Where are the best Christmas markets in Europe: cities for a fabulous vacation

A bright pre-Christmas atmosphere full of joy and good hopes is ahead. The best way to feel the approach of Christmas is at traditional holiday markets.

Travel experts have named the best Christmas markets in Europe. Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the holiday and get incredible impressions.

Christmas in Strasbourg, France

The magnificent celebration of Christmas in Strasbourg has a long history. The first massive fairs date back to 1570. So don't miss this opportunity to visit one of the oldest fairs in Europe. December is a special time; all the streets are beautifully decorated and hung with garlands. Every year, a 30-meter-high Christmas tree is brought to Place de la Clébert, which is the tallest naturally decorated tree on the continent. The market consists of 300 chalets - vendors sell all the Christmas essentials: from clothes to original gifts to Christmas cookies called bredl.

The fair runs from November 24 to December 24.

Cologne Christmas market

The Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral Market) is a Christmas market held every year. Thousands of visitors stroll through the market to find handmade goods and culinary delights.

It is the largest market in Europe. In 2024, the program will include more than 100 free events. The fair in Cologne will run from November 23 to December 23.

St. Nicholas Fair in York

The Christmas market in York, England, will start on November 14 at the earliest and last until December 22. Visitors will find 75 alpine chalets dotted along Parliament Street and St. Sampson's Square.

Most of the businesses in the market are also Yorkshire traders, making the market even more authentic and special. It is possible to get to York from London - the train takes two hours and thirty minutes.

Bruges Christmas market

Belgian Bruges before Christmas is a truly fabulous atmosphere, a sense of celebration and coziness. In contrast to the lights and garlands that can be found at many other Christmas markets, the main attribute of Bruges' street decorations are gingerbread houses.

To create the feeling of a pre-Christmas fairy tale, horse and carriage rides are regularly organized through the city, which is mostly paved with cobblestones. The fair in Bruges will run from November 22 to January 5.

Brussels Christmas Market

For five weeks, the Brussels Christmas Market in Belgium takes over the cobbled streets and central squares of the city. The 2-kilometer stretch of chalets is lined with restaurants, bars, craft shops, and more.

For those who like a romantic Christmas date, there is also a Ferris wheel, which offers a great bird's eye view of the entire market. The fair will last from November 24 to December 31.

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