The 8 Best Christmas Markets in Europe for 2023

Christmas is a magical time of year. One of the best ways to experience the holiday spirit is to visit a Christmas market, where you can browse for unique gifts, sample delicious food and drinks, and enjoy the atmosphere of a winter wonderland.

Here are our picks for the 8 best Christmas markets in Europe for 2023:

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is the capital of Alsace, a region with a rich cultural heritage and a strong influence from France and Germany. The city hosts France's oldest and largest Christmas market, dating back to 1570.

The market is spread across several locations in the historic centre, mainly at Place Kléber, where a giant Christmas tree stands. You can find everything from traditional Alsatian crafts, such as pottery and woodcarvings, to local delicacies, such as flammekueche, a thin, crispy pizza-like dish, choucroute, a dish of sauerkraut, sausage, and pork, and kougelhopf, a dome-shaped sweet cake with raisins and almonds. Don't forget to try the vin chaud, mulled wine, which comes in different flavours, such as orange, cinnamon, and honey.

Strasbourg is also known for its beautiful architecture, especially the Gothic cathedral, which is illuminated at night. You can also take a boat tour along the canals or explore nearby villages with their own Christmas markets and decorations.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is one of Europe's most elegant and romantic cities, and its Christmas markets add to its charm. The city has over 20 needs, each with a theme and style.

The most famous one is at Rathausplatz, the square in front of the city hall, where you can find a huge ice-skating rink, a carousel, and a Ferris wheel. The market offers a variety of goods, from handcrafted ornaments and candles to gingerbread and chocolate.

Another popular market is Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial residence, where you can admire the baroque architecture and the festive lights.

Vienna is also famous for its music and culture, so you can catch a concert, a ballet, or an opera at one of the many venues in the city. And, of course, you can't leave Vienna without tasting some of its culinary specialities, such as Wiener schnitzel, a breaded veal cutlet, Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot jam, and Manner Schnitten, a hazelnut cream-filled wafer.

Prague, Czechia

Prague is one of Europe's most picturesque and enchanting cities, with its medieval buildings, bridges, and towers. The city has two main Christmas markets, one at the Old Town Square and one at the Wenceslas Square, both within walking distance.

The markets are open daily, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The markets feature wooden huts, where you can buy traditional Czech products like glassware, jewellery, toys, and puppets.

You can also enjoy some of the local food and drinks, such as trdelník, a pastry rolled around a stick and coated with sugar and nuts; klobása, a grilled sausage; and svařák, a hot spiced wine.

The highlight of the markets is the nativity scene, which includes live animals, such as sheep, goats, and donkeys. You can also watch various performances, such as choirs, bands, and folk dancers, on the stages set up in the squares.

Dresden, Germany

Dresden is a city that has a long and turbulent history but also a remarkable cultural and artistic heritage. The city hosts the oldest Christmas market in Germany and one of the oldest in Europe, dating back to 1434.

The market is called Striezelmarkt, which means "stollen market", after the famous German fruitcake that originated in Dresden. The market is located at the Altmarkt, the old market square, where you can find over 200 stalls selling everything from stollen and gingerbread to nutcrackers and incense smokers.

The market also features a 15-meter-high Christmas pyramid, a giant wooden arch with candles and figurines, and a 14-meter-high Christmas tree. You can also visit other markets in the city, such as the medieval market at the Stallhof, the baroque market at the Neumarkt, or the romantic market at the Frauenkirche.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is a city that combines the old and the new, the east and the west, and the traditional and the modern. The city has two main Christmas markets: the Vörösmarty Square and the St. Stephen's Basilica.

The markets are open from mid-November to early January and offer a wide range of products, from handcrafted ceramics and leather goods to paprika and salami. You can also taste some of the Hungarian specialities, such as kürtőskalács, a chimney cake with various toppings, lángos, a deep-fried dough with cheese and sour cream, and forralt bor, a hot spiced wine.

The markets also have live entertainment, such as folk music, dance, and puppet shows. The St. Stephen's Basilica market also has a spectacular light show projected on the church's facade every evening.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen has several Christmas markets, but the most famous one is at the Tivoli Gardens, the second-oldest amusement park in the world. The park is transformed into a winter wonderland, with over four kilometres of lights, a Christmas village, and a skating rink. You can also enjoy some rides, such as the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, and the carousel.

The market offers a variety of goods, from Danish design and crafts to sweets and snacks. You can also try some of the Danish delicacies, such as æbleskiver, a spherical pancake with jam and powdered sugar, gløgg, a hot spiced wine with raisins and almonds; and flæskesteg, a roast pork with crackling and red cabbage.

Edinburgh, UK

Edinburgh is steeped in history, culture, and literature. The city has a Christmas market in the heart of the East Princes Street Gardens from mid-November to early January.

You can find everything from tartan and whisky to cheese and chocolate. You can also enjoy attractions like the Big Wheel, the Star Flyer, and the Ice Adventure. The market also has a Santa Land, where you can meet Santa Claus, ride the Santa Train, or visit the Christmas Tree Maze. You can also explore other events and activities in the city, such as the Street of Light, the Torchlight Procession, or the Hogmanay, the New Year's Eve celebrations.

Manchester, England

Manchester may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of Christmas markets, but it hosts several markets in different locations, each with its own character and style.

You can find various products from local and international vendors, such as jewellery, leather goods, pottery, and cheese. The primary market at Albert Square has a giant Santa Claus, a Ferris wheel, and an ice rink. You can also visit the French market at King Street, the German market at St Ann's Square, and the World market at Brazennose Street.