.
Cathedral Gardens will have some cool pop-up shops, but it gets busy there as they also share a location with the Skate Manchester ice rink. For this season, the tickets cost between £14.00 (€16.81) and £17.50 (€21.02). But if there are a few people in your group, the family ticket (one adult and three children or two adults and two children) will be better value as it costs between £41.00 (€49.24) and £52.00 (€62.46).
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dates: November 29th, 2024 – January 5th, 2025
The Slovenian capital of Ljiubliana may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of Christmas markets, but they’ve got an impressive schedule in place for 2024.
This year, coming Christmas, things are going to be huge in Ljiubliana with stalls getting set up on all corners of the city, including at the Breg embankment, Kongresni Trg Square, Stritarjeva Ulica Street, and much more. All the classic merry bits and bobs will be on offer, but unlike other parts of Europe, you’ll be able to sample some authentic Balkan bites like grilled Ćevapčići and Kranjska Klobasa.
Be sure to keep an eye out for St. Nicholas (Miklavž) on December 5th. He’s rumored to make an appearance to hand out some goodies for all the boys and girls alongside his crew of angels. However, following up after him will be the Parklji (the closest thing to the devil you’ll ever see); these guys have it out for all the children on the naughty list.
Riga, Latvia
Dates: November 29th, 2024 – January 2nd, 2025
The streets of the Latvian capital of Riga will come alive for the first Sunday of Advent. In total, five markets are on the agenda for the festivities, including Dome Square Market, Vērmanes Garden Christmas Market, Āgenskalns Market Christmas Fair, Kalnciema Quarter Christmas Fair, and Mežaparks Christmas Walk Market.
Dome Square, in particular, is where much of the action revolves around. You’ll see merchants dealing candles and wreaths for your front door while resident DJs perform the best Christmas classic mixes live every Friday. You can catch the choirs on Saturdays or traditional Latvian folk music on Sundays for some mellow melodies. Vērmanes Garden Christmas Market is the best stop for some gifts, but it’s also the preferred choice among locals for getting their hands on some warm winter wear such as wooly hats and gloves.
Kalnciema Quarter stands out as the most unique of them all. The vibe here isn’t like your typical Christmas market; there’s much more to it than a few stalls. You’ve got everything from the Contemporary Ceramics Pop-Up Fair to shopfronts distributing some rather quirky products like mittens made with dog wool. If this is one of the markets you’re keen on visiting, it’s only held every Saturday between November 30th and December 28th.
Brussels, Belgium
Dates: November 29th, 2024 – January 5th, 2025
The Brussels Christmas markets have long been a favorite across Europe, and this year, they’ve outdone themselves once again with over 200 huts and an exciting number of attractions. Seven key locations have been decided on to focus the celebrations around, including the well-known Grand Place, Sainte Catherine, and much more.
Most of you will end up heading to Grand Place from the outset to see the 20-meter-high tree lit up in all her glory. On top of that, there’s a sound and light show called the ‘Echoes of Colors’ planned every half an hour between 5 pm and 10 pm; the only days it won’t be on are Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
A lot of the trading posts this year in Brussels are due to be set up around Vismet/Place Sainte-Catherine. It’s the prime place for savoring some frosted Belgian waffles before taking a ride on the massive Ferris wheel. Around Place De Brouckère is another point where a handful of stalls are planned for, but it’s also going to feature an ice rink for those in the mood for a skate.
As you walk around Brussels, have your eyes peeled Echinocactus around Mont des Arts. Although not your typical Christmas tree, this sharp edged cactus lights up the entire area and is well worth checking out if you’ve got some extra time on your hands.
Prague, Czech Republic
Dates: November 30th, 2024 – January 6th, 2025
Just before we wrap up this list, we knew it wouldn’t be fully finished unless we mentioned Prague. You could say that the Czech capital is arguably one of the most Christmasy cities in Europe for the holidays. I’ve been to many of markets for the festive season, but the ones in Prague always stood out among the rest.
Like always, quite a few marketplaces are arranged from November 30th onwards, but I advise you to focus your attention on a select few or else you’ll be exhausted. The two main ones that everyone visits are Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, which are both quite central, so you’ll be able walk between them easily. Just about everything Christmasy you can think of will be sold from these wooden chalets: baubles for your tree with your name written on them, wooden toys. If it’s associated with the most wonderful time of the year, they’ll be selling it.
A key feature of Prague’s Christmas markets is of course the food. For anyone who’s ever visited the Czech Republic, you’ll know how much they love their food, and it’s clearer than ever here during Advent. While you won’t be able to try everything unless you stick around for a few weeks, some dishes you won’t want to skip are rybí polévka (a fish soup), šunka (roasted ham on a spit), and trdelník (chimney cakes).
Get Into the Festive Spirit This Year by Visiting One of These European Christmas Markets
There’s something dreamlike with the Christmas markets in Europe. No matter if it’s the liveliness of the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt or the wonder of Old Town Square in Prague, you know no matter wherever you go, you’re in for an enchanting experience.