Merry Christmas with a Fast Five About Markets!

I love a great Christmas Market.  I go to Bryant Park in New York every year and it makes my holiday season bright.  There are Christmas Markets the world over, but some of the best and most famous are in Europe.  That being said, here's five awesome ones!

 

 

1.    Nuremberg, Germany.  The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.  It's open from 10 am to 9 pm from November 29th this year.  They close for the season at 2 pm on Christmas Eve.

There's rides, there's booths of food and gifts, there's arts and crafts for the kids, there's a stagecoach tour.  It's bright, it's festive, it's social and it's delicious.  I can't imagine anything else to say about this one.  Lots to do and it's been around since the time of Martin Luther.  So, add history and English speaking tours to this time honored tradition and it's a good time for all.

https://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/en/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X86BncjOAc

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187310-d8820187-Reviews-Nuremberg_Christmas_Market-Nuremberg_Middle_Franconia_Franconia_Bavaria.html

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/nuremberg/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kVMx3EG8Kc

2.    Sallzburg, Austria.  There are many Christmas Markets in Salzburg and all over Austria.  A big fan favorite is the Residenz at Cathedral Square, but there are many.  Residenz opens on November 21st.  All markets are open by November 30th.  Most open at 10 am and close somewhere around 9 pm.  Some close early on Christmas Eve for the season.  Some are open after Christmas.  Some are open for a few hours on Christmas, but I don't advocate for that.  That should be family time.

The Market at Cathedral Square is a great place to gather.  Highly Christian, you get a great traditional feel at this one in addition to all the fun food, shopping, activities and rides.  History is a big part of this market, and there are readings for the kids, and many things that are traditionally about Advent, the Christian faith, and St. Nicholas himself.  It's a great place to gather and enjoy the festivities during the season.

https://www.salzburg.info/en/salzburg/advent/salzburg-christmas-market

https://www.panoramatours.com/en/salzburg/explore/topics/advent-christmas-in-salzburg/christmas-markets-salzburg/

https://www.austria.info/en-uk/highlights/christmas-markets-in-salzburg/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srm-J4SW0PM

https://www.christmasmarketsaustria.com/salzburg.php

3.    The Gdansk Christmas Market.  Gdansk, Poland.   It's historic, it's lively, it's traditional in some ways and progressive in others.  They have shopping, food, arts and crafts activities, art exhibits of light and beauty, and of course, Santa.  This market was voted the best in Europe this year, and the people of Gdansk are proud of the honor and striving to win it again for next year.

The hours for this one are 12 to 8 pm November 22nd through December 23rd.  They're open later on the weekends, and the market sprawls all over downtown.  It may be in the north, but isn't that where Santa likes to be?  

https://bozonarodzeniowy.pl/en/

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/gdansk/#:~:text=From%2022nd%20November%20to%2023rd%20December%202024&text=This%20heralds%20one%20of%20the,dining%20and%20enchanting%20shopping%20zones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS6miWic07g

https://www.intothebloom.com/gdansk-christmas-market-guide/

https://notesfrompoland.com/2024/11/28/gdansk-christmas-market-voted-best-in-europe/

4.   Go to London!  London has markets everywhere and people visit from all over the world.  There's always so much to do and so much to see.  Every neighborhood and all along the riverfront there are great markets.  Harrods is a great place to visit during the holidays.  It's all amazing, and known around the world.

Most markets run all the way through November and December with varying hours.  You can find a complete listing just about anywhere online, and you can get a map of the markets at tourist information bureaus all around the city.

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/christmas/best-christmas-markets-in-london

https://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/christmas-markets-and-fairs-in-london

https://www.earthtrekkers.com/london-christmas-markets/

https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/christmas-markets-festive-fairs-shopping-london

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/london/

5.    Budapest, Hungary and all of their markets!  I've seen this city at the holidays, and it's fabulous.  There are several markets and they all have activities, shopping, lights, food, and on and on.  The most popular one is Vorosmarty Square Market which opens on November 15th and runs all the way through December.  They basically open at 11 am and close at different times on different days of the week.  However, remember that in Hungary, they celebrate those holidays.  The market will close on December 24th at 2 pm.  They will open on Christmas and the day after in the afternoon, but the folks of Budapest enjoy their family time at the holidays.

Budapest has also won best Christmas Market in Europe, just in a separate competition, so I promise you, you'll have a good time.

https://budapest-travel-tips.com/calendar-budapest/christmas-market-in-budapest/#:~:text=The%20V%C3%B6r%C3%B6smarty%20square%20Christmas%20market,15th%20until%20December%2031st%2C%202024.&text=Monday%2DThursday%20and%20Sunday%3A%2011,%3A00%20to%2018%3A00.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd6eDVTZ3k0

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274887-d26851329-Reviews-Budapest_Christmas_Market-Budapest_Central_Hungary.html

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/budapest/

https://www.budapestbylocals.com/budapest-christmas-fair/

There you have it.  Europe is beyond famous for their Christmas Festivals and Markets.  They are ranked by more than one company every year.  There are countless competitions where you can vote for your favorite market and favorite market city.  There's so much to do and so much to see and so much to eat.  It's something that everyone should do for Christmas at least once in a lifetime.  There's nothing quite like it and it's positively intoxicating.  As always, I love to find the best things that you can do while traveling, and I love Christmas Markets.  So, do Christmas the European way this year; pick a venue, pack your bags and enjoy!

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/



https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/destinations/christmas-markets

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-christmas-markets-europe

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/christmas-markets

https://www.insightvacations.com/en-us/destinations/europe/christmas-markets

https://www.goaheadtours.com/tours/special-event-tours/christmas-market-tours