These are the perfect Christmas markets in Europe for 2023

If sipping gluhwein, perusing limitless stalls of vacation wares and admiring 1000’s of glittering fairy lights looks as if your private winter wonderland, plan to have fun this season at one among Europe’s festive markets. Conventional Christmas markets date again lots of of years and are nonetheless standard at the moment in lots of European nations.

The climate is chilly (and snowy in some locations). Nonetheless, experiencing the glowing lights, wafting smells of conventional meals and vacation cheer will be the perfect methods to courageous the chilly temperatures. Since many markets start in November and run via the vacations, vacationers have loads of alternatives to snag a fall or winter flight deal or off-peak award redemption.

Listed here are a number of the greatest Christmas markets in Europe, full with recommendations on methods to get there and the place to remain.

Zurich, Switzerland

Held at Sechselautenplatz, Zurich’s “Wienachtsdorf” is likely one of the metropolis’s largest Christmas markets, enchanting guests with its festive atmosphere in opposition to the backdrop of the Zurich Opera Home.

A brief stroll from Lake Zurich, round 100 stalls create an enthralling Christmas village, providing a singular purchasing expertise with native designers showcasing distinctive jewellery and finds. The market additionally boasts a wide range of culinary choices, starting from worldwide dishes to conventional Swiss delicacies on the Fondue-Chalet, guaranteeing no customer leaves hungry. The market, which runs from Nov. 23 to Dec. 23, 2023, is an ideal spot for an after-work drink, a day trip with buddies, or household time making candles at Burkliplatz.

Keep: Keep on the Zurich Marriott Lodge, which has renovated rooms and is a 15-minute prepare journey to the Christmas market. Charges begin from 59,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors or $278 per evening.

Arrive: Zurich is a significant transportation hub with quite a few nonstop flights from the U.S. Swiss Worldwide Airways, United Airways and Delta Air Strains all have nonstop choices from the New York space. American Airways additionally presents flights from Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dallas and Phoenix. Then it is only a fast prepare journey to the center of the town.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Mark your calendars for a festive extravaganza at Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Sq.), operating from Nov. 3 to Dec. 21, 2023.

As Copenhagen’s largest market, it transforms right into a charming wonderland adorned with twinkling Christmas lights and splendid decorations. Navigate via a labyrinth of picket stalls, every brimming with pleasant Danish delicacies, toys and extra. Youngsters will likely be thrilled to snap a photograph with Santa, whereas adults can unwind with a warming glass of Christmas punch. {Couples}, do not miss out on an enthralling stroll alongside the historic, cobbled lanes. With Excessive Bridge Sq. and Nyhavn simply across the nook, there are various different markets to discover, too.

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Keep: The Nobis Lodge Copenhagen strikes the proper steadiness for vacationers looking for proximity to the town’s bustling scorching spots whereas nonetheless having fun with a tranquil retreat away from the thick of all of it. Plus, the luxurious property is bookable utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors. Charges begin from 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors or $310.

Arrive: There are a couple of nonstop choices to Copenhagen from the U.S., together with New York Metropolis, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Boston, Miami and San Francisco. Scandinavian Airways (SAS) is the primary supplier, however different airways, comparable to Icelandair, supply layover choices for cheaper airfares.

Associated: The way to get to Denmark with bank card factors and airline miles

Edinburgh, Scotland

From Nov. 17, 2023, to Jan. 6, 2024, Edinburgh transforms right into a winter wonderland, internet hosting one of many United Kingdom’s most grandiose and beloved Christmas markets. Image over 130 charming huts, every illuminated with festive lights and strewn with decorations, creating a fascinating environment.

These stalls supply a plethora of native, handmade presents and an array of delicious treats to savor. Do not miss out on a mesmerizing journey on the large wheel, presenting panoramic views of all the festive extravaganza. The pageant has one thing particular for everybody, with numerous rides fitted to children and adults and even a Santa’s grotto for a close-up encounter with Santa Claus.

Associated: The way to spend someday in Edinburgh

Keep: Hilton Edinburgh Carlton is a best choice for festive enjoyable at Edinburgh’s Christmas market, only a quick stroll away, with charges from round $253 or 60,000 Hilton Honors factors nightly. One other nice choice is Lodge Indigo Edinburgh — Princes Avenue, an IHG Lodge, beginning at $195 or 38,000 IHG One Rewards factors per evening. For an expensive keep, contemplate the long-lasting Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh-The Caledonian on Princes Avenue, providing gorgeous fortress views beginning at round $275 or 67,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening.

Arrive: Direct flights to Edinburgh can be found from New York Metropolis, Boston, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C., via Delta Air Strains, United Airways, Virgin Atlantic and different carriers.

Vienna, Austria

Wander previous greater than 100 stalls at Vienna’s largest Christmas market, within the Rathausplatz Metropolis Corridor Sq. (Nov. 19 to Dec. 26). Youngsters will love the reindeer prepare, Ferris wheel and carousel — there’s additionally a Nativity path. This 12 months, the market and its stalls will give attention to enhancing sustainability, so count on extra eco-friendly merchandise and supplies.

Germany

One of the well-known nations in Europe for Christmas markets, Germany has a market in virtually each metropolis. We could not decide only one, so listed below are a number of the greatest:

• Cologne: This metropolis, well-known for its towering Gothic cathedral, options not one however seven totally different Christmas markets, together with an LGBTQ-friendly Christmas market (most run from Nov. 23 to Dec. 23).
• Munich: Bavaria’s most well-known market usually operates in Marienplatz, adorned with 1000’s of candles and that includes greater than 100 stalls (Nov. 27 to Dec. 24).
• Munich Airport: Bounce proper into the vacation spirit (even go ice skating) throughout an extended layover at Munich Worldwide Airport (MUC), which transforms right into a Christmas market (Nov. 17 to Dec.31).
• Frankfurt: Get pleasure from purchasing and a 100-foot-tall Christmas scene at Frankfurt’s primary Christmas Market (Nov. 27 to Dec. 21).
• Nuremberg: Along with its world-renowned lebkuchen (gingerbread), hold a glance out for this market’s Christkind, a younger girl with curly blond hair dressed like a golden angel who makes frequent appearances on the festivities (Dec. 1 to Dec. 24).
• Berlin: Germany’s capital has quite a lot of Christmas markets, however among the best is the market flanked by two cathedrals in Gendarmenmarkt (Nov. 27 to Dec. 30). Anticipate the standard meals and purchasing but additionally unbelievable holiday-inspired performances from hearth eaters, acrobats, jugglers and choirs belting out classical, jazz and gospel Christmas tunes.
• Dresden: One of many nation’s oldest and largest markets, the Striezelmarkt, in what was as soon as East Germany, options puppet theaters, storytelling time and gingerbread-decorating workshops (Nov. 29 to Dec. 24).

Keep: The JW Marriott Frankfurt options 219 rooms and greater than 200 hand-painted artwork items by German artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Charges begin as little as 264 euros ($264) or 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

Arrive: Star Alliance companion Lufthansa operates direct flights to Germany out of a number of U.S. airports, together with main hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT), in addition to smaller airports like Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN).

If you wish to go to in consolation and magnificence, you possibly can splash out for some of the iconic fifth-freedom routes out of the U.S., supplied by Singapore Airways between New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Germany’s Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Tremendous-luxurious business-class awards on this route price 81,000 miles every method via Singapore Airways’ KrisFlyer program. You possibly can switch factors to KrisFlyer from the entire transferable factors applications — American Categorical Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Chase Final Rewards.

Strasbourg, France

You possibly can’t go unsuitable with markets in French cities like Lyon and Lille. Nonetheless, Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmarik, close to the town’s cathedral, is one among France’s hottest vacation haunts for sipping mulled wine, tasting French wintery treats like tarte flambee or sugary bredele biscuits and looking for wares among the many picket stalls (Nov. 24 to Dec. 24).

The town is named the Capital of Christmas. Strasbourg’s towering Christmas tree, thousands and thousands of twinkling lights and festive ice rink can persuade any Grinch to like the festive season.

Keep: Think about a keep at one of many latest resort additions to the town, the Aloft Strasbourg Etoile. The resort is welcoming and trendy, only a 15-minute stroll to the primary Christmas market. Charges begin at 96 euros ($96) or 21,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

Arrive: Strasbourg is a smaller metropolis, and you’ll’t fly nonstop there from the U.S. As an alternative, fly to Strasbourg Airport (SXB) from hubs comparable to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). Or, plan a layover to take a look at Munich Airport’s Christmas market (see above), then proceed on to Strasbourg. You too can take a prepare from Frankfurt or Paris to the French metropolis.

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Tallinn, Estonia

Pattern Baltic vacation delicacies like black pudding and gingerbread paired with spiced wine on the Christmas market in Tallinn’s medieval City Corridor Sq. (Dec. 1 to Jan. 7).

The setting is just gorgeous. Historic buildings encompass stalls promoting Christmas items and decorations (a lot of that are heart-shaped, as Estonians firmly consider Christmas is a time of affection), with the large tree as a centerpiece.

This season, there will likely be two totally different carousels for the little ones and a double-decker vacation bus to journey round city.

Keep: The Radisson Blu Sky Lodge is a brief stroll away from the city sq., which you’ll be able to view from the resort’s outside terrace that overlooks the Estonian capital. Charges begin at 96 euros ($96) or 44,000 Radisson Rewards factors per evening.

Arrive: Though you possibly can’t fly nonstop from the U.S. to Tallinn Airport (TLL), you possibly can join simply to hubs comparable to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), Istanbul Airport (IST), Frankfurt or Brussels Airport (BRU) after which fly on over. In the event you fly Finnair between the U.S. and Helsinki Airport (HEL), a ferry to Tallinn takes about 3 1/2 hours. From numerous London airports, you possibly can fly to Tallinn on low-cost airways like Air Baltic, Ryanair or Wizz Air.

Brussels, Belgium

Whereas Antwerp, Ghent and Brugge’s markets have a smaller, extra charming and cozier vibe, Brussels’ Winter Wonders market (Nov. 24 to Dec. 31) is the biggest and most spectacular in Belgium, with greater than 200 stands weaving via the town heart.

Take a spin across the ice rink, fly excessive within the Ferris wheel or take pleasure in a go to from Santa. The market additionally presents an immersive audio and visible Christmas present, an progressive method to expertise all the vacation enjoyable.

Keep: Funds vacationers can keep within the midst of all of the motion on the Vacation Inn Categorical Grand Palace for as little as 133 euros ($133) or 27,000 IHG One Rewards factors per evening (breakfast included).

Arrive: Fly to Brussels on Star Alliance carriers from hubs like New York and Washington, D.C. A few of your one-way redemption choices embrace United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer. Think about combining a visit to Brussels with different European cities (or Christmas markets) utilizing the Brussels Airways pit-stop service. This stopover program permits passengers to remain from one to 5 nights at no further cost in Belgium.

In the event you fly from the U.S. to London, you possibly can fly to Brussels on British Airways and Brussels Airways. Taking the Eurostar prepare between London and Brussels is another choice — the journey takes simply over two hours. Charges begin as little as 33 British kilos ($37) every method.

Prague, Czech Republic

It is exhausting to determine whether or not to go to Prague’s Previous City Sq. market or Wenceslas Sq. market. Contemplating they seem to be a 10-minute stroll from one another, it is easy to go to each (Dec. 2 to Jan. 6).

There’s additionally one other market close to the Prague Citadel. The markets promote comparable gadgets, like Medovina honey wine and Czech crafts like puppets and dolls, however Previous City Sq. has stay animals like sheep and donkeys for kids to pet.

Keep: Hilton Prague Previous City is a 10-minute stroll from Previous City Sq., providing trendy comforts and renovated visitor rooms that also retain that old-world Prague allure. Room charges begin at 145 euros ($145) or 33,000 factors per evening.

Arrive: Discover nice offers over the subsequent few months, flying to Prague from the U.S. with TAP Air Portugal and LOT Polish Airways. Fares from Chicago O’Hare, Miami Worldwide Airport, Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport and Dulles Worldwide Airport will be discovered for as little as $500.

Zagreb, Croatia

Voted quite a few occasions as Europe’s greatest Christmas market, Zagreb’s vacation magic is actually particular. Actually, all the metropolis is decked out with lights, Nativity scenes and decorations. Begin on the Zrinjevac Park Christmas market (Dec. 2 to Jan. 7), the place you possibly can pattern scorching strukli, a pastry with melted cheese, or medenjaci cookies paired with soul-warming wine as you browse handmade ornaments and toys.

Then go to Zagreb Cathedral with its well-known Nativity scene out entrance. End the night up with a couple of laps round King Tomislav Sq. ice rink or a journey on the carousel in Strossmayer Sq..

Keep: A brief stroll away from the Christmas motion, the Westin Zagreb is good for these wanting a quiet, up to date house to calm down whereas nonetheless staying near all the vacation cheer. Charges begin at 108 euros ($108) or 15,00 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

Arrive: Attending to Zagreb Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) will take you multiple flight: There aren’t any nonstop flights obtainable from the U.S. to the Croatian capital, and United’s nonstop seasonal service from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) solely operates from Might to October.

You will have to cease first in locations like London, Frankfurt, Istanbul or Frankfurt en path to Zagreb on numerous airways. Each British Airways and Croatia Airways fly between London and Zagreb, with Ryanair additionally working from London Stansted Airport (STN).

Basel, Switzerland

Wander via over 160 snow-covered picket stalls at Basel’s Christmas market, stretching from Barfusserplatz to Munsterplatz (Nov. 22 to Dec. 22). A steaming mug of gluhwein completely enhances conventional delights like waffles, gingerbread and melted Swiss raclette.

Keep: The brand new Basel Marriott presents the perfect of Swiss tradition with out sacrificing modernity. Charges begin round 169 Swiss francs ($171) or 27,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

Arrive: Attending to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL) from the U.S. requires a cease someplace in Europe. The airport is definitely in France, although it is a quick drive from each Basel and the border of Germany — excellent for visiting three nations in a single journey. You too can fly Swiss Worldwide Airways to Zurich, stopping there rapidly earlier than hopping on a Swiss Federal Railways prepare to Basel, bookable as one full ticket on the Swiss web site.

If London is your most well-liked worldwide hub, attending to Basel from the U.Ok. is easy. You possibly can fly EasyJet from London Gatwick (LGW), Manchester Airport (MAN), Edinburgh Airport (EDI), or British Airways from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Backside line

Christmas markets are a festive method to have fun the vacations, full with native gastronomy, mulled wine, ice skating and twinkling vacation decorations.