Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2026
Across Europe · 17 markets
The 17 best Christmas markets in Europe for 2026 on one map, with dates, which ones stay open after Christmas and links to our full city maps.
By Amit KerenLooking for the best Christmas markets in Europe? This map shows 17 of Europe's best Christmas markets for 2026, one per city, with dates, opening hours and directions. For 9 of them we have a full map of every market in the city: follow the link on each one.
The classics are in the German-speaking world and Central Europe: Vienna, Nuremberg, Cologne, Salzburg and Prague. Alsace has Strasbourg and Colmar, two of the prettiest old towns at Christmas. For something different, try Zagreb's citywide Advent, Tallinn's medieval square or Christmas in Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens.
The dates for the cities we cover in full are the same as on those maps. Kraków hasn't confirmed its closing date yet, so it's marked as provisional.
Event · Christmas market · Vienna, Austria
13 Nov to 26 Dec 2026 · Daily 10:00-22:00, 24 Dec 10:00-18:30
Vienna's biggest market, in front of the lit-up City Hall, with skating paths in the park. The city has more than a dozen markets, from Schönbrunn Palace to Spittelberg.
Full map: Vienna Christmas Markets 2026
Event · Christmas market · Prague, Czechia
28 Nov 2026 to 6 Jan 2027 · Daily 10:00-22:00
Prague's main market, with a giant tree in front of the Týn Church and the Astronomical Clock around the corner. Free to enter, and open until 6 January.
Full map: Christmas Markets in Prague 2026
Event · Christmas market · Nuremberg, Germany
27 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 · Daily 10:00-21:00, 24 Dec 10:00-14:00
Germany's most famous Christmas market, on the Hauptmarkt, with Lebkuchen gingerbread and Nuremberg sausages. The Christkind opens it from the church balcony.
Full map: Christmas Markets in Germany 2026
Event · Christmas market · Strasbourg, France
27 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 · Daily 11:00-21:00 (27 Nov from 14:00, 24 Dec until 18:00)
France's oldest Christmas market, dating from 1570, on Place Broglie. Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas, with markets on squares all over the old town.
Full map: Strasbourg Christmas Markets 2026
Event · Christmas markets · Colmar, France
23 Nov to 29 Dec 2026 · Mon-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-20:00, 24 Dec 11:00-17:00
Several small markets spread through Colmar's old town, among half-timbered houses and canals lit up for Christmas, including Place des Dominicains, Place Jeanne d'Arc and Petite Venise. It's about 30 minutes by train from Strasbourg.
Event · Christmas market · Cologne, Germany
16 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 · Sun-Wed 11:00-21:00, Thu-Fri 11:00-22:00, Sat 10:00-22:00, closed 22 Nov
Stalls under a canopy of lights right below Cologne Cathedral. The city has several more big markets a short walk away, like the Angels' Market on Neumarkt.
Full map: Christmas Markets in Germany 2026
Event · Christmas market · Zagreb, Croatia
28 Nov 2026 to 7 Jan 2027
A citywide Christmas festival rather than one market: stalls on Ban Jelačić Square, lights and a music pavilion in Zrinjevac park, and more in the Upper Town. It has been voted Europe's best Christmas market several times by European Best Destinations.
Event · Christmas market · Budapest, Hungary
13 Nov 2026 to 1 Jan 2027 · Sun to Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri and Sat 11:00-23:00
Budapest's best-known market, in front of St Stephen's Basilica, with Hungarian crafts, chimney cake and a free light show on the church front every afternoon.
Full map: Budapest Christmas Markets 2026
Event · Christmas market · Salzburg, Austria
19 Nov 2026 to 1 Jan 2027 · Mon-Thu 10:00-20:30, Fri 10:00-21:00, Sat 09:00-21:00, Sun 09:00-20:30
On Domplatz and Residenzplatz in front of Salzburg Cathedral, with Hohensalzburg Fortress lit up above. Austrian crafts, roasted chestnuts and punch, in the city where Silent Night was first sung nearby in 1818.
Event · Christmas market · Bolzano, Italy
27 Nov 2026 to 6 Jan 2027 · Stalls daily 10:00-19:00 (24 Dec 10:00-16:00), closed 25 Dec
Italy's best-known Christmas market, in Piazza Walther, with South Tyrolean crafts, speck and strudel and the Dolomites close by.
Full map: Christmas Markets in Italy 2026
Event · Christmas market · Basel, Switzerland
26 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 · Daily 11:00-20:30
Switzerland's biggest Christmas market, on two old town squares: Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz by the cathedral. The Münsterplatz tree is hung with ornaments from Johann Wanner, Basel's famous Christmas decoration shop.
Event · Christmas market · Brussels, Belgium
27 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Daily 12:00-22:00, 24 and 31 Dec 12:00-18:00
A free Christmas trail of more than 200 chalets from the Bourse to Place Sainte-Catherine, with a Christmas tree and a sound and light show on the Grand-Place. Waffles, mulled wine and Belgian beer at every turn.
Event · Christmas market · Tallinn, Estonia
20 Nov 2026 to 6 Jan 2027 · Daily 10:00-20:00, hot drinks until 22:00 (Fri-Sat 23:00)
On the medieval Town Hall Square, with a tall Christmas tree in the middle. Tallinn says it put up one of Europe's first public Christmas trees here, in 1441. Expect Estonian crafts, black pudding, sauerkraut and hot mulled wine.
Tip: Mugs and plates carry a €2 deposit, refunded when you return them.
Event · Christmas market · Kraków, Poland
27 Nov 2026 to 3 or 6 Jan 2027 (provisional)
On Kraków's huge medieval Main Market Square, next to the Cloth Hall and St Mary's Basilica. The organiser favours Polish products, so look for handmade crafts, oscypek smoked cheese and pierogi.
Tip: The organiser hasn't fixed the closing date yet. Last season it ran from 28 November to 1 January.
Event · Christmas market · Copenhagen, Denmark
13 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens turns into a Christmas village with market stalls, Danish æbleskiver pancakes, gløgg and lights all over the old amusement park. You need a Tivoli entry ticket; rides cost extra.
Event · Christmas market · Paris, France
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
La Magie de Noël, the biggest Christmas market in Paris, with a Ferris wheel and rides between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.
Full map: Paris Christmas Markets 2026: Dates and Map
Event · Christmas market · London, UK
19 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Typically 10:00-22:00, closed 25 Dec
London's biggest Christmas event, with a market, ice rink, rides and shows in Hyde Park. Covent Garden and Southbank have smaller markets in the centre.
Full map: London Christmas Markets 2026
Recommended hotels
Opposite the State Opera
Best for: Classic luxury
Vienna's most famous hotel, opened in 1876, home of the original Sachertorte. Rooms with antiques and a spa, right by the opera and Kärntner Straße.
Old Town riverside
Best for: Castle views
A five-star hotel on the Vltava next to Charles Bridge, with views of Prague Castle, a spa and an indoor pool.
Nuremberg, Hauptmarkt
Best for: Christmas market base
Modern hotel right on the Hauptmarkt, about a minute from the Christkindlesmarkt stalls.
Place Kléber
Best for: Christmas market base
Historic hotel with a spa right by Place Kléber and the Great Christmas Tree, with individually decorated rooms.
Old town, by the river Ill
Best for: Romantic stay
Four-star hotel in a restored 16th-century coaching inn with a half-timbered courtyard, a 5 minute walk from the cathedral.
Cologne, cathedral
Best for: Splurge
Historic five-star hotel opposite Cologne Cathedral, a few minutes from the cathedral Christmas market.
Chain Bridge, Pest side
Best for: Danube views
Art Nouveau palace at the Pest end of the Chain Bridge, with views across the Danube to Buda Castle.
Bolzano centre
Best for: South Tyrol base
Art Nouveau hotel from 1910 in its own park, a few minutes' walk from the market in Piazza Walther.
Rue de Rivoli, Tuileries
Best for: Palace hotel
Palace hotel facing the Tuileries Garden, with a Michelin-starred restaurant and a short walk to the Louvre.
Strand, by Covent Garden
Best for: Splurge
London's legendary riverside hotel from 1889, a short walk from Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square.
Recommended activities
2-3 hours
Walk between Vienna's best markets with a local guide and taste punch and pastries on the way.
Book2-3 hours
A guided evening through Prague's Old Town and Wenceslas Square markets with Czech treats.
BookFull day
A day visiting Colmar and the small Alsace villages' Christmas markets, with transport included.
BookBefore you go
Questions & answers
The first big ones open in mid November: Vienna's Rathausplatz and Christmas in Tivoli in Copenhagen on 13 November, the Tuileries in Paris on 14 November and Cologne on 16 November. Most others open in the last week of November, like Strasbourg and Nuremberg on 27 November and Prague and Zagreb on 28 November.
Most markets in Germany, Switzerland and Alsace close on 23 or 24 December. Many others stay open until early January: Prague and Tallinn until 6 January, Zagreb until 7 January, Brussels and Copenhagen until 3 January and Salzburg until 1 January.
Prague, Salzburg, Zagreb, Brussels, Tallinn, Copenhagen, Bolzano, Paris and London all run into January. In Germany, Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt stays open until New Year's Eve. Colmar runs until 29 December and Vienna's Rathausplatz until 26 December.
For the classic experience, go to Vienna, Nuremberg, Strasbourg or Prague. Colmar has the prettiest old town, Zagreb's Advent is often voted Europe's best, and Tallinn and Kraków have huge medieval squares at lower prices.
Almost all are free to enter. The exceptions on our maps are Christmas in Tivoli in Copenhagen, which needs a park ticket, London's Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, which needs a timed ticket, and Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt, which charges a small entry fee.
spotz.guide is a collection of travel maps and step-by-step routes, made to be opened on your phone and followed on the ground. Every guide is put together and checked by founder and editor Amit Keren.
Spots come from time on the ground and strong recommendations, and each one is checked before it goes on the map.
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