Beautiful Christmas Markets

1. Where else should we start out other than in the country which is considered the place where the Christmas markets were born. Numerous Christmas markets take place in Munich between the 1st advent and the Christmas Eve, but the most famous one is the Christmas market at the Marienplat where you ll find all manner of stalls selling crafts, sweets, cakes, food, mulled wine and other delights. .....

Nuremberg Germany

2. When in Germany, you shouldn t miss out the Nuremberg Christmas markets. Held annually in the Hauptmarkt, the central square in Nuremberg s old town, these markets rank among the largest and most famous in the world, attracting over 2 million visitors every year. On the Friday preceding the first Sunday in Advent, the markets are always opened with a prologue recited by the Christkind. .....

Dresden Germany

3. First mentioned in 1434, the Dresden Striezelmarkt Christmas markets are one of the oldest in Europe. Dominated by a 48 feet (14.6 m) high wooden Christmas Pyramid in the centre, the markets consist of hundreds of stands, taking up a large part of the Dresden downtown. The word Striezelmarkt comes from Str .....

Cologne Germany

4. The city of Cologne offers several Christmas markets with the most famous and popular ones located at the iconic Cologne Cathedral. Dominated by the giant cathedral, the markets include hundreds of festively designed wooden pavilions where you can watch artisans at work, enjoy Christmas mulled wine, or you can choose from an unlimited choice of sweets and local delicacies. The spectacular background makes this place a major Christmas destination .....

Vienna Austria

5. Germany .....

Salzburg Austria

6. Located at the foot of the Hohensalzburg fortress and around the venerable Cathedral of Salzburg, the Salzburg Christmas markets are more intimate affair than some of the larger city s markets but the magic-like atmosphere and the smell of punch and toasted almonds, hot roasted chestnuts and freshly baked apples will make you love this place. As the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg has an outstanding musical tradition and the markets also offer won .....

Prague Czech Republic

7. Held in the two most famous Prague squares the Old Town Square and the Wenceslas Square, the Prague Christmas markets consist of brightly decorated wooden huts selling traditional handicrafts such as glassware, jewelry, wooden toys, metal-ware, ceramics, scented candles, Christmas tree ornaments, clothes, puppets and many other. Traditional Czech dishes and drinks are available as well. The markets also feature a giant Christmas tree and an amaz .....

Brno Czech Republic

8. Another popular Czech Christmas markets can be found in Brno, the second largest city of the country. Located in the main city square, the markets offer wide range of decorations, gifts, souvenirs, and traditional handcrafted products. While enjoying the peaceful Christmas spirit, you can also listen to traditional Christmas carolers, and watch performances put on by musicians, dancers, and artists. The Brno Christmas Markets open on November 30t .....

Wroclaw Poland

9. There are not that many Christmas markets in Poland but the major ones such as those in Warsaw, Gdansk or Wroclaw are famous all over the country. Beginning on Swidnicka Street and running through the market place to the old city, the Wroclaw Christmas markets are a must-visit for all food lovers since they offer a plethora of not delicacies such as Hungarian kalachs, French creme brulee, Lithuanian cured meats or Austrian and Italian cheeses th .....

Strasbourg France

10. If you want to visit the oldest and most famous Christmas markets of France, you don t go to Paris but rather go to Strasbourg. Founded in 1570, Christmas markets in this city provide a spectacular combination of lights and smells. Apart from traditional Christmas market products such as mulled wine, spice bread, bretzels or pastries, the Strasbourg markets also offer a local specialty spicy hot orange juice. .....

Lille France

11. Dominated by a 50-meter (165 feet) high Ferris Wheel, the Lille Christmas markets consist of hundreds of picturesque wooden chalets packed with gifts, nativity figurines, Christmas decorations and festive food. But it is not just the Christmas markets what creates the magical festive spirit in Lille. In the Advent time, the whole city gets covered in a huge crown of garlands and Christmas ornaments with all the shop windows competing to have the .....

Leuven Belgium

12. An easy train ride from the Belgium capital Brussels, the Christmas markets in Leuven consist of about 150 stalls located in the historical center of the town. The place is especially popular among families with children because the Leuven markets feature a life-size nativity scenes, musical performances, fun fair rides and even a forest in which the children can visit Father Christmas. The markets run from the 9th-18th of December. .....

Bolzano Italy

13. Located in the city of Bolzano in South Tyrol, the Bolzano Christmas markets are the largest Christmas markets in Italy. What makes them different from other Christmas markets of this list is the fact that they are usually themed (for example, Meeting of Cultures for 2012) and various events are held accordingly. Another aspect of the Bolzano Christmas markets is the traditional pattern regarding the exhibitors, stalls and partners of the markets .....

Budapest Hungary

14. Situated in the Vorosmarty Square in the Pest district of Budapest, the city s Christmas markets are a great opportunity to experience traditional Hungarian food, folk dances and live music. Housing more than 100 wooden pavilions, the Budapest markets are also a perfect spot to shop for handmade items, as the city has an association which checks products for quality and authenticity and certifies all items sold at the market. .....

London England

15. As one of the largest world .....

Zurich Switzerland

16. Christmas markets in the largest Swiss city are very special because as the only markets on the list they are not held outside. Arranged in the covered concourse of the city s enormous railway station, the Zurich markets can proudly boast of being Europe s largest indoor Christmas markets. But the unusual setting has no influence of the wide range of goods sold there. Over 150 festively decorated market stalls offer mulled wine, baked Christmas .....

Riga Latvia

17. Christmas is a very important event for Riga, the Latvian capital. According to a legend, it was here where the very first Christmas tree was decorated in 1510. The Riga Christmas markets await visitors in a unique architectural setting, in the lovely Town Hall Square. Along with traditional festive food, hand-made decorations, Christmas clothes and gifts, the markets offer several special events intended for an audience of children such as a car .....

Gothenburg Sweden

18. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, Gothenburg, a home to over a half a million people, can boast the largest Christmas markets in the country. Held at the Liseberg amusement park, the markets feature impressive 5 million Christmas lights, transforming the park into a real bright winter wonderland. Visitors can try Swedish candy cane known as polkagrisar, smoked fish, baked goods and other traditional local specialties and drinks. .....

Maastricht Netherlands

19. Located in the city central Vrijthof square, the Maastricht Christmas markets, also known as Magical Maastricht, will appeal to those who do not enjoy an overly large sprawling market experience but rather cozy, feel-like-home atmosphere and magical festive spirit. Visitors can try local home-made treats, skate on the temporary 100-meter (330 feet) squared ice-rink that is put up for the duration of the market or take a spin on the big Ferris whi .....

Edinburgh Scotland

20. In the Scottish capital, Christmas markets are held as a part of the Edinburgh Christmas a spectacular, six-week season of festive entertainment in the heart of the city centre. Attracting over 2.6 million visitors the last year, the event features a host of shows, as well as ice skating, markets and fun rides. The Christmas markets offer a wide range of souvenirs, presents, handcraft items, traditional food and drinks as well as clothes .....

Chicago Illinois

21. Americans who would like to visit Christmas markets this year don t have to fly to Europe. There are some even in the U.S. Probably the largest and most famous one is held in Chicago. Known as the Christkindlmarket, the Chicago Christmas market is part of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Situated by a large Christmas tree at the Daley Plaza, the event attracts more than 1 million visitors each year. .....

Denver Colorado

22. The capital and the largest city of Colorado also has its own well-known Christmas markets. Located at the Skyline Park, right across from the Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower, the Denver Christmas markets bring the sights, sounds and flavors of the holiday season with its music, food, holiday lights and old-world vendors selling crafts, gifts and local as well traditional German goodies like schnitzel and strudel. The Christmas markets in Denver run .....

Philadelphia Pennsylvania

23. Officially known as the Christmas Village, the Philadelphia Christmas markets are an annual outdoor holiday market event held in the LOVE Park in the city center. Modeled on the style of traditional German Christmas Markets, the Christmas Village offers the unique European festive atmosphere with thousands of lights, the big Holiday Tree, and delicious smell of waffles, gingerbread, bratwurst, mulled wine and other delicious treats. .....

Vancouver Canada

24. Canada can also boasts some nice Christmas markets worth visiting. Now in its fifth year, the Vancouver Christmas Markets light up the downtown Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza from November 22 to December 24. Like most of the North American Christmas markets, the Vancouver markets are also marked by a strong German emphasis. The vendors sell wooden toys, nutcrackers, Advent wreaths and traditional German specialties such as bratwurst, freshly-baked .....

Toronto Canada

25. Opened from November 29 to December 15, the Toronto Christmas markets are unique and popular thanks to their romantic setting in the Distillery Historic District, a pedestrian-only village of restored Victorian brick buildings. Apart from the charming atmosphere, the visitors can enjoy a variety of food, locally handcrafted products, carol-singing, multiple lounges for sampling traditional beverages, beer garden and many other attractions. .....

Jena Germany

26. The Christmas market in Jena runs from 25 November to 22 December 2014, with a festive trumpet fanfare at 5pm each day. .....

Birmingham England

27. You don t have to go all the way to Germany for a German Christmas Market Birmingham claims its Frankfurt Christmas Market as the largest in Britain, with a range of German delicacies and ice skating rink to boot. This year, the market runs from 13 November to 22 December. .....

Innsbruck Austria

28. Innsbruck in Christmastime is made all the more spectacular by the snow-capped Alps which loom above the town. Inssbruck s multiple Chirstmas markets run from 15 November to 6 January. .....

Brussels Belgium

29. From 28 November 2014 to 4 January 2015, the Brussels Winter Wonders festival stretches throughout the city centre and includes 230 businesses, a ferris wheel, an ice rink, and more. .....

Glasgow Scotland

30. Glasgow s traditional Christmas market is held in the City Centre on Argyle Street, with traders from around the world, open this year from 14 November to 21 December. .....

Krakow Poland

31. Krakow s beautiful Christmas market runs from 28 November to 26 December although sometimes stays open through January. In any case, it boasts an almost guaranteed blanket of snow by Christmastime. .....

Nottingham England

32. Nottingham s Christmas Wonderland, open from 20 November to 24 December, boasts a large ice skating rink, a Tudor theme, children s rides, 200 Christmas trees, and live music. .....

Dusseldorf Germany

33. The D .....

Bergamo Italy

34. When Christmas comes to the Italian town of Bergamo, so does the sound of the bagh .....

Wernigerode Germany

35. The Wernigerode Christmas market runs from 28 November to 22 December. It looks frankly magical with its 15-century houses framing a small but beautiful marketplace. The festival features a Living Advent Calendar, in which one door to a shop, museum or restaurant is opened each day approaching Christmas, with special offers that day inside. .....

Manchester England

36. The city of Manchester holds a massive collection of Christmas markets from 14 November to 21 December. .....

Bremen Germany

37. The Bremen Christmas market stretches across the city s Market square and Schlachte Embankment from27 November to 23 December, with decorative stalls lighting up the waters of the River Weser. .....

Exeter England

38. Exeter s Christmas market runs from 20 November to 20 December this year, with a mix of local and international traders peddling their wares. .....

Dortmund Germany

39. The town of Dortmund boasts Germany s biggest Christmas tree though locals insist that it s the biggest in the whole world. The tree is made up of 1,700 smaller fir trees, and reaches 45 metres into the sky. The very impressive festival runs from 22 November to 23 December. .....

Paris France

40. Paris boasts many Christmas markets, including this one near the Eiffel Tower at at the Trocadero throughout December. .....

Bath England

41. Bath hosts a beautiful Christmas market from 27 November until 14 December, with 170 decorative wooden chalets selling festive foods and artisan goods 60% of which are made in the UK. .....

Madrid Spain

42. Madrid s largest square, the Plaza Mayor, hosts a stunning Christmas market from 28 November to 31 December. .....

Southampton England

43. Southampton hosts a Bavarian-style Christmas market in its city centre from 21 November to 28 December this year. .....

Stockholm Sweden

44. Stockholm holds a beautiful Christmas market in its Old Town from 22 November to 23 December, where you can buy Swedish Christmas sweets, smoked sausages, reindeer, elkmeat and other delicacies. .....

Berlin Germany

45. Berlin s magnificent Gendarmenmarkt square is transformed into a glittering Christmas spectacle from 25 November to 31 December. .....

Portsmouth England

46. Portsmouth has held a Victorian-themed Christmas festival in its historic dockyard for the part 15 years. This year s festival is running from 28 November to 30 November. .....

Belfast Northern Ireland

47. Belfast s Christmas market, open form 15 November to 21 December, features a post box for children to send letters to Santa and every child who writes one will receive a response from the North Pole, of course. .....

Bonn Germany

48. You can t deny Germany s monopoly on the Christmas Market, so here s one more Bonn s Christmas market runs from 21 November to 23 December, transforming its town hall into an advent calendar which lights up one window each day. .....

Basel Switzerland

49. Basel hosts the largest Christmas market in Switzerland, with an abundance of waffles, gingerbread, and sausages to enjoy, from 27 November to 23 December in the city centre. .....

Bury St Edmunds England

50. The Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre will take place 27-30 November this year, featuring 300 stalls from across the world, two stages of entertainment, and a traditional funfair. .....

Cardiff Wales

51. The Cardiff city centre hosts a Christmas market from 13 November to 23 December this year, featuring Welsh businesses and traditional Welsh artisanal crafts. .....