For those of you who have time to take a vacation before Christmas at the end of the year, you can visit various Christmas markets to hunt for Christmas gifts. Many Christmas markets in Europe have a unique charm and present a festive atmosphere. Let’s explore some of the top Christmas markets that you need to visit in Europe.
About Christmas Markets in Europe
Christmas markets are practically a European tradition and this unique tradition has been practiced for centuries and is still relevant today. You can visit Christmas markets if you plan to visit certain parts of Europe. Even though the temperature is cold, you can still feel the warmth of the many people who gather at the Christmas markets.
To liven up the atmosphere before Christmas, there is usually a choir singing beautiful Christmas songs. The most interesting thing about the Christmas market is that the atmosphere at night is serene and full of beautiful glitter. If you are planning a trip to Europe, especially at the end of the year, then don’t forget to add the Christmas market destination to your list of travel activities.
7 Europe Christmas Markets
By visiting certain spots in Europe during December, you can feel the festive atmosphere of the various Christmas markets there. Certain people attend Christmas markets every year as it is one of the most popular traditions. Christmas markets can offer a variety of Christmas specialties and there are quite a few Christmas market spots in Europe.
– Bautzen, Germany
The Bautzen Christmas market is located in Germany and may not be as popular as other European Christmas markets. The town of Bautzen boasts majestic hills with stunning views. This Christmas market has been around for a very long time, since 1384. The Bautzen Christmas market originally only served various processed meats.
Nowadays, Bautzen has grown so much that many booths have joined the Christmas market. Many tourists are attracted to Bautzen because the Christmas market is one of the oldest and the atmosphere is warm. Bautzen is even worth appreciating for its beautiful atmosphere at Christmas. You can enjoy beautiful lights and dazzling snow.
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– Strasbourg, France
To enjoy the traditions of the Christmas market in France, you can visit Strasbourg. Strasbourg is located in the eastern part of France, Strasbourg Christmas market is also one of the oldest since 1570. You can feel the nuances of the holidays and Christmas in Strasbourg, even Strasbourg also has the nickname Christmas Capital.
There are at least 10 locations to enjoy Strasbourg’s Christmas market, and there are hundreds of stalls you can visit. Some stalls are in the square area, some are in the alleyways, and various other spots. You can visit over 300 stalls at the Strasbourg Christmas market.
You can also visit Place Kleber, a large square in Strasbourg. There, you can see a giant Christmas tree. Many stalls in Strasbourg offer a variety of interesting Christmas decorations. You can hang out and enjoy some Strasbourg wine.
Every year, there is a Christmas market fair in Strasbourg and sometimes even neighboring countries are invited to enliven the fair. Several performances are held to enliven the Christmas market. You can watch cultural attractions, and street performances in Strasbourg.
– Vienna, Austria
Even more antiquated, Vienna’s first Christmas market took place in 1298. Dozens of Christmas markets can be visited in Vienna, one of the most popular in the City Hall area. You can see the beautiful decorations like a fairy tale. Besides having hundreds of stalls, you can also witness dozens of scheduled events in Vienna during the Christmas season.
You can enjoy a stroll around the Christmas market and then don’t forget to take pictures, especially around the City Hall and the trees. While enjoying the atmosphere, you can eat delicious Austrian sausages too. Although the Christmas market in Vienna has a traditional atmosphere, you can use a variety of modern facilities.
In Vienna, you can go ice skating in a large rink. Reindeer in Vienna can also be ridden, especially for children.
– Krakow, Poland
Get warm when you celebrate the Christmas market at Rynek Glowny, Krakow’s main square. Usually during Krakow moments, the snow isn’t too heavy or even falling yet. One of the specialties of the Christmas market in Krakow is that the decorative balls are hand-painted, giving the Christmas tree a different feel than usual.
In Krakow, beans are cooked with candies, spices, or other unique local ingredients. Many antiques can be found in Krakow. Not only are they unique, but you can get cheap prices on them too. Market stalls selling antique and unique products set Krakow apart as a Christmas market.
– Prague, Czech Republic
At the Prague Christmas market, you can find wooden shelters as one of the typical European Christmas markets. Meanwhile, the thing that makes Prague unique in holding Prague traditions is its snacks. You can enjoy a variety of exclusive delicious Czech snacks, one of which is klobása.
You can come to the Christmas tree in Prague Square to witness the beautiful lights that start to be turned on in the afternoon. Don’t forget to take your best photo with the Christmas tree in the background. Since Czechs have a high interest in Christmas, the Christmas market here is one of the longest.
Even during Christmas, the Christmas market remains open and lasts until early January. At the Prague Christmas market, you can enjoy a medieval atmosphere with a mix of vibrant colors. You can visit Prague with your partner to enjoy the Christmas market because the atmosphere here is very romantic.
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– St. Stephen’s Basilica/Budapest Cathedral, Hungary
Next is the Christmas market in Hungary, you can enjoy shopping at this Christmas market which is one of the most popular in Europe. In addition to shopping, you can enjoy the magnificent light show here, 3D light is projected onto the historic building, St. Stephen’s Basilica.
The light show is one of the biggest in Europe, so don’t miss it. Not only can you watch the amazing light show, but you can also eat a variety of delicious Hungarian specialties.
– Winters Wonder, Belgium
At Winters Wonder, you can enjoy a beautiful light show. The Brussels Christmas market also boasts a magnificent Christmas tree adorned with lights. Eat a variety of Belgian specialties and try out the exciting Christmas market rides. There are quite a few other interesting things on offer at Winters Wonder Brussels.
You can start with a stroll through the Grand Place area and then take a photo by the cypress trees. Enjoy the amazing light and sound show that usually lasts for about 9 minutes. You can see many interesting attractions such as carousels, ice rinks, Ferris wheels, and so on. Apart from the delicious food and drinks, you can shop for various traditional products as well.
Useful Tips for Visiting the Christmas Market
Christmas markets can provide a magical experience in enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. But you still need to plan your visit to the Christmas market well. If it’s your first time visiting a Christmas market, it can be quite confusing. Plan your visit to your Christmas market with the following guidelines:
– Prepare Your Best Warm Clothes
The open air in winter is challenging enough to enjoy the Christmas market. Therefore, you should wear warm clothes if you want to visit it. Don’t forget to wear scarves, headwear, and gloves to keep you warm while enjoying the beautiful Christmas markets. You may like to wear double socks so that you can better withstand the cold weather.
– Research Opening Date
Christmas market opening dates are not necessarily the same in every country. You might be confused when planning a visit to some countries in Europe when you want to enjoy a Christmas market holiday. Each year the opening date of the Christmas markets may be different. Therefore, it is better to make sure about the opening date beforehand to make your trip perfect.
– Visit The Official Website
You might be thinking of relying entirely on Google to find the details of a particular Christmas market’s operational dates. But you may not easily get the expected results just like that. The Google research results you get may not be from relevant websites or not run by official organizers.
If you are misinformed, then you can be mistaken about the opening date of the Christmas market and other details. Therefore, make sure to get Christmas market information from several sources, especially from the official organizer’s website.
– There’s Not Just One Christmas Market
In one country or even one city, you can find several Christmas market options. Christmas market organizers can be either from the city itself or independent organizers, and you better be aware of this. Even in the same city, different Christmas markets may have different opening and closing times.
– Use Local Language For Best Research
Researching European Christmas markets in English alone is usually not enough to provide you with relevant information. You don’t need to be fluent in European languages but make good use of a translator. You can find the official website of the Christmas market organizer in the local language, and then translate it into your language.
Since Christmas markets are synonymous with local traditions, it is only natural that updated and relevant information is usually presented to the locals. These are some Falaland.com useful tips for those of you who are planning to visit the Christmas market.