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In case your thought of winter bliss entails sipping gluhwein, shopping countless stalls of vacation presents and getting misplaced in a sea of glittering fairy lights, plan to have a good time this season at certainly one of Europe‘s Christmas markets. These conventional markets date again a whole bunch of years and are nonetheless fashionable in lots of European international locations, from France to Estonia.
Sure, the climate is chilly (and snowy in some locations). Nevertheless, the odor of roasted chestnuts, the flicker of the lights and the final feeling of vacation cheer greater than make up for it. Since many markets start in November and run by way of December, vacationers can snag a fall or winter flight deal, or off-peak award redemption.
So, bundle up and take a look at our suggestions for among the greatest Christmas markets in Europe, full with tips about how one can get there and the place to remain.
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich’s Wienachtsdorf, which runs from Nov. 21 to Dec. 23, 2024, is without doubt one of the metropolis’s largest Christmas markets. It’s positioned at Sechselautenplatz, the sq. immediately in entrance of the Zurich Opera Home and adjoining to Lake Zurich.
The charming Christmas village is made up of round 120 stalls, principally run by native designers showcasing distinctive jewellery and different vacation presents. The market additionally gives quite a lot of culinary choices, from worldwide dishes to conventional Swiss delicacies on the Fondue Chalet (reservations are really useful).
Keep: Keep on the Park Hyatt Zurich, only a 15-minute stroll from the Christmas market. Charges begin at $708 or 35,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time this November and December.
Arrive: Zurich Airport (ZRH) is a serious transportation hub with quite a few nonstop flights from the USA. Swiss, United Airways, Delta Air Traces and American Airways all have nonstop choices from East Coast cities like New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Then it’s only a fast 25-minute prepare experience to the guts of the town.
Copenhagen, Denmark
From Nov. 8 to Dec. 21, 2024, Copenhagen’s largest Christmas market, which is normally held at Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Sq.), will happen at Thorvaldsens Plads, only a 10-minute stroll away. The sq. in entrance of the Thorvaldsens Museum will likely be reworked right into a fascinating wonderland with a labyrinth of picket stalls, every brimming with pleasant Danish delicacies, toys and extra. Youngsters will likely be thrilled to snap a photograph with Santa, whereas adults can unwind with a warming glass of spiced wine, or glogg because it’s referred to as right here.
Keep: The Nobis Hotel Copenhagen is a tranquil retreat only a 10-minute stroll from Thorvaldsens Plads and just one block away from Tivoli Gardens, the historic theme park that can also be a must-visit throughout the Christmas season. Plus, the luxurious property is bookable utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors. Charges begin at $411 or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time this November and December.
Arrive: There are just a few nonstop choices to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) from the U.S., together with New York Metropolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Scandinavian Airlines is the primary supplier, however different airways, resembling Icelandair, provide layover choices for cheaper airfares.
Edinburgh, Scotland
From Nov. 15, 2024, to Jan. 4, 2025, Edinburgh will host one of many United Kingdom’s most grandiose and beloved Christmas markets at East Princes Road Gardens, just under Edinburgh Fortress. Image greater than 130 charming huts, every illuminated with festive lights and strewn with decorations, creating a fascinating ambiance.
These stalls provide a plethora of native, handmade presents and an array of delicious treats to savor. Don’t miss out on a mesmerizing experience on the massive wheel, presenting panoramic views of all the festive extravaganza. The pageant has one thing particular for everybody, with varied rides fitted to children and adults and even a Santa’s grotto for a close-up encounter with Santa Claus.
Keep: For an expensive keep, contemplate The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton, which is only a 10-minute stroll from the Christmas market and gives views of the fort. Charges begin at $290 or 76,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time this November and December.
Arrive: Direct flights to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) can be found year-round from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) on United Airways.
Vienna, Austria
Wander previous greater than 100 stalls at Vienna’s largest Christmas market within the Rathausplatz City Hall Square from Nov. 16 to Dec. 26, 2024. Youngsters will love the ice skating rink, Ferris wheel and carousel. This yr, the market and its stalls will deal with enhancing sustainability, so count on extra eco-friendly merchandise and supplies.
Keep: Only a 12-minute stroll from Rathausplatz, the Park Hyatt Vienna is the final word Viennese luxurious: excessive arching ceilings, an indoor swimming pool, and suites decked out with chandeliers and marble loos. Charges in November and December begin at $558 or 30,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time, however are considerably increased round Christmas.
Arrive: Austrian Airways, the flagship provider of Vienna Airport (VIE), is a part of the Star Alliance. When you have miles on any companion airline, you need to have the ability to get a seat at a very good valuation. Austrian flies immediately from Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR), Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) and Washington, D.C.’s Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD).
Germany
As some of the well-known international locations in Europe for Christmas markets, Germany has a market in virtually each metropolis. We couldn’t decide only one, so listed below are among the greatest:
- Cologne: This metropolis, well-known for its towering Gothic cathedral, options practically a dozen totally different Christmas markets, together with the hopeful return of the LGBTQ+-friendly Christmas market after a two-year absence (most run from Nov. 18 to Dec. 23, 2024).
- Munich: Bavaria’s most well-known market is in Munich’s Marienplatz, which is embellished with hundreds of candles and has over 100 stalls (Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 2024).
- Munich Airport: Leap proper into the vacation spirit (and even go ice skating) throughout an extended layover at Munich Airport (MUC), which transforms right into a Christmas market (Nov. 15 to Dec. 29, 2024).
- Frankfurt: Get pleasure from procuring and a 100-foot-tall Christmas scene at Frankfurt’s foremost Christmas Market (Nov. 25 to Dec. 22, 2024).
- Nuremberg: Along with its world-renowned lebkuchen (gingerbread), maintain a glance out for this market’s Christkind, a younger woman with curly blond hair dressed like a golden angel who makes frequent appearances on the festivities (Nov. 29 to Dec. 24, 2024).
- Berlin: Germany’s capital has quite a lot of Christmas markets, however the most effective is the WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt (Nov. 25 to Dec. 31, 2024), which is relocated in 2024 to the historic Bebelplatz close to the State Opera and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral. Anticipate the standard meals and procuring but additionally holiday-inspired performances from fireplace eaters, acrobats, jugglers and choirs.
- Dresden: One of many nation’s oldest and largest markets, the Striezelmarkt in Dresden’s Altmarkt options puppet theaters, storytelling time and gingerbread-decorating workshops (Nov. 27 to Dec. 24, 2024).
Keep: The JW Marriott Frankfurt options 219 rooms and greater than 200 hand-painted artwork items by German artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Charges begin as little as $192 or 52,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time from late November by way of December.
Arrive: Star Alliance companion Lufthansa operates direct flights to Germany out of a number of U.S. airports, together with hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Denver.
If you wish to go to in consolation and elegance, you possibly can splash out for some of the iconic fifth-freedom routes out of the U.S., supplied by Singapore Airways between New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Germany’s Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Tremendous-luxurious business-class awards on this route value 81,000 miles every manner by way of Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program. You’ll be able to switch factors to KrisFlyer from the entire transferable points programs — American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
France
You’ll be able to’t go improper with markets in French cities like Lyon and Lille. However since Strasbourg is named the Capital of Christmas, it’s no shock that Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmarkt, close to the town’s cathedral, is certainly one of France’s hottest vacation haunts for sipping mulled wine, tasting French wintery treats like tarte flambee or sugary bredele biscuits, and searching for wares among the many picket stalls (Nov. 27 to Dec. 27, 2024). Strasbourg’s towering Christmas tree, hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights and festive ice rink can persuade any Grinch to like the festive season.
Keep: Take into account a keep at one of many metropolis’s newer accommodations, the Aloft Strasbourg Etoile. The resort is welcoming and fashionable, only a 15-minute stroll to the primary Christmas market. Charges begin at $154 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time whereas the market is open.
Arrive: Strasbourg is a smaller metropolis, and you may’t fly nonstop there from the U.S. As a substitute, fly to Strasbourg Airport (SXB) from hubs resembling Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). Or, plan a layover to take a look at Munich Airport’s Christmas market (see above), then proceed on to Strasbourg. You may also take a prepare from Frankfurt or Paris to the French metropolis.
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Tallinn, Estonia
Pattern Baltic vacation delicacies like black pudding and gingerbread paired with spiced wine on the Christmas market in Tallinn’s medieval City Corridor Sq. (Nov. 22 to Dec. 27, 2024).
The setting is just gorgeous. Historic buildings encompass stalls promoting Christmas items and decorations (a lot of that are heart-shaped, as Estonians firmly imagine Christmas is a time of affection), with the large tree as a centerpiece. Stay up for two totally different carousels for the little ones and a double-decker vacation bus to experience round city.
Keep: The Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallin is a 15-minute stroll away from the city sq., which you’ll be able to view from the resort’s outside terrace. Charges begin at $102 or 44,000 Radisson Rewards factors per night time.
Arrive: Though you possibly can’t fly nonstop from the U.S. to Tallinn Airport (TLL), you possibly can join simply to hubs resembling Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), Istanbul Airport (IST), Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Brussels Airport (BRU) after which fly on over. In case you fly Finnair between the U.S. and Helsinki Airport (HEL), a ferry to Tallinn takes about 3 1/2 hours. From varied London airports, you possibly can fly to Tallinn on low-cost airways like airBaltic, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Brussels, Belgium
Whereas the markets in Antwerp, Ghent and Brugge have a extra charming and comfy vibe, Brussels’ Winter Wonders Market (Nov. 29, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025) is the biggest and most spectacular in Belgium, with greater than 200 stands weaving by way of the town heart.
Take a spin across the ice rink, fly excessive within the Ferris wheel or get pleasure from a go to from Santa. The market additionally gives an immersive audio and visible Christmas present, an revolutionary approach to expertise all the vacation enjoyable.
Keep: Price range vacationers can keep amid the motion on the Holiday Inn Express Brussels — Grand-Place for as little as $140 or 29,000 IHG One Rewards factors per night time this vacation season.
Arrive: Fly to Brussels on Star Alliance carriers from hubs like New York and Washington, D.C. A few of the greatest redemption choices embrace United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer. Take into account combining a visit to Brussels with different European cities (or Christmas markets) utilizing the Brussels Airways pit-stop service. This stopover program permits passengers to remain from one to 5 nights at no further cost in Belgium.
In case you fly from the U.S. to London, you possibly can fly to Brussels on British Airways and Brussels Airways. Taking the Eurostar prepare between London and Brussels is an alternate possibility — the experience takes simply over two hours. Charges begin as little as $66 every manner this vacation season.
Prague, Czech Republic
It’s laborious to resolve whether or not to go to Prague’s Old Town Square Christmas Market or Wenceslas Square Christmas Market (each Nov. 30, 2024, to Jan. 6, 2025). Contemplating they’re a 10-minute stroll aside, it’s straightforward to go to each. The markets promote related objects, like medovina honey wine and Czech crafts like puppets and dolls, however Outdated City Sq. has dwell animals like sheep and donkeys for youngsters to pet.
Keep: The Andaz Prague, which opened in 2022 inside a historic 1916 constructing, is a 10-minute stroll from Outdated City Sq.. Charges begin at $320 or 21,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time in November and December.
Arrive: Sadly, Delta’s nonstop flight to Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) from New York’s JFK airport doesn’t function within the winter months. Nevertheless, many airways fly to Prague from quite a few European hubs, together with London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
Zagreb, Croatia
Christmas in Zagreb is particular, with all the metropolis decked out with lights, Nativity scenes and decorations. Whereas there are dozens of Christmas markets to go to, begin on the Zrinjevac Park Christmas Market (Nov. 30, 2024, to Jan. 7, 2025), the place you possibly can pattern scorching strukli, a pastry with melted cheese, or medenjaci cookies paired with soul-warming wine as you browse handmade ornaments and toys.
Then go to Zagreb Cathedral with its well-known Nativity scene out entrance. End the night up with just a few laps round King Tomislav Sq. ice rink or a experience on the carousel in Strossmayer Sq..
Keep: A brief stroll away from the Christmas motion, the Westin Zagreb is right for these wanting a quiet, modern area to chill out whereas nonetheless staying near all the vacation cheer. Charges begin at $122 or 16,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time throughout the vacation season.
Arrive: Attending to Zagreb Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) will take you multiple flight since there are not any nonstop flights accessible from the U.S. to the Croatian capital. On varied European carriers, you’ll must cease first in locations like London, Frankfurt, Istanbul or Frankfurt en path to Zagreb. Each British Airways and Croatia Airways fly between London and Zagreb.
Basel, Switzerland
Wander amongst greater than 160 snow-covered picket stalls at Basel’s Christmas Market, stretching from Barfusserplatz to Munsterplatz (Nov. 28 to Dec. 23, 2024). A steaming mug of gluhwein completely enhances conventional delights like waffles, gingerbread and melted Swiss raclette.
Keep: The Basel Marriott gives the perfect of Swiss tradition with out sacrificing modernity. Charges begin round $167 or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time this vacation season.
Arrive: Attending to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL) from the U.S. requires a cease someplace in Europe. The airport is definitely in France, although it’s a brief drive from each Basel and the border of Germany — good for visiting three international locations in a single journey. You may also fly Swiss to Zurich, stopping there shortly earlier than hopping on a Swiss Federal Railways prepare to Basel, bookable as one full ticket on the Swiss web site.
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki’s Christmas Market (from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22, 2024) in Senate Sq., with Helsinki Cathedral as its backdrop, is the town’s oldest and hottest. It’s not simply concerning the vacation stalls, although there are many these providing the whole lot from handmade presents to native treats. On Dec. 13, don’t miss the St. Lucia procession, a practice honoring a 4th-century martyr. And sure, Santa visits every day, whereas the free merry-go-round provides a nostalgic contact.
Keep: In case you’re searching for an expensive place to remain within the coronary heart of Helsinki, The Hotel Maria is a incredible possibility. Opened in June 2024, this 117-room resort is without doubt one of the latest members of Most well-liked Inns & Resorts’ Legend Assortment and is only a 10-minute stroll from Senate Sq.. Charges begin at $330 per night time throughout the holidays.
Arrive: Attending to Helsinki Airport (HEL) is a breeze, particularly with Finnair providing nonstop flights from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. For vacationers from different cities, you’ll doubtless want a connection, however most main carriers make it straightforward with fast stopovers.
Malaga, Spain
From Nov. 25, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025, the Malaga Christmas market on the Paseo del Parque will deliver festive magic to Spain’s sunny south with roasted chestnuts and conventional sweets like turron. Don’t miss the dazzling Christmas lights on close by Larios Road. The Three Clever Males parade on Jan. 5 is a sugary, gift-filled spectacle.
Keep: You’ll love the AC Hotel Malaga Palacio. It’s bought killer views of the port, and also you’re only a quick stroll from the Malaga Cathedral and Museo Picasso. Plus, it’s an incredible deal, with charges beginning at $177 or 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time this vacation season.
Arrive: In case you’re flying to Malaga from the U.S., Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is simple to succeed in, although you’ll want a stopover. For instance, TAP Air Portugal stops in Lisbon from New York Metropolis. When you arrive, you’re nearly a five-hour drive from Madrid and two hours from Seville, making it an incredible base for exploring southern Spain.
Stockholm, Sweden
The Christmas market at the Skansen open-air museum is a should in case you go to Stockholm throughout the holidays. Operating from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22, 2024, it’s been a vacation staple since 1903 and is stuffed with festive allure. Image 70 stalls with Christmas goodies and handmade crafts, plus waffles and mulled wine to heat you up. You’ll be able to even strive your hand at old school Christmas crafts or stroll by way of the magical Winter Lights. It’s cozy and enjoyable — the proper approach to get into the vacation spirit in Stockholm.
Keep: The Hilton Stockholm Slussen is only a four-minute stroll from the closest transit station, making it tremendous handy for exploring the town. Charges begin at $111 or 29,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time whereas the market is open.
Arrive: Attending to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) from the U.S. is straightforward, with Scandinavian Airways providing direct flights from Newark (EWR) year-round. In case you’re coming from different cities, count on a stopover in a European hub like Oslo or London.
Oslo, Norway
Oslo’s Winter Wonderland on the Spikersuppa sq. is again from Nov. 9 to Dec. 31, 2024. This festive spot on Karl Johans Gate — the town’s foremost avenue — has all of the classics, like charming stalls promoting presents, an ice-skating rink and a Ferris wheel. However the actual star? The meals. Assume coconut cupcakes, caramel apples, glogg, currywurst and smoked salmon from the Lofoten Islands. Feeling fortunate? Spin the chocolate wheel!
Keep: Sommerro is within the coronary heart of the town, inside a 15-minute stroll of the Christmas market. The 231-room resort is understood for its luxurious design and comfy vibes, plus it has a year-round rooftop pool. Charges begin at $272 per night time throughout the holidays.
Arrive: SAS gives nonstop flights to Oslo Airport (OSL) from Newark (EWR), and Norse Atlantic Airways flies immediately from Miami within the winter. In case you’re flying from wherever else within the U.S., you’ll doubtless have a layover in one other main European metropolis.
Backside line
The perfect Christmas markets in Europe provide a festive approach to have a good time the vacations, full with native gastronomy, mulled wine, ice skating and twinkling vacation decorations. If you wish to go to different European locations, it’s doubtless additionally they have a Christmas market. Many cities have variations of those seasonal markets, together with Gothenburg, Sweden; Madrid; Budapest; and Krakow, Poland.
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