Austria
Vienna
Imperial squares, palace courtyards and Punsch in collectible mugs — Vienna has markets for every mood.
31 markets listed
The 2026 guide
Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2026
1,755 Christmas markets in 35 countries — with dates, official websites and an interactive map, so you can plan the perfect festive trip.
1,755Christmas markets
35Countries
984Towns & cities
267Open after Christmas
What is a Christmas market?
A Christmas market (German Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindlmarkt, French marché de Noël) is a seasonal open-air market held in a town square during Advent, usually from mid- or late November until 23 or 24 December. Wooden stalls sell handmade decorations, gifts and seasonal food and drink such as mulled wine, gingerbread and roasted almonds. The tradition comes from German-speaking Central Europe: Vienna's December market is recorded in 1298 and Dresden's Striezelmarkt in 1434. Today there are Christmas markets in almost every European country — our directory lists more than 1,700 of them.
The best Christmas markets in Europe 2026 at a glance
Dates span every market we've confirmed in each city; where a city hasn't announced yet, last season's span is shown.
| City | Country | Markets | 2026 season | Open after Christmas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | Austria | 31 | 6 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Nuremberg | Germany | 1 | 27 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | No |
| Strasbourg | France | 13 | 27 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | No |
| Prague | Czech Republic | 9 | 28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Cologne | Germany | 11 | 16 Nov 2026 – 10 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Dresden | Germany | 7 | 25 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | No |
| Colmar | France | 6 | 23 Nov – 29 Dec 2026 | Yes |
| Budapest | Hungary | 3 | 13 Nov 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Zagreb | Croatia | 7 | 28 Nov 2026 – 7 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Salzburg | Austria | 5 | 19 Nov 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Basel | Switzerland | 2 | 26 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | No |
| Tallinn | Estonia | 1 | 20 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Copenhagen | Denmark | 9 | 13 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Munich | Germany | 25 | 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | No |
| Bolzano | Italy | 1 | 27 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | Yes |
| Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 3 | 14 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 | Yes |
Europe's Christmas markets, all in one place
Every winter, town squares across Europe fill with wooden huts, fairy lights and the smell of mulled wine and roasted almonds. The tradition began in the German-speaking world in the late Middle Ages — Vienna, Dresden, Frankfurt and Strasbourg all have markets that go back centuries — and today you'll find Christmas markets from Lisbon to Helsinki.
This guide lists them all: the famous ones like Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt and the markets of Vienna and Prague, and hundreds of smaller village fairs, castle markets and one-weekend Advent markets that most travel guides skip. Each market has its dates, address and a link to the official website, and you can see them all on the Christmas market map.
The best Christmas markets in Europe
Our pick of the most atmospheric Christmas market cities in Europe — chosen for setting, tradition, food and how many markets you can see in one trip.
Germany
Nuremberg
The Christkindlesmarkt is the archetype: striped stalls, Lebkuchen and three sausages in a bun.
1 market listed
France
Strasbourg
The self-styled Capital of Christmas has run its market since 1570, spread across the old town.
13 markets listed
Czech Republic
Prague
A giant tree in front of the Týn Church and the Astronomical Clock — and markets that run into January.
9 markets listed
Germany
Cologne
Cathedral, gnomes, angels and a harbour: several big markets within walking distance of each other.
11 markets listed
Germany
Dresden
The Striezelmarkt dates from 1434 and is the home of the Christmas Stollen.
7 markets listed
France
Colmar
Six markets among half-timbered houses and canals in Alsace's fairy-tale town.
6 markets listed
Hungary
Budapest
A light show on St Stephen's Basilica, an ice rink and lángos at Vörösmarty Square.
3 markets listed
Croatia
Zagreb
Advent in Zagreb was voted Europe's best Christmas market three years running.
7 markets listed
Austria
Salzburg
Baroque squares beneath the fortress, in the region where Silent Night was born.
5 markets listed
Switzerland
Basel
Often called Switzerland's most beautiful market, on two squares in the old town.
2 markets listed
Estonia
Tallinn
A medieval town square and one of the first public Christmas trees on record.
1 market listed
Denmark
Copenhagen
Tivoli Gardens at Christmas, Nyhavn's harbour market and plenty of hygge.
9 markets listed
Germany
Munich
A big market on Marienplatz plus medieval, pink and festival-style alternatives.
25 markets listed
Italy
Bolzano
Alpine traditions with Italian flair against the backdrop of the Dolomites.
1 market listed
United Kingdom
Edinburgh
A market beneath the castle that leads straight into Hogmanay.
3 markets listed
Most popular Christmas market cities
Vienna 31Prague 9Cologne 11Strasbourg 13Nuremberg 1Munich 25Berlin 73Budapest 3Salzburg 5Colmar 6Dresden 7Frankfurt 8Hamburg 26Zurich 11Basel 2Copenhagen 9Bruges 2Brussels 7Kraków 1Gdansk 5Tallinn 1Riga 8Edinburgh 3Manchester 8London 11York 2Bath 1Birmingham 3Innsbruck 7Zagreb 7Ljubljana 10Paris 16Stockholm 14Oslo 10Helsinki 4
Christmas markets by country
Germany
511 markets
Switzerland
188 markets
Austria
175 markets
France
148 markets
United Kingdom
130 markets
Italy
101 markets
Sweden
54 markets
Czech Republic
43 markets
Denmark
40 markets
Croatia
36 markets
Belgium
33 markets
Netherlands
31 markets
Norway
31 markets
Poland
25 markets
Spain
24 markets
Hungary
19 markets
Finland
18 markets
Ireland
18 markets
Portugal
16 markets
Latvia
15 markets
Slovenia
14 markets
Romania
13 markets
Luxembourg
11 markets
Bulgaria
10 markets
Slovakia
10 markets
Liechtenstein
9 markets
Estonia
8 markets
Lithuania
6 markets
Greece
5 markets
Belarus
4 markets
Albania
3 markets
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2 markets
Serbia
2 markets
Monaco
1 market
San Marino
1 market
Plan your Christmas market trip
Christmas market dates 2026
Official 2026 dates for 30 top markets, plus when the rest usually open and close.
Open after Christmas
Markets that stay open after 25 December, some until Epiphany in January.
Christmas markets in November
The early openers, for a trip before the December crowds.
Christmas ice skating
Seasonal ice rinks in and around the Christmas markets.
Christmas market tips
Cash or card, mug deposits, what to eat, buy and wear.
Interactive map
Every market on one map, with filters for dates and countries.
How to plan a Christmas market trip in Europe
Pick a region, not a single city. The best trips string several markets together by train. Classic routes include the Rhine (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen, Koblenz), Alsace and the Black Forest (Strasbourg, Colmar, Freiburg, Basel), Bavaria and Austria (Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna), and Central Europe (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Prague).
Go early in the season. Late November and the first days of December mean shorter queues and cheaper hotels than the weekends before Christmas. Most markets close on 23 or 24 December, so check the markets open after Christmas if you're travelling between Christmas and New Year.
Look beyond the big names. Some of the most memorable markets are tiny: Advent markets in castle courtyards, Christmas fairs in caves at Valkenburg, and village markets that only open for a single weekend. Use the map filters to find them near your route.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the best Christmas markets in Europe?
The classics are in German-speaking Europe and Alsace: Nuremberg, Dresden, Cologne, Vienna, Salzburg, Strasbourg and Colmar. Prague, Budapest, Zagreb and Tallinn are favourites further east, and Basel and Copenhagen are great for a smaller, prettier trip.
How many Christmas markets are there in Europe?
Thousands — almost every town in Germany, Austria and Switzerland has at least one. Our directory lists 1,755 Christmas markets in 35 countries, from big city markets to one-day village fairs.
When do Christmas markets in Europe open in 2026?
Most open in the second half of November and run until 23 or 24 December. Confirmed examples: Vienna's Rathausplatz market opens on 13 November, Cologne Cathedral on 16 November, Munich on 20 November, Nuremberg on 27 November and Strasbourg on 27 November 2026. In 2026 the first Sunday of Advent is 29 Nov 2026. See the confirmed 2026 dates for 30 top markets.
Are European Christmas markets open after Christmas?
Some are. Last season 267 markets in our directory stayed open after 25 December — mostly in capitals such as Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Zagreb and Brussels, and in ski resorts. Here's the full list of markets open after Christmas.
What is the best time to visit European Christmas markets?
Weekday evenings in the last week of November and the first week of December are the sweet spot: everything is open, the lights are on and the crowds are smaller than on December weekends. Arrive at dusk — around 4 pm in central Europe — to see the markets in daylight and lit up.
Do European Christmas markets take cards?
More and more stalls take cards and contactless payments, especially in big cities, but small stalls, village markets and the mug deposit are often cash-only. Bring some euros (or local currency) in small notes and coins. More in our Christmas market tips.