The most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe

There’s something undeniably magical about Christmas in Europe. By late November, as the nights grow longer and frost glistens on cobblestones, cities across the continent transform into wonderlands of festive cheer. From the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine to the sound of choirs singing carols beneath Gothic cathedrals, Christmas markets have become an essential tradition, blending centuries of history with modern-day holiday spirit.

More than just shopping destinations, these markets are cultural experiences, where local artisans, chefs and performers come together to celebrate the season, with small rituals passed down through generations. Every country adds its own flavour – German stalls overflowing with hand-carved wooden toys, French chalets filled with spiced pastries and Nordic markets offering reindeer hides and steaming mugs of glögg. Whether you’re seeking unique gifts, to indulge in traditional delicacies or simply soak up the fairytale atmosphere, Europe’s Christmas markets are an invitation to slow down and savour the season. Here are six of the most beautiful to experience this winter.

Nuremberg, Germany

Dating back to the 16th century, Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world and sets the standard against which all others are measured. Centred around the city’s Hauptmarkt square, beneath the towering spires of the Frauenkirche, the market is a sea of red-and-white striped stalls selling traditional Franconian goods. 

Visitors can sip on spiced Glühwein while sampling famous Nuremberg bratwurst, grilled three to a bun, or the city’s beloved Lebkuchen (gingerbread). A highlight is the ceremonial opening, when the Christkind – a local girl dressed in golden robes and a crown – proclaims the market officially open from the church balcony. Beyond the main square, a dedicated children’s market offers carousel rides, gingerbread workshops and puppet theatres, ensuring the Christkindlesmarkt is as magical for little ones as it is for adults.

Strasbourg, France

Often called the “Capital of Christmas”, Strasbourg hosts one of Europe’s most dazzling festive displays, seamlessly blending French and German customs. The city’s Christkindelsmärik was first held in 1570, making it France’s oldest Christmas market, and today, more than 300 wooden chalets are scattered across the historic centre, with the magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral providing a breathtaking backdrop.

The market is famous for its Alsatian delicacies such as buttery bredele cookies, steaming tarte flambée baked thin and crisp in woodfired ovens and spiced sauerkraut, while artisans sell everything from hand-painted ornaments to embroidered linens and fine Alsace pottery. The centrepiece? A 30-metre fir tree in Place Kléber (one of the tallest in Europe), lit with thousands of bulbs, beneath which locals donate gifts for charity, in a tradition dating back decades.

Vienna, Austria

Few cities embrace Christmas as elegantly as Vienna. The Austrian capital hosts more than 20 markets, but none compare to the Wiener Christkindlmarkt held on Rathausplatz and framed by the Neo-Gothic City Hall. By late afternoon, its facade glows like a fairytale palace, while 150 stalls stretch across the square, selling handblown glass baubles, artisanal beeswax candles and nutcrackers painted in vivid hues. 

Foodies will love the paper cones of roasted chestnuts, steaming mugs of Weihnachtspunsch in souvenir mugs and slices of sachertorte layered with apricot jam and chocolate glaze. Families queue for the skating rink that winds through trees strung with oversized heart-shaped lights, as choirs and brass bands perform carols under the twinkling branches.

Copenhagen, Denmark

In Copenhagen, the Tivoli Gardens, a 19th-century amusement park, becomes the heart of the city’s Christmas celebrations. From mid-November, the park transforms into a winter wonderland, with thousands of lights illuminating its gardens, lakes and rides, creating a warm, hygge atmosphere against the backdrop of frosty Nordic nights. 

Here, stalls brim with Nordic crafts including hand-knitted Icelandic sweaters, reindeer hides and glass ornaments inspired by Scandinavian folklore, and the aromas of æbleskiver (round pancake puffs dusted with powdered sugar), almond brittle and gløgg – Denmark’s mulled wine steeped with cardamom, almonds and raisins – fill the air. Beyond the stalls, rollercoasters run against a backdrop of fireworks, brass bands play festive tunes and ballet performances pay homage to the renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s Old Town Square provides a picture-perfect setting for one of Europe’s most atmospheric Christmas markets. Think Gothic spires, baroque facades and a giant Christmas tree sourced each year from the Czech countryside and illuminated by thousands of lights. Stalls offer a mix of Czech handicrafts, wooden toys and intricate glass ornaments, and the air is thick with the smell of svařák (hot mulled wine) and grilled sausages. 

Visitors gather around wooden troughs where carp swim – a nod to the local tradition of serving fried carp for Christmas Eve dinner – or watch carollers in traditional folk dress and live nativity scenes. Must-try foods include Trdelník, a spiral of dough roasted over open flames and rolled in sugar and nuts, roast pork with dumplings and honey mead or medovina.

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn’s Christmas market may be smaller than its Western European counterparts, but its charm is unmatched. Held in the Town Hall Square of the city’s medieval Old Town, it feels like a snow-globe brought to life; pastel-coloured merchants’ houses encircle the square, their rooftops often frosted white, while narrow lanes glow with lantern light. 

At its centre stands a towering spruce, part of a tradition dating back to 1441, when Tallinn claims to have erected Europe’s first public Christmas tree. Around it, wooden huts sell Estonian specialties like woollen mittens patterned with folk designs, hand-carved wooden toys and hearty dishes such as black pudding with lingonberries or steaming bowls of sauerkraut stew. Fire pits offer a place to warm your hands while sipping hõõgvein (Estonian mulled wine spiked with cloves) and watching folk dancers and choirs perform on a small stage, their songs carrying across the square.