9 European Christmas Markets for Travelers Who Want Something Unique, Festive, and Family-Friendly

This article was originally published in 2016 and most recently updated on November 6, 2026, with current information.

Christmas markets across Europe bring the spirit of the holiday season to life. Beneath the warm glow of string lights, visitors can shop for treats and handicrafts and enjoy activities like ice skating. Whether you’re planning a last-minute holiday trip or looking ahead to 2027, these are nine of our favorite Christmas markets across Europe for festive cheer.

Europe Christmas market dates

St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang, and Strobl Christmas Markets in Lake Wolfgang, Austria

Photo by Wolfgangsee Tourismus/Mirja Geh

Austria really knows how to do Christmas markets. Those in Vienna and Salzburg are easy to access, but for less crowded and even more charming markets, head to the villages around Lake Wolfgang: St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang (both filming locations for The Sound of Music), and Strobl. This trifecta is called Wolfgangseer Advent, and it takes just 45 minutes to reach these three quaint towns from Salzburg (by car or bus). The villages’ markets are small, but you’ll find twinkling lights everywhere, along with stalls selling handicrafts, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread. St. Wolfgang has more than 70 life-sized nativity figures on display around the village. Use the Wolfgangseer Advent ferry service to Christmas-market-hop among the three towns and take in the panorama of sparkling lights reflected in Lake Wolfgang.

Where to stay: Hotel Seevilla Wolfgangsee

The waterfront Hotel Seevilla Wolfgangsee in St. Wolfgang has 29 rooms, 28 of which have a balcony or terrace overlooking the lake, and the minimalist, comfortable furnishings let the scenery take center stage. The sauna, too, has views of the lake and surrounding snow-covered mountains and is ideal for warming up after visiting all three Christmas markets.

Vienna Christmas Market in Vienna, Austria

Photos © WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

Austria’s capital held its first Christmas market back in 1296, and today, there are more than 20 Christmas-related events to choose from across Vienna. Revelers can enjoy reindeer rides, sip glühwein, nibble on roasted chestnuts, marvel over classic nativity scenes, and wander through some 100 food and souvenir stalls in front of the grandiose City Hall at the Vienna Christmas Market. The 3,000-foot skating rink between the market and the handsome, 18th-century baroque revival Burgtheater is open until January 6, 2027, and then again January 22–March 7, 2027.

Where to stay: Mandarin Oriental Vienna

The Mandarin Oriental Vienna opened in November 2025 in a handsome art nouveau courthouse from 1908. The four-floor hotel has 86 rooms and 52 suites, from Superior Rooms at around 400 square feet to a two-bedroom Royal Suite topping 2,000.

Related: I Checked Into a 1908 Vienna Courthouse. It’s Now One of the City’s Most Stylish Hotels.

Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square Christmas Markets in Prague, Czechia

Photo by Mikhail Markovskiy/Shutterstock

Prague’s largest Christmas markets are in the heart of the city, only a five-minute walk from each other, so you can easily explore both in one day. Old Town Square’s festivities, spread out in front of the 14th-century, Gothic Church of Our Lady Before Týn, include daily carol concerts, dozens of stalls selling traditional crafts, and a brightly lit central Christmas tree, while the Wenceslas Square Christmas Market specializes in handmade goods and Czech treats such as perníčky (gingerbread cookies), klobása (kielbasa), and, of course, hearty Czech beers and mulled wine. Both markets have a calendar full of music and dance performances.

Where to stay: Augustine Hotel Prague

Gothic and Renaissance architecture meet modern design at Augustine Hotel Prague, a 101-room hotel a short walk from Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. The seven buildings that make up the property—parts of which date back to 1284—formed some of the St. Thomas Church and Monastery, so you may even bed down in a room where monks once slept. Guest rooms are a welcome combination of Old World charm and modern luxury; large marble bathrooms have heated floors and rain showers.

Christmas in Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark

Courtesy of Tivoli Gardens

Bring the whole family along to the annual Christmas in Tivoli in Copenhagen, when the world’s second-oldest operating amusement park opens a festive market alongside its famed year-round attractions, rides, and games.

Locals and tourists of all ages will be delighted by the more than 1,000 lit Christmas trees and 31 stalls with Christmas treats (gingerbread hearts, rice pudding, marzipan), decorations, and gifts. Of the markets on this list, Christmas in Tivoli is by far the best for kids. Santa greets visitors daily until December 23, while a light show by Danish artist Morten Just Hansen is projected every night

Where to stay: Nobis Hotel

After a chilly evening meander through Christmas in Tivoli, walk 10 minutes back to the 75-room Nobis Hotel, located in a grand 19th-century building that was formerly the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music. With high ceilings, handsome hardwood floors, and four-poster beds, the rooms here walk the line between stately and Nordic cool.

Related: The 6 Essential Copenhagen Neighborhoods—and What to See, Do, and Eat There

Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market in the Black Forest Highlands, Germany

Photo by Olga Niekrasova/Shutterstock

There are more than 2,500 Christmas markets held annually throughout Germany. Among the most attractive is the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market, in a true fairy-tale setting—a gorge under the 131-foot-high viaduct of the Höllental railway in the Black Forest Highlands. The market’s various stalls sell artisan goods such as wooden cutting boards, soft toy dolls, and ceramics.

Fill up on hearty potato soup, molasses-rich gingerbread, crepes, and mulled wine made with blueberry liqueur. When the surrounding evergreen trees are dusted in snow, the whole scene takes on the feel of a true winter wonderland. This hugely popular market always sells out in advance; consider booking now for 2027. Note that Ravenna Gorge Christmas market is cash only.

Where to stay: Parkhotel Adler

Ten minutes’ drive from the market, in the Black Forest town of Hinterzarten, Parkhotel Adler is spread across five buildings, including one from 1655, and has its own lake and a 1,700-acre private park. The 64 rooms have hardwood floors, slipper chairs in colorful fabrics, and art deco–inspired light fixtures. The most welcome amenities in winter are the indoor pool, hot tub, and saunas, best enjoyed after visiting the Christmas market or riding wooden toboggans down the small hills on the property. The hotel can also organize guided snowshoeing.

Related: The Best Way to Visit Christmas Markets in Europe Is on a River Cruise. Here Are 7 of Our Favorites.

Christmas and Epiphany Market in Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy

Photo by Doublelee/Shutterstock

Rome enjoys milder weather than many European cities during its Christmas festivities (daytime temperatures in the mid-50s Fahrenheit mean you won’t have to cling to mulled wine to warm up) as well as more daylight (nearly 9.5 hours on December 1, compared to less than 7.5 in Copenhagen).

Set in one of Rome’s grandest piazzas, the Christmas and Epiphany Market in Piazza Navona juxtaposes the new—sweet treats like torrone (a type of Italian nougat), souvenir-style handmade ornaments, twinkling lights, and Mylar balloons—with the gravitas of the 1st-century outdoor plaza, which has three massive fountains. Keep an eye open for the oft-appearing Babbo Natale (otherwise known as Santa).

Where to stay: Hotel De’ Ricci

Romans might call the Hotel De’ Ricci a chicca—a rare gem of a spot. This eight-room boutique property, one of Afar’s favorite Rome hotels, is around the corner from the tranquil Piazza Farnese and just 10 minutes’ walk from the Christmas market in Piazza Navona. Wine lovers take note: Most of the staff here are sommeliers, and the in-room wine fridge can be stocked with your favorites. Owner Lorenzo Lisi curated each room with midcentury-modern furniture, including original vintage pieces, and hand-painted murals by contemporary artist Andrea Ferolla.

Related: Make the Most of Rome’s Many Charms—Without the Crowds

Velvet Cave Christmas Market in Valkenburg, Netherlands

Photo by Jasper Kroese - Eleven Media/courtesy of Visit Zuid-Limburg

Valkenburg, at the very southern end of the Netherlands, just outside the university city of Maastricht, calls itself “Christmas Town.” And with two Christmas markets in ancient caves and joyous parades, its nickname is well earned.

One of the underground Christmas markets is held in the Velvet Cave, an 11th- or 12th-century network of underground passages beneath the ruins of Valkenburg Castle. Each November and December, this ancient maze of marlstone fills with more than 50 vendors selling gifts, sweets like stroopwafels and kerststol (a yeasted dried fruit cake), and warming drinks. Expect a similar spread of stalls inside the municipal cave of Gemeentegrot, which has more than 30 miles of passageways with walls covered in carvings and charcoal drawings. A visit to either cave makes for a unique experience that’s both festive shopping trip and historical tour—and you’ll be shielded from any rain or snow.

Where to stay: Boutique Hotel Omnia

You can walk to the Velvet Cave in five minutes from Boutique Hotel Omnia in the town of Valkenburg. A 1970s printing house turned boutique hotel, Omnia is for guests who want a comfortable and stylish place to stay but don’t need any services; check-in is done by email and WhatsApp, although the owner, Kim, can always be reached and comes by the hotel daily. The seven rooms have white and oat-colored linens and raffia lampshades, and many have freestanding tubs.

Plaza Mayor Christmas Market in Madrid, Spain

Photo by Mattia Bicchi/Shutterstock

For a Christmas market visit where you won’t need heavy winter gear, head to one of the sunniest cities in Europe, Madrid. December in the Spanish capital isn’t warm—expect a daytime high around 50 degrees Fahrenheit—but the sun is out, and the days aren’t as short as in northern Europe (9.5 hours of daylight on December 1). There has been some sort of Christmas market in Madrid’s main public square, Plaza Mayor, since the 17th century. Today’s Plaza Mayor Christmas Market sees 100 or so stalls set up, selling nativity scene figurines and Christmas decorations. Unlike the markets in northern and eastern European countries, this one is less touristy and sees mostly Madrileños and domestic visitors. There aren’t many other handicrafts for sale, or lots of food (for chocolate and churros, 132-year-old Chocolatería San Ginés is next door and open 24/7), but the ambience is nice.

Leave time to visit Plaza de España, where holiday installation La Navideña (November 25–January 11) delivers a more classic Christmas market experience. Make the rounds of Santa’s house, a 40-foot Christmas tree with a light and sound installation, stalls selling handicrafts and food (bowls of patatas bravas and plates of jamón Ibérico), and, the star of the show, a 6,400-square-foot ice rink.

Where to stay: Brach Madrid

Starchitect Philippe Starck opened Brach Madrid in January 2025 in a 1920s building on one of Madrid’s central boulevards, Gran Via. Starck has said he wanted this hotel to feel like a home, and it does, with vases, shelves of books, lamps, and throw pillows in different patterns throughout. The 57 guest rooms have leather headboards backed by an illustrated travel diary and unusual decor elements like glazed terra-cotta frames on the mirrored bathroom walls. The hotel is less than 15 minutes’ walk to Plaza Mayor, and about 20 minutes to the Royal Palace and to Retiro Park.

Related: 15 Iconic Spanish Foods and Where to Try Them

St. Gallen Christmas Market in St. Gallen, Switzerland

Photo by Mauro Piccardi/Shutterstock

Visit a UNESCO-listed abbey and get your Christmas shopping done at the small St. Gallen’s Sternenmarkt. As you’re perusing the two dozen stands selling glass ornaments, wooden puzzles, and grilled sausages, don’t forget to look up: Every year during Advent, the sky over St. Gallen is illuminated by 540 electric lights in the shape of stars, earning this city in northern Switzerland the nickname “the city of stars.” Back on the ground, you can enjoy events like a nativity play with 100 performers, the St. Nicholas Ride (people dressed as Santa clomping through town on horseback), and live music. This year, additional Christmas market vendors will sell their gifts and snacks on the Saturdays of November 28 and December 5.

Where to stay: Falkenburg Restaurant and Hotel

Up a hill overlooking St. Gallen is 10-room Falkenburg Restaurant & Hotel, housed in a classic red-and-white half-timbered building. It’s an inviting place to lay your head after a very chilly visit to the Christmas market. One room has a 15th-century exposed-beam ceiling and wooden wall; another has 19th-century floral wallpaper and wainscotting. Solo travelers should book the Bodensee (Lake Constance) room, a snug and sunny space with a lake view and a single bed. The restaurant, which serves meaty Alpine cuisine, has a lovely winter garden with wraparound windows that look out on St. Gallen.

Nile Cappello contributed to the reporting of this story.