Adding a visit to a Christmas market to a city break makes the experience even more special. Combine sightseeing, trying the local festive food, sipping mulled wine, and shopping for unique Christmas presents, and you’ll want to make visiting the Christmas markets an annual tradition! Some markets also have ice rinks, light shows, family activities, and live performances, making the atmosphere even more special.
In this post:
British Airways 2024-2025 Christmas Markets Avios Redemption Chart
Some European Christmas markets open as early as mid-November, some close by Christmas Eve, and others remain open into the New Year. If you plan on visiting multiple markets, you are best off visiting from around 7th December to ensure they’re all open.
If you are planning to redeem Avios for your flight, book soon, as most Christmas markets have limited reward seat availability.
All Avios amounts listed are for one-way flights.
|
Christmas Market City |
Opening Dates 2024-2025 | Avios for Euro Traveller | Avios for Club Europe |
NOTES |
|
Vienna |
8th November – 6th January | 11,750 + 50p Off Peak
12,750 + 50p Peak
|
20,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
22,250 + £12.50 Peak |
|
| Nuremberg | 29th November – 24th December | 9,250 + 50p Off Peak
9,750 + 50p Peak |
15,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
16,250 + £12.50 Peak |
|
| Cologne | 18th November – 23rd December | 9,250 + 50p Off Peak
9,750 + 50p Peak |
15,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
16,250 + £12.50 Peak |
|
| Budapest | 17th November 2024 – 6th January | 11,750 + 50p Off Peak
12,750 + 50p Peak
|
20,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
22,250 + £12.50 Peak |
|
| Prague | 30th November – 6th January | 9,250 + 50p Off Peak
9,750 + 50p Peak |
15,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
16,250 + £12.50 Peak |
|
| Basel | 28th November – 23rd December | 9,250 + 50p Off Peak
9,750 + 50p Peak |
15,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
16,250 + £12.50 Off Peak |
|
| Strasbourg | 27th November – 27th December |
|
||
| Helsinki (Flying with Finnair) | 29th November – 22nd December | 12,000 + Approximately £47.59 | 18,000 + Approximately £60.49 |
|
| Zagreb | 30th Nov – 7th Jan | 11,750 + 50p Off Peak
12,750 + 50p Peak |
20,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
22,250 + £12.50 Off Peak |
|
| Tallinn (Flying with Air Baltic) | 22nd November – 27th December |
|
||
| Brussels | 29th November – 5th January | 9,250 + 50p Off Peak
9,750 + 50p Peak |
15,000 + £12.50 Off Peak
16,250 + £12.50 Off Peak |
|
Austrian Christmas Markets
Austria is my favourite Christmas market destination. Something about the atmosphere, the food, and the many day trip options draws me to the Austrian Christmas markets most years.
Vienna
Opening Dates: 8th November 2024 – 6th January 2025. Not all markets stay open this long, but they all stay open until at least 23rd December.
Vienna has to be my favourite city for Christmas markets! The whole atmosphere of the city changes over Christmas, with markets everywhere!
Visit the Viennese Christmas market in the evening, with over 100 stalls backed by City Hall. This is another great one to visit, which takes over Maria-Theresien-Platz. There’s ice skating, traditional food and plenty of unique gifts to pick up, from handmade gingerbread to toys.
Make sure you also leave time to visit the market in front of Schönnbrunn Palace. If you haven’t yet visited Schönnbrunn Palace, Christmas is the ideal time. The Christmas market is the perfect view out of the window as you walk around. If you’re lucky, you’ll also see it snow!
Finish your visit to the palace by shopping for gifts, sipping mulled wine, and enjoying the atmosphere.
There are plenty of non-alcoholic warm drink alternatives here. Make sure you try the fluffy baked potatoes topped with cheese and the baked chestnuts.
The Avent Pleasure Market by the Opera House is also a must-visit. Some less well-known markets and hidden gems are scattered across the city, such as the eco market at Spittelberg and the Old Viennese Christmas market in Freyung.
A Multi-Centre Christmas Market Trip in Austria: Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg
Combining these three Austrian Christmas markets is the perfect itinerary for visiting more than one Christmas market. Austria is easy to get around by train, and you can book all your train tickets via Omio before you go.
Start by flying into Vienna. You’ll need more than one night to see the main sights and get around a few of the Christmas markets.
Next, travel to Salzburg and enjoy the atmosphere there, then to Innsbruck.
You can combine your visit to Innsbruck with skiing, visiting the fantastic thermal spa and riding the cable car to the ‘Top of Innsbruck’.
If you want to extend even more, you can add on Budapest Christmas market before Vienna and finish in Munich after Innsbruck.
Christmas Markets in Germany
Germany is often the first place that comes to mind when people think of Christmas markets. Germany is not only the first place to have Christmas markets but also home to some of the largest and most celebrated ones.
Nuremberg
Opening Dates: 29th November – 24th December
Nuremberg is often said to be the best Christmas market in the world and welcomes over 2 million visitors each year! The market is located in Nuremberg Old Town and spreads across the nearby streets.
Try the famous Nuremberg Bratwurst and mulled wine. There are plenty of sweet treats here, too, from almond cookies to gingerbread. For gifts, you’ll find traditional crafts like handblown glass and carved wooden toys.
Cologne
Opening Dates: 18th November – 23rd December
Christmas is the best time to visit Cologne on a city break. There’s so much more to do! There are several Christmas markets throughout Cologne. The main one, ‘ Markt der Engel‘, is next to Cologne Cathedral.
Explore the red-roofed stalls selling traditional Christmas decorations. Throughout the market opening, a large stage hosts more than 100 free performances, including puppet shows, even for kids.
Try grilled sausages, waffles and mulled wine. You can even keep your mug if you pay a bit extra.
Don’t miss the other Cologne Christmas markets, including the Angels Market in Neumarkt Square and the Nicholas Village at Rudolfplatz.
Other Amazing Christmas Markets in Europe
Budapest
Opening Dates: 17th November – 6th January
December is also one of the best times to visit Budapest. There’s a mid-sized Christmas market in Vorosmarty Square, which often opens as early as mid-November. You can enjoy ice skating and shopping for unique gifts made in Hungary.
Try the traditional chimney cake, goulash, mulled wine and local meats. Combine your trip with sightseeing and a visit to the thermal baths. There’s also a lovely market in Erzsébet Square.
Prague
Opening Dates: 30th November – 6th January
Prague is another of my favourite cities to visit in December. Prague is always beautiful no matter what time of year you visit, but visiting during the Christmas markets (or Easter markets, for that matter) makes a visit even more special. The main Christmas market is on Old Town Square. It’s a market steeped in tradition, located next to the famous clock tower.
You’ll find plenty of unique gift ideas, such as glass ornaments. Czech food is the main draw to the market. Try chimney cake with sugar, walnuts, local palačinky crepes, and klobása sausages.
This is a great one to take the children to, with horse-and-cart rides and goats and sheep wandering around the square. A 10-minute walk away is the Wenceslas Square market, where the ice rink is located.
Basel
Opening Dates: 28th November – 23rd December
The streets of the Old Town are lined with over 180 decorated wooden chalets. You’ll find handcraft toys, jewellery, plenty of food stalls, and a mulled wine pyramid.
A highlight of this market is the candle dipping, where you can make a unique Christmas gift or souvenir. Make sure you also visit the Christmas market at Münsterplatz, which has a giant Christmas tree backed by Basel Minster.
The Fairytale Forest market is perfect for children. They can try gingerbread decorating and enjoy Christmas stories in the puppet theatre!
The markets have musical ensembles playing traditional Swiss and international Christmas carols and songs.
Strasbourg
Opening Dates: Most of the markets are open from 27th November – 27th December
The Strasbourg Christmas market, one of the oldest in Europe, dates back to 1570 and is a perfect addition to trips to Basel, Paris, or Cologne.
There are festive stalls around the cathedral backed by a 100-foot Christmas tree. The stalls sell everything from hand-painted decorations to local truffles. This is also a great market for kids, with workshops and scavenger hunts.
Try flambée baguettes, local sausages from, kugelhopf (an almond/fruit brioche), and French mulled wine. There are also skating rinks. Make sure you also leave time to visit the OFF market, which has second-hand stalls and fair-trade products.
Helsinki
Opening Dates: 29th November – 22nd December
Helsinki Cathedral backs this quirky Christmas market in Senate Square. You’ll find unique gifts from small produce all over Finland, such as artisan cheeses and organic local food. For a Finnish twist on Christmas market festivities, combine your Christmas market visit by trying the sauna in Senate Square! At the weekend, there are carol performances too.
Zagreb
Opening Dates: 30th November – 7th January
The Zagreb Christmas markets are less well-known, but if you know anyone who lives in Croatia or has visited, you’ll hear many positive stories about them. There are more than 25 scattered across the city.
Try the local Fritule (dough topped with sugar) and Štrukli (pastry with sour cream and cottage cheese).
You’ll find handmade scarves, hats, ceramics, and unique ornaments – the perfect gift ideas! If you’re looking for quality wooden toy gifts, the Zagreb Advent Market is the perfect place. They are cut, carved, and handpainted by the nearby villagers.
The markets are everywhere—in the streets, squares, parks, and hidden tunnels. Try the ice rink in Ledeni Park and enjoy the craft stalls. There’s also plenty of entertainment, including cultural performances.
Tallinn
Opening Dates: 22nd November 2024 – 27th December
Tallinn is one of the European Christmas markets with the best chances of snow. This small European capital has a fantastic Christmas market in the medieval Old Town in Town Hall Square. The market is very eco-friendly, and stallholders sell handcrafted items like sheepskin rugs and handmade mittens.
Kids will love the Gingerbread World with carefully decorated gingerbread cookies that make fantastic gifts. There are also daily music and dance performances, and they can enjoy visiting Santa’s house from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Try glögg made from nearly every berry found in Estonia and spiced potatoes, beer-braised sauerkraut and blood sausages.
Brussels
Opening Dates: 29th November – 5th January
Brussels Winter Wonderland is the biggest in Belgium, with over 200 stalls and a giant Christmas tree. Brussels’ Winter Wonders Market is spread across the city, from Grand Place to Place Sainte-Catherine.
This is the Christmas market to visit if you love waffles, mulled wine, chocolate, and beer. Try the local specialities in a festive environment. There are also ice rinks, merry-go-rounds, curling, a Ferris wheel, and light shows.
Final Words
There are so many more fantastic Christmas markets in Europe we haven’t covered here!
Which Christmas market are you planning to visit this year? Let us know in the comments below!
