The year has not even reached its halfway mark, and we already cannot wait for the Holiday season. There is something so delightful, so cheery – hugs smiles, kisses – Christmas is indeed the greatest time of the year. If you, like us, are nostalgic, we have the perfect fix for you. Our list of the 10 most beautiful Christmas Markets in Europe – markets where you want to roam around, nibbling on cookies and buying some local delicacies and decorations from the stalls – will excite you and leave you satiated. Add these bucket-list worthy markets to your travel plans and enjoy some magical, leisurely days.
Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, UK
Hyde Park is famous for its stalls of candle votives, homemade crafts, gourmet food and ornaments. You can also get some hot chocolate before you decide to go ice skating or to meet Santa. The Winter Wonderland is the most loved of all Christmas markets in the world,. It also offers a few good roller coaster rides to choose from.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scottish capital has a very joyous celebration of Christmas in its markets. They sell delicious cinnamon sweets, sugar chimney cakes and different flavored cotton candy, which you can munch on while shopping for hand carved wooden candle holders and Tartan Christmas ornaments.
Plaza Mayor Christmas Market, Madrid, Spain
The large plaza has a history of its own dating back to the reign of King Philip II who moved his court to Madrid at that time. The Plaza Mayor Christmas market is centrally located and is loaded with intricate ornaments and tiny sculptures which you can use to build your own nativity scene.
Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market, Berlin, Germany
The historic market of the capital city of Germany always lights itself up wonderfully during festive times. You must enjoy the traditional Bavarian sweets and buy ornaments, blown glass, wood carvings and more. This joyousness will go on till New Year when you can enjoy fireworks too.
Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Winterparadijs or the “winter paradise” allows visitors to take part in various sport and entertainment ventures put up at the time of Christmas time. It goes without saying that this is one of the most enjoyable Christmas markets. You can have a snowball fight with your friends, or try your hand at curling or tubing. They also screen classic Christmas movies in their open theaters where you can sit with a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Piazza del Duomo Market, Milan, Italy
A number of pretty stalls and small huts stand in long rows underneath the Cathedral of Milan’s Duomo for you to go through. These contain Christmas ornaments, Yuletide souvenirs, Italian cheese and bread which you can browse while drinking a cup of warm drink.
Salzburg Christmas Market, Austria
Another historic market which dates back to the 15th century exhibits around 100 stalls. The area under the Hohensalzburg fortress and Salzburg cathedral is decorated festively in which you can spend your whole day sipping on mulled wine as you take a lavish stroll.
Christmas Market at La Defense, Paris, France
One of the biggest markets in Paris, all under the Grande Arche de la Defense, it has almost 300 exhibits showcasing crafts and stalls selling beautiful sculptures and decorations. Not to mention the whole area is decorated beautifully for you to wander all day eating and shopping.
Strasbourg Christmas Market, Strasbourg, France
Another really ancient and historic market of France, the Strasbourg Christmas Market, lights up every year along the Rhine river. Under the glittery fairy lights you can shop through hundreds of stalls selling blown glass candles and wooden toys. They also sell traditional sweets like the Alsatian bredele and serve traditional French cuisine in different food stalls.
Basel Christmas Market, Switzerland
The Basel Christmas Market is held every year right in the center of the city. They hold it in Barfusserplatz and Munsterplatz where they decorate a magnificent Christmas tree every year by the well-known decorator Johann Wanner.
Feeling Christmas-y yet? Tell us which of these Christmas markets are you visiting this year.
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