With the approach of the holiday season it is time for the traditional European Christmas Markets, revealing the people's festive side.
Hundreds of Christmas markets accorss the continent in fairy tale-like settings bring you the joy of Christmas in a unique way.
Bellow we have selected for you a few of the most popular destinations.
Berlin
Berlin's over 50 individual Christmas markets make it the perfect destination for visitors of the yuletide events every year. One of the most famous Christmas markets in Berlin is situated next to Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and offers great attractions, including handicraft stalls, refreshment stands and amusements for both children and parents. Here, one is sure to find the right Christmas gift amongst the decorations, toys and accessories on sale. There is a great programme of cultural events laid on in town as well.
From 26th November to 31st December.
Working hours:
| Sunday - Thuesday |
11am - 10pm |
| Friday - Saturday |
11am - 11pm |
| Christmas Eve |
11am - 6pm |
| New Year's Eve |
11am - 1am |
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Bremen
Festively lit streets, seasonally decorated malls, and shop windows all decked out in Christmas decorations - this is how Bremen sparkles as Christmas approaches. Take a stroll through the historical city centre and enjoy the atmosphere of the seasonal Christmas bazaars in the lower hall of the Town Hall and in Böttcherstrasse, or experience the magic of the of the Christmas attraction 'Schlachte Magic' on the promenade along the river. Winter concerts, nativity plays and Christmas exhibitions offer a vast choice of festive events for young and old.
From 29th November to 23rd December.
Working hours:
| Monday - Saturday |
10am - 8pm |
| Sunday |
11am - 8pm |
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Brussels
Hailed as 'Europe's most original Christmas market' by British tour operators, the Christmas market in Brussels offers more than 240 stalls, dotted around the Bourse, the Marche aux Poissons and the Place St-Catherine. Whichever chalets you visit, you will find plenty of Christmas goodies, traditional handicraft items and various seasonal gastronomic delights. Food lovers will have every chance to enjoy authentic home-made goods and gourmet delicacies, including French olives, mountains of Belgian chocolates, steaming plates of moules or steamed snails and jars of preserved fruits. The Fish Market is transformed into a temporary ice rink, making it a big attraction for tourists and locals.
From 1st December to 1st January
Working hours:
| Monday-Friday |
11am - 8pm |
| Saturday-Sunday |
11am - 10pm |
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Cologne
Cologne's seven Christmas markets offer a unique experience to visitors during the Christmas season. The four major markets are located at Alter Markt, Cologne Cathedral, Neumarkt and Rudolfplatz. There is also the medieval Christmas Market outside the Chocolate Museum and a floating Christmas Market on board the 'MS Wappen von Mainz'. And if you have any energy left after visiting these markets, don't miss the huge ice rink on Heumarkt.
From 27th November to 23rd December.
Working hours: 11am - 9pm, daily.
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Copenhagen
Held annually since 1994, Copenhagen's Christmas market takes place at Europe's oldest amusement park, the Tivoli Gardens. Each year the park is transformed into a Christmas wonderland with decorated Christmas trees, illuminations, Christmas shows and colourfully-painted stalls. Here you will find traditional arts, crafts and decorations, such as Copenhagen porcelain or wooden dolls. Food stalls are offering hot apple dumplings and the traditional glögg, Danish mulled wine mixed with liquor and spices. Other attractions include pony rides, a skating rink, and a Father Christmas who does the rounds and poses for photos in the 'Leprechaun tent'.
From 16th November to 31st December
Working hours:
| Sunday - Thursday |
11am - 10pm |
| Friday - Saturday |
11am - 11pm |
| 23 December |
11am - 8pm |
| 24 - 25 December |
closed |
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Dresden
Dresden's Striezelmarkt is considered to be the oldest Christmas market in Germany. The main market takes place in the Münzgasse Street, between the world's famous Frauenkirche and the Brühlsche Terrasse. Each year, the community takes part in the 'Stollenfest', where a 3,500 kg fruited bread is baked and served to the public. As always, the market will be characterised by traditional crafts of the city and its surrounding region, offering wooden nutcrackers and Christmas pyramids of the famous Erzgebirge carvers, ceramic wares from Upper Lusatia, and glass art from Thuringia.
From 28th November. to 24th December.
Working hours:
| Sunday - Tuesday |
10am - 8pm |
| Friday - Saturday |
10am - 9pm |
| Christmas Eve |
Until 2pm |
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Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf has many intriguing experiences to offer visitors at Christmas. The smell of cinnamon cakes and mulled red wine are part of the season too, not to forget the festively decorated shop windows and the various special Christmas events. Düsseldorf has two main market areas: the Christmas market at Schadowplatz and the Nikolaus market in the Altstadt. A special event is 'Adventissimo', a nightly revue show on MS Loreley, featuring comedy, song and instrumental highlights. The programme begins with a champagne reception and accompanied by a whole range of culinary delights.
From 22nd November to 23rd December.
Working hours:
| Daily |
10am - 8pm |
| Closed on Sun 25 Nov |
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Frankfurt
The traditional Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of Germany's oldest and most popular Christmas markets, dating back as far as 1393. The market is located throughout the city-centre at Roemerberg, Paulsplatz, Liebfrauenberg, Fahrtor, and Mainkai, featuring a 30 meter-high Christmas tree and some 200 stalls selling traditional handicrafts, toys and Christmas decorations. Take a stroll across the market and enjoy the wonderful aroma of baked apples, roasted nuts, gingerbread and mulled wine - quite a contrast to the impressive Frankfurt Skyline of futuristic skyscrapers in the background.
From 30th November to 23rd December.
Working hours:
| Monday - Saturday |
10am - 9pm |
| Sunday |
11am - 9pm |
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Hamburg
Hamburg's numerous sights and huge variety of shops and boutiques make it an unforgettable destination for visitors during the Christmas season. The city's main Christmas markets are at the Rathausmarkt (in front of the town hall), Gerhardt-Hauptmann-Platz, in the Spitalerstrasse, the one around the Petrikirche and the one at the Gänsemarkt. Strolling across these markets you will enjoy the scent of roasted almonds and sweet chestnuts as well as the tasty flavour of cinnamon and Glühwein (hot mulled wine). At the Mönckebergbrunnen you will find the 60-feet-high Christmas tree illuminated by 10,000 candles.
From 26th November to 23rd December.
Working hours: 10am - 9pm, daily.
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Hanover
Hanover's Christmas market takes place in the historical old quarter around the Market Church and on the Ballhofplatz. Visitors looking for a souvenir are spoilt for choice with some 150 festive stands selling handicrafts, Christmas tree decorations, carved items, wooden toys and craftwork. The programme for children features a puppeteer and a storyteller. Another unique experience is the Winter zoo event at Hanover Adventure Zoo.
From 26th November to 22nd December.
Working hours: 11am - 9pm, daily.
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Leipzig
With more than 260 stands in the historical city centre the Leipzig Christmas Market is one of Germany's largest and most popular Christmas markets. Highlights include the biggest Advent calendar in the world (857 sq m), a huge ice rink, a Fairytale forest with recreations of well-known stories, and performances by the Old Town Hall trumpeters. Don't miss out on the freshly baked pretzels and the famous Feuerzangenbowle, a hot German Winter speciality with rum, red wine and sugar.
From 27th November to 23rd December.
Working hours:
| Sunday - Tuesday |
10am - 8pm |
| Friday - Saturday |
10am - 9pm |
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Munich
The Munich Christmas Market in one of Germany's oldest markets and is held on Marienplatz, in front of the town hall. Around 100 merchants set up their stalls on Munich's largest urban square, offering all kinds of hand-crafted items and delicious goodies like roast apples and gingerbreads. Each afternoon local singers and musicians perform traditional carol songs from the balcony of the Town Hall. For children there are creative activities free of charge at the "Heaven Workshop". Don't miss out the Christmas Handicraft Fair at the 'Englischer Garten' - the largest park in Munich.
From 30th November to 24th December.
Working hours:
| Monday - Friday |
10am - 8:30pm |
| Saturday |
9am - 8:30pm |
| Sunday |
10am - 7:30pm |
| Christmas Eve |
10am - 2pm |
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Nuremberg
Established in the market square of the beautifully restored Old Town, Nuremberg's Christmas Market is Germany's oldest and most famous Christmas market. Also known as Christ Child market, or Nürnberg Christkindlesmarkt, it draws over two million visitors each year. The air is filled with delicious aromas of cinnamon, gingerbread, Nuremberg Bratwurst, roasted almonds and mulled wine. Small children enjoy the 'Kinderweihnacht' where a traditional style carousel comes complete with an upper tier, reindeer figures and Santa's sleigh.
From 30th November to 24th December.
Working hours:
| Monday -Thursday |
9:30am - 10pm |
| Friday - Saturday |
9:30am - 2pm |
| Sunday |
10:30am - 9pm |
| 30 November |
2pm - 10pm |
| Christmas Eve |
9:30am - 2pm |
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Prague
The Prague Christmas markets (Vanocni trh) take place at the Old Town Square & Wenceslas Square, with smaller ones operating at Havelske Trziste & Namesti Republiky. All are within 10 minutes walking distance of each other, lighting up the city centre and bringing tourists and locals together to enjoy the holiday spirit. The colourfully decorated wooden huts offer handicraft items, including the locally made wood-carved puppets, jewellery, toys and candles. You may also find some good deals on Bohemian crystal. A central stage hosts daily carol singers and musicians playing seasonal tunes. The big attraction for kids is a small zoo, complete with ponies, goats, sheep and a single folorn-looking lama.
From 1st to 31st December.
Working hours: 9am - 7pm, daily.
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Stuttgart
With more than 200 delightfully decorated stands the Stuttgart Christmas Market is one of the largest and most beautiful of Christmas markets in Germany. As well as the stalls lining the Marktplatz and Schillerplatz, other highlights include the 'Fairy-Tale Land' on Schlossplatz, the open-air ice rink in front of the New Palace, and many festive Advent concerts producing a wonderful Christmas atmosphere. Of course, a trip to the Christmas market can also be combined with a visit to one of the many sights in Stuttgart - the spectacular Art Museum, the State Gallery or the sensational Mercedes-Benz Museum.
From 29th November to 23rd December.
Working hours:
| Monday - Saturday |
10am - 9pm |
| Sunday |
11am - 8pm |
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Tallinn
Although Tallinn's Christmas market only became a yearly tradition in 2001, it has already established itself as amongst the most well-loved and happily-visited Christmas markets in Europe. The annual Christmas Market turns the historic Old Town into a Christmas shopper's paradise. You'll find great gifts from a wide variety of traditional Estonian food and handicrafts: toys, hand-made Christmas decorations, candles, basketry, woollen sweaters, sheepskin, and the popular colorful felt hats. Amidst the many festive stalls, choirs and musicians keep visitors entertained with regular performances of carol songs and seasonal music.
From 1st December to 7th January
Working hours: Various, from 10am till about 6pm, daily
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Vienna
The 'Christkindlmarkt' at the Town Hall square in Vienna is one of the best-known and most visited Christmas markets in Europe. It attracts millions of visitors each year with its well over 100 stalls offering candied fruit, candy floss, roasted chestnuts and the traditional mulled wine, Gluhwein. Visitors looking for a souvenir will find here unique hand-crafted decorations and arty bits and pieces, as well as deliciously scented natural beeswax candles. In addition, there are many indoor activities, including a popular Christmas cookie-baking workshop, choirs performing traditional Christmas carols at the town hall, as well as an exhibition showing the different ways Christmas is celebrated around the world.
From 17th November to 24th December
Working hours:
| Daily |
9am - 9pm |
| Christmas Eve |
9am - 5pm |
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