If your idea of winter bliss involves sipping gluhwein, browsing endless stalls of holiday gifts and getting lost in a sea of glittering fairy lights, plan to celebrate this season at one of Europe’s Christmas markets. These traditional markets, which date back hundreds of years, remain popular in many European countries, from France to Estonia.
Yes, the weather is cold (and snowy, in some places) — but hot roasted chestnuts and the general feeling of holiday cheer more than make up for it. Since many markets begin in November and run until Christmas or New Year’s, travelers can snag a fall or winter flight deal or an off-peak award redemption.
So, bundle up and check out our recommendations for the best Christmas markets in Europe, complete with tips on how to get there and where to stay.
Related: From snowy markets to sleeper trains: How I’m spending Christmas in Europe using points and miles
Zurich
Zurich’s Wienachtsdorf, which runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 23, is one of the city’s largest Christmas markets. It’s located at Sechselautenplatz, the square directly in front of the Zurich Opera House and adjacent to Lake Zurich.
The charming Christmas village comprises around 120 stalls, mostly run by local designers showcasing distinctive jewelry and other holiday gifts. The market also offers a variety of culinary options, from international dishes to traditional Swiss cuisine at the Fondue Chalet (reservations are recommended).
Stay: Choose the Park Hyatt Zurich, which is just a 15-minute walk from the Christmas market. Rates start at $741 or 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night this November and December.
Arrive: Zurich Airport (ZRH) is a major transportation hub with numerous nonstop flights from the U.S. Swiss, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines all have nonstop options from East Coast cities like New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Then, it’s just a quick 25-minute train ride to the heart of the city.
Copenhagen
From Nov. 7 to Dec. 21, Copenhagen’s largest Christmas market will take place at Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square) and Gammeltorv (Old Market) in the center of town. The areas will be transformed into a captivating wonderland with a labyrinth of wooden stalls, each brimming with delightful Danish delicacies, toys and more. Kids will be thrilled to snap a photo with Santa, while adults can unwind with a warming glass of spiced wine, also known as glogg here.
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Stay: Nobis Hotel Copenhagen is a tranquil retreat roughly a 10-minute walk from the market and only one block away from Tivoli Gardens, the historic theme park that is also a must-visit destination during the Christmas season. Plus, the posh property is bookable using Marriott Bonvoy points. Rates start at $462 or 66,000 Marriott points per night this November and December.
Arrive: There are a few nonstop options to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) from the U.S., including from New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Scandinavian Airlines is the main provider, but others, such as Icelandair, offer layover options for cheaper airfares.
Related: SAS awards now available using Delta SkyMiles (and other partners), including on business-class flights to Europe
Edinburgh, Scotland
From Nov. 15, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, Edinburgh will host one of the United Kingdom’s most grandiose and beloved Christmas markets at East Princes Street Gardens, just below Edinburgh Castle. Picture more than 130 charming huts, each illuminated with festive lights and strewn with decorations to create an enchanting atmosphere.
These stalls offer a plethora of local, handmade gifts and an array of scrumptious treats to savor. Don’t miss out on a mesmerizing ride on the big wheel, presenting panoramic views of the entire festive extravaganza. Edinburgh’s Christmas market has something for everyone, with various rides suited for kids and adults and even a Santa’s grotto for a close-up encounter with Kris Kringle.
Stay: For a luxurious stay, consider The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton, which puts you within a 10-minute walk from the Christmas market and offers views of the castle. Rates start at $246 or 65,000 Hilton Honors points per night this holiday season.
Arrive: Direct flights to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) are available year-round from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on United.
Related: How I used Hilton points to stay at a real Scottish castle
Vienna
Wander past more than 100 stalls at Vienna’s largest Christmas market in the Rathausplatz (City Hall Square) from Nov. 14 to Dec. 26. Kids will love the ice skating rink, the Ferris wheel and the carousel. The market has been focusing on improving sustainability in recent years, so expect more eco-friendly products and materials.
Stay: Just a 12-minute walk from the Rathausplatz, the Park Hyatt Vienna epitomizes Viennese luxury: You’ll find high-arched ceilings, an indoor swimming pool and suites adorned with chandeliers and marble bathrooms. Rates in November and December start at $833 or 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night but are significantly higher around Christmas.
Arrive: Austrian Airlines, the flagship carrier of Vienna Airport (VIE), is part of Star Alliance. If you have miles on any partner airline, you should be able to get a seat at a good valuation. Austrian flies directly from EWR, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.
Germany
As one of the most renowned countries in Europe for Christmas markets, Germany offers a market in nearly every city. We couldn’t pick just one, so here are some of the best:
- Cologne: This city, famous for its towering Gothic cathedral, features nearly a dozen different markets, including the LGBTQ+-friendly Heavenue Christmas market from Nov. 17 to Dec. 23.
- Munich: Bavaria’s most famous market is in Munich’s Marienplatz, which takes place from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24. It’s decorated with thousands of candles and has over 100 stalls.
- Munich Airport (MUC): Jump right into the holiday spirit (and even go ice skating) during a long layover at Munich Airport, which transforms into a Christmas market from Nov. 14 to Dec. 28.
- Frankfurt: Enjoy shopping and a 100-foot-tall Christmas scene at Frankfurt’s main Christmas Market, available from Nov. 24 to Dec. 22.
- Nuremberg: In addition to its world-renowned lebkuchen (gingerbread), Nuremberg’s sprawling market — which takes place from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24 — is famous for its Christkind, a young lady with curly blond hair dressed like a golden angel who makes frequent appearances at the festivities.
- Berlin: Germany’s capital features many Christmas markets, but one of the best is the WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt available from Nov. 24 to Dec. 31. Expect the typical food and shopping, plus holiday-inspired performances from fire eaters, acrobats and jugglers.
- Dresden: One of the country’s oldest and largest markets, the Striezelmarkt in Dresden’s Altmarkt features puppet theaters, storytelling time and gingerbread-decorating workshops. It runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 24.
Stay: The JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt features 219 rooms and more than 200 hand-painted art pieces by German artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Nightly rates start as low as $254 or 52,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from late November through December.
Arrive: Star Alliance partner Lufthansa operates direct flights to Germany out of several U.S. cities, including hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Denver.
If you want to visit in comfort and style, you can splash out for one of the most iconic fifth-freedom routes out of the U.S., offered by Singapore Airlines between JFK and Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Super-luxurious business-class awards on this route cost 81,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles each way. You can transfer points and miles to KrisFlyer from several transferable points and miles programs — American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards — at a 1:1 ratio.
Strasbourg, France
You can’t go wrong with markets in French cities like Lyon and Lille, but Strasbourg is known as the Capital of Christmas for a reason. Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmarik, near the city’s cathedral, is one of France’s most popular holiday haunts for sipping mulled wine, sampling French treats like tarte flambee and sugary bredele biscuits, and shopping for wares among the wooden stalls. From Nov. 26 to Dec. 24, Strasbourg’s towering Christmas tree and festive ice rink can convince any Grinch’s heart to grow three sizes.
Stay: Consider a stay at one of the city’s newer hotels, Aloft Strasbourg City Centre. The hotel is welcoming, modern and within a 15-minute walk of the main market. Rates start around $235 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night while the market is open.
Arrive: Strasbourg is a smaller city, and you can’t fly nonstop there from the U.S. You’ll need to fly to Strasbourg Airport (SXB) from hubs such as Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) or take a train from Frankfurt or Paris. Alternatively, you could plan a layover to check out Munich Airport’s Christmas market (see above), then continue on to Strasbourg.
Related: Travel to Europe using points and miles: How to redeem your rewards for flights
Tallinn, Estonia
Sample Baltic holiday cuisine like black pudding and gingerbread paired with spiced wine at the Christmas market in Tallinn’s medieval Town Hall Square between Nov. 21 and Dec. 28.
The setting is simply stunning. Historic buildings surround stalls selling Christmas goods and decorations (many of which are heart-shaped, as Estonians firmly believe Christmas is a time of love), with the enormous tree as a centerpiece. Look forward to two different carousels for the little ones and a double-decker holiday bus to ride around town.
Stay: Schlossle Hotel, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (and thus Hilton Honors), provides a medieval feel in the heart of Old Town and is steps away from the Christmas market. You’ll find rates as low as $295 or 60,000 Hilton points per night this winter.
Arrive: Although you can’t fly nonstop from the U.S. to Tallinn Airport (TLL), you can connect easily through hubs such as Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) in Poland, Istanbul Airport (IST), Brussels Airport (BRU) and FRA. If you fly Finnair between the U.S. and Helsinki Airport (HEL), a ferry to Tallinn takes about 3 1/2 hours. From various London airports, you can fly to Tallinn on low-cost airlines like airBaltic, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Brussels
While the markets in Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, Belgium, have a more charming and cozy vibe, Brussels’ Winter Wonders and Christmas Market — which runs from Nov. 28, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026 — is the largest and most impressive in Belgium, with more than 200 stands weaving through the city center.
Take a spin around the ice rink, fly high in the Ferris wheel or enjoy a visit from Santa. The market also offers an immersive audio and visual Christmas show, an innovative way to experience all the holiday fun.
Stay: Budget travelers can stay amid the action at the Holiday Inn Express Brussels — Grand-Place for as low as $253 or 59,000 IHG One Rewards points per night in November and December.
Arrive: Fly to Brussels on Star Alliance carriers from hubs like New York and Washington, D.C. Some of the best redemption options include United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer.
If you connect in London, you can fly to Brussels on British Airways and Brussels Airlines. Taking the Eurostar train between London and Brussels is an alternative option — the ride takes just over two hours, and tickets start around $90 this holiday season.
Related: Airline stopover flights: A complete guide to maximizing your flight itinerary
Prague
It’s hard to decide whether to visit Prague’s Old Town Square Christmas Market or Wenceslas Square Christmas Market, which both run from Nov. 29, 2025, to Jan. 6, 2026. Thankfully, since they’re a 10-minute walk apart, it’s easy to hit both. The markets sell similar items, such as medovina (honey wine) and Czech crafts like puppets and dolls, but the Old Town Square market also features live animals, including sheep and donkeys, for children to pet.
Stay: The Andaz Prague, which opened inside a historic 1916 building in 2022, is a 10-minute walk from Old Town Square. Rooms here start at $311 or 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night while the Christmas markets are open.
Arrive: Unfortunately, Delta’s nonstop flight to Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) from JFK doesn’t operate in the winter months. However, many airlines fly to Prague from numerous European hubs, including London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), AMS and FRA.
Zagreb, Croatia
Christmas in Zagreb is special, with the entire city decked out with lights, Nativity scenes and decorations. While there are dozens of Christmas markets to visit, start at the Zrinjevac Park Christmas market, available from Nov. 29, 2025, to Jan. 6, 2026, where you can sample hot strukli (a pastry with melted cheese) or medenjaci cookies paired with soul-warming wine as you browse handmade ornaments and toys.
Then, visit Zagreb Cathedral to see its famous Nativity scene out front. Finish the evening with a few laps around King Tomislav Square’s ice rink or a ride on the carousel in Strossmayer Square.
Stay: A short walk away from the Christmas action, The Westin Zagreb is ideal for travelers wanting a quiet, contemporary space to relax while still staying close to all the holiday cheer. Rates start at $114 or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during the holiday season.
Arrive: Getting to Franjo Tudman Airport Zagreb (ZAG) will take more than one flight since there are no nonstop options from the U.S. to the Croatian capital. You’ll need to stop first in destinations like London, Frankfurt or Istanbul en route. Both British Airways and Croatia Airlines fly between London and Zagreb.
Basel, Switzerland
Wander among more than 160 snow-covered wooden stalls at Basel’s Christmas market, stretching from Barfusserplatz to Munsterplatz between Nov. 27 and Dec. 23. A steaming mug of gluhwein perfectly complements traditional delights like waffles, gingerbread and melted Swiss raclette.
Stay: The Basel Marriott Hotel offers the best of Swiss culture without sacrificing modernity. Nightly rates start around $275 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points this winter.
Arrive: Getting to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL) from the U.S. requires a stop somewhere in Europe. The airport is actually in France, though it’s a short drive from both Basel and the German border — perfect for visiting three countries (and multiple Christmas markets) in one trip. You can also fly Swiss to Zurich before hopping on a Swiss Federal Railways train to Basel, bookable as one complete ticket on the Swiss website.
Related: Airlines that offer air and rail tickets in Europe
Helsinki
The Helsinki Christmas Market, the city’s oldest and most popular, runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 22 in Senate Square, with Helsinki Cathedral as its backdrop. But it’s not just about the holiday stalls, though there are plenty of those offering everything from handmade gifts to local treats. On Dec. 13, don’t miss the St. Lucia procession, a tradition honoring a fourth-century martyr. And yes, Santa visits daily, while the free merry-go-round adds a nostalgic touch.
Stay: If you’re looking for a luxurious place to stay in the middle of the action, the Waldorf Astoria Helsinki is a fantastic option. (The property, formerly The Hotel Maria, was rebranded earlier this year.) For as low as $349 or 100,000 Hilton points per night, you’ll be just a 10-minute walk from Senate Square.
Arrive: Getting to Helsinki Airport (HEL) is a breeze, especially with Finnair offering nonstop flights from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. For travelers from other cities, you’ll likely need a connection, but most major carriers make it easy with quick stopovers.
Malaga, Spain
From Nov. 28, 2025, to Jan. 6, 2026, the Malaga Christmas market on the Paseo del Parque will bring festive magic to sunny southern Spain with roasted chestnuts and traditional sweets like turron. Don’t miss the dazzling Christmas lights on nearby Larios Street. The Three Wise Men parade on Jan. 5 is also a sugary, gift-filled spectacle.
Stay: You’ll love the AC Hotel Malaga Palacio. It has killer views of the port, and you’re just a short walk from the Malaga Cathedral and the Museo Picasso Malaga. Plus, it’s a great deal, with rates starting at $172 or 28,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night this holiday season.
Arrive: If you’re flying to Malaga from the U.S., Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is fairly easy to reach, though you’ll need a stopover somewhere like Lisbon, Portugal; London; or Barcelona. Once you arrive in Malaga, you’re about a five-hour drive from Madrid and two hours from Seville, making it a great base for exploring southern Spain.
Related: I went on a Christmas market cruise — but not on a river. Here’s why this holiday alternative is just as festive
Stockholm
The Christmas market at the Skansen open-air museum is a must if you visit Stockholm during the holidays. Running from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21, it has been a holiday staple since 1903 and is full of festive charm. Picture 70-plus stalls lined with Christmas goodies and handmade crafts, plus waffles and mulled wine to warm you up. You can even try your hand at old-fashioned Christmas crafts or stroll through the magical Winter Lights.
Stay: The Hilton Stockholm Slussen is just a four-minute walk from the nearest transit station, making it super convenient for exploring the city. Rates start at $136 or 37,000 Hilton Honors points per night while the market is open.
Arrive: Getting to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) from the U.S. is simple, with SAS offering direct flights from EWR year-round. If you’re coming from other cities, expect a stopover in a European hub like London or Oslo, Norway.
Oslo
Oslo’s Winter Wonderland at the Spikersuppa square is back from Nov. 4, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026. This festive spot on Karl Johans gate — the city’s main street — has all the classics, like charming stalls selling gifts, an ice skating rink and a Ferris wheel. But the real star is the food (think: coconut cupcakes, caramel apples, glogg, currywurst and smoked salmon from the Lofoten Islands). Feeling lucky? Spin the chocolate wheel!
Stay: Hotel Christiania Teater, an Ascend Collection Hotel sits right off the square and is bookable through the Choice Privileges program. Prices start around $174 or 25,000 Choice points per night this November and December.
Arrive: SAS offers nonstop flights to Oslo Airport (OSL) from EWR, and Norse Atlantic Airways flies directly from Miami International Airport (MIA) in winter. If you’re flying from anywhere else in the U.S., you’ll likely have a layover in another major European city.
Related: Peak solar activity is forecast for 2025: Here are the best places to see the northern lights
Bottom line
European Christmas markets are a magical way to celebrate the holidays, complete with local gastronomy, ice skating, festive decor and excellent souvenir shopping. If you want to visit lesser-known European destinations, it’s likely they also have a Christmas market. Or, if you can’t pick just one destination, consider a Christmas market cruise.
Just keep in mind that you may hit some snags while entering or leaving due to Europe’s new border control system, so plan extra time for your travels.
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