Christmas street festivities and markets are a major thing in many European countries - a part of cultural heritage and a popular tourist attraction. We can trace their origin all the way back to the late Middle Ages and towns in the German-speaking part of Europe, from where they've spread across the continent, becoming an integral part of the holiday season.
Like every year, Europeans are counting the days until their cities transform into winter wonderlands with finely decorated trees, Christmas lights, and wooden stalls selling comforting food and warming drinks. So if you need a jolt of holiday joy, here are 10 European Christmas markets that do it best.
Nuremberg, Germany
Thanks to its rich tradition and history dating back to 1628 and plentiful local delicacies, Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is definitely on the top of our list. Opening each year with a spectacular ceremony in one of Germany’s most stunning medieval Old Towns, the Nuremberg Christmas market offers 180 beautifully decorated stalls selling local specialties and artisanal handmade goods.
Nuremberg Christmas market / Credits: rale_p
One of the most popular German holiday confections, lebkuchen, covers a wide variety of honey or ginger-flavored cookies. Still, the most famous is the Nürnberger Lebkuchen, produced exclusively within the city limits of Nuremberg. At Christmas markets, it comes in various sizes and forms and makes a perfect Christmas treat or present.
Nürnberger Lebkuchen / Credits: Viktorie
And a stroll through one of Germany’s most beautiful Christmas Markets is not complete without tasting the famous Nürnberger Bratwürste. These miniature specialty sausages are traditionally accompanied by horseradish, and at Christmas stalls, they will often be served cushioned in a hearty bread roll.
Nürnberger Bratwürste / Credits: Shutterstock
Strasbourg, France
The Strasbourg Christmas market is one of the oldest and largest in Europe, with more than 300 wooden stalls across a dozen locations in the city. The biggest star of the market is the Great Christmas Tree of Strasbourg - one of the highest decorated Christmas trees in the world.
Strasbourg Christmas market / Credits: Shutterstock
The baffling array of different scents coming from the stalls makes it quite difficult to decide what to eat at the Strasbourg Christmas market. Besides the usuals, like red and white mulled wine, gingerbread, and sausages, on offer are also special treats of traditional Alsatian cuisine. One example of it is the delicious tarte flambée - the French equivalent of pizza and a true street food delicacy.
Tarte flambée / Credits: Matija Babić
Another typical representative of Alsatian cuisine is bretzel. No, we didn't spell that wrong - it is just a French version of the well-known German classic. Topped with cheese or butter and served hot, it is the perfect snack to grab on a cold December night while wandering the illuminated streets of Strasbourg.
Bretzel / Credits: Mari De La Vega
Prague, The Czech Republic
Christmas markets are popular in the whole Czech Republic, but you will find the most impressive ones in Prague. They are spread throughout the city - large markets are more traditional, with plenty of caroling and massive Christmas trees, while smaller ones promote local artisans and artists.
Prague Christmas market / Credits: Shutterstock
Some of the popular local foods you will find at Christmas markets in Prague are sweet or smoked meat dumplings known as knedlíky, large spit-roasted hams (Pražská Šunka), and wonderfully tasty barbecued sausages (klobása).
Prague Ham / Credits: Shutterstock
In some other European countries, it is known as mead, mjöd, or medovukha; in Czech, it goes by the name medovina. The ancient stories say it was the drink of the gods, the elixir of youth, the source of the spiritual power of sages and the physical strength of ancient soldiers. Even if none of that is true, hot and sweet honey wine is sure to warm you from the inside out. And if you had one too many - maybe you even feel its ancient powers, at least before the headache starts to kick in.
Medovina / Credits: Eli Stepinova
Tallinn, Estonia
This charming Estonian city has one of the most picturesque Christmas markets in Northern Europe, and it is also known as the home of the world’s first Christmas tree. In 1441, the merchants brought the tree to Tallinn's charming Town Hall Square. They sang and danced around it together with Estonian girls, after which the tree was set on fire. Nowadays, a market with wooden stalls and artisan kiosks surrounds the big Christmas tree located in the very same place as in 1441 - in the middle of the Town Hall Square.
Tallinn Christmas market / Credits: Sixten Sepp
The Tallinn Christmas market is all about traditional, local flavors - from well-known Christmas foods, such as roast pork and various types of sausages, to lentil-chickpea soup - a novelty that will surely delight all vegetarians. And those who want to try the country's national dish should look for the stand that sells the traditional Estonian blood sausage: verivorst. Don't let the 'blood' part scare you - if you pair it with cranberry sauce or sauerkraut, the Estonian verivorst might be your new favorite winter meal.
Hot dog / Credits: R-Kiosk
Visitors will surely be delighted by a wide selection of mulled wine flavors - sea buckthorn, cranberry, raspberry-blackcurrant, apple-ginger, plum, blueberry, and cherry. While mulled wine has been long known and popular in Estonia, Swedish-style glögg found its way into the country in the 1990s. Today it is an integral part of Estonian Christmas markets and a beloved drink in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Glögg / Credits: Irina Dulepova
Zagreb, Croatia
For several years in a row, the capital of Croatia has been voted the best Christmas market in Europe. The city lights up during this festive time, fills up with a Christmas atmosphere, and offers a variety of events that will satisfy both locals and tourists.
Zagreb Christmas market / Credits: Fuliranje
The most popular part of the Zagreb Christmas market is Fuliranje, an annual street food festival that gets bigger each year, offering food, drinks, live music, and DJ entertainment. Famous chefs and food enthusiasts present various local and international specialties, from Berlin-style sausages to traditional national dishes like sarma and Istrian ombolo.
Zagreb Christmas market / Credits: Fuliranje
Visitors can also savor delicious desserts like Croatian fritule or Bavarian specialty germknödel and warm themselves up with mulled wine, rakia, gin, or winter cocktails.
Fritule / Credits: Fuliranje
Budapest, Hungary
The Christmas market on Vörösmarty Square has been a favorite December activity of locals and tourists visiting Budapest for over two decades. The fair offers high-quality craft products and a rich selection of traditional Hungarian dishes.
Budapest Christmas market / Credits: Shutterstock
As one of the most famous dishes of Hungarian gastronomy, goulash is served and enjoyed at every Hungarian Christmas market. And for a better culinary experience, find a stand that serves it in a round-shaped loaf of bread. The soup will soften the bread on the inside, but the outside will remain crunchy, bringing this culinary experience to perfection.
Goulash / Credits: Shutterstock
Lángos is another icon of Hungarian cuisine and a popular street food specialty at numerous fairs, festivals, and, of course, Christmas markets. The only problem you can have with this simple yet delicious comfort food is what topping to choose.
Langos / Credits: Shutterstock
Vienna, Austria
While there are plenty of Christmas markets in Austria, especially in Vienna, the largest of them (and one of the largest in Europe) is The Viennese Dream Christmas Market. In December, Vienna’s City Hall square becomes a place with the most dazzling Christmas decorations and more than 150 wooden stalls that sell Christmas gifts, decorations, handicrafts, culinary specialties, sweets, and hot drinks.
Vienna Christmas market / Credits: Shutterstock
Vienna is known as the dessert capital of the world, so The Viennese Dream Christmas Market truly sounds like a dream to all those with a sweet tooth. Wooden stalls with lights and Christmas decorations sell everything - from cream-filled pastries and a dozen varieties of pretzels to giant doughnuts and Victorian-style lollipops.
Vienna Christmas market / Credits: Shutterstock
And don’t worry about being cold because wherever you turn, you are just a short throw of a roasted chestnut from someone offering mugs of Christmas punch.
Punch / Credits: Lucie Poz
Bratislava, Slovakia
The Christmas markets in Bratislava may be small, but they are cozy, less crowded, and more authentic than some of their famous counterparts in Austria or Germany. Hlavné námestie (literally "Main Square") is the biggest Christmas market in Bratislava, but equally worth visiting are the ones on Hviezdoslav Square and Františkánske Square.
Bratislava Christmas market / Credits: Shutterstock
Food stalls offer many local specialties, including lokše - Slovakian signature pancakes made with soft potato dough which are usually enjoyed during Christmas festivities and Lent. At Christmas markets, this traditional treat comes with several sweet and savory fillings.
Lokše / Credits: MIKI Streetfood
In different European countries, this famous cylindrical pastry goes by a different name. It’s known as trdelník in the Czech Republic, kürtőskalács in Hungary, and skalický trdelník in Slovakia, where the cake is protected under EU law. Whatever you call it, this soft dough with your favorite topping and filling will be hard to resist.
Skalický trdelník / Credits: Shutterstock
Bruges, Belgium
With narrow cobbled streets and old townhouses adorned by fairy lights reflected in the canal, the medieval city of Bruges is one of Europe's most magical Christmas destinations. Grote Markt, or the Market square, is packed with food, drinks, and craft stalls surrounding the 13th-century Belfry.
Brugges Christmas market / Credits: José Sanchez Riaño
Delicious and fragrant waffles are the most famous Belgian culinary trademark. Traditionally served plain or dusted with powdered sugar, nowadays you can find them topped with anything from whipped cream and chocolate to caramel or sliced fruits.
Belgian waffle Credits: Madalina Radu
And don't worry about the cold because Bruges Christmas market has delicious ways to keep you warm - the finest Belgian hot chocolate and the cold local gin jenever will surely warm your heart and lift that jolly spirit.
Brugge Christmas market / Credits: Extraordinary trips for independent travelers
Wrocław, Poland
Poland is probably the most underrated Christmas destination, and unrightfully so. Located on the Oder River in western Poland, Wroclaw is home to 100 bridges, colorful houses, and over 300 little bronze dwarfs spread across the city. In December, the third-biggest Polish city becomes even more fairytale-like when the Old Town is lit up with Christmas decorations. Compared with other cities and Christmas markets, Wroclaw is also the most affordable Advent destination on the list.
Wroclaw Christmas market / Credits: Kamil Chorągwicki
The numerous stands offer a wide selection of local and international specialties. However, the most popular local Christmas treat is the homemade gingerbread known as piernik. Although it is known as gingerbread, piernik is better described as a traditional Polish honey-spice cake. This traditional Polish treat appears in numerous varieties. It usually consists of wheat or rye flour, honey, and hefty amounts of spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and pepper.
Polish gingerbread - piernik / Credits: Shutterstock
Another local product that can not be missed is Wroclaw's famous oscypek, a spindle-shaped smoked cheese hailing from the Tatra highlands. Combine it with cranberries and a cup of mulled wine!
Oscypek / Credits: Shutterstock
