Top 5 European Christmas Markets 2024

Christmas Markets Cologne Germany

This year the Christmas markets in Cologne opened their gates around November 18, and are welcoming visitors with delicacies such as mulled wine and waffles. Christmastime in Cologne is magical. The city is illuminated with festive Christmas lighting that bathes the streets in a warm glow. The highlights include the markets selling mulled wine. When the weather is cold, this is where people can warm themselves up with a mug of hot mulled wine and enjoy the festive atmosphere. The market stands offer a wide spectrum of handcrafted gifts, festive delicacies and traditional Christmas decorations. The Christmas markets offer activities for young and old. Children can have fun on carousels and ice-skating rinks while the grown-ups shop to their hearts’ content and enjoy the delights of the season. In Cologne visitors experience the Christmas season in all its glory. The city becomes a magical place for enjoying the holidays.

Visitors are invited to go to the Christmas Circus, the China Lights at the Zoo, Advent concerts and one of the many Christmas markets scattered throughout the city. Cologne opened its first Christmas market rather late, in 1820. Cologne has a sparkling array of Christmas markets, including the splendid and popular Christmas market around the Cathedral, the Market of Hearts, and many different theme-oriented Christmas markets presided over by the local Heinzelmännchen as well as angels, fairy-tale figures or mariners. With such a broad range of choices, waiting for Santa Claus is sure to be easy…

Christmas Magic of Strasbourg France

Treat yourself to an unforgettable festive getaway in Strasbourg, home to the oldest Christmas market in France, dating back to 1570. As one of Europe’s most historic markets, Strasbourg’s Christmas celebration is truly something special.

During December, the city transforms into a magical wonderland. Streets and buildings are adorned with intricate decorations, and sparkling shop windows invite you in with festive displays. The air is filled with the scent of cinnamon, spices, and mulled wine, while Christmas carols echo from the city’s charming churches, creating a nostalgic and heart-warming atmosphere.

Enchanting lights

Strasbourg is also one of the most illuminated cities in Europe during the holiday season. Each year, the streets, houses, and balconies twinkle with enchanting lights and ever-more imaginative decorations. In Place Kléber, a majestic 30-metre Christmas tree, the tallest decorated tree in Europe, takes centre stage, shimmering with beautiful ornaments—a proud symbol of Strasbourg, the “Capital of Christmas.”

The city’s Christmas market boasts over 300 charming wooden chalets, where local merchants and artisans offer a wide array of festive goods. Whether you’re searching for unique Christmas gifts, handmade decorations, or traditional treats like “bredle” Christmas biscuits and steaming cups of mulled wine, Strasbourg has something for everyone.

This fairy-tale setting, steeped in centuries of tradition, continues to captivate visitors year after year. Come and experience the enchantment of Strasbourg, where Christmas magic has been reinvented and cherished since 1570!

Christmas markets in Gothenburg Sweden

In November and December, there are plenty of atmospheric Christmas markets in Gothenburg and the surrounding areas. Among the vast selection, you’re guaranteed to find a market that suits you and your companions—whether you’re looking for traditional craftsmanship, unique design, or delicacies for the Christmas table.

Mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and Christmas trees. There are so many to choose from in Gothenburg. Here are some favourites, from cosy Haga to majestic Tjolöholm Castle.

Christmas in Haga

The Christmas market in the cosy neighbourhood Haga is a seasonal highlight. Market stalls line the cobbled street Haga Nygata, the shops are decked out with Christmas decorations, and the sounds and scents of Christmas are all around.

Christmas at Liseberg

The amusement park Liseberg is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist attractions, and the park’s Christmas market is one of the yearly highlights in Gothenburg. Stroll through the park, surrounded by millions of lights and browse through stalls selling everything from crafts to sweets.

Christmas market at Tjolöholm Castle

Bring family and friends to the Christmas market at Tjolöholm Castle in Kungsbacka outside Gothenburg. In addition to discovering the Tudor-style castle, take part in a Christmas gift hunt, experience fire shows and taste Christmas-inspired food and drink. The Christmas market is open November 22–December 8.

The Merano Christmas Market Italy

If you want to enrich the most contemplative time of the year with Christmas impressions, you are in good hands during Advent in Merano!

All Christmas markets are ideal for this: The smell of mulled wine and gingerbread, large Christmas baubles hanging from the countless fir trees throughout the Merano region, cosy booths invite you to linger and festively decorated shopping streets make shopping an experience, joyful mood and the relaxed atmosphere make every stroll an experience.

The scenery: The magnificent spa promenade, the time-honoured Kurhaus, snow-covered mountains all around, many, many fires everywhere. The smell of mulled wine, cinnamon, cloves and Christmas cookies, but also of hearty delicacies. Choirs sing, music groups play. Add to that a very relaxed mood and the anticipation of the upcoming holidays. In short: If the hectic pace of everyday life has you firmly in its grip, visit the Merano Christmas Market, which is guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit very quickly with its beauty!

Experience the Christmas magic in Merano

More than 80 booths await you on the magnificent spa promenade, the historic Piazza della Renna and the modern Piazza delle Terme, in the immediate vicinity of the old town of Merano! The murmur of the Passer River accompanies the visitor along the spa promenade, while children have their bright joy with the large ice skating rink near the spa. There are also the popular and famous Alessi balls, larger-than-life (heated!) Christmas tree balls, which are home to a table with cosy seating. Likewise, the living nativity scene and a children’s carousel await visitors young and old here. It is only a few steps from anywhere on the market to the old town of Merano with its Christmas decorated arcades!

Tallinn Christmas Market

Tallinn Christmas Market will open its stage, stalls, and imaginary gates on December 1 at 6:00 pm. Monika Haukanõmm, Tallinn City Centre District Governor, will say the opening words, and then the Christmas lights will be lit on the city’s most important Christmas tree. At the end of the festive opening event, the Town Hall square will be filled with winter music – beloved singers Ott Lepland and Tanja Mihhailova-Saar and the White Gospel choir will shine on the stage.

This year, the most important square in Estonia is decorated with a 14-meter tall spruce tree, which arrived here from Kiili municipality. The Christmas tree is decorated with thousands of Christmas ornaments, and with its light chains, it casts both warm and cold light on the gnome house-like stalls, where, as usual, local producers are given preference.

Christmas Food

In the world of gingerbread, new and old winds are blowing at the same time: for the first time, Metsaoru gingerbreads are on sale, made according to a medieval recipe, which is supposed to calm the nerves and make the heart rejoice.

To experience the real feeling of Christmas, the Christmas market offers hot glög (mulled wine), which is probably made from all the berries and fruits that can be found in Estonia! You can binge on traditional blood sausages and sauerkraut stewed in beer and seasoned potatoes. Gourmets are treated to slow-cooked venison, chicken marinated in yogurt, and pork marinated in garlic, as well as handmade onion vinegar and cheese-champignon sausages.

A newcomer to the Christmas market is a bread wafer with bearberry butter. To the delight of vegans, the plant-based selection is also exciting and tasty. Our southern neighbours, the Latvians, have come to offer their plant-based delicacies, surprising us with clever choices such as chia caviar and soy shashlik.?

A craft workshop, where under the guidance of skilled craftsmen, you can make a reflector or a personalized Christmas ornament or perfect your cup decorating skills, opens its doors to active and curious visitors to the market.

Santa Claus, who arrives on the First Advent, December 3, opens the door of his cosy little house every day from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. If you can recite a poem or sing a song, you will get a treat from Santa Claus